Betta with healthy looking gills. Q: MU wrote, Hi Christie. I am hoping you can help me with my male Siamese fighting fish. Lately he has been laying on the bottom a lot not being very active. His gill covers are sticking out a little bit and look sort of red and irritated and he [...]

Me and Dad Originally uploaded by Mean and Pinchy. Paradisefish, like Bettas, have a labyrinth organ used to breathe from the atmosphere. As I mentioned in a previous post I am going to integrate glossary terms with book, web forum and equipment reviews to supplement the usual Q&A on the Blog. Since this is primarily [...]

Q: TT wrote, My bettas fins look like they are melting away. They started to fall off a couple of days ago and then this morning they looked even worse. He isn’t swimming much. I don’t understand what is happening and I can’t find the fin pieces anywhere in the bowl. I am really worried [...]

Firefly’s Rays Originally uploaded by ballookey. Q: CWR wrote, I am really hoping that you can help me. My betta fish, Pete, is on the bottom of the tank. He doesn’t come up to eat only for air. I am really worried about him. Is there anything I can do? Please let me know. I [...]

Aquamaniacs.net is an online community dedicated to the art of fishkeeping. I choose to do my first web forum review on Aquamaniacs because they have been a tremendous help to me throughout my own adventures with aquaria. These folks get top marks for being knowledgeable in all areas of the hobby as well as providing [...]

Dodie Originally uploaded by Mean and Pinchy. Q: PZ Wrote, We recently moved our betta to a cycled, planted, 10-gallon tank with a filter and a heater. He is acting VERY oddly, now that he is in the tank. He hangs out right next to the filter, flaring and puffing out his cheeks, and bumping [...]

Encyclopedia of Aquarium Plants Author: Peter HiscockPublisher: Barrons Educaitonal Series 2003Pages: 205 This is one of my favorite aquarium books. It contains tons of useful information about aquarium plants and aquascaping while remaining focused and aimed at the average hobbyist. The book is divided into two sections. The Practical Section focuses on the basic biological [...]

whiskey fish Originally uploaded by revs45. Hi there Betta lovers. I had an epiphany yesterday as I read through posts on some online forums that I frequent. Someone had asked for a book recommendation about Bettas. There were several responses but one brazen poster caught my attention when he posted something to the affect of [...]

Q: Anon wrote, With the colder weather coming I’m noticing my aquarium temperature is fluctuating a lot and it gets pretty cold at night. What kind of heater do you recommend for a 3 gallon tank? A: Ah yes, with Autumn comes cooler weather and fluctuating aquarium temperatures that can lead to stress or illness. [...]

African Dwarf Frog does her impression of Trinity in The Matrix. Q: IC wrote, Do African Dwarf frogs make good tank mates for bettas? A: I have had mixed results with African Dwarf frogs (Hymenochirus boettgeri) as Betta tank mates as have many of my other aquarist friends. I think that they CAN make a [...]