fuck yeah! bettas!

month

November 2011

62 posts

Aaaand we’re back! I apologize for the absence! The queue will be filled again shortly, thank you all for your patience. :)

I apologize for the lack of updates! My internet is out until next Wednesday, so I won’t be able to answer questions or post updates. I thank you in advance for your patience.

Anonymous asked: Is care for female bettas any different than that of a male betta?

Anonymous asked: I got a beautiful big ear betta 3 weeks ago. Today one ear is very small. Both ears were fine yesterday. He is lively and hungry as always. Water is 76 degrees. I am planning to get a bigger heater ASAP. He is alone in a 3 gallon tank with a plastic cave an Anubis plant and algae ball Ammonia was up for a few days last week but 0 now.

Anonymous asked: I just want to thank you for existing. It's so hard finding good, reliable sources of information on bettas, so many people perpetuate misinformation and downright bad advice. I love this blog largely for the fact that the advice you give nearly always mirrors *exactly* what I would have said (which makes me sound kind of cocky, yeah, but I've been actively keeping bettas for years and...

elocin-times-one asked: I was wondering if there was some way I could make my bettas grow. They don't seem to be growing much more, maybe some vitamins or protein? I mean, they are beautiful fish and their colors are very vibrant but I would like them to grow a little more. And also, how do female bettas interact with one another? I was wondering if you could put two in the same tank.

Anonymous asked: Wanted to thank you for your answer regarding bowls vs. tanks and "friends" for bettas. (-sb) Don't see a place to respond, so I'll just thank you here! Forgot to mention that our betta, Oscar, is a male. (Interesting about the sorority tanks!) We got him in the summer, and while we don't heat the water, we always check the temp in the bowl. (It's a large bowl.)...

lilkittay asked: Interesting facts: Antifungal meds will increase chances for bacterial infections, and antibiotics will increase chances for fungal infections. This is because fungus and bacteria tend to keep each other in check. Kill one, the other thrives. Good to know for when medicating fish why they sometimes get sicker with something unexpected.

theshadybird asked: My Betta has developed a few spots of white fuzz on his body (one on his tail; one on his right side, round the middle; and one by his left gill, right behind it) and is unnaturally lethargic, though he is still at the top of his tank. I'm keeping his tank warm, but what really worries me is the fact that the only medication I have is for open wounds and such (API's Bettafix), and not...

Anonymous asked: Not only do I like your blog (haha I found it) but I also am OBSESSED with you secretly. Ok here we go.. I got this idea from a Tumblr spam I got once lol.. I think you like me too and you were always too shy to admit it :3 go to crushmatches(dót)com (wtf it wont let me link regular) and make an account there. Then look up the profile 'gottagetme19' (me obviously) I left body...

thatgirlwiththeferrets-deactiva asked: I've noticed PetCo selling these giant 'King' betta. How do they compare health-wise to the more common, smaller type?

lion-hearted-girll asked: I'm dealing with my first case of pop-eye...I've been treating the tank with Melafix for the past three days (the bottle says to treat for seven, then do a 25% water change). Do you think that'll be enough to clear up the illness? Other than having a bug eye, my betta's eating/swimming fine.

skalja asked: It's hard to tell from a blurry photo where the fish isn't flaring, but for the record Shakira's finnage looks exactly like my VT female Tiamat's -- she had longer fins than normal, but was still a (beloved) mutt. Maybe Shakira's owner can try counting the fin rays?

Anonymous asked: I'm new to the site, and am afraid I'm going to ask a question you've already been asked a million times! But after doing some research I've found some conflicting answers, so I thought I'd ask. 1) Is it cruel to keep your betta in a bowl? We've had ours for 3 months in a bowl and he seems fine, but I've heard it's actually not the best for them. 2) What...

Anonymous asked: [ the anon from earlier ] I made the comment anonymous, mostly because I really do appreciate this blog – I didn't mean it as a personal insult, I just meant to point it out – I track the betta tag on tumblr, and I see some horrendous setups, and I've loved that you made a point of not including them. [ back to about being anon ] ... I guess it isn't entirely logical,...

Anonymous asked: Not the anon from earlier, but if you don't appreciate anon criticisms why do you have the option? Since this blog typically handles all inquiries with tact (at least from my knowledge), people shouldn't feel afraid of asking you and the community you've created for help or advice under their username. You can easily do away with the anon option and most likely still have the level...

niczka asked: I keep my betta in a three gallon tank. I don't have a tank heater or filter yet, but I plan to get them soon (like, within the next week and a half), and in the meantime I leave a light on over the tank all day, and do water changes every other day. I want another betta, but will not get one until I can afford another tank, because I feel three gallons is too small to divide. Am I doing...

Anonymous asked: what happened to not showing bettas in inappropriate containers?

katieszoo asked: I too work at a Petco, and while I don't have any real suggestions as to improving the fish sections of the store, I wanted to say thanks for telling us about a training overhaul. I have been keeping fish for about a year now but I still know leagues of information about the most basic of species that my "experienced" coworkers do not. I'm hoping this new installation of...

kittencuffs asked: I don't mean to be contrary, but I think warming up the betta area in the store is a bad idea. The store is only a transitional area, not a home, where bettas are shipped in, stay for a few days, and then leave. Bettas are hardy fish, but changing conditions can do them in (as I'm sure you know), and while the bettas will be toasty warm under the heat lamps, once they're purchased...

tdiaz asked: I was actually going to do a project on the staffing of pet store employees and their training for a class at school. We didn't get enough background info, so our idea was canned by the professor in favor of something a bit more accessible. But! I'm glad to see that other people give a damn and want to get info out there. It's not just about the fur babies (though, more training...

pillowtalker-deactivated2013022 asked: As a former pet store employee who specialized in freshwater fish care, I have to agree with the lack of knowledge on the end of a lot of pet store workers. That being said, I would like to also comment on the fact that there are people who come to pet stores who are unwilling to learn or research about the animals they are wanting to buy, especially if it means spending more money than they think...

thecarvingprocess asked: I hope they do something about the lack of knowledgeable staff at all major chain pet stores. I'm definitely tired of being looked at like I'm crazy when I say I've got my betta in a 10g tank. They just splutter sentence fragments about how they shouldn't be kept in more than a gallon of water. I would love for chain pet stores to stop selling inappropriate size tanks. And have...

lilkittay asked: your store is prolly not 78 degrees. is there any way to raise the temp of the area (heat lamps idk) for the bettas. this will help with loss, obviously. they cant digest even the most ideal food if they are too cold

Anonymous asked: I have two bettas, one will eat flakes, pellets, blood worms, but the other won't eat anything except for the blood worms. How can I get him to eat something thats not blood worms?

The power to change.

So some of you know from a previous post that I work at a Petco in Massachusetts.. on the employee computer this morning I happened upon an article that stated the entire franchise was working to do an overhaul in aquatics training and maintenance. Obviously part of the reason is monetary loss, but the people who actually give a hoot about the fish have spoken loudly, and their voices are being...

izzyloo asked: I just found your blog, and I would love to say that it is wonderful, beautiful and super informative! My mom and myself have kept bettas for years, and love them dearly! I currently have one in my on campus apartment, actually. :D We kept them in large vases (NOT the kind you see advertised, with the multitude of plants, etc) with rhododendron plants in them, with PLENTY of room for the babies to...