Wild Bettas...drama

[Mudskipper]

I seem to find myself in a bit of a fix. My female betta foerschis has been refusing to eat since her husband swam up the exposed pipe of the Hang on filter and croaked. Seems like she's really lonely.

Now, I have 3 betta mandors that I keep in a 2 foot heavily planted tank...I was thinking that if she is lonely, I could put her in there with them. Problem is, they look alike. I will not be able to tell them apart if I put her in. Should I risk that? It's terribly unlikely they will ever breed sooo, would this work?

I'm just worried she will starve to death.

Thanks for any advice you may have for me.

[oddstamp]

Personally for me i will not mix mandor and forschie firstly because their looks are so alike that it will take a very experience person (or dna even) to tell them apart. Second reason for not mixing is that if they spawn (which is possible because they are from similar complex), the fry will become hybrids making it unviable for sale/trade with other hobbyist.

If she is not eating you can try to feed her some enticing live food or a different diet. Alternatively check for sickness as most wild bettas do not present sympotoms before dying. The lack of appetite then is a very useful gauge when something is going to happen ...

[Mudskipper]

Yeah, I have decided not the put her in with the Mandors because, as you stated, they look so alike. I can't believe that I even thought of that earlier.

I normally feed them blood worms but lately she stopped eating, as I mentioned earlier. So I bought some live brine shrimp but she doesn't go for them with as much gusto as she used to when the male was around. In fact she ignores them when I am around. She does come to the front of the tank and swim around when I "visit" as if to show me she's ok.

I'm at wits end.