Sorry little Aster

I'm afraid that my poor little guy has passed away not too long ago. I noticed some of the bladder snails gathering beneath the breeding box he is lying in, an checked up on him. He didn't move at all, his fins weren't fluttering like usual, and his gills were open.

I recently accidentally gave him a mini heartattack while attempting to clean the gravel which quickly turned into swim bladder. For the past 2 days he's been struggling to live and I really tried my best to help him, but I suppose there was nothing I could do. I'm sure that lying in a c curve wasn't comfortable, but at least it was dark and quiet.

I feel like absolutely awful. I know I should see this as a ~lesson well learned (the hard way)~ kind of thing but I just feel awful. He's my first fish and I've only had him for 3 months or so- I tried so hard to give him a good life only to mess it up for him. He was the most beautiful thing I ever saw, I just loved how blue his body was, the red on his fins, and how you can see a bit of purple or a green sheen depending on how you looked at him. I loved how he'd lay on the marimo balls, how he'd never flare at me. Other than his beef with the tiger nerite, he was pretty chill otherwise. I was just about to get him some new (more longer lasting than petsmart ghost shrimp) shrimp friends too. But now I just have a lonely tank (excluding the snails) right next to my bed to haunt me.

This was the last photo I took of him all healthy and happy.

Edit: oh, and to those who helped me with my other two posts about this, thank you so much. I'll be sure to remember it all for future reference.

 

Sorry, it hurts to lose animals. It really does.

 

I'm just so sorry.

 

I’m really sorry.

 

Generally, I do not name my fish as it makes it even harder when you lose them. However, Aster was a good name for your betta. I am sorry you lost him.

I have a pair of them that we named Jacob and Esau. They reside in a divided tank. The two were named after the Biblical brothers. Esau means red. He was his daddy's favorite. So it was a fitting name for a all red double-tail betta. Jacob was more of a mama's boy, so it was a fitting name for a beautiful bumblebee betta. Like the two Biblical characters, Jacob and Esau nearly came to blows when Esau somehow managed to get over into Jacob's side of the tank. Fortunately, my wife spotted it quickly and I was able to get them back on their right sides before any serious damage was done.

 

Sorry for your loss, but don't be too hard on yourself. You were trying to take good care of him. And frankly, I didn't understand what exactly you might have done with the vacuum to have him get a bladder issue. Whatever mistake it was, I am sure you will not do it again.

 

Sorry for your loss . Hope you are feeling a little better . Don’t be too discouraged, your intentions were good. It’s always hard to lose a fish. I lost an old betta this week and I have some sick and struggling bettas right now so I understand .