fredgarvin
Fish Fanatic
- Joined
- Feb 25, 2008
- Messages
- 61
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First off, I'd just like to state a silly notion. Bettas are not fish. They are mini Chinese dragons that have taken to living underwater because they want a break from breathing fire. But they will be back, as witness their reluctance to totally commit to the water. Watch as a betta turns to inspect something. That movement is truly reptillian. It's no coincidence that the dragon was the symbol of the Emperors. These creatures display themselves in regal fashion, complete with the royal temper. OK , I'll stop.
Nearly 50 years ago I had a 5 gallon tank with a male and 3 females. It was well-planted and had plenty of refuge spots for the ladies. Seldom any fuss and never any muss. After about 6 months I DID see some comotion in the tank after returning from a vacation. Behold my magenta female was suddenly a magenta MALE engaged in a death struggle with my purple male! This was NOT a case of the lfs made a mistake.This was after living 6 months as a girl. This was an actual sex change. Perhaps it was brought on by Mr Purple's easy-going attitude and general neglect of his harem. Mr purple was immediaetly given new quarters in my community tank and "Newboy" was able to recover with the ladies. I must say this turn of events was shocking to a lad of 17!
I have seen tons of bettas and some knock my eye out, but I have never seen the equal (IMO) of my own Mr Greenjeans. He was an electric metalic green and had yellow and white highlights. I have never seen this pure a green in a betta before or since. I had 'im 2 years and I can still see him in memory as if he died last week. Not 20 years ago.
When i last kept fish there was no internet and I never realized that others shared this crazy obsession for a creature that one can stick in a match box. Nothin betta than a betta!
Nearly 50 years ago I had a 5 gallon tank with a male and 3 females. It was well-planted and had plenty of refuge spots for the ladies. Seldom any fuss and never any muss. After about 6 months I DID see some comotion in the tank after returning from a vacation. Behold my magenta female was suddenly a magenta MALE engaged in a death struggle with my purple male! This was NOT a case of the lfs made a mistake.This was after living 6 months as a girl. This was an actual sex change. Perhaps it was brought on by Mr Purple's easy-going attitude and general neglect of his harem. Mr purple was immediaetly given new quarters in my community tank and "Newboy" was able to recover with the ladies. I must say this turn of events was shocking to a lad of 17!
I have seen tons of bettas and some knock my eye out, but I have never seen the equal (IMO) of my own Mr Greenjeans. He was an electric metalic green and had yellow and white highlights. I have never seen this pure a green in a betta before or since. I had 'im 2 years and I can still see him in memory as if he died last week. Not 20 years ago.
When i last kept fish there was no internet and I never realized that others shared this crazy obsession for a creature that one can stick in a match box. Nothin betta than a betta!
That's why I gave my "dragons" Chinese names like Mao, Chaing Chi Shecky, and a particularly adent male I called Wang.
oops, feel a bit stupid now. Was thinking it was a Chinese historical figures theme
