Ya know - just when ya think ya did good...

[BettaMomma]

Six (my only ct) got his new 2.5G minibow last week. He seems to LOVE it. There are 2 silk plants, one cabomba plant and a rock cave in it. He swims laps, yadda - all the stuff fish do when they like where they live.

He has also taken a liking to swimming under one of the arches in the tank, and under the plants, etc. - UNDER whatever he can fit under, dragging his rays behind him. And he LOVES to lay on the gravel. Plenty of other places to lay, he chooses right on the rocks. This isn't exactly doing wonders for his rays on the bottom.

I'm not taking out the gravel - I think that looks hideous (and I know why - I took out the gravel in Amos' tank just before he died to try to help him, and the sight of gravel-less tank still haunts me). I'm tossing the idea of sand around, but I do 100% water changes and I have a feeling that might be a HUGE mess.

I know I don't have many options here, and I don't know what anyone could offer as a possible solution - I suppose I just wanted to rant a little bit about it, cuz I'm sure there are other people out there with a similar problem.

 

[mybabieshavefins]

Ugh, I've heard of this problem before >_< I know they look unnatural, but the glass "rocks" in the floral section of Walmart's craft department work great! They not only look nice but the bettas seem to love them AND no torn fins. The lumpy angular ones seem to work the best... My CT male adores rubbing/laying on them. They're usually only about two bucks a bag and two bags fill up a small tank just fine~ I can completely understand if you want to keep the environment as natural as possible though. In that case, I vote for sand!

 

[eudielynn]

I'm running into the same problem with Hunter. He wants to lay on the gravel and tries to squeeze through any little spot he can around his cave and plant. His fins are starting to look a little thready. I've been thinking about getting some smooth river stones, (they sell them in little bags at Walmart - I know, but mine has been really clean lately) or I also found some marble sized stones that seem to be a kind of clear plastic with smooth edges, but I can't remember where I got them. I have them in my 20 gal right now just scattered over the gravel, but they are a pain when I gravel vacuum because they always get stuck in the tube and block the hole. I have to pick each one out whenever I vacuum.

As I typed this I also thought about marbles. Wonder how they would look and if they would be safe in a tank.

Just a couple of ideas. I'd be interested in hearing any other suggestions, too.

 

[BettaMomma]

OoOooh, these are very good ideas.
I have seen the polished stones and I actually think marbles look kinda cool. I have some of those big polished stones on some of my tanks - I got them at PetWorld before they pissed me off. lol

I have a feeling I'm going to find something I really like, then want to convert ALL my tanks over to it. heh!

 

[mybabieshavefins]

Those polished river-rocks look great too! I've noticed one small problem with them though. My friend's (BrookeLea here on FF.net) VT manages to burrow down into them, hides there all day and looks quite dead. Then again, her fish is a bit nuerotic, so you probably wouldn't have that problem

 

[Bettabelieveit]

All I have are marbles in all of my tanks-- Gravel is way too much of a pain, and my boys like to go nose diving in the marbles in case a piece of food had gotten away from them, I can hear fozzy digging in them sometimes (he's such a pig) it's also funny because sometimes they'll catch a glimpse of themself in the marbles and flare at the marbles go with the marbles

 

[OohFeeshy]

I do 100% water changes and I have a feeling that might be a HUGE mess.

Not really. You can easily decanter (I think thats the word) off the water and only loose a few grains. Just swirl the sand around when theres a bit of water left to get some of the muck floating. Then just tip off the water.

 

[BettaMomma]

I wonder if I just put several of the big polished stones over the gravel if that would work...

I will go shopping. I go shopping for fish supplies like most people go shopping for shoes. I LOVE IT!

 

[mybabieshavefins]

I will go shopping. I go shopping for fish supplies like most people go shopping for shoes. I LOVE IT!

Jeebus, I know exactly what you mean and you're lucky you can get away with it! Every time I go anywhere that carries fish supplies it goes something like this in my head:

"What do my fish need?"
"Your fish are just fine, they don't need anything."
"B-but I want to get them something!"
"They're perfectly happy. They have everything they could want."
"Maybe I can get thim <insert random fish accessory here>."
"Are you stupid or just not listening to me?"
"Come on, just one wittle plant!"
"NO! You can't afford food! You've been living off of your roommates stuffing mix from Thanksgiving and tomato juice for three weeks!"
"JUST ONE PLANT."
"NO! INTERVENTIOOOOOOOOOOOOON!"


Haha, sucks to be in college.

 

[jols]

I use the river rocks, not the super large ones, but marbel sized ones. I love it. The only tank I've ever used gravel in is now Fabio's. Because stupid Walmart did some changing around and they didn't have the river rocks out. I actually found it last night and will grab a couple bags tomorrow night.

I saw some marbels in that section, almost thought to give those a shot, would be interesting. But, one thing I don't like about those little 'glass rocks' witht the flat bottoms and rounded tops *and I had gotten the smaller ones* they chipped for me. A LOT. Might've been I also had it mixed with river rock, but to me, I don't trust those buggers.

I'd go with the river rock...a small bag covers quite a bit. I think Fatima's home *2.5 gal* just needed one bag. And here, it's like $.97 for a bag...very cheap.

 

[splashluff]

I just got a big bag of aquarium rocks from my LFS, I've seen them at PetCo though... they're really pretty, kind of glittery green and blue, they're pretty small and smooth. It's called Turtle Pebbles, by Estes. They're made for fish aquariums though. I love them, but all they had was a huge bag for $10 (I'll only use about 1/4 of this) they actually look pretty natural, too!

 

[3fsh]

How about getting extremely tiny, round gravel? Not so small that it's sand... I have this in a guppy fry tank and they just love picking through it! Plus, it's easy to clean and won't cloud up the water.

 

[BettaMomma]

I do 100% water changes and I have a feeling that might be a HUGE mess.

Not really. You can easily decanter (I think thats the word) off the water and only loose a few grains. Just swirl the sand around when theres a bit of water left to get some of the muck floating. Then just tip off the water.

Really....
I just might have to give this a try some day.
Where do you get your sand from? Just like from menard's or something? (home improvement store)?

 

[BettaMomma]

"Maybe I can get thim <insert random fish accessory here>."