My betta fish just died?

algae doesn't kill fish, although the cause of algae (too much waste) may have caused it.

http://bettacare101.com/

4 years, you can call that old age for a betta. Sure some live to 5 or even longer, but some drop dead after 2 years, even with perfect care.

It's unlikely the algae had any effect, that is usually related to too much light on the tank, but it doesn't kill fish unless the nurient balance etc in the tank is WAY out of whack..

If you kept him alive for almost 4 years you are not making any serious mistakes with the tank care.

Ian

I do not believe that you did anything wrong. These things sometimes happen with fish. Although you can buy just about any kind of fish you want for a pet, they are still very delicate. I used to run a small betta rescue from my home for many years. My first betta was a rescue and I continued to buy the fish who looked sick or ill, nurse them back to health and find new homes for them. More than once, a fish would die after it was transferred from my care to the care of the new owner. Sometimes just a change in tank location can be stressful for a little guy. These are little fish and it is really easy for them to get behind the 8 ball. Small animals like fish and birds will act as if they are perfectly healthy as a survival instinct. The ones who look sick or infirm are picked off by predators first. That is one of the challenges of having fish as pets, it is difficult to tell when they are feeling poorly. By the time they start showing symptoms it is usually too late.

If your friend had him for four years he was probably pretty used to his surroundings including the kind of water your friend used in his tank. If you did not continue with the same dechlorinator and food your friend was using, I suggest trying to continue with the same process your friend had for cleaning the water if you ever inherit another fish. I started sending a recipe for water for cleanings and samples of the same diet home with my rescues and more and more started to survive. I recommend if you decide to get another betta, and I hope you do, to use this same recipe for water and food. Food: Betta biogold will help bring out the gorgeous color of your betta and even some colors you did not know it had. All of my guys and gals were cared for in a one gallon tank and the recipe is as follows for one gallon. Water: 1/2 tsp. of aquarium salt, 10 drops Stress Coat, and 20 drops NovAqua for extra insurance. I would clean my tanks about once a month or when the tank was really dirty. Some bettas are dirtier than others. I never had any luck with partial water changes. I always replaced all the water after a cleaning. I would set up the tank with everything and let it sit about an hour before I added the fish to keep the water temperature even. I recommend that for a healthy fish you could skip the Nov Aqua. You can find these treatments at Petsmart. You might also look for something called Betta Fix Remedy. Just follow the directions on the bottle whenever your fish may look unhealthy or act sluggish.

To help keep my fish from going into shock and mentally stimulated I would re-arrange the plants in their tank and use a laser pointer that they would chase after. Changing the tank placement and the accessories inside will get a fish used to changes. Getting a stand alone mirror and putting it up to the tank once or twice a day will make them protective of their new surroundings and fighting off the "other betta" in the mirror is great for mental and physical health. And yes, he was pretty old for a betta. Only one of my thirty six fish ever made it passed four years and if any bettas were ever pampered, they were. Your intentions were good and I think you will be a great betta parent with a younger fish. As I said I hope you will consider getting another betta. They are great pets and smart little fish. Good luck with your next endeavor.

Algae is usually not a huge problem to fish. 4 years old for a betta is a good life. Although you might have had an algae bloom due to unstable water conditions. which would also be a good cause for death.

He's 4, Bettas live about 2-3 years normally

Algae is no problem for fish. It's just a visual nuisance for people.

This fish would have died because of an ammonia or nitrite spike in the tank. Did you test the water parameters?

Then again, let's hope it just died of old age. But, Bettas can live longer in good care. But the average life span is 3-5 years. They usually are a year old in shops when you buy them

maybe he was just old. 4 for a betta fish is a good life.

Well, it was just his time to go. Fish don't have very long lifespans in captivity, so don't blame EVERYTHING on yourself. If you want future fish, go to the pet store where you want to purchase another one and ask them, since they are professionals and will give you better advice.

sweetie, bettas usually only live to about 2 years old. Don't feel bad - sorry about your fishie :(

mine died in 1 month my sisters in 1 yr and my friends in 3 yrs that is a good life i doubt the algea did much