Karen - Betta talk :)

[Tide In Mind Out]

The filter cartridge (carbon, not foam) gets changed every two weeks when I do the water change. The package says it can last a month, but after two weeks in is when the water flow out of the filter starts to decrease. I do a full water change every two weeks, as a full change is the only way I can get the poop out of the bottom without using a vacuum, and using a vacuum on such a small tank seems silly. However, I barely rinse the gravel when doing this and don't use hot water. In fact, the gravel only really gets rinsed by the tank water as I'm pouring it out. I do put in a bit of fresh water to wipe the sides of the tank with, then I just fill it back up all the way and put the conditioner in.

Oh, I feed them twice a day. Marie gets two pellets in the morning, and two at night, 4 total for the day. Sometimes I have to skip a day with her though because she will bloat. Albert Fish gets three in the morning and three at night, never bloats. Sometimes, say if it's water change day, then I will mix it up and give them their usual morning amount, but give them one pellet in the afternoon (to thank them for their patience), and then just subtract one pellet from the night-time amount.

Good news though, her tail healed halfway OVERNIGHT

Thanks for everyone's help!

 

[Tide In Mind Out]

Speaking of fin rot though, I think Albert Fish has it. When I got him (from Wal-Mart) I thought the white/translucent edges to his fins were just part of his coloring since so much of his body was colorless at the time. But, now that all his true colors have come in, I'm not so sure. There was that night that I came home and found his tail shredded at the end, and assumed he tore it on his cave, which I still think is a likely possibility because I found a sharp chunk of excess material on the inside of it.

Anyway, his fins haven't disappeared anymore since the night of the tear, but they don't look quite right either.

They aren't kinked or ruffled, he was just in movement here. With the flash you can see little dark tinges.

So, he's currently in the "hospital" tank on a 5 day treatment with Maracyn 2

Wal-Mart *shakes fist*

 

[Tide In Mind Out]

And perhaps I will go back to using the little Lee's disposable filters. For a little while I have been using the Whisper filters that came free with the tanks, just to save the unused Lee's filters I have. The Lee's filters are carbon AND foam, and have successfully lasted over a month at a time. Plus I've heard you can cut them open, replace the carbon and rinse the foam, so that they will last indefinitely. I haven't quite figured out how to disassemble them yet without breaking them though. :/

 

[JenniferGentle]

I love this betta talk thread

I still have to post pictures of my little Socrates. I do have a question, I have a bowl, no filter or anything. It would be easier to post a picture but here's the set up:

one gallon, larger smooth stones, smooth fake tiki dude which he loves swimming around and hiding behind (it's so cute he plays hide and seek), small silk plant, and a skinny taller silk plant so he can rest.

I only change about 75% of the water, but does anyone think I should add a snail and swap out one of the silk plants for a live plant? I had had him in a filtered tank and he was not pleased he is loving this still water bowl

 

[JenniferGentle]

Good news though, her tail healed halfway OVERNIGHT

Thanks for everyone's help!

Yay!!!

 

[Swabs]

I like salmon.

 

[Tide In Mind Out]

I love this betta talk thread

I still have to post pictures of my little Socrates. I do have a question, I have a bowl, no filter or anything. It would be easier to post a picture but here's the set up:

one gallon, larger smooth stones, smooth fake tiki dude which he loves swimming around and hiding behind (it's so cute he plays hide and seek), small silk plant, and a skinny taller silk plant so he can rest.

I only change about 75% of the water, but does anyone think I should add a snail and swap out one of the silk plants for a live plant? I had had him in a filtered tank and he was not pleased he is loving this still water bowl

I've only heard good things about live plants, as long as you don't let any dead or rotten parts stay in the tank. I guess the snail would help take care of that? Still, not sure if I'm ready to get into live plants though.

And yes, post pics

I'd post a picture of Marie's progress but she got really pissed off at me yesterday for taking pics. She *hates* that red light that comes on before the picture is taken.

 

[Bacchante]

Speaking of fin rot though, I think Albert Fish has it. When I got him (from Wal-Mart) I thought the white/translucent edges to his fins were just part of his coloring since so much of his body was colorless at the time. But, now that all his true colors have come in, I'm not so sure. There was that night that I came home and found his tail shredded at the end, and assumed he tore it on his cave, which I still think is a likely possibility because I found a sharp chunk of excess material on the inside of it.

Anyway, his fins haven't disappeared anymore since the night of the tear, but they don't look quite right either.

They aren't kinked or ruffled, he was just in movement here. With the flash you can see little dark tinges.

So, he's currently in the "hospital" tank on a 5 day treatment with Maracyn 2

Wal-Mart *shakes fist*

Doesn't look like a rot to me...the fins look clear and healthy, but i could be wrong. Fin rot usually makes the edges jagged/chewed up...It gives the edges a more fuzzy appearance.

 

[Bacchante]

Sounds like a good setup for yer fishy. I'd put a live plant in, but keep in mind different plants have different light requirements. Snails are just awesome - they eat all of the uneaten food, algae, etc. If you get snails, drop a tiny piece of cooked carrot in there every now and then..they like it

I love this betta talk thread

I still have to post pictures of my little Socrates. I do have a question, I have a bowl, no filter or anything. It would be easier to post a picture but here's the set up:

one gallon, larger smooth stones, smooth fake tiki dude which he loves swimming around and hiding behind (it's so cute he plays hide and seek), small silk plant, and a skinny taller silk plant so he can rest.

I only change about 75% of the water, but does anyone think I should add a snail and swap out one of the silk plants for a live plant? I had had him in a filtered tank and he was not pleased he is loving this still water bowl

 

[Tide In Mind Out]

Doesn't look like a rot to me...the fins look clear and healthy, but i could be wrong. Fin rot usually makes the edges jagged/chewed up...It gives the edges a more fuzzy appearance.

Well, I really wasn't too concerned about fin rot til I took that pic, because of the dark brownish tinges at the ends of the fins. Could just be that they're healing from the tear and turn that color, kind of like a scab? Ah well, he seems to be enjoying his little retreat. He's workin' on a little bubble nest now

 

[JenniferGentle]

Thank you girls , and Swabs... haha.

That's true about the plants and light Leeeeeesa. I might just get a snail for now I think he might enjoy the company, that's very cute about cooked carrot. I'm excited haha. Since I moved him into this bowl his ventral fins have become such a vibrant red, he seems so much happier.

 

[Tide In Mind Out]

Aww! That's what happened with Marie! First they turned orange, then red. Is he turquoise?

 

[JenniferGentle]

He's dark blue , I have to get some better photos of him!

 

[Tide In Mind Out]

Aww

Well I did a partial water change for Albert's tank. To get the poop out I poured out some water, shook the tank around to agitate the gravel, then poured out the rest of what I was going to pour out, and the poop poured out with it. So, when he's ready for his tank again in a few days, it should have some good bacteria goin' on.

And that stupid nautilus shell from Petco! Argh! I got it last week and the paint was already bubbling and chipping off. After rummaging around in our cabinet full of old aquarium stuff, I found a nice little cave that I know the paint won't come off of, and it has no sharp spots. And yesterday I got him a silicone plant because he needed a second plant. I think he'll be pleased!

 

[Dead_Lioness]

dude... I typed such a long reply regarding plants and fish and my stupid page timed out...I lost everything I typed.

I'll retype it tomorrow... ARGGH.

 

[Tide In Mind Out]

Sucks when that happens!

 

[Dead_Lioness]

Finished the fish tank. I did put some conditioner in the water, but from here on everything else is Derick's deal. It's going to have 1 or 2 dwarf puffers

I kept those guys for years
very hard, but very rewarding.

I would however, absolutely tell you that the gravel may not work, as they like to bury themselves in it, and the big gravel will damage their skin. If you have a lot of hiding places and plants- they may not get that bored and to that level of playing with the gravel... anyhoo: and also: do not add them yet until your tank is fully cycled (Im sure you know... )
When keeping them, don't spare on plants and hiding places...
This would be a good opportunity to actually go with real plants Vs. plastic
(but you would know that if you would have read the long post that I wrote and lost due to stupid timed out page #$%@#$@%!!!!!)
Real plants will improve your water quality tremendously.
I had a 15 gallon tank with two puffers for almost 2 years, until I gave them to a good friend that has a 150 gallon with only 10 puffers in it. He set up an awesome tank for them, so I figured they would be happier there- and they are .
But the two years that I had them- I loved them!!
Read as much as you can about them... they are not easy to keep- but like I said, very rewarding

Also: make sure to buy a water testing kit with indication of PH, Nitrite Nitrate, Ammonia, Hardness and Alkalinity. You would need all of those factors to be perfect before adding them to your tank.


Here's my 10 gallon, this picture was taken at the very first stage of the plants: now they are all bigger and bloomed, I think it makes the tank look a lot more natural that way:

Advantages of real plants Vs. fake:

You can absolutely have healthy happy fish with plastic plants.
BUT:
It is a fact in the aquatic hobby world that real plants make everything better; Your fish will be healthier and your water quality will be better.

Plants provide fantastic balance to the water, they create the perfect eco-system that no plastic can create:
there will be micro-organism that would live and develop around the plants, providing better water quality by helping the waste go away- but also your fish will eat them and be healthier.
(when you have an established planted tank you only need to feed your fish 2-3 times a week, making the water a lot cleaner and less chances for algae to develop)
Also: every fish has a natural defense slime. When that slime gets thinner, that's when fish are pron to get diseases like Ick or fin rot. The reason why we add salt to the water is to coat the fish back with that natural slime and to kill bacteria/ parasites. However: with real plants in the water, and proper water changes and care- the chances for your fish to be sick is almost zero.

Plants are not easy to keep as well, but VERY rewarding for the best tanks.
You'll need to change your water religiously every week, take 25%-30 out (ONLY) and add a fertilizer to the water along with your water conditioner.

Fertilizer must be added every week- and the water really needs to be changed every 7 days.

Change the carbon of your filter every 30 days: EVEN if you think the filter looks nasty after 2 weeks. You don't want to kill all the good bacteria in the filter.

I use these:

Water conditioner: (the best IMO- very concentrated so you'll need just a little and very safe)

Fertilizer:

 

[Chromatose]

I kept those guys for years
very hard, but very rewarding.

I would however, absolutely tell you that the gravel may not work, as they like to bury themselves in it, and the big gravel will damage their skin. If you have a lot of hiding places and plants- they may not get that bored and to that level of playing with the gravel... anyhoo: and also: do not add them yet until your tank is fully cycled (Im sure you know... )
When keeping them, don't spare on plants and hiding places...
This would be a good opportunity to actually go with real plants Vs. plastic
(but you would know that if you would have read the long post that I wrote and lost due to stupid timed out page #$%@#$@%!!!!!)
Real plants will improve your water quality tremendously.
I had a 15 gallon tank with two puffers for almost 2 years, until I gave them to a good friend that has a 150 gallon with only 10 puffers in it. He set up an awesome tank for them, so I figured they would be happier there- and they are .
But the two years that I had them- I loved them!!
Read as much as you can about them... they are not easy to keep- but like I said, very rewarding

I didn't even start to BUY things for my tank until I felt I had read everything of note to read about puffers on the internet. And now I continue to do so until my tank is fully cycled.

What type of puffers did you have that burrowed? Everyone seems to be in agreement that dwarf puffers don't mind gravel, and is a natural instinct more so of the saltwater fishes. The only thing to worry about for the dwarf puffers is that the gravel isn't too sharp since they have sensitive skin. Sand can be more trouble than it worth; if I follow the expert's advice and do 50% water changes weekly, sand will just make that process more complicated and harder to remove waste from it. You also have to worry about gas pockets building up within the sand, harboring anaerobic bacteria.

My boss offered me some Java Ferns from one of his myriad of aquariums at work, but I would rather not deal with live plants at the moment. I'll make that transition at some future point.

 

[Jace_Mereel]

I've only heard good things about live plants, as long as you don't let any dead or rotten parts stay in the tank. I guess the snail would help take care of that? Still, not sure if I'm ready to get into live plants though.

I had live plants in my 2.5 gallon tank back when I had platies (thank to Karen's advice). The platies (The General and the Lady) loooved them. They'd nibble and hide in it and along with tablets, I didn't feel so bad leaving them for a weekend here and there.

The snails helped to keep the tank clean, but I had "rescued" two fresh water clams (Smith and Wesson) that acted like another filter.

Wow, I miss having that tank setup.

 

[Dead_Lioness]

I didn't even start to BUY things for my tank until I felt I had read everything of note to read about puffers on the internet. And now I continue to do so until my tank is fully cycled.

Oh I know, I am sure you did read anything you can, I was just sayin'.
I know that I read a lot about them, and still lost one
Sucks to lose fish you care for...

What type of puffers did you have that burrowed? Everyone seems to be in agreement that dwarf puffers don't mind gravel, and is a natural instinct more so of the saltwater fishes. The only thing to worry about for the dwarf puffers is that the gravel isn't too sharp since they have sensitive skin. Sand can be more trouble than it worth; if I follow the expert's advice and do 50% water changes weekly, sand will just make that process more complicated and harder to remove waste from it. You also have to worry about gas pockets building up within the sand, harboring anaerobic bacteria.

You are correct about the sand, which is why wen you change the water you will vacuums it to prevent the pockets, BUT like I said: If you maintain heavily planted tank (plastic or real) and a lot of hiding places, they will not get bored enough to play with the gravel.
My friend with the 150 gallon had 2 puffers that will constantly hide under the sand while the others won't even bother... just a heads up as to something to think about. [/quote]

My boss offered me some Java Ferns from one of his myriad of aquariums at work, but I would rather not deal with live plants at the moment. I'll make that transition at some future point.

awesome!
java ferns are nice, but low... I would recommend using sword plants and ones with big leaves, but anyways... when you get there you'll find the right ones I am sure

Good luck!!


Oh and btw... look into this if you want to speed up your tank cycle: