Every living being has to die someday. If you have a betta wish in your aquarium, you might want to know the warning signs that it will die soon. In this article, we will discuss all the necessary information regarding Betta fish dying signs. The approximate life span of betta fish is from two to seven years. But sometimes, it dies before its actual age. Therefore, it is essential to know the symptoms that help determine the same.
Betta fish is one of the most popular fishes in the world. Many people prefer betta fishes due to many reasons. They look lovely and unique. Many people want to have betta fishes in their aquarium. There are many reliable platforms where you can purchase them at reasonable prices. You can click here if you are looking for the best one.
Various reasons contribute to the death of a betta fish. The common problems include poor water condition, overfeeding, stress, injuries, and more. We will explain these in detail, but first, we will share some warning signs to look for in a betta fish. Let’s get into it without wasting any more time.
What are the warning signs that tell your betta fish is dying?
Source: itsafishthing.com
It is not an easy task to find out whether your betta fish is sick or dying. However, some early signs will help you with the same.
1. Lethargy
It is essential to notice your fishes in the container from time to time. You will get to know about any sickness in the beginning stage. When a betta fish is going to die, it becomes lazy and less active. You will see that it is eating less than before and has not been swimming in the aquarium for a few days.
Lethargy is the primary symptom that tells you that your betta fish is not in a normal condition. There might be other causes behind lethargy, like depression, although it is rare. You should also know that there are not any medications for treating depression. Some techniques might help the fish overcome it.
2. Hunched back
Hunched back occurs in betta fish when they reach old age. It doesn’t matter if it is a male or female fish. There is not any other cause behind a hunched back. If you notice that your fish has lost some weight and has become skinny, there might be other reasons like a disease or something. It is better to find out the underlying cause so that you can prepare for the treatment.
3. Color changes
Source: itsafishthing.com
One can quickly check whether the betta fish is ill or old. There are two types of color changes- one occurs when your fish is sick, the other appears when the fish is old. How can you identify them? Well, it is pretty straightforward. You will see a dullness in color if your fish is old. On the contrary, there will be a total color change when your fish is severely sick. There is a possibility that old age fishes might die sooner than the sick ones. It is because a disease can get treated at the initial stages.
One reason for the transformation in color is the marble gene. It causes lightness or darkness in the color of the body. Old betta fishes turn to light and dull color slowly so that you won’t notice it. So, you should always look for a color change to find out if there’s anything wrong with your betta fish.
4. Dropsy
Kidney failure is responsible for dropsy in betta fishes. It is pretty challenging to treat this condition. There are ways in which you can protect your fishes from these chronic illnesses. You have to take care of the water in the container and maintain your betta fishes’ health by feeding them good food.
When the kidney of a betta fish gets an infection, the whole body gets swollen with the fluid. There is a high possibility that your fish will die because it is not a treatable illness. Kidney failure happens due to various reasons such as bacteria, parasites, age, fungus, and more. You might not be able to find the exact reason for it. However, you should know that it is hard to resolve this health issue.
If there is a bacterial infection, you can take some steps to reduce it. The first thing you can do is change the water in the container frequently. After that, you should take Epsom salt (1 tbsp) and Kanaplex according to the quantity of water. You might see your fish have recovered from kidney failure after a short period.
5. Laying flat on the ground
Source: myaquariumclub.com
If you have an aquarium in your home, you probably have seen fishes resting. But sometimes, the reasons behind laying down are different. A normal resting involves a short period. When your betta is not healthy, it will become lethargic. You will see it has stopped swimming like others. There might be two causes, one is sickness, and the other is old age. You should know that laying flat on the ground is a strong indication that your fish will not live anymore.
In some cases, this condition occurs due to the bad quality of water. It is better to change the water once in a few weeks to maintain the life of fishes.
6. Frequent breathing
Changes in breathing patterns also mean that your betta is not healthy. Many things contribute to the same. The most common is the bad quality of water. You can understand that it is hard for a fish to breathe properly when the water is not clean. Bacteria and fungus come into play to destroy the health of poor betta fishes. Breathing problems can also arise due to health issues. So, you should first research the root cause of the same.
The Bottom Line
In conclusion, we can say that identifying whether your betta fishes are going to die soon is pretty challenging. You can make their lives longer if you take care of them properly. We hope this article helped you understand the warning signs that tell you your betta fish is dying soon.
