BellaOnline Forums Home and Garden Fish Sid's new house

Mermaid, how is Sid doing? I have not used RidIch on bettas; I prefer BettaFix and salt. SO I can't say much about how this will affect him, esp with all the water changes. Just make sure you are using aged water of the same temps each time to not stress him out. Careful with not stirring the water too much when you do changes!

The spots on his face might also really be his coloration. Fugus will stick out from the face if you look at the right angle - it's usually cottony, woolly, or filamentous.

Feel free to post his treatment progress in the new thread I started called Fish Journal, so we can all learn as you go.

Hi Jilly,

I posted my response to your last question about Sid's health in your new journal thread. Great idea. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Re: acrylic tanks and heaters ... what has your experience with acrylic and heaters been like, Jilly? Have you had any problems? How is your setup working out, Nina? Any problems with the heat next to the acrylic?

The Petsmart here didn't have anything less than 10 gal. But I'm def going to check out Walmart and other stores for the smaller glass tanks.

Jill, do you really think the air stones are enough for filtration etc? In my research on filters, I read somewhere that you don't get as much aeration from bubbles as you do from other types of filters. What do you think?

Thanks again!

Hello Jilly

Got a new setup for blue and pinkish...who have been in sickbay for the past week. They both look fine and dandy. I put them in a couple of those new 1 gallon "TopFin" aqua scene things. one of them has the bubbler and a light in the hood, which I am hoping will create enough heat in that small size tank to keep the temp comfortable for the betta. Seems to be hovering around 75 degrees. Not sure if the small current will bother blue or not..will keep an eye on him to see. I took half a day to acclimate them to thier new tanks. Hope the move didn't stress them too much.

I'll send you a pic as soon as my daughter is done with the other computer. Little green is doing ok. She looks ragged but she is eating and swimming around so I guess she isn't feeling too awful. I wonder if she may be full of eggs or something...she is big bellied and her ovipositor is very obvious...but I have been giving her little pieces of pea, just incase she may be bloated from constipation. Figure it couldn't hurt.

I'd love to try my hand at designing the perfect tank for bettas...sounds like an interesting project. <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Was in PetCo this morning...to pick up a couple more thermometers....had to make myself turn around and walk away when I saw a very pretty metalic blue...His fins were so shiny and irridesent, very black head and darker bluish grey body.. :rolling: ....I have to stop going to those places ! :rolleyes:

Emg2 <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Hi Mermaid. Sorry about the acrylic question - it got buried fast!

The problem with the jr heaters is that they are for 2.5 to 5 gallons. You can use a submersible heater (ONLY) with acrylic, but I still can't find one for a 1 gallon tank.

So for a medium small tank (2.5 to 5 gallons) that heater is fine. For a 10-20 gallon acrylic, you have lots of options (again, submersible heaters only).

But for the tiny betta habitats, bowls and acrylics on the market, going with an overhead light, like Emg's set-up, is the best way to go.

Okay, Emg, another product for your invention list - make a heater for a one gallon tank! <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Yup, Emg, it really gets out of hand, no? Today I was in Wal-mart and I saw a black betta, of all things. Not totally, but the closest I've ever seen. I almost bought him, but then noticed he had raggedy fins and a chunk missing from his dorsal. I am still thinking about going back for him, but am worried he's going to require a lot of medicating. what to do, what to do! <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Mermaid, remember that filtration and aeration are different things. An airstone only provides aeration. ALso, with a betta, you want to keep the aeration down to as small a current as possible - they like still waters best. So, yes, an airstone is perfect, but break up the bubble current with rocks, decorations or silk/live plants.

The only reason to use an airstone with bettas is to keep the heat levels from stratifying in your tank. If you don't have a heater, you may as well remove the airstone and replace with a cheap box filter/corner filter or sponge filter. :rolling:

Nina, your new tank is a great way to keep bettas! The heater is a good idea. try to break up the current a little with 'stuff' in your tank. Remember these fish live in warm, steamy, still, nearly stagnant rice paddies. He may have adjusted, but in the long run, it's better if you add some way to break the current. Unlike other types of fish, who revel in current (like Crush the sea turtle in FInding Nemo)!.

I also answered your question about a bottom dweller in the thread by that name. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Thanks for all the great info, Jilly. Like everything else, the more knowledge I gain, the more I need to learn! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Very glad to hear I can use heaters in acrylic tanks ... I'm still thinking of getting an Eclipse tank like Nina's ... 3 gals, so the mini heater will be perfect. :rolling:

Thanks for the clarification ... I guess I was thinking the term filtration included aeration as well because the Eclipse 3's system is described as follows. It sounds like they're saying the filtration system aerates and filters the water.

"All filtration media is inside the hood, so there are no hoses, filter boxes or noisy air pumps. This system silently aerates and filters the water 7 times an hour, to keep it sparkling clean and clear."

I also thought the airstone in this context was to provide more oxygen for bettas. Didn't realize it was mostly to better disperse the heat.

Now, I get it all! ha ha, yeah right. <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Oh Jilly !


Go back and get that black betta ! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Little green is doing so well ! She is such a friendly little fish...(I wonder if she knows how blessed she is to have found a home <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> ) I am glad I bought her, she is so pretty. Her fins are starting to grow back and even that little grey/white spot on her eye looks like it is shrinking. The fuzzy stuff on her gill is gone..already ! Wow, these fish heal fast ! I am looking forward to getting her all set up in a home..and out of that dish !

I think I will try to find a green male for her <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> ... I really am getting interested in trying to breed these neat little fish. The only thing that causes me to hesitate..is...what if I get a batch of 500 little fry...and they ALL survive !!! Gad ! what would I do with them all ! A serious consideration !


Also....does anyone know where I can get some java moss ?? I have been searching the petstores and fish stores in my area and they never seem to have any. I have found some online at ebay, but with shipping costs I would end up paying 15-20 dollars for a small fist sized lot.
I can't figure how it can cost someone 10 dollars to ship a ball of java moss...does styrofoam and a heating pack really cost that much? <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />


Emg2

I am starting a new thread on betta breeding, Emg.