I don't understand!!!

[Lion Mom]

Hot Rod (the betta in my avatar) passed away today at only 9 months of age!!!

5 gal. tank filtered (cycled) & heated to a steady 80 degrees, live plants, Prime water conditioner, 50% PLUS water changes twice a week, good quality diet (New Life Spectrum & Golden Pearls), one fasting day a week. Cleaned his filter sponges twice a month in used tank water. No water parameters since I used up my testing kit years ago & never replaced it.

NEVER a moment of worry with him till yesterday morning when he was "sluggish" about eating, but did eat some. Just Wednesday afternoon he exercised with a mirror for 5 minutes and after that was SO proud of chasing off that "other" fish, he patrolled his tank showing off for another 5 minutes or so. Today - DEAD!!!

Yesterday when he was slow to eat I did a water change & added a whole IAL - to no avail.

NO signs of injury, illness or parasites.

I just don't get it!!! ANY ideas of what I might have done wrong?????

[Littlebittyfish]

Originally Posted by Lion Mom

Hot Rod (the betta in my avatar) passed away today at only 9 months of age!!!

5 gal. tank filtered (cycled) & heated to a steady 80 degrees, live plants, Prime water conditioner, 50% PLUS water changes twice a week, good quality diet (New Life Spectrum & Golden Pearls), one fasting day a week. Cleaned his filter sponges twice a month in used tank water. No water parameters since I used up my testing kit years ago & never replaced it.

NEVER a moment of worry with him till yesterday morning when he was "sluggish" about eating, but did eat some. Just Wednesday afternoon he exercised with a mirror for 5 minutes and after that was SO proud of chasing off that "other" fish, he patrolled his tank showing off for another 5 minutes or so. Today - DEAD!!!

Yesterday when he was slow to eat I did a water change & added a whole IAL - to no avail.

NO signs of injury, illness or parasites.

I just don't get it!!! ANY ideas of what I might have done wrong?????

Awe...I am so sorry about Hot rod.

[Arashi Takamine]

It could be he had a pre-existing illness. Or maybe it was just sudden and he just couldn't fight it off in time. You did what you could. I'm so sorry for your loss.

[Tomsk]

Sorry to hear about his death,sometimes its just sudden like humans I guess
Tomsk

[Lion Mom]

Thanks guys!!

I am just SO frustrated - especially when I read about people's bettas living 5, 6, 7 years!!! Grrrrrr.............

Sure, I have hard water with high ph, but so does the breeder I usually get my bettas from (which is where I got this one) so I don't believe that has anything to do with anything.

Figures it would be one of my prettiest (IMO) with perfect fins and such a character!! He was always in a hurry to get where ever he was going in his tank - hence the name "Hot Rod".

[tracyalexa]

Really sorry to hear that.

[TonyK]

Sorry for your loss. Sounds like you did everything right so don't blame yourself.

[luluo]

I'm sorry for your loss.

[Pekemom]

So sorry, Lion Mom. You sound like such a concientious and caring fish mom. I'm so sorry...=((

[Lion Mom]

Originally Posted by Pekemom

So sorry, Lion Mom. You sound like such a concientious and caring fish mom. I'm so sorry...=((

Thanks all!

I really do care about my animals & do my ABSOLUTE best for them. I don't cut corners on equipment or food or water changes (as my water bill will testify to).

It just irks me NO END to take care of my bettas like I do, have something like this happen and read/hear something like, "I used to have a betta in a 1 gal. (or smaller) bowl without any heat or filter and changed his water when it looked dirty and fed him when I thought of it and he lived 3 or 4 years." Grrrrr..............

Maybe "neglect" is the way to go & I'm killing them with kindness!

Sheesh - all my other fish (guppies, angels, cichlids & assorted) not only live, they THRIVE. So what the hell is going on with my bettas????!!!!