Joining the betta owners :)

I have a visitor arriving soon, our FLUTE I am taking the 2 krobia AND she is giving me a lovely little betta male. Best get mugging up on their care

Yay! The betta bug gets another victim!

It won't be long till you have males everywhere. lol.

Sam

Hehe, they grow on you like mad!

I am looking forward to it be a change from cichlids. I have already pondered the idea of using one of my 2 hospital tanks (18" x 12") and do him a tank all to himself, but trying to find an 18x12 space in this house near a free plug is proving a tad impossible lol

I have 2 5 gal tanks I'm trying to move on at the moment, but I don't think I could carry that and the fish!

lol I have the tank but no where to put it

Welcome to the club lol.

About those Krobia, I swear mine should be growing faster :/ they're stuck around the 2 inch mark.

Maybe up their feeding? Mine shot up like weeds once I did. I have 2 large ones and 2 that are much smaller, but the biggest is no bigger than 4inches.

Krobia seem to be settling ok, although buddy my krobia is paying the new arrivals no attention what so ever, but Chilli the BA has taken to guarding them by the look. They are so small awww although buddy my krobia makes my blue acara look small


As for my intro into betta, I went up to check on the little one after Flute left and ended up taking the filter to bits, glaring at the weatherloach accusingly then sitting on the bed thinking where the hell has he gone. I then just spotted him half asleep in the plant, made himself right comfy he has lol

For a little un he shore can eat! he rather enjoyed his little bit of brine shrimp.

Nawwws Betta are absolute pigs! Brilliant to hear that the krobia have made a friend

OK Dudley po kung fu betta (never allow kids to name fish!!!) is getting under my skin, he is so tiny and sweet. Flute you are right about them being piggies, I was trying to break up a bit of flake for him tonight just above the water line and he jumped out and took some from my fingers, so much nicer than when an oscar does it lol lol lol.

I am going to look for a little filter, soon as the 400 is in the front room and turtles in the conservatory I can remove the daemons out of the kitchen into the 400. I will then sell their tank and have my little 18x12 on the side for dudley kung fu betta (or might just have one of my own )

Haha, I knew you'd catch the betta bug
They never know when to stop eating, daft things! I think I have a couple of small filters going spare at the moment which you'd be welcome to I'll have a look and see what I can find.

I've lost my battle to set up a third tank and keep the last male betta, he's a very pretty fish

I was having a think about why Dudley po kung fu betta (best name EVER! ) hasn't coloured up and I think I have a few ideas:

1. The much bigger tank has completely phased him. People reckon that betta hate large tanks, but I've always thought of this as a myth. The first group of females I had absolutely loved the 180 ltr I had them in.

2. The 60ltr I had him in was packed full of plants and the light was quite dim. Maybe he just needs time to adjust to much brighter light?

To encourage him to colour up you could try putting a mirror next to him. Only thing to make sure you do is remove the mirror before he gives in. This means he 'wins' and his confidence is built up. You may have to do it a few times. Then he'll swim round confidently.

Also, LOVING the name!

He seems happy swimming around (or just lying) on the large plant, he comes out straight away when I approach the tank but he is not pale just the same colour as in the above pic. He follows the little ones finger about also. I might move him in a couple of weeks downstairs into the 180 if he doesnt colour up see how he get on in the heavily planted tank.

Tried a mirror with Dudley yesterday, only for a few seconds, he came over had a look turned left turned right then swam off again no flaring anything (looked more like he was looking at himself saying aint I handsome!!) He did colour up a little in the afternoon, but now he is back to the colour in the pictures again. I am starting to think he is really not happy in this tank

Well he is happy at feeding time, he colours up when he is filling his face!!

Is the flow of the filter really strong?

hmmm not really its an aquaball and I have it pointing down to the substrate.

The flow rate being high was my first thought too.

It sounds like he could be bored? Maybe going from a tank full with betta to a tank where he is alone could be causing him to hide away and sulk. Coming out to the mirror and looking at his reflection without attacking it could indicate something like this. Perhaps it's time to get him some lady friends?

Sam

hmm I think my best option is to move him downstairs into the 180, just worried how he and the male apisto cac would get along.

Dudley has colour

What changed?

Yayayaayayay!!! About time he finally showed you how pretty he is

I am guessing he is just more confident now, looking at the size of the weather loach compared to Dudley they must appear like sea serpents to him lol. He now no longer spends all day hidden in the plant he is out and about a lot more.