I'm so sorry,AngelaJo...

Sending gentle hugs of comfort...

The hardest part of loving pets is that we outlive most of them. The average lifespan of a betta fish is 2-4 years. Buddy was a very old fish.

Condolences on your loss.

Thank you both! And who knows how old he was when i got him he was full size.

Matt came home with a female betta for me to make it easier so i dont have to stare at an empty tank. Still really miss buddy but now i have Josie to get to know at least! She is young because she is very small yet.

I'm sorry to hear this. Loss is always hard. I hope the female betta will be a good new scaly friend for you.

Death is a part of the life cycle. Love is part of the life cycle. It may seem to you that it is happening only to you, but it happens to everyone. It may seem to you that your dad deserted you, but think about this: do you honestly think your dad wanted to die and leave you. Do you think he did it on purpose or did it to hurt you? Of course not! People die every day from sickness and injury. They don’t choose to get sick or hurt and die. Things happen to all of us in life, both good things and bad things, it’s all part of the cycle of life. But the love cycle is what helps us get through the bad times and makes us appreciate the good times. I am positive that if your dad had a choice, he would have chosen to stay here with you and I’m positive that he loved you very much. I have lost a lot over my lifetime too, a child, a husband, my father who was buried on my 6 th birthday, many dogs and cats I have raised, and my cat Sassy is sick right now, in kidney failure, she won’t last much longer. But I had all of them and loved them while they were here. And I’m glad they were here for the time they were, because it sure would have been a lot more lonely if they hadn’t been and I wouldn’t have been able to know and love them and then remember them with love after they had gone. I hope this helps you to understand about life and death and I hope you can think of your dad with gladness in your heart because I’m sure he would want you to.

I'd give you death-part-of-life but... I haven't stopped going to funerals since I was 11, whether for pets or people, and I jus tfigure it means when I finally die someday... I'll have them all to love again. That's the problem. The love doesn't die, but we can't show it to them. IMHO.

Hugs.

Thanks everyone and i never even THOUGHT my dad wanted to leave or deserted me its just painful he died i know he didnt want to die.

Leo its not easy and ya i seem to be going to a lot more funerals as i get older. i love with my whole heart and thats what my sponsor said is why i get hurt so much but she says dont ever change

Big hug sweetie.. I am sorry that you loss your pet... It does hurt for sure....

You are so right about losing so many more as we get older.... I am senior now and it can seem overwhelming at times... Gratitude really helps me with grief... I lean on it and seek it out when things seem too dark

I can remember my mom saying 'everyone is gone'.... and it can just plain hurt at times.... Another hug sweetie... xo

I know AJ, when I worked as chaplain at a nursing home and had to give last rites and do funerals, I found that even couples who came in together after 50 years married died separately. Not on the same day. So I realized when all leave someone or get left in the end. Why is something I plan to ask my Wikipedia Angel in the afterlife some day.

AWWW Angela, So sorry that that happened. I am sending you hugs also