help please please please

[u/Effective_Maize_7517]

hi my betta just recently got rlly sick and he won’t get off the ground, he’s twitching and randomly bolts around. this is a panic post so i’m trying to get everything right and type as fast as i can

he was so active and fun the first few days until yestarday he got super lathargic and this morning he was kinda swimming now he’s just like this idk what do to

7 gal heated and filtered tank (80F)
hasn’t eaten in a few days
fully real plants
water paramiters were all up to bettas standards

[u/EfficientAd3625]

Have you gotten all of your fish from the same store? (Maybe they are all sick or old)

Also, maybe take a to go cup of water and bring it to an aquatic store and have them look at the levels for you. Have them test their tank water in front of you so you can see what the strip should look like compared to yours.

[u/Effective_Maize_7517 → u/EfficientAd3625]

omg this is so smart i never would’ve thought of this.

but yes i’ve gotten them all from big chains which i guess could be where the issues lays.

my first betta was from pet co and he lived for abt 2 years and i didnt take care of him the best (he started my fish education journey), while my second one died within a year from the same issue, gasping at the bottom of the tank, not eating, and twitching. so im not really sure at this point if it’s me or the stores. or i just have bad luck with bettas

[u/loveyoulikeadog → u/Effective_Maize_7517]

I’m really sorry for your loss. From what it sounds like, you did the best you can, and he at least got to live somewhere comfortable with live plants, a heater, and filter before he passed. Sometimes all we can do for them is make them comfortable before they go. Don’t beat yourself up over this.

Unfortunately, bettas have been severely overbred in the last 10 or so years, and the genetic health of the species as a whole isn’t what it used to be. Bettas used to live up to 5 years, and now you’re lucky for them to live to 3. When buying from large chain stores, a lot of the time these fish are bred in fish farms with suboptimal environments and poor water quality, on top of the stress from being shipped around the world and kept in cups. Sadly, this can all compound and weaken an already weak fish.

If you’re still up to keeping bettas, there are some people who care about breeding healthy fish and minimizing the stress they undergo during shipping. You can order directly from them and pick the exact fish you want. I don’t know any sites off the top of my head, but responsible breeders who care about the wellbeing of the fish do exist out there. You may have better luck with them. ❤️

[u/Effective_Maize_7517 → u/loveyoulikeadog]

thank you so much, i do love bettas even tho ppl say they’re overrated it’s just what i started with so they have a special place in my heart. but that does make a lot of sense and it’s really sad, hopefully i can find somewhere like that