pinkfloydpuffer

Warning: graphic pics

I cannot believe this. I came home from work today and found my pride and joy, my sweet little Winter, dead. And not only dead, but mutilated and unrecognizeable. He had no eyes in his head, his stomach was open and his guts were hanging out, most of his fins were gone, and he was an entirely different color. I have no idea what happened. I am so so so upset right now. I can't believe he's really gone. I thought he was going to live with me for years. He's my favorite betta I've ever had. Such a sweet boy, an absolute silly and spoiled beyond belief. He was the one I picked because he looked like Rodya at first. But all that's left of him is a little mush of flesh and scales. I hate to do this, but I'm including pics so that hopefully someone can help me discover what happened to him. He was so beautiful, and to see him like this is just heartbreaking. I can't stop crying.

Attached Images

	winter1.JPG (147.8 KB, 96 views)
	winter2.JPG (198.2 KB, 94 views)
	winter.JPG (86.6 KB, 89 views)

Amanda

omg Pink!! I'm soooo sorry!!
I'm tearing up also...

MaddieLynn

Was he in a divided tank with any other fish on the other side? If so the other fish ciould have escaped, torn him up, and gone back to its own side...

I'm really sorry!

sirdarksol

Oh my goodness... I'm so sorry that you came home to that.

My first question is; what was in the tank with him?
When one of my guppies died, I found his body torn apart in a manner similar to this. I then saw one of my Amano shrimp scurry out of hiding, grab the corpse, and drag it under a piece of driftwood. What I believe happened was that the guppy died (of unknown causes) and then the shrimp went for the softest parts; fins, eyes, underbelly. These are the parts of the body that nearly every scavenger in nature will go for first.
It could be that the betta died and then was assaulted thus.

pinkfloydpuffer

He was in a divided tank with Moby next door and Volta next to Moby. Nothing else.

Nick G

Really sorry to hear that Pink. I have to say that it definatly looks like something has had a go at him. Is there anything else in the tank with him?

Lucy

Omg, Pink. I'm so sorry. Beautiful Winter.
I remember when you got him and how he reminded you of tie dyed Rodya.

I wish I could say something to make you feel better, but I know, there are no words.........
RIP Boy.

MaddieLynn

I think Moby was the most likely culprit... is the divider siliconed in? Is there any way in the world Moby could have gotten at him? Is it a homemade (plastic canvas or other material) divider?

sirdarksol

That limits the possibilities quite a bit, doesn't it?

The only two that I can think of are;
Some sort of infection that very rapidly ate away at the soft tissue,
or
The above-mentioned scenario of a tank-mate hopping a divider and then back.

Amanda

Could he have gotten sucked into the filter?

pinkfloydpuffer

It's a store bought divider.

I hadn't seen him yesterday, but he likes to hide cause he's a prissy pants, so I didn't think anything of it. He could have been dead yesterday and I didn't notice. omg

pinkfloydpuffer

Maybe. It's one of those whisper internal filters that come with Minibows, but I used it on his part of the divided tank.

Amanda

I vote the filter, rather than another fish.

pinkfloydpuffer

I suppose I should go..... look in the filter..... for pieces.....

omg

Nick G

He may have died of natural causes, and then gotten sucked into the filter, or possibly just died of natural causes and then started to decompose? It doesn't take long.

MissMTS

OMG Pink I am so sorry. RIP sweet Winter I am so sorry that happened. I know how much you loved him and I wish there was a way for me to make you feel better

My betta Sparticus had the same thing happen to him, but he shared a tank with ghost shrimp and I realized that it was them who tore him apart after he died. Do you think that Moby could have gotten through the divider?

Amanda

I agree with Nick's first theory....

MaddieLynn

Have you discovered anything yet? :-(

pinkfloydpuffer

He seemed just fine a few days ago, I can't imagine why he would just suddenly die. But who knows how old he is... I mean was. I looked through the tank and didn't see any... bits.... and there's some stuff stuck to the bottom of the filter, just a little bit, but it's not like I can identify what that weird brownish muck is. And none of the bettas' stomachs look like they're full....

Amanda

I don't think it was another betta - they generally don't kill the other fish. Just tear at fins enough until the other gives up. I know - my friends 2 bettas really got into it. Just torn fins & an injured eye. I think Winter probably died of unknown natural causes & was sucked into the filter.

jgon_

Sorry to hear about Winter, Pink.
At least he's enjoying the great gig in the sky.

pinkfloydpuffer

Well, I have noticed that I can't get Moby to flare, not even at a mirror. So he doesn't seem like he'd be aggressive enough.

When I found Winter he was floating at the top of the tank near the back. So if he got sucked onto the filter he would have somehow had to get dislodged and float to the top...

Martinismommy

My heart bleeds for you right now...I'm so very sorry you lost your little guy..I hope you figure out what happened even though it won't ease the pain you will be able to have closure..

I'm sorry Pink..

RIP Winter

CHoffman

I'm soo sorry pink. Winter was a very special betta. RIP sweet Winter.

agabr123

oh no!!! pink i am so sorry about your sweet little boy! winter was my favorite, i'm so shocked

pinkfloydpuffer

Thanks for the condolences everyone

I buried him outside next to Fletcher Rayni Torrance. Two of the sweetest fish I've ever known

pinkfloydpuffer

Hm... I was thinking...
remember how he had the one eye that was larger than the other, and also his pec fin on that side was larger too? Maybe he had some sort of genetic defect? I don't know, I'm just grasping at straws here.

COBettaCouple

Aww, I'm so sorry my friend. I can't believe little Winter is gone. I'd guess he died from either a sudden illness or something internal or genetic that there just wasn't any way to notice, it could've even been heart failure and it's amazing how fast the water can break the body down once they're gone.

It's so sad and I know how it hurts to lose an extra-special one like him, but it just doesn't seem likely that he was in a fight and it wasn't something you could see coming in advance. He had a great life with you and was happy - you made him feel loved and he's swimming with Teddy Bear now.

aquarist48

Sorry to hear about your loss Pink.

haedra

I am so very sorry for your loss, Pink.