Betta update - welcome to Boris and Bob

[Gill Passman]

Ok I know it was quick but I've had a fishy day. Maintenance on the
Community tank and finishing off the QT tank which this time didn't find
it's way back to the box.....plant friendly substrate and loads of
cuttings....in fact I still had to throw over quarter of a bucket full away.

Went to a new place (mentioned by "Fantastic" Derek) and they had the
most wonderful bettas....couldn't decide between a red or a
turquoise/purple tinge betta so bought both. LFS guy had a bit of a
trauma until I explained they were going in different tanks. Both
settling in well although not eating yet. Boris is the red one,
obviously, and Bob the other one (got over-ruled by the kids as I wanted
to call him Ivan) :-) . The kitchen is now back to normal with bettas
coming to see me when cooking :-)

Also got too tempted as they had some fantastic Clown Loaches of around
3 1/2 inches long and no sign of ich....the community tank is now back
up to 5 and it makes a big difference to their behaviour - dancing clown
loaches and scrums again :-). Don't think the Red Rainbows were too
happy though as they decided to spawn again in the Java Fern...they left
the fern and the Clowns were straight in there for a snack :-( . Only
problem is that now I really, really have to go for the tank
upgrade....christmas present perhaps :-) They are OK for now but I can
forsee me needing a larger tank pretty soon....

Just thought I'd share

Gill

[Elaine T]

Gill Passman wrote:
> Ok I know it was quick but I've had a fishy day. Maintenance on the
> Community tank and finishing off the QT tank which this time didn't find
> it's way back to the box.....plant friendly substrate and loads of
> cuttings....in fact I still had to throw over quarter of a bucket full
> away.
>
> Went to a new place (mentioned by "Fantastic" Derek) and they had the
> most wonderful bettas....couldn't decide between a red or a
> turquoise/purple tinge betta so bought both. LFS guy had a bit of a
> trauma until I explained they were going in different tanks. Both
> settling in well although not eating yet. Boris is the red one,
> obviously, and Bob the other one (got over-ruled by the kids as I wanted
> to call him Ivan) :-) . The kitchen is now back to normal with bettas
> coming to see me when cooking :-)
>
> Also got too tempted as they had some fantastic Clown Loaches of around
> 3 1/2 inches long and no sign of ich....the community tank is now back
> up to 5 and it makes a big difference to their behaviour - dancing clown
> loaches and scrums again :-). Don't think the Red Rainbows were too
> happy though as they decided to spawn again in the Java Fern...they left
> the fern and the Clowns were straight in there for a snack :-( . Only
> problem is that now I really, really have to go for the tank
> upgrade....christmas present perhaps :-) They are OK for now but I can
> forsee me needing a larger tank pretty soon....
>
> Just thought I'd share
>
> Gill

Very cool! I'm so glad you found some new kitchen buddies.

I bought a betta today too. I decided a planted tank and herbivores for
the office was too complicated (filter, lighting, timer, ferts,
Excel...) and too expensive (I wanted a 6 gal Nanocube). So the new
betta's hanging out in a Kritter Keeper that I'll seed tomorrow with
some java moss and an anubias that should be OK on ambient light.

New Betta doesn't have a name yet, but he's pretty, with a turquoise
back, red belly and head, and white-tipped red fins. He's currently
alternating between checking out all the swimming room (compared to his
cup), tasting the gravel, and trying to scare away his reflection in the
tank.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

[Gill Passman]

Elaine T wrote:
> Gill Passman wrote:
>
>> Ok I know it was quick but I've had a fishy day. Maintenance on the
>> Community tank and finishing off the QT tank which this time didn't
>> find it's way back to the box.....plant friendly substrate and loads
>> of cuttings....in fact I still had to throw over quarter of a bucket
>> full away.
>>
>> Went to a new place (mentioned by "Fantastic" Derek) and they had the
>> most wonderful bettas....couldn't decide between a red or a
>> turquoise/purple tinge betta so bought both. LFS guy had a bit of a
>> trauma until I explained they were going in different tanks. Both
>> settling in well although not eating yet. Boris is the red one,
>> obviously, and Bob the other one (got over-ruled by the kids as I
>> wanted to call him Ivan) :-) . The kitchen is now back to normal with
>> bettas coming to see me when cooking :-)
>>
>> Also got too tempted as they had some fantastic Clown Loaches of
>> around 3 1/2 inches long and no sign of ich....the community tank is
>> now back up to 5 and it makes a big difference to their behaviour -
>> dancing clown loaches and scrums again :-). Don't think the Red
>> Rainbows were too happy though as they decided to spawn again in the
>> Java Fern...they left the fern and the Clowns were straight in there
>> for a snack :-( . Only problem is that now I really, really have to go
>> for the tank upgrade....christmas present perhaps :-) They are OK for
>> now but I can forsee me needing a larger tank pretty soon....
>>
>> Just thought I'd share
>>
>> Gill
>
>
> Very cool! I'm so glad you found some new kitchen buddies.
>
> I bought a betta today too. I decided a planted tank and herbivores for
> the office was too complicated (filter, lighting, timer, ferts,
> Excel...) and too expensive (I wanted a 6 gal Nanocube). So the new
> betta's hanging out in a Kritter Keeper that I'll seed tomorrow with
> some java moss and an anubias that should be OK on ambient light.
>
> New Betta doesn't have a name yet, but he's pretty, with a turquoise
> back, red belly and head, and white-tipped red fins. He's currently
> alternating between checking out all the swimming room (compared to his
> cup), tasting the gravel, and trying to scare away his reflection in the
> tank.
>
Bettas are very special fish :-) Boris has scooped up the bloodworm from
the bottom of the tank so that's good :-) Bob is still a bit shyer but
he drew the platy buddy who I will now move - they don't seem to happy
together - Mr Bluey was far more tolerant....Know exactly what you mean
by trying to scare away the reflection - my two are busy flaring at
themselves in the glass - but nothing compared to the few secs they were
together in the bags (separate) at the LFS - he rapidly but a barrier
between them (so I'm thinking they might get more of my business).

My office project will be for hubbie and maybe a larger scale - although
I do believe that this is a ploy to get me to do more work for him -
lol. As he has a passion for tetras I'm thinking of filling a 30gall (or
perhaps my 200L when I upgrade it) with just neons....probably cause a
market shortage locally if I do this if NetMax's stocking levels are
sustainable....lol

Your office betta will keep you great company....

Gill

[NetMax]

"Gill Passman" > wrote in message
.. .
> Elaine T wrote:
>> Gill Passman wrote:
>>
>>> Ok I know it was quick but I've had a fishy day. Maintenance on the
>>> Community tank and finishing off the QT tank which this time didn't
>>> find it's way back to the box.....plant friendly substrate and loads
>>> of cuttings....in fact I still had to throw over quarter of a bucket
>>> full away.
>>>
>>> Went to a new place (mentioned by "Fantastic" Derek) and they had the
>>> most wonderful bettas....couldn't decide between a red or a
>>> turquoise/purple tinge betta so bought both. LFS guy had a bit of a
>>> trauma until I explained they were going in different tanks. Both
>>> settling in well although not eating yet. Boris is the red one,
>>> obviously, and Bob the other one (got over-ruled by the kids as I
>>> wanted to call him Ivan) :-) . The kitchen is now back to normal with
>>> bettas coming to see me when cooking :-)
>>>
>>> Also got too tempted as they had some fantastic Clown Loaches of
>>> around 3 1/2 inches long and no sign of ich....the community tank is
>>> now back up to 5 and it makes a big difference to their behaviour -
>>> dancing clown loaches and scrums again :-). Don't think the Red
>>> Rainbows were too happy though as they decided to spawn again in the
>>> Java Fern...they left the fern and the Clowns were straight in there
>>> for a snack :-( . Only problem is that now I really, really have to
>>> go for the tank upgrade....christmas present perhaps :-) They are OK
>>> for now but I can forsee me needing a larger tank pretty soon....
>>>
>>> Just thought I'd share
>>>
>>> Gill
>>
>>
>> Very cool! I'm so glad you found some new kitchen buddies.
>>
>> I bought a betta today too. I decided a planted tank and herbivores
>> for the office was too complicated (filter, lighting, timer, ferts,
>> Excel...) and too expensive (I wanted a 6 gal Nanocube). So the new
>> betta's hanging out in a Kritter Keeper that I'll seed tomorrow with
>> some java moss and an anubias that should be OK on ambient light.
>>
>> New Betta doesn't have a name yet, but he's pretty, with a turquoise
>> back, red belly and head, and white-tipped red fins. He's currently
>> alternating between checking out all the swimming room (compared to
>> his cup), tasting the gravel, and trying to scare away his reflection
>> in the tank.
>>
> Bettas are very special fish :-) Boris has scooped up the bloodworm
> from the bottom of the tank so that's good :-) Bob is still a bit shyer
> but he drew the platy buddy who I will now move - they don't seem to
> happy together - Mr Bluey was far more tolerant....Know exactly what
> you mean by trying to scare away the reflection - my two are busy
> flaring at themselves in the glass - but nothing compared to the few
> secs they were together in the bags (separate) at the LFS - he rapidly
> but a barrier between them (so I'm thinking they might get more of my
> business).
>
> My office project will be for hubbie and maybe a larger scale -
> although I do believe that this is a ploy to get me to do more work for
> him - lol. As he has a passion for tetras I'm thinking of filling a
> 30gall (or perhaps my 200L when I upgrade it) with just
> neons....probably cause a market shortage locally if I do this if
> NetMax's stocking levels are sustainable....lol
>
> Your office betta will keep you great company....
>
> Gill


*gulp* what kind of stocking levels are you planning? I can be a very
bad influence. Incidentally, as a species tank, the 500 Neons in that
60g did actually work very well. Had they been left to grow up, the
right number would have been closer to about 120 of them. The only trick
to making it work was i) an automated water change system (doing 4 carbon
filtered water changes per day) ii) twin sponge filters (each about the
size of a Fluval 404 canister) and iii) a full time staff pampering and
feeding them all day long (the Neons especially liked frozen baby brine
shrimp). I'm sure your office set-up will be just as good ;~).

Boris & Ivan would have been much more fun imho, but if the kids get to
name them, then they get to share in the work keeping them too, so it can
all work out.
--
www.NetMax.tk

[Gill Passman]

NetMax wrote:
> "Gill Passman" > wrote in message
> .. .
>
>>Elaine T wrote:
>>
>>>Gill Passman wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>Ok I know it was quick but I've had a fishy day. Maintenance on the
>>>>Community tank and finishing off the QT tank which this time didn't
>>>>find it's way back to the box.....plant friendly substrate and loads
>>>>of cuttings....in fact I still had to throw over quarter of a bucket
>>>>full away.
>>>>
>>>>Went to a new place (mentioned by "Fantastic" Derek) and they had the
>>>>most wonderful bettas....couldn't decide between a red or a
>>>>turquoise/purple tinge betta so bought both. LFS guy had a bit of a
>>>>trauma until I explained they were going in different tanks. Both
>>>>settling in well although not eating yet. Boris is the red one,
>>>>obviously, and Bob the other one (got over-ruled by the kids as I
>>>>wanted to call him Ivan) :-) . The kitchen is now back to normal with
>>>>bettas coming to see me when cooking :-)
>>>>
>>>>Also got too tempted as they had some fantastic Clown Loaches of
>>>>around 3 1/2 inches long and no sign of ich....the community tank is
>>>>now back up to 5 and it makes a big difference to their behaviour -
>>>>dancing clown loaches and scrums again :-). Don't think the Red
>>>>Rainbows were too happy though as they decided to spawn again in the
>>>>Java Fern...they left the fern and the Clowns were straight in there
>>>>for a snack :-( . Only problem is that now I really, really have to
>>>>go for the tank upgrade....christmas present perhaps :-) They are OK
>>>>for now but I can forsee me needing a larger tank pretty soon....
>>>>
>>>>Just thought I'd share
>>>>
>>>>Gill
>>>
>>>
>>>Very cool! I'm so glad you found some new kitchen buddies.
>>>
>>>I bought a betta today too. I decided a planted tank and herbivores
>>>for the office was too complicated (filter, lighting, timer, ferts,
>>>Excel...) and too expensive (I wanted a 6 gal Nanocube). So the new
>>>betta's hanging out in a Kritter Keeper that I'll seed tomorrow with
>>>some java moss and an anubias that should be OK on ambient light.
>>>
>>>New Betta doesn't have a name yet, but he's pretty, with a turquoise
>>>back, red belly and head, and white-tipped red fins. He's currently
>>>alternating between checking out all the swimming room (compared to
>>>his cup), tasting the gravel, and trying to scare away his reflection
>>>in the tank.
>>>
>>
>>Bettas are very special fish :-) Boris has scooped up the bloodworm
>>from the bottom of the tank so that's good :-) Bob is still a bit shyer
>>but he drew the platy buddy who I will now move - they don't seem to
>>happy together - Mr Bluey was far more tolerant....Know exactly what
>>you mean by trying to scare away the reflection - my two are busy
>>flaring at themselves in the glass - but nothing compared to the few
>>secs they were together in the bags (separate) at the LFS - he rapidly
>>but a barrier between them (so I'm thinking they might get more of my
>>business).
>>
>>My office project will be for hubbie and maybe a larger scale -
>>although I do believe that this is a ploy to get me to do more work for
>>him - lol. As he has a passion for tetras I'm thinking of filling a
>>30gall (or perhaps my 200L when I upgrade it) with just
>>neons....probably cause a market shortage locally if I do this if
>>NetMax's stocking levels are sustainable....lol
>>
>>Your office betta will keep you great company....
>>
>>Gill
>
>
>
> *gulp* what kind of stocking levels are you planning? I can be a very
> bad influence. Incidentally, as a species tank, the 500 Neons in that
> 60g did actually work very well. Had they been left to grow up, the
> right number would have been closer to about 120 of them. The only trick
> to making it work was i) an automated water change system (doing 4 carbon
> filtered water changes per day) ii) twin sponge filters (each about the
> size of a Fluval 404 canister) and iii) a full time staff pampering and
> feeding them all day long (the Neons especially liked frozen baby brine
> shrimp). I'm sure your office set-up will be just as good ;~).
>
> Boris & Ivan would have been much more fun imho, but if the kids get to
> name them, then they get to share in the work keeping them too, so it can
> all work out.


Not as high as I've seen you mention :-) I'd never quite have the
courage....It's all still very much in the early planning stages. If I
manage to get my home upgrade to a 5/6 footer I will use the 4 foot tank
- other than that I know someone trying to sell their 3 foot (approx
30gall). The filtration would be the spare 304 I've got in the garage
seeded initially with one of the pads from the Fluval 4 Plus in the 4
footer.

Tank will be heavily planted and I'll probably use a plant substrate
rather than gravel...it looks really effective in Boris's tank and is
doing good for the plants....although I may rethink this.

Neons are the choice at the moment although I'm not sure what quantity -
(certainly not 500 - LOL). I was going to ask you once we'd decided the
set up. Hubby was looking at the Rummy Noses in the 15gall in the
kitchen and commenting how much he liked them as well. (Oh and I saw
some wonderful wild caught green discus yesterday - but wow they cost a
lot for me to make mistakes with - water is hard and high pH so I still
think they would be a no, although I know Elaine has done well with
hers). Whatever it ends up as I'll have to be disciplined to keep it as
a species tank.

Feeding is definitely going to be a consideration although the office is
only 1 mile away it will involve weekend visits...(I got put off
auto-feeders many years ago when I used one for my goldfish and came
back to no fish). So this will determine stocking levels (and type of
fish) as well.

The timescale for the tank going in will probably be mid to late
November as we've got too much work going on at the moment (and not much
cash right now). It gives me plenty of time to plan it I guess, and get
the plant cuttings nicely rooted.

Gill

[Elaine T]

Gill Passman wrote:

> Neons are the choice at the moment although I'm not sure what quantity -
> (certainly not 500 - LOL). I was going to ask you once we'd decided the
> set up. Hubby was looking at the Rummy Noses in the 15gall in the
> kitchen and commenting how much he liked them as well. (Oh and I saw
> some wonderful wild caught green discus yesterday - but wow they cost a
> lot for me to make mistakes with - water is hard and high pH so I still
> think they would be a no, although I know Elaine has done well with
> hers). Whatever it ends up as I'll have to be disciplined to keep it as
> a species tank.

Remember, I'm softening my hard water with RO and buffering pH down with
Seachem Acid Buffer for my discus. And he recently decided to stop
eating anyway. No signs of disease, but he's getting skinny. He's
going into a discus spa/quarantine at 88-90F (or as high as my spare
heater will go) and nice, soft blackwater to see if it gets him to
feeling better.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

[Gill Passman]

Elaine T wrote:
> Gill Passman wrote:
>
>> Neons are the choice at the moment although I'm not sure what quantity
>> - (certainly not 500 - LOL). I was going to ask you once we'd decided
>> the set up. Hubby was looking at the Rummy Noses in the 15gall in the
>> kitchen and commenting how much he liked them as well. (Oh and I saw
>> some wonderful wild caught green discus yesterday - but wow they cost
>> a lot for me to make mistakes with - water is hard and high pH so I
>> still think they would be a no, although I know Elaine has done well
>> with hers). Whatever it ends up as I'll have to be disciplined to keep
>> it as a species tank.
>
>
> Remember, I'm softening my hard water with RO and buffering pH down with
> Seachem Acid Buffer for my discus. And he recently decided to stop
> eating anyway. No signs of disease, but he's getting skinny. He's
> going into a discus spa/quarantine at 88-90F (or as high as my spare
> heater will go) and nice, soft blackwater to see if it gets him to
> feeling better.
>

I'm so sorry to hear that :-( He was one of the most romantic gifts I've
heard of for a long while....

I'm very hesitant to go that way, if you, who have far more experience
than me are having problems....tetras or community it is then....

Hope the spa works
Gill

[Patricia A. Shaffer]

On Fri, 07 Oct 2005 20:55:53 GMT, Elaine T >
wrote:

>Gill Passman wrote:
>> Ok I know it was quick but I've had a fishy day. Maintenance on the
>> Community tank and finishing off the QT tank which this time didn't find
>> it's way back to the box.....plant friendly substrate and loads of
>> cuttings....in fact I still had to throw over quarter of a bucket full
>> away.
>>
>> Went to a new place (mentioned by "Fantastic" Derek) and they had the
>> most wonderful bettas....couldn't decide between a red or a
>> turquoise/purple tinge betta so bought both. LFS guy had a bit of a
>> trauma until I explained they were going in different tanks. Both
>> settling in well although not eating yet. Boris is the red one,
>> obviously, and Bob the other one (got over-ruled by the kids as I wanted
>> to call him Ivan) :-) . The kitchen is now back to normal with bettas
>> coming to see me when cooking :-)
>
>Very cool! I'm so glad you found some new kitchen buddies.
>
>I bought a betta today too. I decided a planted tank and herbivores for
>the office was too complicated (filter, lighting, timer, ferts,
>Excel...) and too expensive (I wanted a 6 gal Nanocube). So the new
>betta's hanging out in a Kritter Keeper that I'll seed tomorrow with
>some java moss and an anubias that should be OK on ambient light.
>
>New Betta doesn't have a name yet, but he's pretty, with a turquoise
>back, red belly and head, and white-tipped red fins. He's currently
>alternating between checking out all the swimming room (compared to his
>cup), tasting the gravel, and trying to scare away his reflection in the
>tank.

Oh, dear, it must be catching ... I just bought my (first) Betta, too!
He has a marbled blue and pink body and blue shading to magenta fins
and tail. I named him Henricus Rex. He's in a 30 gallon tank with
mollies, neon tetras, corys and a Rainbow Shark. No aggression seen,
though he flares and postures prettily for the largest female molly.


--
Patricia
Proud Citizen of the Commonwealth of Virginia

[NetMax]

"Patricia A. Shaffer" > wrote in message
...
> On Fri, 07 Oct 2005 20:55:53 GMT, Elaine T >
> wrote:
>
<snip>
>
> Oh, dear, it must be catching ... I just bought my (first) Betta, too!
> He has a marbled blue and pink body and blue shading to magenta fins
> and tail. I named him Henricus Rex. He's in a 30 gallon tank with
> mollies, neon tetras, corys and a Rainbow Shark. No aggression seen,
> though he flares and postures prettily for the largest female molly.
>
>
> --
> Patricia
> Proud Citizen of the Commonwealth of Virginia


It's a rare Betta that is without a name, but it's the opposite for most
of our other fish.

Sorry to hear that Flower is unwell.
--
www.NetMax.tk

[Elaine T]

NetMax wrote:
> "Patricia A. Shaffer" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>>On Fri, 07 Oct 2005 20:55:53 GMT, Elaine T >
>>wrote:
>>
>
> <snip>
>
>>Oh, dear, it must be catching ... I just bought my (first) Betta, too!
>>He has a marbled blue and pink body and blue shading to magenta fins
>>and tail. I named him Henricus Rex. He's in a 30 gallon tank with
>>mollies, neon tetras, corys and a Rainbow Shark. No aggression seen,
>>though he flares and postures prettily for the largest female molly.
>>
>>
>>--
>>Patricia
>>Proud Citizen of the Commonwealth of Virginia
>
>
>
> It's a rare Betta that is without a name, but it's the opposite for most
> of our other fish.
>
> Sorry to hear that Flower is unwell.

Thanks. I'll see what happens. He's been hiding so I hadn't gotten a
good look at him until I finally gave up hoping that water changes would
help and moved him into quarantine today. He really doesn't look that
bad. There's some hole-in-the-head style pitting on his head and he's
thin from not eating. Eyes are clear, fins are perfect, including the
fine filaments on his dorsal and pelvic fins, and his slimecoat looks
OK, except for a place where I think I scraped some off with the net.
He gave me a merry chase through the jungle to get him out of the main
tank so he still has some strength. Of course, he went dark and clamped
his fins after I moved him to unfamiliar surroundings, and he's gilling
quite hard. I've got an airstone running, of course. His gills might
be a touch pale, but nothing dramatic enough for me to be sure. I see
no obvious damage.

The LFS manager, who seems to know his stuff, said that heat stimulates
the discus' metabolism and immune system and that sick discus at the
store often shake off what ails them after a couple days at 90F. I've
heard the same from other discus experts and he's only been at 82F
lately so it's worth a try. I picked up some Clout just in case (they
didn't have plain metronidazole), and I figure I'll try that next.
Maybe it's hexamita or gill flukes from the same food that was
contaminated with the dragonfly eggs. *sigh*

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com