I bought a beta fish, which I nicknamed "V.J." from Wally World on New Year's Day. I had the tank aerating for two days prior to welcoming him to his new environment. Sitting on that Wal Mart shelf, his water looked the cleaniest and he looked the happiest.

He was fine for about two days, and then the third day he developed a bacterial infection. He had white cottony spots on his back and under his mouth. I gave him medicine for it and cleaned his tank and gave him new fish rocks. He seemed to feel a little better until today.

Today his fishy life just couldn't hold up. He died lastnight, laying on his side on the bottom of the tank on the rocks. The fungus on his body spread to other areas, and his eye didn't look right, and his gills are all black (the visible one anyway).

I know why he died... 1) his sickness and 2) his lack of appetite. I tried feeding him several times but he never showed interest in the food and he never went for it, either. Poor guy



So what do I do with his dead body? Flush him down the toilet? I don't think I want to bury him since I have a curious dog in the backyard. Advice, anyone? Thanks.

 

Burial at sea is the only way for a FISH to leave this great earth.





















































FLUSH!

 

Flush it. I flush any pet that fits. You'd be amazed what your can shoe-horn down those pipes...

 

lol, where does all the flushed toilet water go anyway?

 

Flush 'em.

Too bad you got him from Wally World instead of a reputable local fish/ pet store. Good shops won't sell a sick animal. The reason his tank was the cleanest is because it got cleaned more often so potential buyers wouldn't notice that he was sick.

 

aw, that's such a scam. Wally World is the only place around here that sells freshwater fish, unfortunately. None of the fish looked that great to begin with; I mean it's Wal Mart. He was prolly sick to begin with.

I wonder though, if partially the reason of his death was because I did not have a heater for him. I've heard that room temp is okay for beta fish, and I also heard that they need the warm water. What gives?

edit: The people at wal mart said, if the fish dies bring him back (within a few days I suppose). But I don't think I want to exchange my dead fish body for a live one. I think I just want to flush him, the right way.

 

Betas are funny fishies... the first week is always iffy, regardless of where you get it. Our first one didn't make it (not sick, just up and croaked), so I went back and got another. Had it ever since. Many folks cry and say you need a heater - but I have never had one, or a little air bubbler. He's doing just fine.

 

Well, I just flushed the little guy; blessed him before I sent him off. I put all his stuff in his tank and let it soak in hot water with some dish soap. I threw out the rocks he had in his tank. Now I dunno if I wanna get another fish. sigh...

 

My wife has Beta's all the time. Did you put the chlorine drops in its water? If your water isn't treated, sometimes it will kill the little guys. She always puts those special drops in when she changes the water.

The one she has right now is actually sick. It's got Ick. But she bought Ick drops and put it in its water, and it looks like the poor guy is going to make it.

I personally think that Betas are a pain in the a#@, but she likes them. So, I guess as long as she's happy, and takes care of them, then I'm happy!

 

I flushed a dead fish down the toilet. No sooner did I hit the handle and damn if he didn't start swimming against the current. He was just faking. I think the smarter breeds use this as a ruse to escape.

As he dissappeared down the hole I could have swore I heard a sqeaky little fish voice yell, "Sucka !"

I know you say your fish was all dead and gross looking but, do you ever set a purse with makeup in it near the tank?

 

LMMFAO! Nah, I'm sure haha

freebirdz, I never put chlorine drops in the water. I used distilled water. Would I still need to treat the water with chlorine drops? How do you know if it has Ick?

 

My wife puts chlorine drops regardless of what water she uses. I don't know if you have to if you are using distilled, but she does.

You can tell that the fish has Ick if you see it rubbing up against the side of the tank, or if it doesn't seem to be floating right. Another symptom is the spots that you described in your original post. In fact, I would almost bet that is what your fish had. The spots are usually a tel-tale sign.

If you get another one and it gets sick again, go to Wal-Mart or a pet store and get Ick Drops. They sell special drops just for this problem.

Good Luck if you get another one!

 

Being that I've worked for a licensed Class IV Wastewater operator for many years, shall I walk you through the process?

It's not pretty. It smells bad. Been there, done that, had to change t-shirts and burn the old one.

RP

 

So it goes to my Uncle Steve's house??? that explains a LOT...

 

That sucks! I don't have fish...and it's a good thing too...I'd probably have fried him right up for myself...or given him to Tuff to eat.