Petfish.net Message Board Archive No. 16 Part 1

Go To Archives Index

From: Cheryl 9/02/00
Subject: Transferring Betta from bowl to vase
Posted by tmcmanbellsouth.net) Cheryl on September 02, 2000 at 11:10:42:
I have always thought the Betta is beautiful in the vases. I have had "Fish" for 2 years and am thinking on putting him in a vase. He has been in a small fish bowl this whole time. I feed him in the am and in the pm. In fact, he greets me every morning just like the dogs do waiting to be fed. When I bought the vase it had instruction. One sheet said to feed daily and the other said once a month. I really have a problem with this. I can't see not feeding once a month. Can someone tell me how to make the transfer from the bowl to the vase and is the plant idea safe or can I just use the vase with the decorative gems? I have all the things needed but I am hesitant to do it. I have become quite fond of the little fellow and don't want to kill him. I would never forgive myself. Any help anyone can give me will be most appreciated. 6333
6333.html
From: Kick 9/02/00
Subject: Several things brought to my attention....Admin. note..please read
Posted by Kick on September 02, 2000 at 10:08:04:
It has been brought to my attention that there are several recent posts on the board that are extremely similar, wanting to know the same information, but all posted under different names. My request is that if someone out there is posting the same questions under different names, please stop. If this is not what is happening; and this is just a coincidence, then before posting, please read down through the posts before posting a new one to see if your question is already there and has already been answered. Clint is the one who archives the board and has been very, very busy in recent weeks not allowing him to archive as frequently. The board is very full and by reposting questions, this takes up a great deal of space making the board take quite a lot of time to load. Also to CT and Barb. I have checked with Clint to be sure that your HTML's and scripts are okay to use on the board (CT, maybe you have already checked with him and this is fine)as sometimes using these on a message board will mess it up and not let it run properly. What you guys are trying to do is, indeed, witty, and could really be an asset to the board by putting sites and pictures up to help, but could you do me a favor for the time being? First, please email each other for your instructional posts to each other. These posts are taking up a lot of space on the board, and I don't want to delete in case you guys should you miss a post. And posting these under a post that is asking for help could make the person feel that you are more interested in getting this stuff to work than trying to help them. Until I hear back from Clint (or CT, you let me know that you have already talked to him), please refrain from doing this. You guys have been a great help to me and everyone else on here and please, keep it up. Thanks. Kick 6327
6327.html
From: bobby 9/02/00
Subject: emergency! emergency! (dying catfish!!!!!!!!) (Kick help!!!!!!!!!!!) (911!!)
Posted by bobby on September 02, 2000 at 09:13:12:
Help! Help! I dont know if my catfish is dying but it sure looks like it. The saimese algea eater spends most of its time at the bottom not even moving but once in awhile it starts sucking around again then it goes back to not moving. The catfish sometimes doesnt even move for 10 to 20 minutes. Any info would be greatly useful to me and my catfish so please write to my message.ooooooohhhhhhh!!!! im so nervous! bobby 6329
6329.html
From: Kick 9/02/00
Subject: Re: emergency! emergency! (dying catfish!!!!!!!!) (Kick help!!!!!!!!!!!) (911!!)
Posted by Kick on September 02, 2000 at 09:33:20: Re: (6327.html) emergency! emergency! (dying catfish!!!!!!!!) (Kick help!!!!!!!!!!!) (911!!)
Posted by bobby on September 02, 2000 at 09:13:12:
Please don't get so excited. And if you are going to be a fishkeeper, you better sit back and relax a little bit or you are going to have a stroke. This hobby is supposed to be fun...not drive you into early insanity!! And I do have a question? Could you possibly be posting under several names? There are many posts below that sound way to familiar to be several different people. Do us a favor, please. Pick one name and stick to it. Posting under several names confuses everyone and makes it terribly hard to help. If you are not doing this....I feel someone is....and hopefully we can get this person (persons) on track. Now to answer your question. Sometimes algae eaters will stay in one place for a long period. They need to sleep too, you know. As long as you don't see any physical signs that something is wrong, and he is eating or moving around from place to place occasionally, I would not be too concerned. I have oto cats and plecos that will stay in one place for as long as an hour or more. Sit back and enjoy your fish. And don't "look" for trouble. If there possibly "could" be something wrong with him, you may not know what it is for sure and there is no way to treat with anything if you don't have a clue as to his problems. Just heed the advise from below and make sure he has plenty to eat. And you will just have to let nature take its couse unless you absolutely know something is wrong with him and what disease to treat. Kick 6325
6325.html
From: Dan 9/02/00
Subject: Newbie Betta questions
Posted by jdanhamhotmail.com) Dan on September 02, 2000 at 08:51:06:
We got a single betta from someone and have a few basic questions. 1. How do you tell what sex he/she is? 2. Do they need living plants if they live in a bowl rather than an aquarium? If so, what are the best? 3. We moved the fish from a 4x4x6" cube to a bowl 8" in diameter. (We thought the original size was way too small). How does the tank size impact the water change routine? 4. What is the the best/easiest live food they prefer? Can we `grow our own'? 5. The people we inherited the fish from said they fed it 4 times per WEEK. Judging from it's appetite, I think they were underfeeding, so I'm confused. What I have seen so far is usually 2-3 times daily (based on other posts and the feeding instructions). Any other tips on how to take care of these fish? Many thanks. We're just wanting to do the right things but need some feedback. 6335
6335.html
From: Barb 9/02/00
Subject: Re: Newbie Betta questions
Posted by Barb on September 02, 2000 at 10:49:45: Re: (6325.html) Newbie Betta questions
Posted by Dan on September 02, 2000 at 08:51:06:
Hi Dan! I have included some of Kick's tips on betta care at the end. I use plastic plants... let's face it, they are easy to take care of and bettas don't care if they are real or not... they love to lay (or "rest" which= fishie sleep) in them. I change my bowls (one gallon) once or twice a week and "condition" the water with Amquel and NovAqua. To answer your question, the bigger the bowl, the less frequently you need to change the water. I am guessing that with an 8 inch diameter bowl, you have a one gallon bowl so you will need to change it 1-2x/week. I feed my bettas Betta Bio-Gold 2-3 pellets in the AM and freeze-dried bloodworms in the evening (2-3 pieces). Most on this board seem to steer clear of live foods as they can carry disease. They are carnivores (well mostly... they will sometimes eat peas). But if you want to "grow your own", say... worms (sounds completely yucky to me!), I can instruct you as to how to do this. Don't be fooled by the hungry look in their eyes or the voracious way in which they attack and eat their food... they behave that way with an empty or a full stomach... so be careful not to overfeed them. Describe what your betta looks like. He most likely is of a beautiful color with long fins and that would be a boy! There are a number of betta lovers on this board, so please ask whenever you have a question and someone will be able to answer it. (5837.html) Kick's Tips on Betta Care.

Barb 6330
6330.html
From: Kick 9/02/00
Subject: Re: Newbie Betta questions
Posted by Kick on September 02, 2000 at 09:38:45: Re: (6325.html) Newbie Betta questions
Posted by Dan on September 02, 2000 at 08:51:06:
I don't think Clint has had the time to post my article on keeping a betta so below should answer your questions. The difference between the male and female is that the male is the much more beautiful of the two. There are males that "do not" have the flowing fins, etc., but these are sorta rare and hardly ever found in pet stores. I am sure you probably have a male. They have long, flowing fins where the female's fins are shorter. The female will exhibit stripes on occasion, either horizontal or vertical (depending on their mood) and are not nearly as pretty and colorful as the males. Now on to their care: Bettas need the following: At least a "one-half gallon" bowl or tank. Depending on the size of your "vase" and your betta, it must have adequate water in it. A little more is even better, but they do "not" need 5 gallons of water, a heater (unless you live in the arctic) or a lot (if any) mechanical aeration. I have several in l gallon bowls, some in 2 l/2 gallon tanks with undergravel filter, rocks, plant and light and 3 in a ten gallon divided tank with undergravel filter, rocks and a plant in each section. Do not use "lead" crystal bowls or vases as the lead contained in this glass will kill a betta. Also they have to have "air" at the top of whatever you keep them in. Do not cover a bowl (or vase) with plastic wrap, glass or a live plant in a cup unless you do have some type of mechanical aeration, as they will suffocate. They have what is called a labyrinth organ. This means that they can breathe "our" air and need this at the surface of their water in order to live. However, bettas are "jumpers" also, and you need to be careful and cover the tops of containers with screen or netting so that he won't jump to his death on the countertop. They can survive for several hours out of the water, but I don't think any of us want that for our pet until he can be discovered. They need clean water and a plant to "rest" on. Rocks are optional. The rocks are more for our benefit of "decorating" and hiding waste. The bowls (vases) can become somewhat bothersome as you have to change "all" the water sometimes 2 to 3 times a "week", but my feeling is if we don't want to take the time to do this when it needs it, then we shouldn't keep them. A 100 percent water change will not hurt them. As with any animal, their urine produces ammonia, and if the water is left unchanged, it will poison the fish. I also want to show them off, not make excuses for their dirty water. Make sure that you "condition" (remove chlorine and chloramine from tap water) the water with a product to do this every time you change their water. Just running water from the tap and leaving it set overnight will not permit all the "chemicals" of city water to dissipate. There are many different kinds on the market, and your LPS (local pet shop/store) can advise you as to what product they carry. They all work basically the same way. I also add 1 teasp. of "aquarium" salt per 1 gallon of water when I do the water changes in the bowls. (This can also be purchased at LPS. They like the salt and it helps to fight disease. As closely as possible, try to make sure the water used for changing is the same temp. they were in before. The water should not be "distilled". They need to be "fed" twice a day. I usually do this in the am and then again in the pm. If instructions came with your betta that you don't need to feed because he will eat the roots from the plant, that is a lie. They need food, particularly protein and fat. I feed a variety, but mostly I use what is called "betta bites". You don't need to feed but about 4 or 5 "grains" of this to be adequate, depending on his size. However, do not "overfeed". This creates waste and any leftover food fouls the water. You can fill in with frozen or dried bloodworms and frozen brine shrimp every once in a while as a treat. There is also a product called "Betta Biogold" that is very good. Now, a very strong word of advise here. You CAN NOT put two males together. They are a very territorial fish and two males will spar until one will eventually kill the other. Some do keep bettas in a community tank, but I don't advise this practice. Because of their long, flowing fins, they catch the eye of many fish who like to nip and chase. You will find that you have one of two things. Either the betta will become stressed and worn out from trying to run away from these fish which will rip and tear at his fins, or you will find your betta becomes aggressive and fights with the other fish in your tank. Don't keep a male with females either. They tend to fight trying to spawn and "someone" is bound to get hurt. There is a world-wide craze of placing the betta in a vase with a lily growing out of the top and the roots dangling in the water. This "decoration" is overpriced, not constructed properly and most times the instruction and care of this is not correct. If you so desire to purchase or construct a vase of this type, please adhere to the above directions for care of the fish. The main things you need to remember are: The fish has to have air at the surface; it needs to be fed protein, meat and fat and only eats the roots of the plant in order to keep from starving to death; and the water needs to be changed frequently. Once you learn the ins and outs of betta keeping, they are easy to keep. They originated in the "stagnant", still waters of Thailand and because of the labyrinth, they can survive in very little, dirty puddles of water. But since we are keeping them as pets, and they are so beautiful and have such neat personalities, I am sure none of us want them to be kept that way. There are many books to be found and many sites on the net concerning care of these fish. By adhering to the above instructions, you should have a happy, healthy, thriving betta who will repay you every time you come close to him by dancing, flaring and showing you how much he appreciates the care you are giving him. Hope this helps. Let me know if you need anything else. Kick