At some point, most betta owners will ask themselves, is my betta fish dying? Bettas enjoy resting in positions that make them appear dead, even though it’s totally normal. Betta Fish may get sick, even if the hobbyist does everything right. Even if everything goes well for years, a betta will eventually get old and reach the end of its life.
A healthy betta is responsive, active, and has a healthy appetite. Anything outside their normal behavior can show they’re sick and possibly dying.
Common Betta Fish Behavior Before Death
Sometimes, betta fish exhibit poor behaviors because they are dying. Fish that are dying don’t eat, are lethargic, and may have trouble breathing.
Many times, “curing” a dying betta fish is as easy as altering its environment. Bettas usually die because of poor water conditions.
Other times, a sick betta may have an infection or disease that needs treatment.
Sometimes, a betta is old or has a disease beyond treatment.
Either way, dying or sick bettas usually exhibit the same symptoms.
Loss Of Appetite
One of the most common signs of a dying betta is appetite loss.
Bettas love their food; a healthy betta has a hearty appetite. Bettas are unable to tell when their stomachs are full. A betta that is feeling well will eat the food its owner gives it even if it has already eaten.
Older bettas have slower metabolisms; they won’t eat as much as they did when they were young. Ignoring food completely is not simply a sign of old age, though.
Refusing to eat is a key sign of a sick betta fish.
Lethargy
A dying betta fish exhibits lethargy; it spends much time lying on the bottom of its tank.
A lethargic betta fish has little to no energy for swimming.
Healthy bettas love swimming and exploring their tanks. They are curious and like to interact with their owners and other stimuli.
Bettas are more likely to experience lethargy if they’re not eating. Their bodies start breaking down their stored fat to use for energy. Bettas become very weak when their bodies must resort to breaking down fat for energy.
Healthy bettas often lie on their sides on the leaves of plants for rest. Owners shouldn’t worry about this natural behavior. A betta that spends most of its time lying on the bottom of the tank is cause for concern.
Hiding
Along with lethargy, sick bettas spend more time hiding than usual. Bettas often seem to ‘disappear’ inside their tanks; they spend several hours, or even days, out of site.
Dying bettas are more vulnerable to predation; hiding is a defense mechanism.
Labored Breathing
Fish that have trouble breathing are sick. Trouble breathing may occur due to a lack of oxygen in the tank, an illness, or old age.
Fish struggling to breathe may flutter their gills rapidly. Conversely, they may appear to exert more effort when moving their gills.
Bettas are also likely to spend much time at the top of the tank, gasping for air.
Betta fish have a labyrinth organ and must breathe air from the surface. Usually, they get some air from the surface and some from gas exchange through their gills. A tank without oxygen forces them to get all their oxygen from the air.
Loss Of Color
Bettas that are happy and healthy will display their beautiful, bright colors. Dying bettas lose much of their coloring and appear grayish and dull.
Note that color fades slightly with age; an aging betta shouldn’t become overly pale like a dying one.
Sleeping bettas lose a bit of color as well. Researchers think this might be a defense mechanism. The loss of color makes them look dead while they’re sleeping. Predators are unlikely to bother them during rest.
Bettas should regain their color once they wake up. They are likely sick if their color doesn’t come back once they’re awake.
Trouble Swimming/Different Swimming Patterns
Dying bettas have trouble swimming and won’t go about their normal swimming patterns.
Trouble swimming can be due to lethargy, injured fins, or damaged organs.
Swim bladder disease is a common reason bettas have trouble swimming. Fortunately, it’s usually fixable.
Infections & Other Illnesses
Fish that develop an infection or illness display troubling behavior.
Besides the symptoms described above, infections are often easy to spot. Bettas may have red and bloody lacerations or sores. They may develop white, fuzzy growths that look like mold. Their eyes may bulge, or the tails of parasites may stick from their bodies, etc.
How To Tell If A Betta Fish Is Dead
A dead betta fish won’t breathe — their gills and mouths will remain still. They will be pale in color and won’t move if anyone or anything comes near them.
Why Did My Betta Fish Die?
There are many reasons why a betta fish may die. Determining their cause of death is essential so the hobbyist can assess if there is a problem in the tank. Discovering any problems can prevent other fish from dying in the future.
Poor Water Quality
An unhealthy tank is the top reason most betta fish die.
Unfortunately, bettas are marketed as easy, hardy, beginner pets that can live in a bowl. While bettas are relatively easy to care for, they have needs that their owners must meet.
Poor water quality causes a lot of stress. It lowers their immune system, leaving them susceptible to illness.
Many betta owners neglect to buy a filter, which is pivotal in keeping the tank clean and healthy. Without a filter, the fish’s tank will get dirtier much faster, and toxins will likely build up.
The Tank Wasn’t Cycled
Firstly, hobbyists should cycle their tanks before adding fish. Most beginning fish owners don’t know this and add their fish to the tank the same day they set it up.
Some fish can survive the nitrogen cycle process, though it causes a lot of stress. Bettas, in particular, don’t do well in an uncycled tank. The harsh toxins lower their immune systems, and they often get bad fin rot.
The nitrogen cycle usually takes between two to six weeks. During this time, the tank builds up beneficial bacteria that break down the toxins in waste. Once the nitrogen cycle is complete, it is safe for betta fish.
A cycled tank can still have problems with water quality. Overcrowded tanks and overfeeding are common culprits. The tank doesn’t have enough beneficial bacteria to break down the excess waste. As a result, the ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels spike; these chemicals are toxic to fish.
Sudden Water Changes
Bettas don’t handle changes well and need their tanks to be stable. Sudden changes can cause them to go into shock and die.
Usually, this happens because of a quick shift in temperature or pH.
Avoid large water changes when the tank is healthy. Water changes of 15-30% are good for maintaining a tank.
The Water Was Too Cold
Bettas living in waters that are too cold will have lowered immunity. They are more likely to get sick and die.
Bettas are tropical fish that need temperatures between 75-81°F (23.9-27.2°C). In most cases, hobbyists must place a heater in their tank to keep the temperature warm enough.
There Wasn’t Enough Oxygen
Completely stagnant water, like that in a bowl, may not have enough oxygen for a betta fish.
A betta fish’s labyrinth organ helps it to tolerate low-oxygen levels that kill most fish. Despite this, it must be able to absorb oxygen from the water to survive.
Bettas often die early without filtration because the water has little oxygen. A small sponge filter is usually enough to curb this.
Tanks high in ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates also cause low oxygen levels.
Stress
Other factors besides poor water quality can cause stress.
Bettas may become stressed if their tank is too small or there aren’t enough hiding places. Filters with too much flow can cause stress because bettas are poor swimmers.
Bettas can also experience stress if they are living with incompatible tank mates.
Some fish may be bullies, chasing bettas around their tanks and nipping at their fins.
Bettas, especially males, should be unable to see each other. Avoid clear dividers when keeping several males in the same tank: use dark ones. Don’t put betta tanks too close to each other, or they may see one another.
Overfeeding
New betta owners often make the mistake of overfeeding their fish. Bettas don’t feel “full” and will continue eating as long as food is available.
Too much food can cause constipation and swim bladder issues.
They Were Sick
Sickness can easily kill bettas, especially if they don’t receive prompt treatment.
Most sicknesses that bettas get results from poor living conditions or poor nutrition. The best way to prevent illness is to provide nutritious food and keep the tank clean.
Most bettas show signs of illness before they die. Owners should do their best to diagnose and treat their sick fish.
Have the fish seen by a veterinarian if possible. Many illnesses cause the same symptoms and are hard to diagnose.
Seeing a veterinarian is not always possible. Doctors specializing in fish are rare and expensive; many hobbyists don’t live near one of these vets.
They Were Injured
Bettas have delicate fins that easily tear. Owners should be careful about decorations; steer clear of sharp edges.
Live plants are always better than fake ones; they are gentle on the fins and keep the water healthy.
Injuries may occur when there are other fish in the tank. Some tank mates are unsuitable for living with bettas due to their aggression.
For example, fin-nipping tetras and barbs can easily injure a betta. Larger and more aggressive fish can cause even more severe damage to their fins and the rest of their body.
Hobbyists can often treat injuries with medication, though some are too severe.
Old Age
Siamese fighting fish lifespan: 2-5 years
It’s helpful for hobbyists to know if there’s something wrong or if they simply have an aging betta fish.
Old betta fish display many of the same signs as sick fish.
Check the water parameters and observe the fish for signs of infection or disease. The fish is likely old if everything in its environment is okay and they aren’t sick.
Most owners get their bettas as juveniles who haven’t even finished growing. Owners who buy their bettas as babies can tell if their fish is getting old by tracking its age.
Determining old age is trickier for those that buy their fish as adults.
How To Save A Dying Betta Fish
To save a dying wish, hobbyists must act immediately.
Test & Change The Water
Test the water to see if the parameters need improving. Do a 50%+ water change depending on how bad the conditions are. Hobbyists can do several water changes daily if the water parameters are bad.
Unlike popular belief, doing large water changes won’t kill bacteria. Beneficial bacteria primarily live in the filter media and won’t die due to a water change.
We usually discourage larger water changes because they can shock fish. In a case where the water is killing a fish, doing a large water change is better than not.
Track the water parameters by performing frequent tests until the conditions stabilize.
Add Beneficial Bacteria
Add beneficial bacteria to a tank that has yet to finish the nitrogen cycle. Adding beneficial bacteria speeds up the cycling process. Doing so reduces the chance of the fish dying.
Use Medications
Sick fish should receive treatment right away. There are various helpful medications depending on the problem.
Aquarium salt is helpful for many illnesses and reduces stress. DO NOT use table salt or sea salt.
Use A Hospital Tank
It’s often best to place dying bettas in a smaller and shallower tank than their main tank. The shallow water makes it easier for them to surface for air.
How To Put Down A Betta Fish
Sometimes, it’s kinder to euthanize a fish rather than put them through treatment.
The kindest way to euthanize them is with clove oil. The clove oil must be pure with no other ingredients — buy this at a pharmacy or online.
Hobbyists should always keep a bottle of clove oil on hand for these situations.
First, fill a small container with water from the tank and add three to four drops of clove oil. Mix the oil and water well — the oil won’t dissolve. A small air pump can help ensure the oil remains mixed throughout the process.
Second, add the mixture to a glass or ceramic bowl along with the air pump.
Third, place the fish into the mixture until it sinks to the bottom of the bowl and its breathing slows. The betta is not yet dead — three to four drops is only enough to put them to sleep.
Fourth, mix five to seven more drops of clove oil into some tank water using a separate container. Add the mixture to the bowl the betta is in. The extra oil will cause the fish to die.
Lastly, wait about five to ten minutes and check on the fish. The eyes should appear lifeless, and the gills will have stopped moving. Once the fish is dead, it is okay to dispose of them.
Add another water and clove oil mixture to their container if they’re still alive after the second dose.
How NOT To Euthanize A Betta Fish
Some sources suggest freezing the fish or using alcohol. Hobbyists might see suggestions for suffocating them or flushing them down the toilet. NEVER use these methods.
Freezing
Freezing can cause painful ice crystals to form on the gills, tissues, and muscles. Freezing was once considered a humane euthanasia practice — we know better now.
Flushing Them Down The Toilet
Fish do not die immediately upon being flushed down the toilet. Being subjected to the toxicity of sewer water is painful and stressful.
In rare cases, fish survive the sewers and make it into waterways. They become invasive and can cause issues with native wildlife. A betta fish surviving this way is unlikely; regardless, it’s cruel.
Alcohol
Using alcohol instead of clove oil is cruel because it burns their gills.
Suffocation
Some owners opt to simply remove their betta from the water and let them suffocate. Their organs die before they suffocate, which is painful.
Suffocating any fish is inhumane, though it’s especially harsh for bettas. Their labyrinth organ makes their death more slow and painful.
FAQs
Why Do My Betta Fish Keep Dying?
The tank is likely uncycled if fish keep dying every time a hobbyist places them inside their new home.
New owners sometimes wonder why they take home a betta only to have it die within a day or two.
Then, the same thing keeps happening to every new betta they bring home.
The likely cause of bettas dying one after the other is that the tank isn’t cycled. Aquariums without beneficial bacteria can be incredibly toxic and stressful for fish. While some bettas can survive the cycling process, many do not.
Do Betta Fish Hide When They Are Dying?
Betta fish often hide when dying. It offers security and safety from predators.
Is My Betta Fish Dead Or Sleeping?
To tell if a betta is dead, check its gills and see if they’re fluttering. Their breathing slows down while they’re sleeping — it never stops completely.
Gently nudge the betta if all else fails. A resting betta will immediately move away from the perceived threat. A dead betta will simply lie there.
Fish do not sleep in the way that humans do. Their rest is very light because they must be aware of their surroundings for danger. Most of their brain shuts down to allow for rest. A part of their brain remains active to let them respond to threats.
Do Betta Fish Float When They Die?
Betta fish are more likely to sink when they die rather than float.
Betta fish may float when they die, though it doesn’t happen often. Their bodies are lighter than water, which allows them to float. They are more likely to float if they die near the surface than at the bottom of the tank.
Most dead bettas sink to the bottom of the tank when they die. It usually takes several days of decomposition for a betta’s body to begin floating.
