a lot of questions...

Question
QUESTION: 1. I have a betta that is living in a open air four gallon tank with 6 other fishes.  The pet store owner said that those specific fish breeds would be able to live with the bettas.

My betta is swimming erradically around the tank, and it seems as if he has trouble swimming to the current (which isn't that fast!).  He keeps doing these sharp jerks, and it's freaking me out!  He has frayed fins too, which seems to keep fraying.  It doesn't seem to be fin rot.  I have plastic plants, but I cut the sharp edges round so that they wouldn't harm the fishes.

Also, my father may have done a near 100% water change while I was gone, so the tank may be cycling.  One fish suddenly died yesterday.  It kept hovering at the top of the tank, and just suddenly died overnight :[ Now the betta's acting crazy.  However, the other fishes seem to be fine.

What's wrong with my betta, and was the cycling the cause of my other fish's death?

2. I have two orange fishes of the same breed, but the two of them keep fighting!  They've been nipping each other's dorsal fins!  I have another fish, which seems to be more hostile than the betta.  It keeps picking on the two smaller fishes, and I fear the two fishes are bleeding.

Should I return the fish along with an orange fish?

I have an .75 gallon tank with no heater as well.  Should I just leave the fishes there?

Thanks!  I apologize with the overload of questions x_x

ANSWER: Hello Tiffany,
Six fish in a 4 gallon tank is too many fish.  The fact that all the water was changed did contribute to the death of your fish...but 6 fish in a small tank are prone to disease, and will die.  

Here is some information on the Betta that will help you understand his needs, and how he should be kept:

A betta needs 5 gallons of water to be healthy, and happy. A 4 gallon tank is okay...
In their habitat the betta may live in shallow waters, but they have lots of room to swim.  
Keeping Bettas in small bowls, containers, vases etc, is cruel.  The Betta is one of the most mistreated fish on the market.
They need a heated tank.  Temperature should be 78-80 degrees.  They are tropical fish, and are cold under this temperature.  Cold bettas get sick, are miserable, and live unhappy lives. ( Always remember  when heating a tank, do this very very slowly..1 (one) degree every two days, as bringing up the temperature too fast would kill your Betta.)  The temperature should always be stable.  Fluctuating temperature is very bad for bettas, and any other fish.  
They should have a silk plant in their tanks, so that they can rest on the leaves  They also need a little tunnel or some knick knack that they can go through.   One teaspoon to five gallons of diluted aquarium salt may be added to his water, when a Betta is well.  
Aquarium salt helps them with stress, and helps with parasites.  However if a Betta is showing signs of a swollen tummy, salt should not be used.
They need a varied diet. This is very important.  Betta pellets one day, Betta Flakes the next, Daphnia the next, and bloodworms should be given once a week as a treat.
He should be given one well cooked frozen cooked pea a week, and on the day you give him the pea, he should fast.    
A betta is prone to constipation, and constipation leads to Swim Bladder Disease.  A frozen cooked pea a week keeps them from getting constipated.  Always remove the outer layer of the pea, and cut it into small pieces feeding it to your betta one piece at a time.
They should have 2-3 small meals a day, and not one big meal.  We must remember that their tummy is the size of their eye.
Example:  2 pellets for one meal.
Water changes are very important.  Water changes must be made every week without fail with a good water conditioner such as Aqua Safe or Stress Coat.  There is also a conditioner made especially for bettas.   Never put two bettas in the same tank, they will kill each other...male or female.  The Betta male is a loner.  Females can be kept together in a big enough tank.
When treated well, a betta can live up to 8 years, if you buy him when he is very young.  (Unfortunately we do not know their age when we buy them at the Pet Store which is why some bettas die two or three years after we have bought them.
He's an intelligent little fish, and should be treated with kindness.
Too many vendors know nothing about the betta, and don't care...so don't give good information on how to keep them.
They are there to sell, and will say anything just to make a buck.  They send you home with your bought betta, telling you a small bowl is perfect, and bloodworms!  The poor customer thinks he has everything he/she needs, and then the fish gets sick, money is spent to cure him, and eventually the fish dies.   
This turns my stomach over.  Unfortunately there are no laws to protect fish.  
Bettas kept in small bowls, one gallon tanks, and vases, will get sick, and are very hard to cure in such little water.  They end up dying, and
that hurts the person who has grown so attached to them.  They don't deserve to be treated this way.
This is how a Betta should be treated.  If treated this way, you will have your friend for a long long time.  I have bred them, love them, and know what is good for them.
The person who told you, or recommended 6 other fish with your betta in a 4 gallon tank, surely knows nothing about fish keeping...this is not your fault, but the fault of the person who works in the fish departement.  Take your fish back, and ask for a credit.  Your Betta could be stressed by this.  Once all the fish gone, change all your water, making sure the temperature of the water is the same as the betta was in, using a good water conditioner, and hopefully your betta will be okay.  If not, write back to me with any behavior your betta may have.
Lynda

Lynda



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Sorry for the late reply!  But thank you for such a detailed guide!

I am looking for another fish tank to put the other fishes in.  I should be able to relocate the other fishes very soon after the cycling.

These fishes aren't really mine; they belong to my parents, so I don't wish to return them to the store unless I have to.  They will be gone for one month, so I have to take care of them.

Oh and another thing, what should I do about the other fishes' hostility?  Two of them keep nipping at each other and one fish keeps picking on the two smaller fishes.

Thanks!

Answer
Hello Tiffany,
I'm sorry to disappoint you, but you cannot keep these fish.  I'm sure your parents will understand.  It takes one month for a tank to cycle properly, and your fish will be sick, and die before they have time to be moved.  I don't know what kind of fish you have, but fish will get nasty towards each other in a tank that is not big enough for them.  It is cruel to keep them in this situation.  You told me your betta had erratic movements.  This is due to stress, and he will develop a sickness.  You have no choice.  You must bring them back.  I am sure your tank has ammonia in it, and possible nitrates.  Ammonia is the number one killer of fish.  This happens when too many fish are in a tank.  Water chemistry is very important...and there is nothing you can do about it, but bring the fish back, and take care of your betta.
I'm sorry
Lynda