Oh No.

[K.J.]

Well, I just got home and found Calcifer dead.

I don't know why. He was from Petsmart, so that might be half of it, but I can't help but feel I'm a really bad owner. It might have also been he hated his new tank, or the current harmed him, but.. I don't even know if I want to get another Betta.

 

[starrynightxxi]

sorry for your loss. very often it is difficult to distinguish what exactly is wrong with a fish, especially if it is an internal problem, and even more so when there are external influencs such as tank changes and other stressful things. It is unlikely that it was those things that killed him, but pouting and depression have much the same symptoms as many internal parasites (lack of appetite, sluggishness).

In your other post you said you aren't sure if this board has a point and i'm not exactly sure what you meant by that. If you are referring to this case and our inability to help you, you should remember that we are not psychic, nor are we miracle workers. We can only diagnose with the information we are given. It isn't our fault, and niether is it yours. Like i said, many diseases are not as obvious as say, Ich or fin rot.

Sorry again, but don't let one loss ruin your taste for keeping fish. Like any other pet, they can't last forever and most will not outlive us.

 

[K.J.]

sorry for your loss. very often it is difficult to distinguish what exactly is wrong with a fish, especially if it is an internal problem, and even more so when there are external influencs such as tank changes and other stressful things. It is unlikely that it was those things that killed him, but pouting and depression have much the same symptoms as many internal parasites (lack of appetite, sluggishness).

In your other post you said you aren't sure if this board has a point and i'm not exactly sure what you meant by that. If you are referring to this case and our inability to help you, you should remember that we are not psychic, nor are we miracle workers. We can only diagnose with the information we are given. It isn't our fault, and niether is it yours. Like i said, many diseases are not as obvious as say, Ich or fin rot.

Sorry again, but don't let one loss ruin your taste for keeping fish. Like any other pet, they can't last forever and most will not outlive us.

That was probably it. I've never kept a betta before either, so I guess I wouldn't know.

And I meant by the other board I had gone to our lfs and asked them if they could get a female in, they said they had thai flags so I would adopt one out latger. But I got home and found my fish dead, I'm considering cancelling the order and I don't neccassarily need to know the distinguishes of a thai flag now that I'm not sure I'm getting one.

One thing I suspect is fin rot. When I got him, he had whitish marks on some of his fins, but not all of them, and I figured it was just his coloring. But I don't know...

I guess I could go ahead and get the female, and maybe if I see a healthier one, I could get another male at the lfs. I really don't know, I'm kind of confused right now. But thanks anyway.

 

[Betta_Lovex3]

He could have had internal parasites. You never know. At least while he was with you he was a very happy, healthy boy. You did your best for him and that's all that matters. I think you should get a female! Yes, you just lost Calcifer, but you shouldn't give up on fishkeeping altogether .

 

[happyannie]

I don't know if your Petsmart is different than ours here but I'd be amazed if ANY of them survive the conditions they're kept in. They leave them in those little cups with no air holes and no water changes for who knows how long... Maybe until they're purchased or die...?? I wonder what breeder they buy from too. I have to breeze right past them and not look cuz it really upsets me. I have to keep the mantra going in my head that supplies are cheaper here and try not to think about it. Maybe in the future try to buy from a breeder on here or another forum then you're more assured of getting a healthy fish. I've bought too many unhealthy ones from pet stores to put myself thru that heartbreak anymore. Sometimes you don't even know they have a disease until you have them for a few months and by then you're all attached to them and it's really painful to see them suffer and you can't do anything to treat the problem.
I can appreciate the feeling that you don't want another betta but hopefully by now you've worked that through. We've had many members unknowingly or knowingly purchase sick fish then try their best to treat them. On rare occasion, it's successful but that isn't often the case. If you don't have alot of experience with them, how would you know what to do or even if there is a problem? Try try again as the saying goes.
Hope this helps.