at first I thought he was a she  and maybe full of eggs, but then Saturday he started acting different, and noticed in addition to the ballooned body shape, the "pinecone-like" protruding scales, his eyes popped out a bit, and finally got to see the "gasping" behavior, as he sat in the rear corner of the tank, and I realized, "This is not good", got him in a medi-bucket, but even the magical Melafix was too late to help poor Cocoa. Lying sideways Easter morning, dead as you can get. 
   New rule - no more "chocolate" goldfish in my tank. They seem to all have a bad time.

Spot, Stripe, and Sunshine send their condolences at the lost of their fishy friend.

Oh no... I'm so sorry to hear about your fish.. Cocoa was such a nice looking fish.. its hard losing a friend like that. I send my sincerest condolences to you. I'm all sad... that's horrible.. on Easter.. Well, he's in a better place now, where dropsy doesnt exsist.

Goldfish have their eggs rather in the back of their stomach and it's very hard to see whether there are eggs or not in egg-shaped fish. So, you know from now on that a bloated appearance is pretty much less healthy than a "full of eggs" appearance.

Are you gonna get any other one or will you just keep the ones you have for now? (:

no, no new additions.....the numbers are already up there for the size, so now minus Cocoa, there are a total of 8; three fish shaped, and 5 egg shaped; in a 60 gallon tank, but I've got them 550 gph filteration and lots of aeration, plus live plants; also there is the Japanese Trapdoor Algae-Death Snail Clan patrolling 24/7   a couple weeks ago I'd brought 3 of the little guys to the local Aquarium store, because I wanted the majority to have plenty of room (Halley, Anicca, and the Nameless Blue Ryukin from the last movie) It wasn't easy deciding who to let go of, but I'm sure they will be ok, that store is pretty reputable and serious aquarium people shop there, so....also all 3 were healthy and thriving

So sorry you lost Cocoa II.   But I think you made the right decision now to downsize your tank.  Less overcrowding will mean less work for you and happier, healthier fishes!  It's so hard not to go to the store and see a really beautiful fish and not want to bring it home!   I have to contain myself when I go to the pet store.
I just gave away one tank to my sister so now I only have the 3 running.  I still have a 14 gallon sitting empty tho.
It's really tempting to fill it with something....

OMG I know what ya mean!! I now have 2 bettas!
LOL, I just found this really cool huge brandy sniffer glass at this estate sale.
It has a lucky bamboo in it and then a new betta fish.

I could, but he's one of those that I brought to the store to be relocated, so I'm sure his new owner has come up with a good name.  He was a cool looking fish, it was a tough call who to put back into the system...

I understand, but at the same time it shouldn't be a problem looking at the fish. Just think about it that you cannot give them the space they need and they won't be happy in an owercrowded environment. Thinking about this helps NOT to buy another fish

Right, the bettas and some anabantoids (gouramis) are found in the wild, in shallow murky, muddy water.  The temperatures in their surroundings can rise rapidly during the day under the heat of the tropical sun.  With the result of less oxygen available, and survival in such a poorly oxygenated environments, these fish have developed labyrinth organs, which are located on either side of their head, close to the gills.  These organs enable the fish to breath atmospheric air directly, supplimenting the meager amount of oxygen they can get from the water with their gills.
In some countries, betta fish are a representative of good luck.  They are kept in small bowls.  They and some species of gourmis can survive in a bowl.
I've kept bettas in a community tank before but mine seem to live longer when kept in a bowl.  You can place a betta bowl/container almost anywhere and their easy to care for.  I have one in a large vase with a peace lily and the other one in a huge brandy sniffer with a lucky bamboo growing inside it.  I just think they look so cool.
I think it is a matter of personal preference really where and how you keep your betta.

I change the water in my bowls once a week.  I add a special water condtioner just for bettas to the bowls.  It puts trace elements especially formulated for bettas back into the water and neutralizes ammonia and heavy metals.

Here are pictures of my Betta containers.  Sorry the second one didn't turn out as well..

Interesting... It's like they're super fish or something.

Awww...thanks guyz!
Bettas are really easy keepers.
I love finding really cool, different glass containers to keep them in.