Lost betta

by ownedbycats Fri Dec 27, 2013 2:43 pm

I need sympathy from people who understand. My betta, the first fish that I bought, is gone. He has just vanished from his 5 gallon tank. It's planted, but it's small enough that fish don't just disappear. My ottos in my 20 can hide for days, but the 5 is too small, and Pyr was too big. Besides, he always came out for food. There is no way he would voluntarily miss a meal. I've looked in the filter compartment, moved the driftwood, checked the table and floor, nothing.

by alexmtl Fri Dec 27, 2013 2:53 pm

Very sorry to hear, especially about such a dear friend that introduced you to the hobby. My sympathies Sad

by Fores41 Fri Dec 27, 2013 4:30 pm

Sorry to hear about your loss. bettas seem to get alot of people started in fish myself included.

by Starfish Fri Dec 27, 2013 4:47 pm

Sorry to hear about your betta. I have lost a fish for days too, but that was in a 75g. I found it when I removed all the fake plants to clean them for Christmas. He had passed away. Sad

I have never had a betta so I don't know if they jump. Do you have any other pets that might have gotten him, if he had jumped out?

by GaryE Fri Dec 27, 2013 6:30 pm

That's too bad - a sad event.

All Bettas are leapers. but the long-finned varieties of Betta splendens often luckily get held back by their fins. I learned the hard way to keep them covered.
When I had cats, before my allergies developed and saved my fish a lot of grief, I also had a "hard way" learning experience about long finned Bettas and their reduced ability to escape predators from above. I lost a really well-liked red Betta I'd had for a couple of years to a cat that suddenly realized how my Betta could be caught. I thought that since the cat had seemingly lost interest and they had coexisted for a long time that everything was cool. but I was wrong.

by goldfishbetalover Fri Dec 27, 2013 7:48 pm

I am so sorry to hear this sad news
Have you found his body yet?
This must be so difficult.....

by **Shell** Sat Dec 28, 2013 9:13 am

This must feel awful - so sad to hear. Any updates?

by ownedbycats Sat Dec 28, 2013 5:10 pm

I've looked everywhere and no body. He was in a Fluval Spec V, and the lid has a hole in the middle. I strongly suspect a cat may got him, because he had really long fins and showed no signs of jumping. I've had no trouble with the cats before, but.... I'm going to have to get a new lid.
Everybody, thank you for the sympathy.