My Male Betta fish just suddenly died?

Question

I have a community tank, 29g, it had 7 female bettas and a male betta. Have had this specific community for a little over half a year. Last night before I went to bed, I checked on my fish (as I always do, I love the colorful betta community) and watched my Crowntail Male Betta just swim around, strutting his beautiful mix of crimson red (overall body color), with strands of shiney purple, and black outlines around his gills and edges of his fins, mouth, body, etc... I checked on the tank now and I couldn't find him... He was in one of the plants, dead. Even in death, he looked beautiful. He had no color deficiency (besides through death, he whitened up a bit) or spots or abnormalities that mark illness. The rest of the community tank is fine. I replaced him with a similar colored Veiltail version, beautiful nonetheless but no where near the Great King Luis (my old Betta). I've been taking care of fish all my life, this is the first time a fairly new fish (Under 1 year) has randomly died, literally overnight, in my care. I constantly check my pH, Nitrate, and Nitrite levels. (The Ni's are usually perfect because of my plants) the tank runs a constant 78, and there has been no recent sudden changes in the community. I have no clue what went wrong, does anyone else have similar stories in which that can provide answers?

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Sometimes fish just die for no apparent reason, just like people do.

Because the tank is relatively large you are getting away with mixing male and female betta, and the water tests and remainder of the fish being healthy suggest that it's nothing else you are doing wrong. So it might just be bad luck . Sure betta usually live 3 or 4 years, and some make 8, but others drop dead after one.

Ian

Aquella BSL=BS · Answer

There are several reasons the fish could have died. The most likely, IMO, is stress. 
People seem to think that because their Bettas aren't taking pieces out of each other, they're fine. That's not true. Housing male and female Bettas in the same tank, especially one so small as yours, is stressful for all of them. Your male's life was likely dramatically shortened by your desire to ignore the rules. 
It's a shame that people insist on improperly caring for these amazing fish. They truly are the most abused of all the fish in the hobby.

Daniel · Answer

I had a Betta like that and he died almost the same way. I find that each betta has their own life span and seeing how long you had him I am not surprised ( I am sorry for your loss ). Sometimes they just die and seeing how great you take care of them I know you would have caught a illness. But sometimes they just die.

? · Answer

Betta fish are pretty I had two I agree the boys are really pretty I had a girl and a boy but I put them in two tanks. I have no idea why your fish died, I had mine for almost 2 years until they died but one of my two cats killed and I caught her eating them gross I know lol 


Sorry about your fish

Anonymous · Answer

it depends on how old it is

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My Male Betta fish just suddenly died?

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