Can I please pick your brains because I’m at a bit of a loss – I’ve been consistently losing about one female betta a week for the last 6 weeks in my sorority tank. This started well before I added a male in last week (who has settled in really well, no arguments that I’ve ever seen).
I initially thought it could be fin rot as a few fins have looked scraggly so I did a 5 day treatment of Seachem Paraguard which is meant to be really good medication for external issues.
Anyway I just fished another dead female out tonight and am not sure how to proceed from here. I know Messenger degrades video quality so the video might not show you much but I would really appreciate any suggestions you might have.
I feel high quality Atisons Betta Pro pellets, bug bite flakes, frozen brine shrimp and daphnia.
Tank mates are ten cardinal tetras, some panda Cory’s and 3 dwarf chain loaches for snail control.
Higher quality photos here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/qjSTHNv9Drn7PpW26
TexTexan
Betta Information: Mixed variety of approx 20 females
We already saw your picture and the symptoms of “deaths one by one, weekly for 6 consecutive weeks,” I believe this is unlikely to be just simple fin rot. If it were just fin rot, it wouldn’t cause such rapid and continuous deaths. Unless there’s an underlying factor such as polluted water, stress from sorority, chasing and biting, internal bacterial disease, or parasites/infections throughout the tank.
The fish in the picture show damaged/broken fins, dull coloration, and stress. However, based on this alone, it’s impossible to definitively say what disease it is.
The water quality is chronically problematic.
Ammonia must be 0.
Nitrite must be 0.
Nitrate should be below 20–30 ppm.
Temperature should be around 26–28°C.
pH must not fluctuate rapidly.
The tank must have a complete filtration cycle.
If you don’t have a water testing kit, it’s recommended to buy reagent tests, not dip strips, as dip strips are easily inaccurate.
Internal Bacterial Disease / Total Tank Infection
If fish are dying continuously, have bent fins, dull complexion, are lethargic, not eating, or have swollen bellies, it may be an internal bacterial infection. Paraguard only helps with some external infections, but it won’t be enough for internal or systemic infections in the tank.
Recommend Big clean your tank remove all bettas from this tank to new tank
1. Put Seasalt to new tank 1 Teaspoon / 2000 ML
2. Put Almond leave to new tank made water like a tea color
3. Avoid overfeeding, as this can lead to food accumulating in the tank.
Do like this for 1 week and you can put back to your old tank (Old tank must be cleaning first)
Best regards
Pairin Breeder
Nice Betta Thailand.Co.,LTD international Betta Fish Farm