Yesterday morning I woke up and all my fish were fine. Scene, my CT boy (who, to refresh your memory, had the 14 gallon tank.) was doing fine, eating, being his normal self. Around noon, I went to feed him, and couldn't find him. I looked around the tank, which has a tight fitting lid, and just couldn't find him anywhere. A week and a half ago, I'd put him in a one gallon to treat him for ich. He'd gotten over it, but I'd decided to leave him by himself for a few extra days to be sure it was definitely gone. I didn't want to leave him in an empty tank, so I added a few rocks on the bottom and a little cave.
The rocks had little gaps between them, some of which he could get into, but he managed to get in. The gaps were either big enough for him to get in and out of, or too small for him to get into at all. I blocked off all the larger gaps with smaller rocks, and didn't have a problem again. Until yesterday.
I pulled rocks out of the tank, and there he was - stuck in a gap that was so tiny, I don't even know how he managed to get out. He'd drowned. Needless to say, I felt horrible. I sulked around the house for the rest of the day, decided I wouldn't have a betta again for a while, and put the tank in the garage, where I hopefully wouldn't think about it.
But you guys know how it is. I ended up in the LFS today, and didn't leave empty handed.
Introducing Elle Jay:
The picture doesn't show it (camera's mad at me today, or maybe at the weather.) but her colored spots aren't black/grey, they're a nice dark blue.
She's already colored up a lot more since I took these pictures. She ate as soon as I got her into her tank, and gave me that 'you're planning on giving me more, right?' face. She's in the 1 gallon tank right now (it's actually 1.5, but 1 is easier to say.) as I have come up with other plans for the 14 gallon. I'm going to have a larger tank built for her.
I can't decide if I should have a 10x10x10 inch cube tank made (roughly 4.3 gallons) or a 12Lx9Hx8W tank (roughly 5.5 gallons) made. Anyway, sorry for making this post so long. I do that every time.
The rocks had little gaps between them, some of which he could get into, but he managed to get in. The gaps were either big enough for him to get in and out of, or too small for him to get into at all. I blocked off all the larger gaps with smaller rocks, and didn't have a problem again. Until yesterday.
I pulled rocks out of the tank, and there he was - stuck in a gap that was so tiny, I don't even know how he managed to get out. He'd drowned. Needless to say, I felt horrible. I sulked around the house for the rest of the day, decided I wouldn't have a betta again for a while, and put the tank in the garage, where I hopefully wouldn't think about it.
But you guys know how it is. I ended up in the LFS today, and didn't leave empty handed.
Introducing Elle Jay:
The picture doesn't show it (camera's mad at me today, or maybe at the weather.) but her colored spots aren't black/grey, they're a nice dark blue.
She's already colored up a lot more since I took these pictures. She ate as soon as I got her into her tank, and gave me that 'you're planning on giving me more, right?' face. She's in the 1 gallon tank right now (it's actually 1.5, but 1 is easier to say.) as I have come up with other plans for the 14 gallon. I'm going to have a larger tank built for her.
I can't decide if I should have a 10x10x10 inch cube tank made (roughly 4.3 gallons) or a 12Lx9Hx8W tank (roughly 5.5 gallons) made. Anyway, sorry for making this post so long. I do that every time.
