Vlad and the Platys (Betta Wars... a long intro)

Heyla everyone!

I've been lurking around the newsgroups (mostly the marine sections) for about
two years now, being the *good* aspiring fishkeeper and trying to absorb
everything I could from NG's, sites, books and divine intervention. I've
spent nights pouring over books taking notes and generally being a pest to the
local library. And one of the easiest things to understand is not to put
annoying active fin-nippers with a virtual fin snack bar.

So tell me... how is it that after two years of studying and longing after the
ideal healthy happy tank that I end up with 5 platys and a betta?? A boyfriend
with good intentions that's how. But more on interpersonal relations another
time and NG...

First off, for some reason I didn't have a lot of faith in fishless cycling.
Sad but true I figured that if there wasn't something that needed care in the
tank I'd keep putting off the dream and spend my money on something useful.
So after conditioning the water for my 38-39gal (not too sure as I've had the
tank for years just waiting for courage) and getting it up to temp the Platys
arrived. One DOA but after shipping stress wore off the little guys were
nibbling at everything and trying to mate all day. Full color, clear eyes and
happy gills.

Yay, thought I, with test kits in hand showing low (.5 ammonia) bad stuff and
slightly rising nitrites. Then the boyfriend arrived, bag full of Betta in
hand and so excited to get him right in there with his new 'friends'. I should
have put my foot down and given him a crash-course in fishies after he'd
returned the little guy, but silliness prevailed and after a 2 hour acclimation
in went the soon-to-be dubbed Sir Vladimir. Then came the lecture.

And amazingly, 2 weeks after the Betta's intro nothing's happened! Vlad stays
on his side, and the Platys hang out either above him or on their side of the
tank near the filter output. At feeding time the filter goes off and again
they're on their respective sides so getting enough food to Vlad's a breeze.
Heavily (fake) planted tank so perhaps that helps out, but I'm really amazed.
Vlad's fins are full and un-tugged, he eats like a pig and cruises around his
territory like nothing's amiss. If one of the tank irritants shows up he just
poofs up and gives a gill-flare and they're outta there. We've been through an
Ick outbreak so that's prolonged the cycling, but aside from that everybody
seems happy.

So anyway, that's my story and I'm stuck with it. Happy fishkeeping and
thanks for reading!

Jessica