voiceless_kat

I have lost my tiny Lotus!


I have no idea what happened to her. Just late yesterday afternoon I was taking pics of her chasing daphne bits around the tank and showing off . So cute! At lights out last night, around 1000p, I saw her laying inside the swim through. ( she sleeps in there ) I tapped on the glass and she wiggled a little, I thought she was just sleeping. This morning I got up early and went to find her straight away, and she was stuck to the filter intake, dead.

Sammy & Scooter are fine.

25% of the water was changed on the 9thaccording to instructions with Bio Spira - ( after 7 days ). On the 10th parameters were Ammon 0; Nitrite 0 ppm and Nitrate 20. This morning when I took her out, I checked the water again, and they were Ammo 0; Nitrites 0 & Nitrates 20. Nitrates in my other tanks usually are 10 or less, but I don't think that 20 is unusual for a freshly cycled tank. I have no clue what she died from, unless she was too tiny to deal with Nitrates at 20ppm??

Really, finding the little one dead so suddenly is almost worse than treating them for an illness, because it is so unexpected. But I know she didn't suffer at least. Since I have a new camera, everyday I was watching her, taking pictures, figuring out all the features of this camera, and she was perfectly normal.

This knocks me back somewhat as I am making final plans for my 55g............losing confidence and realizing I will probably be dealing with fish loss even more. But I am not sure all fish are as endearing as these little bettas, or that you can get as attached.

She had only been with me for one and a half weeks, poor little mite.

capekate

OMG Val....
I am sooo sorry to hear about ms Lotus.... what a shock for you.... I can tell you that when I brought home Gypsy my other female, she only lasted a week. I was heartbroken as well. We do get so attached to these Bettas, and the females with those doe eyes.. how can you not help it? When I looked over Gypsy after taking her out of the tank, I noticed her tummy was very swollen and I came to the conclusion that I had over fed her. Either that, or she was just not destined to live long, maybe was sick.. or weak from the LFS. I know that your Lotus came from the LFS where they had the quarantine on... who knows?
But in any event.. how or why... Im sure you did everything right in your tank... she seemed so happy.. she had a lovely home there with the two corys. Its an awful shock to find them stuck to the filter tube where they float to after dying. Please don't get discouraged on your 55 tank. Yes, there will be fish loss.. it happens. But what is the alternative? To give up fishkeeping?? I dont think you want to do that.. neither do I and Im going thru a very bad time right now as well with Casper one of my Discus. He may not make it the day.. and Im so sad.
Hang in there... ~ kate

Phloxface

I'm so sorry! It is very jarring when that happens. So unexpected. My little Dax only lived for a week after I got her, but she came to be with dropsy and didn't show symtoms until a couple days later. Whisper died very suddenly, from perfectly healthy to dead in a matter of hours. I'm still not completely sure what was wrong with her.
At least Lotus had a great tank and fun with her cory friends for a little while.

Rest in Peace little Lotus

Tom

I am so sorry. You did your best and I bet she was happier with you then she was before you had gotten her.
Tom

voiceless_kat

Thanks, guys. She was so little, and there was definetly not any swelling or anything. She was just so sweet eating daphne, she would start eating off the surface, and then when it would fall through the water and she saw the cories go after it, she would grab the falling pieces. At least I have a whole lot of pics of her!!

I will just try again. Any ideas on the Nitrates? I can't find anything that says that could kill a fish. Val

Phloxface

Nitrates are not that harmful to fish, especially short term. They can tolerate it fairly well. Ammonia and Nitrites are the real deadly ones.

mlinden84

I'm sorry you lost your little girl...

armadillo

No, I can't imagine it's the nitrates, because at 20, that's manageable. I am so sorry. I can only imagine that she had something at the store where you got her from.

punkrockviolet5

*Sniff* I'm very sorry to hear of your loss. May you not endure this misfortune again in the future.

ricktavious

Oh no, I'm so sorry You did all you could for her, maybe she had something wrong with her when you got her, or who knows, maybe she just died of natural causes

Allie

I am sorry for your lost.
I felt awful when Nigel my first Betta ever died in June after having him for just over a year.

nmwierman1977

I am so sorry Val. That so sad. Please don't give up hope yet. She may have had something that you just didn't know about because there were no signs. You will find another sweet little girl just like her soon. Rest in peace Miss lotus. Natalie

sirdarksol

That's awful. From what I understand, Nitrates (at that level) would not have caused that quick of a death, so I doubt it was that. Honestly, I can't think of anything except for "bad luck." The same types of things that kill apparently healthy people could, theoretically, kill fish.

I think that certain fish, such as bettas and (for me at least) koi do grab your hearts more easily. Especially if it's a schooling fish, it seems that the school is more the personality, so as long as the school lives, you've still got something of your loved one. But with bettas, goldfish, and other more solitary fish, or at least fish that show more personal traits, it's easier to become attached to individuals.

I hope you don't give up on your 55g tank.

voiceless_kat

I think you are exactly right in this comparison. My husband has convinced me to forge ahead with the 55g, and I will make my final fish decisions in the next couple of days. I also am going to get another little female betta to put into that special tank, I hope I don't have to wait as long as I did for Lotus. She was just a little doll, with a personality way too big for her tiny self!!

Thanks everyone, as sucky as it sounds, it feels so good to have people around ( even if just in the ether space that is the web) that understand and can relate. Many would understand if it was a dog or cat, but a fish They would say 'get over it"...........thanks all of you, for being special!!

Val

Amnagrla

I'm so sorry!!!

AlisonChristine

I'm so sorry to hear about your loss, I really enjoyed the pictures of her that you posted... I'm glad that she "chose" you and that you got to enjoy her personality, even for a short time.

Tazmiche

**** Val i am soooo sorry!! I truly am gutted for you!

Go ahead with other tank and yes it is a different feeling with other fish. I have just separated one of my guppies to treat and i am trying not to 'feel' if you undertsand what i mean.

It would be nice to see some more of her pics, she won't be forgotten by us!