Friday, February 04, 2005
Melaleuca
Just a reminder that melaleuca is generally available for 'Betta' ills ... specifically as 'Betta Cue' for Betta stress and as Mela-Fix (an ingredient) by Aquarium Pharmaceutics.
An 'anti-bacterium' generally sold for aquaria and ponds .. for fish treatment .. Melaleuca -the fish anti-stress compound is an ingredient -- derived from the Teaberry Tree
Aquarium Pharmaceuticals 'MelaFix'
An 'anti-bacterium' generally sold for aquaria and ponds .. for fish treatment .. Melaleuca -the fish anti-stress compound is an ingredient -- derived from the Teaberry Tree
Aquarium Pharmaceuticals 'MelaFix'
Betta Buying
In addition to a few well stocked fish stores or dealers ..and the seasonal pushes at othert stores...and the previus list of links with breeders by the internet ... Aquarists ... have an 'E-Bay' market all their own ... styled Aqua-Bid.
Bettas are included and the link for that sector of the AquaBid offerings follows. Prices range from $3.5 for the ordinary to the price rises of a dollar more for crown-tails to the expected 35-60 range etc for the 'high fancies'. For the beginenr and the serious .. it's a good look:
Aqua Bid Betta List
Bettas are included and the link for that sector of the AquaBid offerings follows. Prices range from $3.5 for the ordinary to the price rises of a dollar more for crown-tails to the expected 35-60 range etc for the 'high fancies'. For the beginenr and the serious .. it's a good look:
Aqua Bid Betta List
Thursday, February 03, 2005
Spurt of Bad Luck
Whether starter's luck or just a 'spurt' of bad luck ... this blogger's Betta keeping will be postponed a few weeks while weather warms up and an extra arrangement or two is made. As said before .. maybe we complicate life for the home aquarists' Bettas when we aquarium them rather than 'jarring' them.
Male Betta # 2 died this afternoon after succumbing to more fungus -possibly masking 'velvet' disease.
In any case care and keeping will be studied further and improved .. whether stock or me is uncertain. Likely -one or more males will oin a community aquarium in near future .. and be kept entirely from females which in 3 or 4 quantity (small-timer) would live in a separate tank. As our New England weather warms .. a traditional shallower tank breeding arrangement would be attempted.
As to pragmatism -- in addition to breed and problem familiarity - a lessonabout 'tank treatments' with some pharmaceuticals - ie. JungleLabs.com 'Tank Buddy' fungal treatments --work well -- but do note (especially newcoming aquarists & returnees) the false positives' reading on water tests during & after use.
As quoted in an e-mail from Jungle Labs Customer Rep: ...
'If you were to test the ammonia level right now, it would probably give you a high reading. Not because your ammonia is actually high, but because this medication affects the test - it gives a false positive reading.'
.. this can also apply to other water quality nitrogen affected test values ...
Also JungleLabs states that unless otherwise indicated fish may be fed with few problems during applicatio of their treatments if a sponge filter is added against food waste build-up.
Ciao until more Bettas - however tips or news as it happens.
Male Betta # 2 died this afternoon after succumbing to more fungus -possibly masking 'velvet' disease.
In any case care and keeping will be studied further and improved .. whether stock or me is uncertain. Likely -one or more males will oin a community aquarium in near future .. and be kept entirely from females which in 3 or 4 quantity (small-timer) would live in a separate tank. As our New England weather warms .. a traditional shallower tank breeding arrangement would be attempted.
As to pragmatism -- in addition to breed and problem familiarity - a lessonabout 'tank treatments' with some pharmaceuticals - ie. JungleLabs.com 'Tank Buddy' fungal treatments --work well -- but do note (especially newcoming aquarists & returnees) the false positives' reading on water tests during & after use.
As quoted in an e-mail from Jungle Labs Customer Rep: ...
'If you were to test the ammonia level right now, it would probably give you a high reading. Not because your ammonia is actually high, but because this medication affects the test - it gives a false positive reading.'
.. this can also apply to other water quality nitrogen affected test values ...
Also JungleLabs states that unless otherwise indicated fish may be fed with few problems during applicatio of their treatments if a sponge filter is added against food waste build-up.
Ciao until more Bettas - however tips or news as it happens.
Winter Spawning
Betta female was displayed more explicitly to the male today who had been playing cat and mouse with her but had not commenced nest building. She had not been attacked but chased and 'impressed' with his gill-work. Her display was by floating container (clearly visible) to encourage his seeing more of her. He waltzed around her all afternoon - no nest building however.
She, however by late afternoon, began to show a minor sign of 'velvet' illness and was removed gently .. had not even been netted since obtention .. and succumbed. The male is doing fine. Additional females will be readied - but will be held back - hopefully two or three together until displaying full ovidity signs.
Should the male commence building a nest, a female will be introduced. Inducing a male to nest in this colder climate circumstance is hence now postponed at this blogger's home.
Living in New England in winter can make Betta spawning more difficult - unless one keeps a heated 'fish room'. So - to re-create the least perplexing and better spawning conditions one may either heat one or wait until spring or summer.
So,for me attempts to interest a male with a female in winter and to arrange a spawning will not be done. Instead any females will be kept and fattened for an offer in warmer weather. An aquarium in use has been kept fully filled with water whie introducing a pair in order to maintain heat. In Betta literature a half-filled - but warm aquarium - with the top half covered to retain heat & humidity - is recommended. (Keeping an aquarium filled full also retains heat but may discourgae mating - though it is frequently done.) Also at least, warm weather mating spares headaches with betta fry if successful. (My ambient unheated temperature in the room with the aquaria is now 59F - another heated tank would be becessary.)
My investment - fortunately - has been small thus far ... and the practice averts trauma with more expensive fish. male and female Bettas in fish stores locally cost about $2.69-$3.99.
She, however by late afternoon, began to show a minor sign of 'velvet' illness and was removed gently .. had not even been netted since obtention .. and succumbed. The male is doing fine. Additional females will be readied - but will be held back - hopefully two or three together until displaying full ovidity signs.
Should the male commence building a nest, a female will be introduced. Inducing a male to nest in this colder climate circumstance is hence now postponed at this blogger's home.
Living in New England in winter can make Betta spawning more difficult - unless one keeps a heated 'fish room'. So - to re-create the least perplexing and better spawning conditions one may either heat one or wait until spring or summer.
So,for me attempts to interest a male with a female in winter and to arrange a spawning will not be done. Instead any females will be kept and fattened for an offer in warmer weather. An aquarium in use has been kept fully filled with water whie introducing a pair in order to maintain heat. In Betta literature a half-filled - but warm aquarium - with the top half covered to retain heat & humidity - is recommended. (Keeping an aquarium filled full also retains heat but may discourgae mating - though it is frequently done.) Also at least, warm weather mating spares headaches with betta fry if successful. (My ambient unheated temperature in the room with the aquaria is now 59F - another heated tank would be becessary.)
My investment - fortunately - has been small thus far ... and the practice averts trauma with more expensive fish. male and female Bettas in fish stores locally cost about $2.69-$3.99.
Wednesday, February 02, 2005
Status of Pairing
Male and female bettas are sharing a 10 gallon (40 L) tank ..and are in no hurry to mate. This blogger not being a more involved breeder of Betta Splendans (ie. a forced match of a specific pair), beyond a casual mating option has no hurry.
Behavior: the male has pursued the female - who is not wholly ready - though large enugh for egg-bearing -almost his size. She evades and alternately swims and hides about the tank. He occasionally nudges her when she is along-side as if pushing or readying his embrace of her - but does not attack her.
He has built no bubble nest .but has favored a grouping of surface plants and green begonia leaves in the tank's almost stilled surface corner away from the filter -an easy bubble store when he is motivated.
Both are being fed freeze-dried bloodworms a few (a portion of two or three per fish twice a day). When necessary -most days - the female is separately finger fed (placed atop the water by head) the worms to make sure that she eats minimally. She would otherwise share a feeding ring with the worms with the male.
Her evasion is classic and so is her socializing - sometimes the male searches for her and cannot discern her motionless on the otherside of aplant leaf. As she is receiving no bites nor attacks nor harm other than pursuit in free chase and swimming .. she will stay in the large full tank with the male betta. One assumes that the association shall induce her egg production and his nest-building.
The male occasionally flares his gills and fins as if bulling - not bullying her - as he might toward his own reflection or an onset of another male.
The male betta - more 'free roaming' - also folows the shrimp and catfish along the bottom to see as if to share whatever they are eating - but does not consume.
The side by side evasion of the male by the female is almost ludicrous at times .. but effective for her and rests her.
Their tank is shared by the aforementioned Corydoras Aeneus albino catfish for bottom cleaning; and joined, yesterday, by two 'Ghost Shrimp' as freshwater scavengers. Their tank mate -the Otocinculus catfish was removed; as he proved female with signs of eggs and roe (a crimson Cupid lipped ovipositor) and was returned to another tank with two males.
Behavior: the male has pursued the female - who is not wholly ready - though large enugh for egg-bearing -almost his size. She evades and alternately swims and hides about the tank. He occasionally nudges her when she is along-side as if pushing or readying his embrace of her - but does not attack her.
He has built no bubble nest .but has favored a grouping of surface plants and green begonia leaves in the tank's almost stilled surface corner away from the filter -an easy bubble store when he is motivated.
Both are being fed freeze-dried bloodworms a few (a portion of two or three per fish twice a day). When necessary -most days - the female is separately finger fed (placed atop the water by head) the worms to make sure that she eats minimally. She would otherwise share a feeding ring with the worms with the male.
Her evasion is classic and so is her socializing - sometimes the male searches for her and cannot discern her motionless on the otherside of aplant leaf. As she is receiving no bites nor attacks nor harm other than pursuit in free chase and swimming .. she will stay in the large full tank with the male betta. One assumes that the association shall induce her egg production and his nest-building.
The male occasionally flares his gills and fins as if bulling - not bullying her - as he might toward his own reflection or an onset of another male.
The male betta - more 'free roaming' - also folows the shrimp and catfish along the bottom to see as if to share whatever they are eating - but does not consume.
The side by side evasion of the male by the female is almost ludicrous at times .. but effective for her and rests her.
Their tank is shared by the aforementioned Corydoras Aeneus albino catfish for bottom cleaning; and joined, yesterday, by two 'Ghost Shrimp' as freshwater scavengers. Their tank mate -the Otocinculus catfish was removed; as he proved female with signs of eggs and roe (a crimson Cupid lipped ovipositor) and was returned to another tank with two males.
Tuesday, February 01, 2005
Another Betta Link
Link below is from AquaLand .. and is especially recommeneded for its comprehesive Betta lore. Look for the additional links on the side.
AquaLand Betta Info
Meanwhile for the pleasure - or if Bettas have become discouraging .. the second link explains the Paradise Fish.
Paradise Fish
The Paradise can tolerate lower temperatures (alleged 40-80F fish) and other than dechlorination have no finicky water requirements & readily breed. Another ideal room temperature aquarium fish.
AquaLand Betta Info
Meanwhile for the pleasure - or if Bettas have become discouraging .. the second link explains the Paradise Fish.
Paradise Fish
The Paradise can tolerate lower temperatures (alleged 40-80F fish) and other than dechlorination have no finicky water requirements & readily breed. Another ideal room temperature aquarium fish.
