Noooooooooooooooooo

[AquaNut]

Chester Bertuzzi is gone.

I was chatting kind of late last night with Jeff. After he went to bed, I still had to do Chester's daily water change (always his favourite part of the day). I siphoned out a couple of gallons of water and added a couple of gallons of dechlorinated water. He seemed about the same as ever, swimming slowly around in his fresh water. I came back to my computer to search some info on a type of loach my lfs has in and then I was going to go to bed. I always sit and watch all my fish for a little while before I turn out their lights. I sat on the edge of my bed, watching Chester. All of a sudden, he swam really fast across the tank and I thought he was going to catch himself some dinner, but instead he kind of convulsed and went nose down in the corner. I was like Whoaaa buddy! Whatcha doin'? But I could see his gills and mouth weren't moving and I knew it was bad news. Within seconds, he was lying on his side and he was gone.

I'm so upset. Jenica and I had a good cry over it this morning, but I just feel like such a failure. I wanted so badly to save him. Poor Chester. He had no kind of life for such a magnificent fish.

 

[juanveldez]

man that is really too bad I think that there must be a curse on cichlid owners this month cause I noticed this morning that there were a few white dots on Bert who has NEVER EVER been sick.

 

[MAM]

i'm sorry aquanut. i've been following chesters rescue. i was really pulling for him. so sorry. but at least you were able to make the last days of his life more comfortable and happy. he spent so long is terrible conditions so i'm sure he was thankful to spend his last days in your care. you did a good thing so don't beat yourself up over it. you did what you could, but nature took its course. its okay.

 

[smb]

OMG! I am sick. I feel like I lost my own fish as I knew so much about him.

You went above and beyond what most people would do and gave him every chance to make it. I remember telling you in the beginning I didn't think he would make it then he was doing so good and being so happy the last week or so I thought the lil guy might pull through.

Maybe with him perking up like that the last few days was his way of just telling you "Thank You for rescuing me and trying. "

His last days were the best and I know you should feel so good about it. I am truly disheartened by hearing this and I am sorry Kirsten.

 

[wuvmybetta]

so sorry Kirsten

But don't beat yourself up, you went out of your way to make him happy & I'm sure he appreciated that

 

[david27]

I am so sorry to read about chester, I've been following his progress and you have put so much effort into making him better, But at least take comfort from the fact you gave him the best chance and home he probably ever had and you couldn't have done more than you did. His previous owner is responsible for his condition not you. There are lots of Oscars that need good homes so perhaps in the future one of them will lucky enough to get you as an owner!!.

all the best

David

 

[AquaNut]

Thanks everyone. You all do make me feel very supported. It's like Chester had a whole team on his side! Even though he obviously wasn't feeling well, he still managed to swim around the tank for me every night when I did his daily water changes. I think that was his way of letting me know he appreciated it.

 

[missyintx_99]

OMGoodness Aquanut. I am so sorry. I feel like I lost one of my own fish here.
Just take pride in the fact that you did everything humanly possible for Chester. Poor guy. At least he spent his last days in your loving care.

Man, this is such a bummer. I really am soo sorry.

 

[reg2k2]

Sry to hear, Aquanut.

 

[AquaNut]

Thanks guys. I'm not as sad as I was at first. At first I just felt like I really failed Chester, and if I'd been able to get him into his bigger tank immediately, maybe it would have helped him, but now I think that with his daily religious water changes and the meds he had, nothing would have saved him by the time I got him. I still feel pretty good for trying to help him. Maybe the next fish I 'rescue' will have a happier ending.

 

[akhtar]

oh no im so sorry to hear that, how long dd the guy live!?