My Fish Ramblings

[dixaisy930]

Here are some links to pics of the pups and the finned friends as well....

Pups...

pics of pups

fish...

fish pics

 

[dixaisy930]

It's been such a long time since I posted on this.....almost a year exactly! Well, guess I'll give a rundown of my fish clan first. We'll go through the bettas first...

Titan (short for Titianium)-I've had him since June. A lovely DT, that has a metaliic color to him. My shyest betta I've ever had.

Mel-I got him and Titan about the same time. He's a white and red marbled crowntail. Very handsome boy, but doesn't have much of a personality.

Midas - My yellow betta that I've had since January of last year. Lost half of his tail to fin rot, and it's never quite been the same (but don't tell him that, he's one of my most energentic bettas). Will always come to the front of his tank when someone comes by...hoping for food, like most of them.

Flash - You wouldn't know it by looking at him now, but when I got the poor guy, he was completely tail-less. That's never stopped him from being spunky....flares at decorations and his food. After lots of water changes and Colodial Silver, he has a full, flowing tail.

Solomon - He seems like he would make a good daddy to me. So laid back, and always building a bubble next. I've never seen him flair once. Sort of a peach, white color.

Rudy - lol, poor Rudy...he's just a betta. Real no personality to him. And just a regular color, red, blue, and a little purple. He seems so common....but I just adore the little guy for some reason.

Now for my "tiny" tank...I have a ten gallon set up in my bedroom that was *suppose* to just be for my platy and molly fry. Well, one thing led to another....I just have a few fish in there to eat the left overs from the babies... so I got a panda cory (I've been dieing to get more, but haven't found anymore but that one). Then I found pygmy cories (haven't been able to get them in years) so I got five of them about three weeks ago (and still doing great). I tried keeping pygmy's about two years ago, and I lot all four within two days. I then found bumblebee shrimp again! WOOHOO! And I now have two of those. Then a few months ago, I saw the tiniest, most pathetic looking female betta. She was maybe an inch. Just had to get her. I don't think she's grown much, but happy as can be. I just have three platy fry...two are just about ready to go into the 65 gallon adult tank, but the third is only about 1/4 of an inch. And yesterday I found two new occupants I couldn't pass up. One was an all white platy. Never saw one before. She's about about 1/2 inch, so I 'll let her grown a little more in the ten gallon, then she can go in the 65. I also found, what I think, was a crowntail female betta. Not sure yet, I'll have to do some investigating. It was absolutely fascinating watching her investigate the other fish and the tank. I was a little worried about her and the other female betta, but they seem to just ignore one another.

Well, my 65 gallon is my pride and joy. I have platys, mollys, a krib, black and regular kuhli loaches, marbled hatchets, von rios, SAE, candy-striped pleco, four female bettas, a yo-yo loach I've had for 3 years, a lone black phatom tetra (which will soon be getting some friends to school with), and my controversial fish, my 3.5 inch firemouth that I've had since Feb.

For the most part, my krib is the boss of the tank. However, I noticed last night, the firemouth had chased her off a few times. This really concerns me since the firemouth has been Mr. Docile since day one. I figure the krib has had it coming, since she bossed around the firemouth. As long as the krib is the only one the firemouth chases off, it should be fine, since the krib is quite capable of taking care of herself. But if it starts harassing the other fish, I'll probably have to take him to Neptune's (lfs). I always stree when I have discontentment in a tank. It's hard to determine sometimes, what is aggression, and what is just normal chasing off.

 

[Diane]

Really enjoyed reading your posts, very funny in some places.

Just one question though, How many Betta's do you have? I lost count

 

[dixaisy930]

lol, me too....

I have 7 males. I forgot about Vegas, my newest betta. He might be a crowntail, I'm not really sure. He's very irredescent...he has this gorgeous turquoise/purple/white colors to him. Complete pig...always thinks it's feeding time.

I have two females in my ten gallon...Thumbalina (the tiny one), and I haven't named the other one...leading towards Veronica.

Then I have five females in my 65 actually...Quincy was left out at last count. A very pretty white/yellow betta. She is the betta that I found in my car seat after I drove home. I think I mentioned that here...anyway, what a recovery she made.

So that would be...14 bettas...wow..lol And I saw a black plakat male in the lfs yesterday....I have been considering going back today and getting him. lol

 

[dixaisy930]

While on the computer, I saw the firemouth chasing the krib yet again. So I decided I would scoop it up and take it to Neptunes. My firemouth, did not agree, however. After removing two large decorations from the tank (a large flower pot and large rock), I tried for 20 minutes to catch it (and this is a tall 65 gallon tank, mind you). After getting tired of a soaked shirt sleeve, I put a tank top on instead, and continued. After much stress to the poor firemouth, I finally netted in. I felt so guilty, and called Neptunes to see if they would even take it (probably should have done that BEFORE). And they said no, they didn't want him! How dare they! He's a lovely fish! I was sort of relieved. I really didn't want to give him up. Instead I rearranged the tank, which was a HUGE pain in the keester. Up and down the step-stool, dropping the rock (barely missing my bare toes . And my little female bettas are such good helpers...I have my arm in the tank, trying to put the rock back in without squishing anyone, and they are nibbling on me. Thank you, girls...big help. And these are the same helpful fish that were swimming INTO the net when I was trying to get the firemouth. After changing about 15 gallons of water and rearranging everything, I put the firemouth back in the tank. Not until I asked him nicely to not constantly chase the krib. I know she chased you first, but you are better than that. Just give you a little chase back next time...don't let it bottle up so much. I reminded the rest of the fish that they were suppose to be soothing, and relaxing. And I would not tolerate any ill-behavior from anyone. Especially if it was towards the kuhlis, hatchets, or platys. I am ashamed to say, I do play favorites. I also apologized to the firemouth...although it was hiding it a flowerpot...wouldn't even look at me.

It seems to me there are two types of fish keepers, well, three if you count the ones who do it poorly, but that's a whole other topic. I am *obviously* the recreational, humanizing, nurturer. I name my fish, talk to them, and impose personality and human characteristics on them. I worry about them...for example, when contemplating about giving up the firemouth, I worried about what kind of home it would go to. What if someone put it in a ten gallon tank, or put it in with some big bully of a fish? Except for being terrorized by a giant green net monster for the past hour, it's had it pretty good with me. But I digress....the other type of fish keeper is very scientific and practical about it, and does it more for the advanced "conqueoring" aspect of it (big monster fish, very delicate or complicated species). They probably don't talk baby talk, or lecture their fish (I admit to doing both), and they don't think of them as wet humans. I don't think one is better than the other....just different.

I also have learned some things the hard way. In the beginning, I thought I could get away with 15 inches of fish in a ten gallon tank (which was a huge improvement from four goldfish in a fish bowl...ugh, I shudder when I think about that...that was years, and years ago). Anyway, eventhough my water reading were fine, I couldn't keep ottos, corys, or hatchets alive. Now, in "understocked" tanks, all three are now thriving in my tanks. It seems that alot of factors go into determining the health of a tank.
I've also learned not to blindly believe what lfs people tell you. Always, always, always research fish on your own. You have to remember that most places just want to sell you fish, and will tell you half-truths, or fibs so you'll buy a fish.

Seems everyone in the 65 gallon have recovered from the big overhall...the firemouth still won't look at me though.

 

[dixaisy930]

It seems redecorating was the answer. Everything is as it should be, and everyone is investigating the "new" tank. My kuhlis are all over the place...I've affraid they're going to end up in one big knot. I'm thinking minor redecorating once a month (not the big overhaul like yesterday....I'm quite attachted to all of my toes) would be good for everyone. I imagine they probably get bored with the same scene day after day.

After redoing the main tank, I got the urge to redo all of them (even all of the betta boys). I think I'll need to wait until next paycheck, though. I would really like to upgrade all of the boys into 2 gallons (and even a few into five gallons) but much $$$ would be spent. And running filters on all of them....wooo...how do some of you do it? I really want to use colored sand for the boys', but MY GOD THE PRICE! $4 for a half cup of sand!?!?! That stuff better be shipped from Mars for that price. I did find "craft" sand that is colored for a couple of bucks for about three or four cups (much more reasonable), but the safety of it is questionable, at best.

While at the lfs, I checked out the puffers (as usual). I really adore these guys (dwarf, F8, GSP, all of em). I was absolutely horrified to see two GSP's picking apart some type of shark (not sure on species). And the worst part was the poor shark was missing over half of it's back, and still alive. It just made me sick...good evidence that puffers are not community fish. I am still kicking myself for not telling someone at the lfs about it.

My new little betta girl, Vernonica, is just a hoot to watch. I don't think the poor thing has been is anything other than a bare cup. She follows the pygmy cories around with much curiousity, and hides in the plants when a platy fry zip past her. She also stares at her reflection in the marbles in the bottom of the tank. Her and Thumbelina just seem to ignore each other.

My tank watching buddy, Tatter (my cat) is spending the night at the vet's (urinary tract troubles). I'm sure the fish don't mind not seeing that little paw (well, I'm sure it's huge to them) lightly tap the outside of their tanks.

 

[dixaisy930]

Nothing real exciting going on in the tanks. The firemouth and krib have been acting respectful. Did bring home two new "rescue" fish the other night.

My local Wal-Mart has been carrying kuhli's lately. When I looked in their tanks the other day, they had the tiniest kuhli all by himself. He's maybe two inches long, if that. Of course I had to get him, so he could pal around with my other 7 kuhli's. The lady said all of their kuhli's had just been dieing for no reason. I thought maybe it was due to stress, since they have nothing to hide in. From what I could tell, all of their other fish looked completely healthy. Yes, odd coming from Wal-Mart. Anywho, we're going on a week with this guy, and he's a little piggy just like all of the others.

My second fish was, yes, another female betta. She was in a cup with filthy water, and had no tail (just like my one male). She's in the "baby" ten gallon, and is also doing well. Very shy girl (which works out well, since the other two females in with her are also shy). She had really dull color in the lfs, but I figured it was due to poor conditions. She is really turning into a gorgeous betta...pitch black body with blood red fins! Such a pretty girl.

I got three more pygmy cories since my other five are doing so well. Now they're a very nice group of eight. Still need to get my panda cory a few friends...I think it's getting cocky being around the pygmy's.

 

[llmdolphin]

when you say "rescue' fish is it because it is from walmart or because they are sick and the store is giving them away to someone who will try and save them?

 

[BWBettas]

id say she means wal-mart becuase she put it like in ""'s meaning jokingly but im not sure anyway great thread andd beautiful tank, seems like you have fish in thereevery day lol and your tanmks getting a gallon bigger every day lol! (don't we all wish our tanks grew a gallon a day lol)