Oh No! He's Dead!

[kjr928]

My precious little betta, Blub (as seen in my avatar), kicked the bucket unexpectedly!

Yesterday he was looking a little less vibrant, and he wasn't his usually perky self, but I ignored it because I thought I was imagining things. Today, when I got home from work, I found him dead and my snails were eating him!!! (Try cleaning that up...YUCK)

I haven't changed any elements in the 5.5 gallon tank in months, so I just can't figure out what happened to him. I want to get another, but I don't know what I need to do to prepare for one. Should I do a complete water change? Should I test for something? (I've never tested my water before, and I don't know what to look for, but Blub never had a problem the whole time I had him (about a year).

Tips/thoughts anyone??? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[mduros]

How old was he? They normally live for a couple of years or so, and when they hit the stores they are normally several months to a year old.
Mary.

 

[Hannys_Papa]

First i'd like to say i am sorry to hear about your loss.

It was probably age - like the prvious poster mentioned. Some live for 2-3 years - others only for a year.
Testing for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate can't hurt (but none of it should be a problem if your tank was cycled and you did regular water changes). If you didn't introduce anything new into the tank lately then i also don't think he died from disease - so there's nothing that can be passed on to another betta.

After checking the water parameters i'd just do a large water change and your tank should be ready for a new betta.

 

[new2tanks]

im sorry for your loss.
what a beautfiul beautiful betta.

 

[kjr928]

Thanks for all your replies.

I would first like to mention that I'm not sure how old this fish was. I think I only had him for about 9 months. But who knows how old he was when I got him.

I had him in a 5.5 gallon tank with a filter and I would suction about 20-25% from the bottom about once a week. I never did any testing on the water and used standard water conditioner.

He also lived with a bunch of little snails, but they never bothered him (if anything, he bothered them).

I guess I will do some testing in the water and dump most of it before I get a new fish. Does anyone have any suggestions to some other colorful fish that would be suitable in this size tank and be compatible with snails?