Ruby end

Two days ago he crashed. I quit putting food in the ring, he was always on the substrate. Would skitter away through the plants if startled, struggling to swim it looked like. I did not see any hope of recovery. I put him in this container to dose with clove oil- following the usual method- shaking three or four drops in a small jar, then adding slowly to the container with the fish, waiting for it to go immobile, then add more drops until stops breathing. Except, he didn't go to sleep and it wasn't gentle. It's not the first time this has happened- the fish thrashes around, tries to jump out, looks panicked. I can't stand to watch that. I got a damp paper towel, netted him out, stepped outside, lifted the edge of a flower pot, set the fish in towel under, dropped it. Over in a few seconds. I don't think I will use clove oil again, unless I can figure out why it's not going easy for them. Maybe I need to use a larger container for the waiting fish? perhaps the oil was too concentrated at first. I don't know.

Anyway, goodbye Ruby. His first photo from 4/19/18

and the best one, from 10/20/18

I had him almost a year and a half. No improvement on the record, how long my bettas stay alive and well. I'm feeling glum about that.