Advice - Siamese fighters

HI there

my name is Ink staind babe, bout you welcome to shorten it anyway your like.

I have started a tropical fish tank, and i have some concerns and im not getting much or any helpful information from the local pet shops.

A problem i have been experiencing is with the Siamese fighters, i first started out with two females and one male, and the ended up dying after about 48 hours after bringing them home.

They all of a sudden started losing their colour then, shortly afterwards i found them died.

Then i tried a second time, and these have lasted a bit longer but now they are also fading.

No Pet shop can assist me and i dont know what are the danger signs and how to fix it?

I hope that someone is able to help me on this?

Thanks!

 

Hi and welcome!

Let start at the beginning. To help you out better, please give us the tank dimensions.

Im no Betta expert, but it not the ideal to keep males and females in the same tank, they do fight “ hence the name”….anyway, people like @HennieRoux and @Slojo will be able to give an in-depth rundown.

 

Hi

The first tank i had them in was i think a 100 x 90cm tank, when he would see her, he would "blow up" his face, and she would just scatter.

I wasnt aware that they would fighter, i thought it was only the males that fought if they in the same tank?

I originally tried to breed with them, as i was told that is was "that easy" to breed with them...?

And then she started to get this little white dot on the bottom of her tummy, and she looked like she was getting fatter, thinking that i was on the right path. but sadly it doesnt seem that way.

 

Hi There

First of tell us about the tank.
Size,filter,water changes,decor, lighting and how long it has been running.

Secondly what do you feed and how often.
How do you prepare your water for the tank.

Then make sure you get proper healthy stock to start with.

Regards
Gerhard

 

Hi Gerhard

well im only starting out, so i havent be exposed to all these things and havent a clue. - lol - excuse my ignorance.

But not many are willing to help, or they just trying to make a quick buck, selling you any ol thing...

I just want to know more could its terrible to cause the fish any kind of harm... i dont know where to start...

*sigh!*

 

OK your tank need about 10L per fish.
The tank need to cycle first before adding fish. This is called the nitrogen cycle. It helps bacteria in the tank that will break down ammonia and nitrites. IF these levels build up it will kill your fish.

Your filter should not be to strong as bettas are not the best swimmers.
They need a heater that should be kept at about 25'C.

Feed them only 6 out of 7 days with high quility food, preferably not flakes. Only once a day.
You can feed them Tetra Mini granules one day, some frozen(brine shrimp,shrimp,daphnia etc) the next and once a week also some blood worm. Do not feed them to much!!

If you can you can also try some boiled pea that you cut really small.

You must clean there tank at least once a week by doing a 20% water change and treat your water with dechlorinator.

If you are going to keep males and females try to keep at least 4 females for each male.

Regards
Gerhard

 

Im so hesitant to get new fighters.

The main tank i have id say is about 60L, i have about 10 angels in there (6 of which im only boarding for the mean time), 2 Dwalf gauromi's and 3 algea eaters.
Iput them in my tank because when a friend started her tank, she didnt let it run before she bought the fish, so i put them in my tank, as mine has been running the longest. and they werent doing well in her tank, so to save them i put them in my tank, i feed them the Tetra colour flakes, them jus look hungry all the time, is it alright feeding them twice a day?

 

Hi Ink Staind Babe,

I'm not too much of an expert with Fighters as I have not had too much luck myself, but it sounds like you have a serious water problem. You can try a product called Bio-Vital, I've found that it's pretty good in preparing & fixing any water problems. You also need to get a good water prep that you put in when you are topping up or doing any water changes, I use Sera Aqua-Tan, it has added Vitamins and such that coat the fish's skin and bind all sorts of junk that we have in our water.

Regards
Kim

 

Hi Kim

I also thought it would be the water, but my other fish has managed fine in that tank? i used borehole water instead of tap water, thinking it would be better, and my angels have been doing great, but not so much the fighters...

Maybe im just not the Jedi of Siamese fighters! LOL

 

It could be that the Angels are bugging the fighters. Angels and Fighters are both very territorial and will nip each other especially the angels. At what temp do you keep the water? Do you dechlor your water before adding it? I actually wouldnt put angels and fighters together. If you want to keep fighters they will have to have their own tank and as Vis said keep 4 females and 1 male. But make sure your petshop will exchange the more aggressive ones out if you find aggression is a problem. I am currently just keeping 5 females in my 10g tank and after swopping the two aggressive girls out I now have a lovely peaceful community.

 

at some point i separated the male and female, and with in a few our she had died, and awhile after that he died as well. i asked the pet shop assistant if i could put the two together, as i make a point of asking before i buy any fish, but i suppose not everyone's opinion. and there is also the fear of just selling me a fish to make a quick sale. and then i (and the fish) suffer the consequences later.

I didnt notice any kind of aggression or nipping when the fighters and angels were together?

My next question is what is a good fish to put in with the angels, the water in may tank does have quite a bit of a current, and it seems the angel enjoy it. but they do get very hungry though? is that good for them to seem so hungry all the time?

 

Hi There ISB @Skye01 @Wyvren

I read thru the thread, and then the water issue came to mind, then read further and you mentioned angels,unless your tank is large enough I would not keep any angels with them! Period! as those long fins is ooo so tempting! Then water temp 26 deg, slow filtration as mentioned by @Vis, if the angels is doing well, your water parameters should be fine, but temp might be a problem? If all the fighters is dying from the same store, then change the pet shop, as they might have a problem from their supplier. And by the way it is not so easy breeding them, that I can promise you!

Can you post a pic of your tank, and all the fish, you might be able to assist you more. O and then remember Bettas have a short lifespan, changing color is a sign of age as well. 2 - 3 years some less then this, as food and enviroment plays a big role in life span.

 

Hi @HennieRoux @ink staind babe

I have to agree! "And by the way it is not so easy breeding them, that I can promise you!" I too have tried to breed them with NO success, I also lost all my fighters even though the water parameters were perfect for them. It's very heart breaking, but I really do love them they are some of the most stunning fish around.

As for petshop assistants... they are employed to only catch and sell fish and very few actually know anything about the fish, requirements and compatibility. It's actually quite sad.

You would do well to invest in a really good fish book, it will cost a bit, but in the end you will save yourself both money and heartbreak over losing fish after fish.

Hope this helps.:bigsmile:
Kim

 

If the water is not right the betta(s) can die.
I feed my bettas 4 days in a week and they are happy.
I has lost 2 bettas because I did not do my water changes!!!
Some bettas in pet shops are already a year old. Some times breeders use a betta and when it has past its prime they sold it to the petshop. Also when you choose a betta it must have : bright eyes, bright colour, no signs of diseases, they must be active and please don`t buy a betta if there are sick fish in the tank, even if the betta are healthy.
@ink staind babe how big is your tank? I also think angels are not the best tank mates for bettas. If the betta is small they can nip on it.

 

Here is the pics of my tank.

Its a bit empty still.

 

Morning all!

My tank is bout 60L.

I unfortunately found my male fighter dead last night when i got home from work... and my females colour is faded terribly.

 

Hi Hennie

My Temp is normally between 26-27.

 

I have to agree with @HennieRoux and a few of the others, Angels are not good companions with Fighters. I see you also have a couple of Dwarf Gourami's. I've had experience with some that used to stalk up on and bully my fighter. I recommend that you buy a small 20l size-ish tank and keep your Fighters in there, with maybe an Otto and some Neons.

Sorry to hear bout your boy dying, I hate losing fish...:bawling:

Chat soon
Kim

 

Hi Kim

When i wanted to buy neons, i was told they are the worse to put in with fighters and angels, and that i can only put guppies, neons, and a TK1 in a separate tank, i cant mix them with anything????

What other fish can i put in with my angels????

Please help...

 

Sorry to hear about the death of your fighter. I also want to cry when my bettas die. i love them so much