Betta death :( unsure of illness need help with after care of tank

**platytetrafan** · 07-31-2012, 10:39 AM

Hey Everyone,
Really sad today my betta Yoshi died last night. Lately he was hiding a lot in his cave was unsure what was wrong with him. I thought the filter current might be bothering him so I slowed it down. I had been doing water changes on his 5 gallon every 2 weeks which seemed to be working. About a month ago I noticed something that was weird he seemed to eat well and swim without a problem but his tail seemed shorter. There was no fuzz or white that I could see. Also it seemed like he was getting lazier. I saw nothing on his body to signal any type of illness. I know really weird but this week I noticed his respirations were faster he wasn't swollen and it was hard to tell if his scales were starting to rise. But I did notice he was struggling to get to the top of the water line for air.

I did a water change last night the tank was due for one and I decided to put him in one of those containers that stay at the top so he could get more air. He was dieing I could tell and felt so helpless. I lost a betta previous to him and he was in a 3 gallon which I did weekly water changes. I believe both bettas had dropsy. Now that the tanks have no fish what do I do? These tanks have been cycled a long time I know the 3 gallon is not cycled now. Still has the water in it I have to clean it out totally it's an eclipse with bio wheel pet store told me to dump everything but ok to keep the bio wheel does that sound right? As far as the 5 gallon where the betta recently died do I have to start all over again? The thought of having to recycle two tanks isn't thrilling me but if I have to do it I will. Any advise is most appreciated I am gonna do weekly water changes on the 5 gallon as well every two weeks may not be working as I thought previously don't want the same thing to happen to another betta.

**Jannika** · 07-31-2012, 4:24 PM

Sorry to hear about your Bettas. I haven't had real good luck with them myself, and I'm thinking maybe it's the stock at Petco. I keep the water changed, have appropriate food, temps and tankmates, yet they don't seem to last more than a year.

It doesn't sound like anything contagious, so to keep the cycle going just add a pinch of food or some pure ammonia maybe once a week and keep the filter running. Good luck!

**Rbishop** · 07-31-2012, 4:38 PM

Sorry for the loss...I know you are experienced...seems more an issue of unknown age and genetics..

**platytetrafan** · 07-31-2012, 9:14 PM

Genetics & age? Not dropsy? The betta had real problems swimming to the top for air and resp rate rapid

. I know 3 gallon has to be cleaned and recycled am going to reseed a new filter in my 36 gallon as for the 5 gallon I just did a water change on that tank before the fish died also gravel vac should I do another one before adding a new betta?