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Author
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Topic: Tbe Beta that refuses to die :(
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noreenz
Knowflake Posts: 665
From:
Registered: Feb 2004
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posted February 05, 2005 01:48 AM
 
This dang fish is breaking my heart. Does anyone know the average life span of a Beta fish? Geez, we've had this little guy for about 5 YEARS! It is dying of old age, his little fins are deterioriating. He looks dead. He is sitting at the bottom of the vase with nose pointing straight up leaning against the side. He is often laying on the bottom. You tap the glass, wait 20 secs or so, then miraculously (sp?) he musters enough energy to try and bolt up to the top for a bite to eat, and then down to the bottom he goes for the next 23.59 hours, this has been going on for a month!! Its killing me!! I don't know how much more of this I can take, lol. My gosh, do you just flush the little guy, and put him out of his misery. Someone suggested just putting him in the freezer, feeling that would be the most humane thing. Or do you just let the little guy continue??????This is one the most amazing things I have witnessed, totally unbelievable.....I have never had to watch a dang fish die a slow death. Any suggestions? IP: Logged |
noreenz
Knowflake Posts: 665
From:
Registered: Feb 2004
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posted February 05, 2005 01:53 AM
Boy, sure wish I could *edit* subject box.
If I could, it would read "THE Beta that
refuses to die" not "Tbe"  IP: Logged |
26taurus
Moderator Posts: 8210
From: the stars
Registered: Jun 2004
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posted February 05, 2005 02:02 AM
Awwww...poor guy.  Wow, 5 years! That seems like a long time for a beta fish, but I wouldnt really know. I would say let him go peacefully on his own. Send him love and peaceful energy. I couldnt bear sending him down the toilet, I think I'd cry - or putting him in the freezer. That seems a little harsh to me. And I feel like it would be giving him a more painful death. Maybe I'm wrong but my advice is to let him go on his own. In the wild - if he wasnt eaten first - he wouldve gone this way anyway. That's all I can say.  Fishy angels to noreenz Beta fish.  IP: Logged |
26taurus
Moderator Posts: 8210
From: the stars
Registered: Jun 2004
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posted February 05, 2005 09:09 PM
How's fishy doing noreenz? Did you send him down the drain?  IP: Logged |
Randall
Webmaster Posts: 21801
From: Columbus, GA USA
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted February 06, 2005 07:44 AM
I'd let him live as long as he will. ------------------
"Never mentally imagine for another that which you would not want to experience for yourself, since the mental image you send out inevitably comes back to you." Rebecca Clark IP: Logged |
Eleanore
Moderator Posts: 1159
From: North Carolina
Registered: Aug 2003
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posted February 06, 2005 02:40 PM
I'm so sorry, noreenz. If it was a dog or a cat most people I know wouldn't hesitate too long about helping him end his life. But fish are seen differently, though I'm sure a fish can know suffering, too. You seem to know that, as well. It's a tough decision for you to make. I don't know what I'd do except cry. You know him better than anyone else. Just follow your intuition. You can't make a really bad decision if you love him, want what's best for him, and follow your heart. Sending him love and peace. ------------------
"You must be the change you wish to see in the world." - Ghandi IP: Logged |
26taurus
Moderator Posts: 8210
From: the stars
Registered: Jun 2004
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posted February 06, 2005 06:43 PM
"You can't make a really bad decision if you love him, want what's best for him, and follow your heart." That's right. IP: Logged |
noreenz
Knowflake Posts: 665
From:
Registered: Feb 2004
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posted February 06, 2005 08:56 PM
((hugs to all of ya))......he's still plugg'in away............yesterday, laying FLAT on the bottom, has he passed???..NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!Yeah, have decided just to let the little guy go on, and on, and on. I have three ponds, even an indoor pond with Koi, most of the time you have no clue a fish is ill, unless there is a visual virus, and if there are any signs usually you just find them floating on top of the water within a day or so, and yes your heart breaks, wondering what caused it, lack of oxygen, chemicals, what you perhaps could have done different, etc....I've had my share of fishies, but have never had any live this long. I guess as long as he has a will to live evidenced by mustering up enough energy to eat, then who am I to determine his fate? ya know what I mean? But this is just unbelievable. What a will to live this little guy has!!!!! Again, thank you all for your support and for listening.  IP: Logged |
Nephthys
Moderator Posts: 1852
From: California
Registered: Oct 2001
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posted February 06, 2005 09:37 PM
Hi Noreenz!!!! Oh! Oh! Oh! Before you go, please read my post!!!!  I know a teeny bit about Beta's, since I've called the Pet stores with questions about my Beta's, and a friend who knows Beta's as well. First of all, that is very old for him to live 5 years. That's great!!! They say 3 years is average old age. Mine died at 3 years. He was blind in one eye. Apparantly in the wild, they lose their eyes, and another Beta will come along and eat the eye that fell out!!!
Another old age trait is that something happens to their bodies, where they get kind of bent. Is his body bent?
Is his water cold? He might be hovering near the bottom, just because he's cold, like when we shiver and hover in our beds.
Maybe you could add a little NovAqua since it helps to destress them????? Please let him die naturally, that's my vote!  Sounds like he's just a little cold, old man. Ok, and now for ***my question***!!! How do you force-feed a Beta??????
I got 2 new Beta's about a month ago. One is a really good eater. He is a beautiful purple color and eats whatever I give him, whenever I feed him. The other doesn't eat. The other, is an aqua-colored fish. He is very healthy, swims a lot, fins all spread out like a butterfly, has a lot of energy. So I called the pet store, they said that some Beta's are just real picky eaters. They said I could try some Brine Shrimp. So of course I indulge in the little rascal. Does he eat the Brine Shrimp? Oh, yeah, he gobbles one, and then he SPITS IT OUT!!!! Ugh!!! He does this all the time and it drives me nuts!!! Then I have to fish out the shrimp he doesn't eat, so it doesn't contaminate the bowl. So he won't eat Beta Bites and he spits out the Shrimp. I don't know how he has lived this long witout food, since I know they can live 2 weeks with out food, but it's been a month!!!! I switched back to Beta Bites for both fish, becuase the purple is happy to have anything, and the shrimp clouds up the H2O too much. This little guy is driving me nuts. I have decided his only choice is Beta Bites and if he doesn't eat, I'll just scoop them out later (so as not to cloud the water). Anybody got any ideas????????? Thanks for listening to my rant, ha ha ha!!! ~Nephthys IP: Logged |
Eleanore
Moderator Posts: 1159
From: North Carolina
Registered: Aug 2003
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posted February 07, 2005 08:37 AM
noreenz
I'm rooting for your little guy! 
Nephthys
I did a search for betta fish and their feeding issues and here's what I found:
"Casey says, "... our Cichlid-Gro Pellets are the best food we've found for both Betta Fish and for Cichlids alike! These little pellets float and dance around on the surface of the water. Bettas see the pellets dancing and can't resist eating them. I haven’t found a Betta yet that won't eat these pellets."
"High in nutrients such as vitamins and other special ingredients, these pellets will definitely enhance the color of all your fish. A 3 oz. container will last for years, when you feed your Betta a few pellets per day. Click here now to buy our Best Flakes and Pellet Foods." http://www.aquariumfish.net/catalog_pages/bettas/betta_females.htm#top2
"Wardley Cichlid Pellets
Enhance the overall health and maximize the vibrant coloration of your cichlids with Wardley Cichlid Pellets. Natural ingredients including spirulina, shrimp, crayfish and marigold petals enhance colors, while stabilized Vitamin C contributes to tissue repair and enhanced disease resistance. Also contains natural attractants to encourage finicky eaters to feed. Feed an amount that your fish will completely consume in a few minutes, several times per day." www.petsmart.com (Just type in Wardley Cichlid Pellets.)
Are you sure your betta is a boy? Here's a link on breeding, etc. I only mention it because it seems the girls like different kinds of foods ... the kinds of food you feed them can also have an encouraging effect on their spawning capabilities.
http://www.aquariumfish.net/catalog_pages/bettas/betta_breeding.htm#top2
Boys: http://www.aquariumfish.net/catalog_pages/bettas/betta_males.htm#top2 Girls: http://www.aquariumfish.net/catalog_pages/bettas/betta_females.htm#top2
Sorry if it seems like elementary stuff for me to bring up but I had a friend once who thought her betta female was a baby betta male. She had another betta, a grown male, and she would worry because the "baby" wouldn't act the same or eat the same as the male. Eventually she realized she had a female but, unfortunately, didn't know enough about how to breed them. The female didn't live through her encounter with the male.
Good luck on getting your fishie to eat!  ------------------
"You must be the change you wish to see in the world." - Ghandi IP: Logged |
Nephthys
Moderator Posts: 1852
From: California
Registered: Oct 2001
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posted February 07, 2005 09:21 PM
Dear Eleanore,
Thanks for all that interesting information. I will check on that dancing Chichlid food at my pet stores. How is your doggie doing? I can't stay on computer because I've been gone all day and my little girl keeps pawing me, "get off the computer please!!!!" She literally tries to pull my arm with her paws! IP: Logged |
Randall
Webmaster Posts: 21801
From: Columbus, GA USA
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted February 14, 2005 01:57 PM
How's that tough Beta doing?------------------
"Never mentally imagine for another that which you would not want to experience for yourself, since the mental image you send out inevitably comes back to you." Rebecca Clark IP: Logged |
noreenz
Knowflake Posts: 665
From:
Registered: Feb 2004
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posted February 15, 2005 07:00 PM
He's still hangin on!!! Thanks for asking. I think I'm gonna take a couple jpegs, so you guys can see exactly what I'm talking about, unbelievable. IP: Logged |
noreenz
Knowflake Posts: 665
From:
Registered: Feb 2004
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posted February 15, 2005 09:43 PM
I apologize if anyone finds this disturbing or offensive.Grandpa Beta~ 
note how his little fin is simply worn away, deteriorated IP: Logged |
26taurus
Moderator Posts: 8210
From: the stars
Registered: Jun 2004
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posted February 16, 2005 01:23 AM
Awww man! Poor guy. He's really hangin' in there isnt he? I wish I had more advice. My roomie said to keep the water level lower so he doesnt have to go so far up to get air and eat. Just a thought. IP: Logged |
SunChild
Moderator Posts: 1418
From: Melbourne Australia
Registered: Jan 2004
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posted February 16, 2005 07:42 PM
Poor little guy! But he has someone that loves him dearly!
Comfort him, and talk to him!
------------------
"And dreams, don't ever forget, are the first step in manifesting wishes into reality"-- Linda Goodman's Star Signs IP: Logged |
Nephthys
Moderator Posts: 1852
From: California
Registered: Oct 2001
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posted February 17, 2005 12:07 PM
Great idea, 26taurus!!!!Noreenz, Have you called your local pet stores to get advice? I thinke he's just a little old guy. As long as he's not suffering. The one of mine who doesn't eat, actually ate some brine shrimp yesterday. I think he likes really tiny pieces, because he spits out big pieces. I guess he figured he better start eating if he wants to live. Still, I don't know how he has so much energy to swim around like a butterfly on no food! IP: Logged |
noreenz
Knowflake Posts: 665
From:
Registered: Feb 2004
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posted February 17, 2005 04:08 PM
thanks guys!I did lower the water a bit, but I probably should a little more. thank you. N-your fish sounds alot like my children have during certain times of their lives when they wouldn't eat and we'd get concerned, but they sure had the energy....so we kinda left it as how they acted, as an indicator of any real problems.
Good luck IP: Logged |
Randall
Webmaster Posts: 21801
From: Columbus, GA USA
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted February 19, 2005 11:06 AM
 ------------------
"Never mentally imagine for another that which you would not want to experience for yourself, since the mental image you send out inevitably comes back to you." Rebecca Clark IP: Logged |
Nephthys
Moderator Posts: 1852
From: California
Registered: Oct 2001
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posted February 19, 2005 02:17 PM
Lo and Behold, my beta actually ate several tiny pieces of Brine Shrimp yesterday!!!! Wow!IP: Logged |
Randall
Webmaster Posts: 21801
From: Columbus, GA USA
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted February 20, 2005 03:29 AM
 ------------------
"Never mentally imagine for another that which you would not want to experience for yourself, since the mental image you send out inevitably comes back to you." Rebecca Clark IP: Logged |
moonlightmaiden
Knowflake Posts: 30
From:
Registered: Jan 2005
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posted February 20, 2005 08:11 PM
they are very tough, I had one and my sister dropped him on the floor more than once,he pulled through....I feel bad for those beautiful little fishies!------------------
Jennifer
Mt student
www.mtacc.net IP: Logged |
Randall
Webmaster Posts: 21801
From: Columbus, GA USA
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted February 21, 2005 02:42 PM
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"Never mentally imagine for another that which you would not want to experience for yourself, since the mental image you send out inevitably comes back to you." Rebecca Clark IP: Logged |
Nephthys
Moderator Posts: 1852
From: California
Registered: Oct 2001
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posted March 02, 2005 12:42 PM
noreenz,please give us an update on the little guy! Mine that doesn't eat, is eating every time I feed them now. I feed them every other day and he just eats and eats and eats. What a good little fishy he has become.  IP: Logged |
Randall
Webmaster Posts: 21801
From: Columbus, GA USA
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted March 03, 2005 08:15 AM
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"Never mentally imagine for another that which you would not want to experience for yourself, since the mental image you send out inevitably comes back to you." Rebecca Clark IP: Logged |
Lindaland
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