Planning For A Betta Tank

[BethK]

I've never been to Maidenhead, kind of really want to check it out but its an hour drive away plus I've got to go through the Mersey tunnel so that's another £2.40 on top of the petrol. I think if I were to go it would be with the guarantee that I was going to buy them haha. I know P@H sell shrimp but I'm not sure what type of shrimp they are, they just call them "Freshwater shrimp".

P@H should do,these guys are fresh water too. Maybe order online?

 

[JoshuaA]

Yeh I probably will, maybe there is someone on here who sells them. Probably will eBay them though as I do most things. Though I feel really iffy about mail ordering livestock.

 

[BethK]

Yeh I probably will, maybe there is someone on here who sells them. Probably will eBay them though as I do most things. Though I feel really iffy about mail ordering livestock.

Ask in the shrimp section on here about reputable breeders/importers. A lot of LFS will sell them, it's just a matter of finding them. What area are you in? I'll have a hunt for you x

 

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

My P@H definately sell the shrimp. Check the difference between amano shrimp and ghost shrimp before you go (they generally sell both); one has spots and one one doesn't (I think the amano shrimp have spots).

 

[BethK]

Amano;

Ghost;

 

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

Yay I was right

 

[JoshuaA]

Thanks for the help, I was there today getting our first batch of fish for my girlfriends tank after the fish-less cycle. We were hoping it was going to be alright but on a quick inspect a vast majority of the fish had horrible white spot, entire tanks of fish were covered in it but were still up for sale. They had one tank on the entire row "under treatment" though when I looked they all needed it bar one tank.

Went down the road to another store called Andy's Aquatics I had been before but had overlooked "The room" which has a huge tropical selection for such a small store. Out of the huge amount of tanks there, I saw one dead fish... he was on his own anyway! None of the other fish were ill, no white spot... in fact there were quite a lot of posters in the room about white spot etc etc and they wash all their nets each use etc etc. So it was all good.

Anyway I couldn't decipher the difference between the shrimp in pets at home, they were too dimly lit in the tank. Are shrimp capable white spot carriers? The store I went to had shrimp but they were pretty expensive as they were some sort of striped shrimp.

Stingray filter sends me insane!! Part 2

Heater/Aquaball filter came today, only used the filter and thought don't want to disturb the bacteria as it was clearly working... Anyway unfortunately I noticed the case was slightly open AGAIN. Used brute force to close it and it clipped then the motor ground to a halt. Opened it up and half the inside casing was sand! It had been leaking sand in from the side hole. So I took it apart and washed it.... Oh dear yes I did I washed it in warm tap water . Only after did I think I would of killed the bacteria. Anyway so I washed the ceramic quite well and then luckily I didn't touch the mature floss. Put it back together put it in the tank turned it on.. I noticed it was actually sucking in water from the bottom rather the seam around the filter case.

Hopefully I won't of done too much damage! Ammonia isn't budging much currently but the Nitrite varies between 0 - 0.125 - 0. Haven't had a reading quite just 0.25 yet but by the time I come back to test again its gone down to 0.

My Arcadia Pod 11w light came today as well, looks fantastic really nice colour light a sort of Violet shade and isn't overwhelmingly bright! I soaked the bogwood over night and it was quite clean water albeit a few flakes of wood, it now almost completely sinks but I just threw it in my tank anyway, I read that bacteria may cling onto the surface so I may as well do whilst I'm cycling.

 

[BethK]

Red and white striped are crystal shrimp, black and white are bumble bee shrimp.

You will get the odd dead one, as long as the LFS take notice of it and sort it out, no probs. It's when they have 4 - 5 dead and dotted about, I'd worry. Not sure if shrimp carry white spot.

I'll see if the betta breeder I know, knows of any good breeders

 

[JoshuaA]

I'll see if the betta breeder I know, knows of any good breeders

That'd be a great help, I wouldn't mind having mail order shrimp the more I think about it. Though fish there is just that feeling if it comes DOA I will feel really really awful .

Once my tank is cycled we will be getting the Panda corys both our tanks and then quarantine them. Though the more I look at the fish we bought today the more I think how fantastic they do look in terms of health. *crosses fingers*

 

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

Pets at home is riddled with white spot.

As for the red crystal shrimp they are really expensive (about £7-8 per shrimp) compared to red cherry shrimp which are "cheap" at around £3 per shrimp - I got 5 for £12 and that was quite good from a shop (look in the classifieds as there are often people selling them.

 

[BethK]

I wouldn't put cherrys in with a betta, they are small enough to become food

 

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

I wouldn't put cherrys in with a betta, they are small enough to become food

True; I should say in response to this that the red crystal shrimp are the same size as the red cherries; definately go for a bigger shrimp.

 

[JoshuaA]

So Amano shrimp are ok out the box so to speak? Or would I really need them there for a while before I put the betta in, in the event it decides it's small enough to eat.

 

[BethK]

So Amano shrimp are ok out the box so to speak? Or would I really need them there for a while before I put the betta in, in the event it decides it's small enough to eat.

Nah, they will be ok. Most place sell Amanos at an inch long.As long as there are enough plants and hiding places, Amanos will be fine,they are like the Cray Twins of the shrimp world

 

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

I think (but don't hold me to it) that shrimp need a slightly more mature tank.

Your betta might still attack the amano shrimp; but have a back up plan just in case.