Unfortunately, it happens rather frequently to witness a pregnant betta fish pass away. This problem has come up for me on numerous occasions in the past. As time went on, I discovered that this issue was being caused by several causes. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to stop this from happening again. Why Did My Betta Die After Giving Birth?
Bettas who are pregnant typically pass away because of complications during delivery, the most frequent of which is a fry getting trapped inside the birth canal. Toxins, hostile tankmates, poor water quality, and other stressors can cause some guppies to pass away during or after giving birth.
I’ll go into more detail about the potential reasons why your betta might pass away before, after, or during pregnancy as we go along. I’ll then provide many suggestions to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
Why Do Bettas Die After Giving Birth?
Bettas frequently pass away shortly after giving birth, as well as occasionally even right before. Unfortunately, there are lots of possible causes for this, some of which are out of your control.
However, under some circumstances, you can lessen the likelihood that your fish will perish after giving birth. Continue reading to learn the various causes of postpartum betta death and, very importantly, how you may lower the likelihood that it will occur.
Stress
Even healthy bettas might pass away under stress. Because childbearing is already stressful, pregnant guppies are significantly more susceptible to this disease.
Fish become so languid and sluggish as the pregnancy progresses because they put physical strain on the female fish. By putting them in contact with hostile tank mates, unclean water, and pollutants, you might make their plight worse. Stress is a challenging illness to diagnose.
It causes symptoms that are easy to observe, such as listlessness, appetite loss, discoloration, and difficulty breathing. On the other hand, livebearer pregnancies are also linked to those symptoms. A betta who is expecting will stop eating. Over time, it will also get timid and discolored. As a result, it can be difficult to tell the difference between stress and typical pregnancy symptoms.
Even after giving birth, bettas can still be impacted by stress. When the females give birth, experts advise placing them in a different tank if you are inexperienced at keeping livebearers.
While transferring the fish to the main tank, you must give them an additional day or two to completely recover. This demonstrates the level of weariness they experience following childbirth. After having given birth, they are much more vulnerable to dying if they are exposed to stressful situations. To know more about “Can Betta Fries Survive In The Main Tank?”, click here.
Harassment by Tank Mates
Betta fish can occasionally share a tank with other fish. However, you must approach it with extreme caution. Bettas can become aggressive toward some fish, especially certain anabantids or fish having flowing fins that they can mistake for just another male betta.
However, there is an additional side to the tale that you frequently overlook until it is too late. Even though bettas are known for their battling and ferocity, they are quite small and slow-moving fish. Larger fish may assault and intimidate them, and smaller fish occasionally bite at their fins. This entails ongoing tension, which invariably results in premature death.
Overfeeding
A balanced diet is necessary for all fish. This refers to occasional treats as well as high-quality flakes or pellets. However, some well-intentioned betta owners overdo it and offer a significant amount of meal by one fish to digest.
Fish overeating can result in sickness, just like it can in people. Additionally, leftover food can contaminate water, making it harmful to your fish. Additionally, as a fish must excrete what it takes in, the tank will inevitably include more waste if you are cramming your betta towards the gills.
Complications During Labor
Bettas are susceptible to difficulties during labor. The situations in which a fry becomes impaled in the mother’s birth canal are the most frequent of these difficulties. Deformities can cause this to occur.
Some people react by using tweezers to remove the fry. The mother, as well as her child, are not likely to live, even under the steady care of a veterinarian.
Bettas can pass quite suddenly in these circumstances. Others experience a slow, painful death. You might try turning the heat up a few degrees. However, this method cannot ensure success.
Low Temperatures
Some individuals appear to believe that bettas are similar to goldfish and will thrive in an unheated tank. That is untrue. Betta fish are tropical fish, whereas goldfish need cooler water. They need water that is around 75 and 80 F as a result.
Once more, cool water causes stress, disease, and early demise for your betta. Even if it’s warm wherever you live, the aquarium water will quickly chill if the temperature dips at night.
Poor Water Conditions
One of the easiest ways to end any fish tank is with dirty water. Furthermore, it needn’t even be filthy. Your tank’s water might become poisonous because of chemicals from decaying fish waste, plus uneaten food.
The reputation of betta fish as hardy survivors in situations where almost all fish would perish. They are anabantids, which explains this. When the water is contaminated and depleted of oxygen, they have developed the ability to breathe air from above.
Unfortunately, this is also the reason why some people believe that keeping bettas in containers and little tanks is acceptable. Yes, he will endure for a time. Small amounts of water, however, pollute quickly, so it won’t be long until it starts to experience the bad consequences of contaminated water. Fin rot and certain other illnesses could develop as a result, and his life may be cut short by a significant rise in stress.
Female Betta Was Already Sick
Many aquarists attribute every symptom they notice in bettas during pregnancy to the pregnancy. They are unaware that illnesses and infections can manifest the same symptoms as pregnancy in fish. Lethargy, inactivity, appetite loss, and difficulty breathing were among those symptoms.
Fish that are pregnant have compromised immune systems. As a result, kids have a lower chance of surviving illnesses and infections. If they pass away during labor, it shouldn’t surprise you.
Examining some other fishes in your aquarium would be a good sign. If other fish in your tank perished in addition to your pregnant betta, there was certainly an outbreak. Additional signs of illness in bettas include white patches, shredded fins, blisters, and heavy breathing.
Bettas Are Being Kept In Breeding Boxes
Breeding boxes have a purpose, albeit occasionally, they may be more detrimental than beneficial. For instance, whenever your betta is housed in a sizable group tank. But it doesn’t mean they won’t experience stress from being kept inside them.
Breeding containers won’t just be too cramped for your betta to move about in comfortably; frequently, the water within the container won’t circulate properly, making the water conditions much more hazardous to your bettas.
If you’re using a breeding box, strive to refrain from using it for too prolonged; when the female has given birth to the fry, let the female return to the main tank so that she can hide.
You Moved Your Betta To Another Tank
Have you ever stocked your aquarium with new fish? If you neglected to acclimatize it, the creature likely struggled for several days as a result of the shock of the change.
Even if you used the fish, it most likely took the betta some time to get used to the tank. Pregnant bettas should be kept in separate tanks so that the females can conceive a child privately. This is the greatest approach to safeguard them. Moving pregnant fish to a different tank may have harsher effects since this expectant mother is delicate, whereas adding a new fish to your communal tank can create a shock.
Some bettas choose to abort their offspring. Some people tend to prolong their gestation. Some pass away. Depending on the new tank’s conditions and the pregnant betta’s health, they may pass away either before or after giving birth.
Old Age And Genetic Issues
Approximately 3-5 are the average lifespan of a betta. Even though some research has indicated that guppies can go through menopause, old bettas can still give birth.
Even though their bodies cannot tolerate the stress of giving birth, older bettas have a lower chance of surviving their pregnancies. You cannot attribute every pregnant betta’s demise to your inability to maintain a favorable atmosphere in the tank. Some bettas have undesirable genes.
Due to a genetic aberration in your betta population, the females continue to give birth to malformed fry that obstructs the anal vent while the mother is giving birth. Most people start anew after torturing and killing their collection of bettas in response to genetic irregularities.
How Can You Reduce The Chance Of Your Betta Dying After Giving Birth?
Nevertheless, you may assist your betta after giving birth by doing a few simple steps. There is a strong possibility that your female will indeed be alright if you do this.
Make Sure You Put The Bettas Somewhere Quiet Afterwards
Naturally, you should purchase a different tank for her during childbirth and for a little after. Since there won’t have any other fish there in the aquarium to bother her, this will make her feel less worried.
The tank need not be enormous, but it must hold 2.5 gallons (ideally bigger). She will still have ample space to swim around when she so chooses, but she will probably prefer to remain concealed.
Make Sure There Are Plenty Of Hiding Places
Additionally, make sure your tank has enough places for your betta to hide. The greatest option is to use plants, especially aquatic plants with roots that will make them feel sheltered and secure.
To that end, group the plants if you intend to keep the fry so they have somewhere to hide.
Feed Your Bettas Well
Although you should always feed your bettas healthily, it’s crucial to do so before, during, and after pregnancy. Increasing the amount of fish meal you feed them so that it more closely resembles their natural surroundings.
The greatest live foods to feed your betta are daphnia, brine shrimp, and mosquito larvae, and she will adore them all.
But in addition to that, don’t forget to offer her blanched vegetables and premium tropical fish flakes.
Keep The Water Quality Perfect
Additionally, you must guarantee that the tank’s water quality never deteriorates. Examine the water parameters and make changes as needed. The best way to raise the parameters is to perform a water change.
However, you can also apply some ammonia detoxifiers, such as API Ammo Lock, if there has been a buildup of ammonia. Rather than getting rid of the ammonia, it turns it inert so that the good bacteria in your aquarium can continue to feed on it.
Move Your Betta Female At The Right Time
Making sure you move your female at the appropriate time is one of the major tricks to moving her.
She will experience too much stress if you transfer her to a smaller container too soon. However, if you wait too long, she’ll also become more anxious. The ideal time to move your female is 18 days soon after she has given birth.
This will lessen her risk of experiencing shock and prevent her from getting overwhelmed with being in a tiny tank.
FAQ
What Is The Difference Between A Pregnant And Fat Betta Fish?
You can identify whether your betta fish is pregnant as well as overweight, or constipated by looking for the symptoms mentioned previously. Your betta fish is chubby and not pregnant if it doesn’t have any white spots or stripes on it.
You must reduce the amount of food you feed your betta if there are no signs of pregnancy. She will lose some of her belly fat and get back to her usual, healthy weight as a result.
How Do Betta Fish Act Before They Die?
When a betta fish starts to lose color and become drowsy, unresponsive, agitated, weak, gasping for air, or stops eating, you know it’s time to put it to sleep.
Why Did All My Betta Fish Die Suddenly?
The most frequent reason for Betta fish deaths is an unfavorable environment, which might include dirty water, an unclean tank, incompatible fish, a tank that is too small, and more. Betta fish frequently succumb to stress, so it’s critical to control their exposure to abrupt change and keep an eye on how they respond to novelty.
Do Bettas Always Float When They Die?
When a betta fish dies, they typically sink, so if you notice your betta lying somewhere at the bottom of the tank, you should be concerned. Bettas that appear to be floating abnormally at the water’s surface may not be dead but rather have a swim bladder issue.
Conclusion
Betta fish can perish while pregnant for a variety of causes. You can’t control some of them. For instance, likely, age, genetically flawed bettas won’t make it through childbirth. However, those were unique situations, so you shouldn’t notice a recurrence of the phenomenon.
You should evaluate the water’s conditions and make sure your aquarium is stress-free if this is not the first pregnant betta to pass away there. I also advise staying away from breeding boxes because they cause stress and need careful timing.