The Chronicle of the Betta

[CrazyGuineaPigLady]

I moved him to a Critter Keeper with Melafix this morning. He was disoriented and pouty when I took these pictures but his fins are starting to spread now. Especially after he got a plant.

http://s1208.photobucket.com/albums/cc362/TheCrabbyCake/?action=view&current=P1000778.jpg

http://s1208.photobucket.com/albums/cc362/TheCrabbyCake/?action=view&current=P1000777.jpg

He is trying to eat but won’t come to the top for pellets and either doesn’t like them, or they are too big because he spits them back out. But he will nibble once they sink to the bottom. I’d heard Petsmart started selling babies (too young to be sexed even) so I’m thinking he’s really young.

I’m surprised his fins are in such good shape after being in that NASTY cup. I was using a turkey baster to suck out all the junk when I did the partial water changes.

[TimeBandit]

He is a handsome boy.

[GotGait]

He’s beautiful! Now watch him turn blue or some other bright color. :lol:

[CrazyGuineaPigLady]

Thanks but he’s looking kind of sad and ugly to me right now. :lol: No personality and no confidence and I’m really hoping he is a baby. He goes right up to his reflection like it’s his BFF. No flaring or even getting bent out of shape that another Betta is looking at him. He does seem to like snuggling up in his plant but moves off whenever I get near the tank.

Right now he’s a shimmery white and true green. I would be happy if he turned any color of the rainbow and kept the band. Too late but I might have ordered this guy if I’d seen him sooner. That’s a color combination I haven’t seen before and would love to have.

http://www.aquabid.com/cgi-bin/auction/auction.cgi?fwbettasd&1330687235

TimeBandit, I just went back and read about your Walmart Betta. Poor guy and I’m glad you took care of him.

One of my kids (or me) must have squeezed Cee Lo’s cup last night because I noticed it was cracked from top to bottom this morning. Thankfully no water leaked or he could have been a gonner. :eek:

[GotGait]

There was quite a shake up today. Some new plants came and Dr. Foster and Smith sent me extra plants again. Normally, I would love this, but my tank is small and the big tank doesn’t have water in it yet. I had to cram the extras in which took some redecorating.

Chips had to inspect every single thing including my planting job. The tank looks like this now.

[ReeseTheBeast]

What a cool thread!

I’ve really enjoyed reading everyone’s stories about their Bettas… I had no idea they had such personalities and were so interactive with people!

GotGait, Chips seems like a really awesome fish… I especially love the stories about his antics; and your tank is beautiful!

Now I’m starting to consider a jump onto the Betta Bandwagon!

Keep this thread going, guys, it’s great!! :yes:

[CrazyGuineaPigLady]

I was just coming back to give an update on Cee Lo. He got moved to his 2.5 yesterday and loves it. No flaring but he is definitely keeping tabs on his reflection. :lol: He’s very responsive to us now so I do think he will have an outgoing personality. The green is getting darker and spreading so I’m not sure what color he’ll end up being.

http://s1208.photobucket.com/albums/cc362/TheCrabbyCake/?action=view&current=P1000791.jpg

http://s1208.photobucket.com/albums/cc362/TheCrabbyCake/?action=view&current=P1000793.jpg

GotGait, what is your substrate? It looks “fluffy”. I always had sand for my Corys but that could work for them, too.

[GotGait]

Wow, he’s really starting to color up. He’s going to be gorgeous.

That’s just plain old gravel mixed with sand. The big tank will have SeaChem black sand flourite. I think it will make things a little easier to plant.

[GotGait]

My husband got small power head to put in the big tank, and he decided to test it in the Betta tank because he thought it had a really low output. Well, it really did a number on my little tank. Blew my Betta around the tank and flipped him over. But then the little bugger went right back to it and let it fling him around again. I made my husband turn it off before it uprooted more of my plants. The fish was in front of the power head looking at it, like he was wondering where the fun went. He loves playing in the current.
What a weird Betta.

[GotGait]

[QUOTE=ReeseTheBeast;6172699]
What a cool thread!

I’ve really enjoyed reading everyone’s stories about their Bettas… I had no idea they had such personalities and were so interactive with people!

GotGait, Chips seems like a really awesome fish… I especially love the stories about his antics; and your tank is beautiful!

Now I’m starting to consider a jump onto the Betta Bandwagon!

Keep this thread going, guys, it’s great!! :yes:[/QUOTE]

I notice you’re in MD. There are lots of cute baby Bettas and a really pretty Halfmoon at the PetCo in Germantown! I wanted to bring a couple more home, but hubby said nooooooooooo!

[spook1]

Well the CoTH talked me into it…lol

Ok all this talk got to me…:lol: I kinda wanted a tank any way. who knew Beta’s had so much personalitiy! So I got a very nice 21/2 gal tank for my nightstand since I think it would be relaxing to watch him. I got pretty rocks and a silk plant and it has a nice light. Its all set up and ready…now the quest for the perfect Beta…

Anyone buy from Aquabid? Good or bad?

T.I.A

[clint]

I got my Beta tank all set up and our new guy, cleverly named Nemo by my husband, moved in. We got a Fluval Edge 6 gal tank, planted it, and Nemo is very cheery in it. He is showing his stuff regularly. I have had many fish over the years, but never a Beta. Clearly I was missing out.

[GotGait]

Yay Clint! Pictures, pictures! I like my Edge a lot. It’s not the easiest tank to clean or plant stuff in, but it’s certainly cool looking. I added a light bar to the front for my plants, so now mine doesn’t look so “zen”.

Lessons learned:
Don’t get plants that are “hairy” for a small tank. What a mess they make!

Spook1, I haven’t used Aquabid yet, but I plan to. There are a few people I see mentioned a lot as “the best”. One of them goes by the handle “martinismom” on Aquabid. I posted pics of her Bettas earlier, and I hope to get another fish from her. I’ll go look up some of the others for you. Also, do you have a heater for your new tank? A good one for that size is the Hydor Theo 25 watt. Your tank sounds like its ready to go!

Other good Aquabid sellers:

Basement Bettas - U.S. breeder http://basementbettas.wordpress.com/ http://www.BasementBettas.com/
Nicebettas http://www.nicebettas.com/Stock_Shop/index.php?page=shop.browse&category_id=3&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1
Aquastar71
Interbettas
Bettascapes - Texas breeder
Canadabettas - has beautiful fish, but only ships within Canada.

[clint]

I think the Edge is pretty, but cleaning it is difficult. I’m not sure I would go with it again because of that. Also, Nemo was used to coming to the front of the tank and signaling he wanted to eat, and now he has to accept that the food is going to be dropped in the middle of the tank. He does seem to be adjusting to that, though.

[GotGait]

[QUOTE=clint;6174882]
I think the Edge is pretty, but cleaning it is difficult. I’m not sure I would go with it again because of that. Also, Nemo was used to coming to the front of the tank and signaling he wanted to eat, and now he has to accept that the food is going to be dropped in the middle of the tank. He does seem to be adjusting to that, though.[/QUOTE]

I use tweezers to feed frozen food so mine knows when the tweezers tap on the opening that food is coming. He will swim to the opening and wait.
He wouldn’t eat any food that didn’t move when I got him so I started making the bloodworms “swim” and he scarfed them down. It’s fun, so I never stopped feeding this way. He will occasionally eat a pellet if I soak it first, but he clearly shows his displeasure.

[Milocalwinnings]

Sadly my little betta Charles II died this morning. I knew it was coming as he did not look good the past few days and was losing his color.

After spring break next week I plan to get a tank and a new betta. They are such characters.

[concreteblond]

So sorry for your loss!

I had bettas off and on in the past and have been without them for a while now. I got tired of the wally world fish dying. Because of this thread, I now know that the fish need a bit more than a small bowl with water changes…

Yeah, I know, dumb me! I feel really bad. I just don’t want to spend that much money on a pretty fish when I can get an entire tank set up for that!

I would like a nice fish in a really nice set up!

[ReeseTheBeast]

@GotGait;6173936

I notice you’re in MD. There are lots of cute baby Bettas and a really pretty Halfmoon at the PetCo in Germantown! I wanted to bring a couple more home, but hubby said nooooooooooo!

yep, I’m in MD, but even so, Germantown is a hike for me! (I’m in the Southern area)

I actually just gave up my horse, and have 2 cats I’m trying to keep up with; so I don’t necessarily see any Bettas in my future… but I will indeed be living vicariously through the contributors of this thread… maybe one day I’ll have a story to share… but until then, I’ll thoroughly enjoy reading yours!

[Teacup]

I’ve been enjoying reading about everyone’s bettas. I have a little crowntail that I adore. He’s surprisingly personable, more than any other fish I’ve owned. He had looked pretty bad in that little cup and I’m glad to see his colors have brightened since I brought him home.

[Jealoushe]

I have one on my desk at work…He keeps my spirits high while sitting at the desk all day and clients love him!

I was so surprised when I got my first betta what personalities they have