Not a newbie, but bettas keep dying!

[Ms.Bubbles]

The part that confounds me about the fish I'm purchasing is that they all look GREAT when I first buy them. I have to think it's something I'm doing since they begin (seemingly) as very healthy and good-looking fish, lots of colour, lots of bubble nests...

 

[Kyohti]

http://www.bluebettausa.com/home.htm
http://www.ibcbettas.org/stock_shop.htm
http://www.bcbetta.com/
http://www.bettas4all.nl/index.php
http://z7.invisionfree.com/BettaBreeders/index.php
http://www.bettacave.com/
http://www.bettatrills.com/Stockshop.htm

A few listed shops where you can buy direct from breeders. I'm pretty sure all of them are in the US/Canada. There were tons more for Thailand and a few for Europe and Australia, but I figured the shipping would be enough to make them irrelevant.

And of course you can find bettas for sale from breeders on places like aquabid and ebay as well. Hope that helps!! ^__^

 

[Kyohti]

The part that confounds me about the fish I'm purchasing is that they all look GREAT when I first buy them. I have to think it's something I'm doing since they begin (seemingly) as very healthy and good-looking fish, lots of colour, lots of bubble nests...

That's why I'm thinking it's something about the water, since you had heated tanks in some of the instances and still ended up with 'wasting' fish (fish that die slowly). What were you feeding them? How often? Because it was either the diet or the water, I'm sure...

 

[Ms.Bubbles]

thanks for the links Kyohti

Regarding feeding:
the first betta (who lasted a year)-- I fed a few flakes + 1 or 2 pellets (Hikari Biogold i think) per day.

2nd & 3rd bettas I just fed Nutrafin betta flakes once a day (I had a problem with cloudy water) + freeze-dried bloodworms a few times a week.

I wonder if it would be worth contacting the breeder who supplies my local pet store and find out what conditions the bettas are being raised in (temps, PH, feeding). Perhaps I would have success if I followed the breeder's protocol.

I'd like to ensure that I don't pay big $$ for a breeder betta only to find that the same problem occurs again from my end!