How did this betta die?

[Pogthefish]

I have a sorority tank, and there was 1 betta that never stayed with the rest of the bettas, i suspect it may have been a boy, but idk..

anyway, maybe 2 weeks after I bought it, I went on vacation, and when I came back, I dint see it.. I hadnt seen it before i left for a few days, but it liked to hide in the plants.. so the other day I decided to investigate, and the first decoration I picked up, a roman colleseum, I saw a betta skeleton sitting there.. it was sorta near the edge, so i think it may have gotten stuck under? the back was broken and when i found it it was sorta curled up.. could it have gotten stuck under there? or gotten sick and died there? it had been slightly more lethargis in its last days, but...

[Sena Hansler]

Either or. I've had females try to bury themselves under rocks, smoosh themselves into snail shells (the empty ones you can get anywhere for decorations), and even flop themselves in a semi-wet top of a sunken ship

But because the fish was lethargic, it could've very well been sick in the first place. or, it tried going through an opening, gotten stuck and being sick couldn't get out?

[Pogthefish]

maybe :( it could have also died near the opening though, or the skeleton could have been pushed over there by the current, who knows... should I watch the other fish for signs of disease?

[Sena Hansler]

Did you do a water change with gravel siphoning? And how big is the tank? And were they all quarantined prior? If not, you should watch for any signs, especially columnaris or ich which being in a tank with decaying matter I find those two are the most common. I will assume they've consumed the dead fish as well, so I would keep them all watched :)

[Pogthefish]

ok, thanks :D and it might have been the shrimp that ate it.. but ok! and no I did not quarantine

[Sena Hansler]

Next time quarantine it'll save you lots of time, money, meds and heartache! Especially if a betta ends up being a male xDD

[Pogthefish]

ok, thanks :D

[Sena Hansler]

And don't blame yourself. Especially for sorority tanks... It's a strict world in there, and the inevitable happens!!

[Pogthefish]

ok, thanks... and yeah I get it.. its up to them alot, whether it works or not