Diagnosis for a Dead Betta Female

D

DormDweller

AC Members
Aug 19, 2006
64
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0
Baton Rouge, LA
Real Name
Amy
:sad: My red female betta died today. She wasn't a blood red but more of an light burgandy with maroon fins.
She had gotten a bit paler on the body in the past week, but in the past couple of days she got very thin. Last night she was terribly sluggish so I moved her to a breeding net to separate her from her tankmates. This afternoon when I came from class, she was dead. Late in the night she seemed to be resting on the bottom of the tank/net.

My other betta is quite plump. Almost a bloated look to her. Complete opposite from the red one, in appearance and attitude. She is queen bee of the tank. I don't want her to succumb to the same fate as my red.

Please help me figure out what killed Cono, the red betta, so I can be prepared if the same symptoms come up again.

BTW, Water conditions are Ammonia & Nitrites =0 ppm , Nitrates =5 ppm, 75F.
 
Mmm, well, hard ot say without knowing more about her, how long the tank had been established, feeding habits, etc.

On a guess, I'd say either a: Stress from being picked on by the dominant female or b: internal parasite.

I'm leaning towards A based on what you've said so far. It's what happens when you have only two females bettas in the tank and one is extremely alpha.
 
The tank has been established for 4 months, Cono (dead red) was in the tank for 3 months, Azuleja for 2.
I never saw any nipping btwn the two.Maybe I just didn't see what happened when the lights were out. I have known people who successfully have female bettas together in a 30 gallon, so I tried and I saw no aggression so I kept it the way.
Feeding habits were great. Cono stalked her food. Azuleja is more of a bite first then ask questions. I am in my room for most the day, doing homework beside my tank.

I'm just scared for the tank. Thanks for your help. If I could take pictures I would, I need to invest in a digi cam
 
Mmm, yeah. Hard to say. If there wasn't obvious signs of being picked on (and with bettas it's fairly easy to spot) I might be inclined to say it was just her time. Especially if she was your average pet shop betta. Just getting them to live 6 months is a miracle in and or itself sometimes.
 
well the fact that one was thin and the other very healthy, I would lean towards being picked on and not allowed to rest or eat regularly. Your alpha may have basically starved her to death.
 
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