She's gone...

[juliethegr8t]

This morning when I got up and went to check on my little sick lady I saw that she had developed a full blown case of severe dropsy - her scales were sticking out very badly, she was a pinecone fish. Then, probably almost an hour later I checked on her before leavin for school and she was gone... *sigh*. I feel terrible that I just brought her home to die. Poor little lady, I wish I could have actually done somethin more for her. Now I'm on the lookout for another female.... could be awhile.. aren't many around here. Not a happy day.

 

[poindexter]

thats so sad. I once brought home a girl betta too, she didnt eat for three weeks, she was so tiny, she got swim bladder and passed away too. she was the first fish that i had die well jsut thought id post my sympathy. *hugz* ~dEx

 

[Inchworm]

Hi juliethegr8te

I'm so sorry to hear about your poor little girly. It was for the best, though. Once a fish has dropsy there is so little you can do.

Hope you are lucky enough to find another soon.

 

[juliethegr8t]

Whoops, forgot to ask y'all a question with that post. She was in the little filtered Azoo tank, and has been for umm.... month or more? Not sure. Anyways, how do you guys think I should go about cleaning it, or should I just do a water change. If the tank has cycled, or even partially, I don't want to ruin that. However, I don't know if what she had was contagious? Not sure what it was even - white stringy feces, not eating, bloated, swimmin head down, bad color.... sick in every way! But I don't wanna give this to another fish who'll go in her tank next. Should I wash everything - do 50% water change, 100% water but not gravel? Opinions needed! Thanks guys, and I appreciate the support too.

 

[wuvmybetta]

So sorry julie...but bringing her home to die was the best thing you could have done for her, that's far better than dying alone in a pet shop with nobody giving a flip if your sick or not. You did everything you could.

I'd go ahead and clean it out completely..hot water & salt. You don't want to risk it,let the new guy or girl cycle it's own tank or use a handful of gravel from one of your others

 

[Kossy]

Yeah you don't wanna risk it, so yes do as said. Deepest sympathy from me regarding your girl

 

[BettaBoyz]

my only Grrlie had her ventral ripped off by 'Da Big, Vishus Donny' back when i was just starting with Bettas.

wash everything! i found a good way to nuke a tank is Vinegar. give the entire thing a vinegar bath. i did this after Lil Phoenix (an Ick+Fungus boy) died, then i put Pierce in. it's been two weeks without incident, so i think it works well. not sure if it kills bacteria though, but Dropsy is very contagious and everything should be washed very thoroughly!

 

[mike777]

sorry to hear about your loss juliethegr8t , good luck on your search for a new girl!

 

[White Whale]

Sorry to hear.... But just remember, for every betta that passes on, 100 more enter into this world.... And one of them will be waiting for you....

 

[Eelzor]

Sad to hear that julie, but it just goes to show that you shouldn't go for the little 'pathetic looking' fishy that looks quite sick. I would have the urge to save a fish looking like that in that position too, but sometimes...you just can't... ... ... *Bursts into tears*

 

[canis_lupus]

oh man i'm really sorry julie i know exactly how u feel.....the only good thing is that she went quickly......my girl Breeze is still kicking around and she is twice the size of a normal betta (wide) and her scales r so bad that she doesn't have a colour i can't kill her tho cuz she is still sorta eating and swiming ok.......good luck with the new one u get! i'm happy u saved her from a lonely death

 

[juliethegr8t]

Thanks so everyone for all the nice words. I took your advice and completely cleaned out the tank with salt, and now it's up and running again waiting for someone new. *sigh* It's sad looking at the empty one. I'm not gonna fill it until I find someone really really special.

Also - more bad news..... my Powder Blue Dwarf Gourami died today. He hadn't been acting well the last few days, and never really was too interested in eating. Bleh, I think he was sick since I got him too. I guess the only good thing is that all the fish I had that were unwell are now gone and I don't have to stress about them. O well.

 

[White Whale]

Because of you, they did not die anonymously - they died loved....