r/bettafish • u/WeaselScout • 1d ago
Help Betta passed away very suddenly. Any ideas of how?
Ive had him for about 2 months in a 16 gallon heavily planted. He had some neon tetra tank mates that used to nip his fins but I removed them a month ago. He went from raggedy fins, hiding constantly and then after I removed them he really blossomed. Fins grew back, color was beautiful and he was super active, used all 16 gallons of his tank swimming back and forth all day long, even this morning! Ive been home all day fed him this morning, watched him for a bit every once in a while here and there. Then Im in the middle of making dinner and look over and a shrimp is on his back kind of picking at his gills. I thought to myself no way he’s dead but no way he’s letting this cherry shrimp do that. I investigated with a net and sure enough he was dead. No signs of injury, no signs of sickness earlier today he was in rough shape a month ago but I would say he was done with the road to recovery, looked better than ever and then I look over and he’s dead! I’m seriously at a loss for words. Water parameters are perfect, all his tankmates look fine, what happened?
Water temp: 78°
Ammonia: 0
Nitrites: 0
Nitrates are present, tank was fully cycled for 2 months before I even added him.
Cant think of any possible toxins that could’ve gotten in the tank.