Not Again...

[areias]

My brother's little betta is dying. I did a water change this morning, he has a filtered tank but it was a mess from a live plant we had in there. I don't know what happened, but my mom started yelling at me like "What did you do! You killed another one!". I'm pretty upset right now. I had kept some of his old water in a critter keeper, and he's in there right now just gasping on the bottom. When I took him out, I saw him puffing out some green matter, it looked like part of the plant. I did everything like I should have, used dechlorinator, etc. I don't know what happened.

[Miss Z]

It's not your fault, don't feel bad. The lives of fish are very fragile, and it always seems like they come and go so quickly. I hope that the betta has a peaceful passing, but you said yourself that you've done everything you could. Now you know not to use that plant again for your future bettas.

I'm not the best with words at times like this, but i'm deeply sorry that you're feeling bad and that your betta will be off to the RB

[bckrazy]

I'm really sorry, how sad

What kind of plant was it? Some plants require lots of light and special water treatments, or they rot very easily. Where did you get the plant? Aquatic plants from pet stores should be isolated for at least a week, as they can carry parasites and disease if they've been in with diseased fish.

All I can say, is keep him in shallow water and maybe add some stress coat.

[crazy_caique]

It's not your fault.Does your brother ever change the water or not?If it is his pet and he is old anofe to change the water and take care of the betta it is his fault he wasn't taking care of his fish.If the plant was that bad in the water.

[Alysser]

Don't blame yourself. IT IS NOT YOUR FUALT. Like Bckrazy said it may be the plant. But it also may be the water. Keep him in shallow water.

[areias]

He passed away while I was gone, riding my horse. My brother's only 6, and my mom hasn't got a clue. I have enough to look after with my community tank and a betta, but I try to help out with that tank.

It was a mugwort? I believe...had all these needles. They got it from Petsmart when they got the betta, about 2 months ago. I threw it out. We do have a UV light in the tank, but my mom leaves it on 24/7. I always yell at her and shut it off at night, but she usually turns it back on. I think that was part of the problem.

I was really hoping he would have survived. I might go to Petsmart tomorrow on my lunch break with a sample of the water. Will it be the same tomorrow if I take a sample now? Because if anyone remembers, my other betta died the day after a water change, but we thought it got too cold in my room. I gotta figure out what's going on..my surviving betta is going to need a water change soon.