Betta

[Jackie Ramo]

Anyone know anything about Betta's. I follishly bought one yesterday and now am wondering what I should do with it. I have it in a 2 gallon vase, with a plant and a heater. I'm afraid of frying him with the heater but truly the house is not warm enough not to have it.

http://jackieramo.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10001/normal_DSCN2143.JPG

[Terri]

http://www.bettatalk.com/betta_care.htm
http://www.deepbluebettas.com/BettaCare.shtml

Should be fine if you can keep the temp stable... I don't use heaters in with my bettas(bad betta mommy :lol: )

Some good info in the sites above. Bettas are insectivorus(sp?) but do enjoy some "meat", like small worms, bits of tuna. I change my bettas containers out once a week in winter, total w/c. In the summer I do it twice a week.

If you want to get "fancy" you can get those small 2-3 gallon aquariums that come with a built in filter and canopy light... less worry about wq.

he's cute pretty... :D What's his name?

[Jackie Ramo]

He's nameless at this point. I picked him because he was black, red and purple... now today he looks blue and red... a big disappointment :twisted:

I've fed him nothing as yet. Tried to find some green worms in the filter and normally when there a dozens of them, not one... so off to the pet store tomorrow. He has a plant and some duck weed to munch on. I looked for bugs in the greenhouse but could only find spiders almost as big as him so I passed.

I plugged the heater in as downstairs gets quite cold and I set the temp for 64 at night... brrr its cold here!!! My last Betta lived 2 years but I don't think I was a good fish mom to it.

[Jackie Ramo]

It doesn't show with the eye but does this look weird to you???

http://jackieramo.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10001/normal_DSCN2160.JPG

[The Other Lynda]

Yes Jackie - the pic looks weird. Is the fish really "fuzzy" or is that just the photography? I've had a betta for the last 2 1/2 years - his name is "Red Fish." Good imagination, huh? Oddly enough (and I know this will surprise you) - he's RED! He lives in a vase/bowl with an anthurium and he seems perfectly happy - although, how do you know a fish is happy? He's alive, at least. I change the water once a week, feed him 2-3 times a week with betta food, and occasionally give him some blood worms when I thaw some for the "real" fish (koi.) Not heated, nothing exotic, and he just keeps on keepin' on. He lives on the kitchen table under a skylight, and he watches me eat occasionally, which is really kind of creepy. He swims over to the side of the bowl and gets all flared out like he wants to fight. Every now and then, just for giggles, I hold a mirror to the side of the bowl so he can fight with the "other fish." What can I say, I'm easily entertained...

[Terri]

He has a plant and some duck weed to munch on. They don't eat plant material Jackie, unless starving...

The betta you have(splendin - vieltail) should live a nice 2-3 years, judging by size I'd say it's between 6months and 1 yr old.

Did you use the "macro" feature on yor camera to take that pic? Sort of a neat effect none-the-less :wink:

[marla]

LOL, the mirror thing sounds like something my boys would have done. My daughter and her roomate had one in college, kept in in a large bowl that had marbles at the bottom and also housed a large philodendrom. I heard they're easy to care for.

[Jackie Ramo]

I can't figure out how to get the macro in the camera to work, I know its there, I just can't find it, or the manual... It only shows in the picture but it makes me worry he may have fungus or something already.

Doug said the fish was a Half Moon and about 6 months old, he doesn't look like a half moon to me but more like deformed crown. Anyway he must be something since I paid extra for him :lol:

OK on the plants, I saw him nudging the roots around and figured he was nibbling.

Marla I used to give my betta a mirror now and again. Gave him something to do. Even a pot lid reflection made him happy for 10 minutes... then he'd get tired and go to the otherside. Maybe he wasn't an agressive one :lol:

This ones name may be dumb fish :shock:

[Terri]

A true Halfmoon must have a caudal spread of180 degree, not less and not more. Does his tail look like this when he's "showin' off" ? http://www.halfmoonclub.co.kr/forum/data/e_gallery_board/kim_mg_male3.jpg

Not gonna argue with Doug LOL

I didn't see a fungus?

[Jackie Ramo]

Well right now he isn't being cooperative which is why I am calling him dumb fins... the dorsal and vent fins are curly at the ends. I'll try to get a better pic when he is more settled.

[Terri]

How's mr. uncooperative doing?

[Jackie Ramo]

Past due for a water change :uhoh: On the list for today or tomorrow. Like to do all the changes on one day. He eats like a pirannah, I fear for my fingers when dropping the food in. Still after 50 pics not one decent one that shows how handsome he is.