BellaOnline Forums Home and Garden Fish I got a new fish...

I got another fish... well about two weeks ago on May 10th... Im really sorry that I havent been on for a while but its mainly because I havent been on the computer that much. Well anyways Im going to tell you about the newest addition to my beta family (the other two are Marvin and Dorian): I bought Rio at Walmart. He was the only one on the shelf and he looked soo sad and his upper fin was curled and he just looked plain sick. So I brought him over to my mom and I was like "Mom but he looks so sick and he's the only one over there PLEASE MOM!?!" so she said ok and was all grumpy about it but I know in her heart that she was happy to do it.

So I bought this little Betta Home thing with the self cleaning system rocks in them and it was um... really small let me say, and his water was filthy so I got a room temperature bottle of water and poured it in the (I cant even call it a bowl)home thing after I cleaned the rocks, plant, home and everything.

When I got him out of his little Walmart container he looked pale and sad, but then again he was happier with more space in his new home. But over that week somehow he got this wierd white spore ball thingy with arm thingys growing off of it and I freaked... so last Wed. me and my sister Victoria went to Walmart for me to buy him a bowl as big as I have for my other fish and some plants and jewel rocks (too bad I could have gotten them at the dollar tree) so that I could prevent the white spore thing from happening agian. So I talked my sister into getting herself a beta fish and she saw this white one and she was like I want him because I was like comon you could name this one Ghost and she was like no! I like Phantom... so she got him and he seemed to do pretty well for the first few days but unfortunetly he passed away today and my sisters been having a really hard time with it, which is Totally understandable but I know its not her fault. But Im going to get off of that bc it makes me upset to think about it...

Rio is doing really well and has colored up alot more than he was. His tail and fins are now a brilliant red with teal lines in it when he gets excited. His body is a peachy kind of color and when he gets reved up his gills are a bright red as well. I would have to say that he is the most active out of all three of my fish and is also the only one that will come up and nip at my finger. Ive discovered that he likes to play with a string that I put in his bowl and move around because he thinks its food (lol <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> ) but I give him a blood worm treat after all of that to reward him.

I am going to get two girls hopefully soon and put them in the same bowl... How much of a good idea is this?

I love Phantom and a I will miss him Victoria! I love you though!

Hello Krissy, <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Nice to hear about your bettas..I'm sorry about your sister's Phantom.. <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> When you get these fish at places like Walmart, you never know what they may have..they are usually in pretty poor condition. I commend you for trying to save these little guys though! Bravo! <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

About putting 2 females in with your male...not really a good idea. These fish are very aggressive and need to be kept seperate from each other, although you may sometimes come accross some that do ok with others..that's not usually the case. If you have a tank big enough you can keep females together...as long as there is plenty of room for them to find thier own nitch in the tank. But even then sometimes you run accross a very aggressive female that will not do well with other girls.

I had 2 females in a 5 gallon tank and they did fine...until I shifted them into a 1 1/2 gallon tank..(needed the 5 gallon for something else)..then I had to remove one as the other became very aggressive towards her.

Try putting some females together..give them plenty of hidy places to get away from each other when they "vant to be alone", but keep an eye on them for awhile to be sure they will work out together.

Emg <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Congrats on your new fish. I too, am sorry for you sister's. As for putting the two females with a male, they can still be aggresive as Emg said. If you do it, watch closely, but know that you may need more bowls in case it doesn't work out. Keep us updated.

Krisystar

Glad to hear Rio is doing better. My two girls flared at each other from separate tanks! You might want to use a divided tank to see how they do before you put them together.

Hi Krisy. Some of us have had males and females together or females together, with success. I really never have that had that work in a tank under 10 gallons. My males tear up their poor females. and females also tear up most other females. it's in their nature. Nan has a really gentle girl named Sweetie, and her boys treat her right. So it can work. However. Once they start fin nipping/shredding, the dreaded fin rot can set in, and the stress can lead to ick...and then you are back in Sick Bay all over again.

My females do really well with platies, which is another option. My boys nip the platies' tails to pieces, but the girls usually just swim with them.

all of this is a lot of trial and error. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Just really monitor your fish if you decide to experiment. i would just give everyone their own bowl until you have more experience. You are coming along just fine! :music:

Krisy - you and your sis should get a free avatar from Catspeaks....