My betta fish just died? What could have gone wrong?

Question

So I only had him for 3 months. I think I am a bad pet owner. I changed his water once a week and fed him once a day. I had him in a one galloon tank with a filter.  I took him down to my parents place a couple weeks ago since I was going to be gone for two weeks heard that was ok to do.  My parents live in a much warmer climate than I do and live in a much lower altitude. When I brought him to their place he seemed fine and happier than usual. When I brought him back to my place he seemed really tired and didn't feel like doing much. I was told to buy a heater and I did followed all the instructions they told me and he still was moving much. I found him dead this morning and now I am really upset. This was my first betta fish so i am not sure what I did wrong. No mean answers please.

Eliou · Accepted Answer

It sounds like you put forth your best effort but just lacked information. Amber has it exactly right. 5 gallons minimum with a heater, filter, and active bio setup (cycled filter).

When a fish poops or food stays in the tank, the material rots and releases ammonia. Bacteria in your filter takes the ammonia and converts it through a few processes until it's nitrate. Nitrate isn't great but you'll need a lot of it for it to harm your fish, while ammonia is very dangerous in even infinitesimal quantities. You can remove the nitrate with water changes.

In a tank smaller than 5 gallons, it's hard to keep a consistent temperature and support a stable bacteria colony. It sounds like you have everything but the tank and test strips now. Don't let your filter dry because that will kill whatever bacteria you have now. Keep it running until you can buy a larger tank. Move the filter into there (after dechlorinating your water) and let it run for a couple weeks. Get some testing strips and make sure your ammonia is reading 0 before you add fish. There's more details in the link that Amber provided.

Remember you have to dechlorinate water. Chlorine added into water by the city can hurt your fish and will kill your bacteria. Your bacteria live in the bio ball/plastic grill part of your filter. Don't clean that part.

It sounds like you really tried. Don't give up. Everyone in the hobby made mistakes early on.

Good luck.

Amber · Answer

Changed his water? All of it? That's not something to do.

One gallon is about 5x too small for a betta.

I would consider pH issues.

All water has a reading called pH. Of course, I'm sure you know that. Fish can't take large changes in pH. It messes up their immune and digestive system and can lead to the death of the fish.

So: 
Bettas need 5 gallons. 
They need a heater. 
They need a filter. 
You need a liquid pH water testing kit. 
You need liquid ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate testing kits. 
The tank should be cycled before you buy a fish, but if you ever upgrade the tank then skip the cycling process. Just move the old filter to the new filter.

Cycling: http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/f15/the-almost-complete-guide-and-faq-to-fishless-cycling-148283.html

Ocimom · Answer

Lots of things.

1.  Betta should not be in anything smaller then 5 gallon tank.

2.  The tank needs a HEATER, filter and temps kept at 78-80 degrees.

In the future get a proper size tank, let it cycle a month and then add the fish.

Alex · Answer

"I think I am a bad pet owner." It's probably just you. Your tank was probably too small. NEVER keep fish under 5 gallons

Aron · Answer

1 gallon is to small. did you have a heater?

mr wenrich · Answer

overfed him

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My betta fish just died? What could have gone wrong?

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