Q: LP wrote, [I] just discovered your site and blog. So well done and informative. Thank you for your interest and time in sharing with others. I understand you probably have tons of ??? sent your way so I understand if you cannot answer here or on your blog. My 5 yr old son has a Betta for a year in an unfiltered 2.5 gallon tank with a live plant, snail and weekly water … [Read more...] about Rod Bacterium & Secondary Infections
How to Feed Frozen Fish Foods
LD wrote: OK, if you buy a female w/ no intent to breed her, what happens to the eggs? Does she spawn them w/ out a male and they just don’t get fertilized, or does she re-absorb them? Also, frozen food has us a bit stumped. It comes in little cubes, do you feed it frozen? Do you let one cube thaw and feed from that. Do you refrigerate it? I know, silly questions, … [Read more...] about How to Feed Frozen Fish Foods
First Betta: Size, Lighting, Water Changes & Other Great Questions
betta3, originally uploaded by girlpirate. Q: CBN wrote: Hey Christie! Great site. I’ve enjoyed reading your site and Blog. I’m a new enthusiast from Colombia, and wanted your advice on my new baby, Titan!. Despite all the ideal recommendations, I’ve made my adoption and aquarium the way I wanted it, trying to make it ideal, but not quite, since I don’t have ALL the time … [Read more...] about First Betta: Size, Lighting, Water Changes & Other Great Questions
Common Signs of Stress in Betta Fish
Full glory 2, originally uploaded by littlerottenrobin. Q: G wrote, I found your web site to be most informative and that is why I am contacting you. Attached please find a picture of sparky, my 8 year old helped to name it. Here is the set up that I have in place right now. It is a 2 gallon hex tank and I populated it with plastic plants and a couple of caves which … [Read more...] about Common Signs of Stress in Betta Fish
Dangers of Over Salting a Freshwater Aquarium
Betta…, originally uploaded by Fabiz Rabbit©. Q: CLP wrote, I got my male betta – Will on November 5th, so he’s still young. He is in a 2 1/2 gallon tank, heated to 76 degrees. I do weekly water changes of 25% and the pH is at 7.0. My betta has started having fin rot. I went to a fish store, which said the aquarium salt would help him. I’ve been using the aquarium salt for … [Read more...] about Dangers of Over Salting a Freshwater Aquarium
How Many Days Can Bettas Go Without Food?
Q: Anon wrote, I have a bit of an unrelated question. I was wondering how long can a betta go without being fed? I am a student and am planning to travel home for spring break. I take the fish home on longer vacations but was wondering if it would be possible to leave them for a week? My two bettas are both in heated 2.5 gallon tanks. I could take them with me, but I always … [Read more...] about How Many Days Can Bettas Go Without Food?
Live Betta Foods
Q: T wrote, Where can you buy “live” food? I keep reading that our pal Ruby needs a varied diet and that live food is preferred but where do I buy it and how do I store it and how long does it last? I am sorry to keep pestering you, but I am so interested in treating our little guy right. A: You’re not pestering at all. In fact you gave me the idea for Live Food Week. I’m going … [Read more...] about Live Betta Foods
The Nitrogen Cycle & Fishless Cycling Method
In an aquarium or fish bowl the fish give off waste, which over a short time breaks down into toxic ammonia. We all know that ammonia is quite dangerous even in small quantities so as aquarists we need to take steps to combat it. In a small Betta bowl that might mean making full 100% water changes every week but what if the tank were larger like 10 gallons or what if it were a … [Read more...] about The Nitrogen Cycle & Fishless Cycling Method
Betta Fish Names
Rather than the usual serious Betta talk, I thought I would try something a little more interactive. I know folks are always looking for fun, funny and unique names for their Bettas. Actually, the whole concept of naming fish seems to be fairly unique to Bettas and a small handful of other fish. Maybe it’s because they have varying characteristics that make each individual … [Read more...] about Betta Fish Names
Two Parts to Treating Fin Rot
betta close-up, originally uploaded by Stephie189. Q: SU wrote: I am a college student at Radford University. My poor betta has developed fin rot. I have had my betta for almost a year now. He has had ich before and has cleared up fine. But now he has fin rot. I first thought the light red was the color at the ends of his fins due to his mixture of color but I was wrong:( … [Read more...] about Two Parts to Treating Fin Rot