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Wondering About A New Fishy Direction?

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Offline jesnon

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Re: Wondering about a new fishy direction?
« Reply #20 on: September 25, 2014, 01:41:02 PM »
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Quote from: Sue on September 25, 2014, 11:52:11 AM
The bettas with frayed tails are crown tails. Most bettas in shops sold as half moons aren't quite that, they are more like superdeltas. True half moons can be bought from specialist betta-selling websites, but are expensive. It's all down to the spread of the tail when the fish flares. Half moon is a complete 180 degree half circle. Delta's have a tail with up to 120 deg spread and superdeltas are between the two.

The best way to buy a betta is to ignore tail types and colours. Go to a few shops and look at their bettas. Very often one will choose you by his behaviour. My current betta was a blue and white marble pattern when I got him but it didn't take long for all the white to disappear and I now have a plain blue fish. But he is such a character that it doesn't matter  :)

ooh wow Sue I had no idea their colours could change so much! I have to say I have always wanted a betta so I am quite tempted by this option. It also has the benefit of being able to get one now rather than an unknown time.  I rang the Fareham MA and they only have neon badis too, I guess they probably have the same suppliers. My name is down on the interested list for scarlett badis but no idea if they could come in to stock
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Offline Sue

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Re: Wondering about a new fishy direction?
« Reply #21 on: September 25, 2014, 03:10:27 PM »
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It's marble patterned bettas that change colour. Solid colours don't usually change at all. You can get bettas in just one colour, or ones that have a body one colour and fins of another. A pale whitish body with (usually) red fins is called cambodian. A fish with body of colour A, fins of colour B next to the body and colour A again at the fin edges is a butterfly. A buttefly that had colour C at the fin edges is a tricolour.

The most common fin type in shops is the veiltail. Occasionally you come across short finned bettas (plakats) but they are usually mistaken for females and are in the tank with them.

If you want something to drool over, look at the website aquabid. It is quite safe to look there as it's an American site and the importer's charges to get one sent over here would be several times the price of the fish. No impulse buying from there unlike a UK based site ;D
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Offline jesnon

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Re: Wondering about a new fishy direction?
« Reply #22 on: September 25, 2014, 04:39:49 PM »
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Ahh Sue you sure know your bettas and you're really tempting me!! I do love them! When I was in Bristol my LFS was always posting lovely betta pics, my favourite was the dumbo ear! I finish early Saturday and am very tempted to get myself one!! I saw a marble coloured one the other day that reminded me of one of yours he was an aqua Blue and red I think
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Offline jesnon

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Re: Wondering about a new fishy direction?
« Reply #23 on: September 25, 2014, 08:08:25 PM »
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Well, I think I've decided.... I'm getting a betta!! They're just far too cute!

How will I know my betta can't find the air gap? Or do you think it's just safest to lower the tank level for him anyway? And do you think the bits of bogwood I have in my tank would be ok and not snag? I don't think they're particularly sharp. I would need to get some kind of cave and other exciting things for him too I guess?
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Offline Sue

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Re: Wondering about a new fishy direction?
« Reply #24 on: September 25, 2014, 08:48:09 PM »
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You could try leaving a small air gap at first them maybe fill it up bit by bit until you know he can find the square.

Do you have an old pair of tights? Before throwing them away, rub them gently over the decor and see if they snag.

A cave can be made of anything you like as long as it is tank safe. My betta has a smallish terracotta plantpot. I cut about a third off from top to bottom and laid it on its side on the cut edge. Incidentally, terracotta sands lovely and smooth with sandpaper  :) I attached java fern to it to make it look less synthetic.
One thing to watch with bettas - if they can get stuck, they will. I've heard lots tales of this happening so to be on the safe side I siliconed a small circle of plastic craft mesh over the hole on the bottom of the plantpot. I did it from the inside and you can't really see it anything unusual from the outside.


Take your time, look at as many bettas as you can. One of them will probably choose you rather than the other way round  ;D You are looking for a betta that is alert, not just lying there. Put your finger on the glass, don't tap just hold it for him to see. If he shows interest that is a good sign. If they are in small tanks side by side, a good sign is a fish that is reacting to his neighbour. Look for tatty fins - ammonia burns and finrot can be hard to heal. If there are a few that respond in a positive way, then choose one of them based on his looks.
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Offline jesnon

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Re: Wondering about a new fishy direction?
« Reply #25 on: September 25, 2014, 09:33:40 PM »
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Quote from: Sue on September 25, 2014, 08:48:09 PM
You could try leaving a small air gap at first them maybe fill it up bit by bit until you know he can find the square.

Do you have an old pair of tights? Before throwing them away, rub them gently over the decor and see if they snag.

A cave can be made of anything you like as long as it is tank safe. My betta has a smallish terracotta plantpot. I cut about a third off from top to bottom and laid it on its side on the cut edge. Incidentally, terracotta sands lovely and smooth with sandpaper  :) I attached java fern to it to make it look less synthetic.
One thing to watch with bettas - if they can get stuck, they will. I've heard lots tales of this happening so to be on the safe side I siliconed a small circle of plastic craft mesh over the hole on the bottom of the plantpot. I did it from the inside and you can't really see it anything unusual from the outside.


Take your time, look at as many bettas as you can. One of them will probably choose you rather than the other way round  ;D You are looking for a betta that is alert, not just lying there. Put your finger on the glass, don't tap just hold it for him to see. If he shows interest that is a good sign. If they are in small tanks side by side, a good sign is a fish that is reacting to his neighbour. Look for tatty fins - ammonia burns and finrot can be hard to heal. If there are a few that respond in a positive way, then choose one of them based on his looks.

Amazing advice as always Sue! I'll do the tight test and have a look in the shops for suitable caves! I've always liked the moss caves made using coconut etc so perhaps one of the shops have something like that.  If not I've seen some nice things about that could be suitable.

I think I'll go to the shop on my way to work tomorrow and the one near to work on Saturday and then I can investigate and see what bettas are the liveliest! I think from what I remember both shops just have bettas spread around randomly in tanks rather than in the teeny box tanks some shops have. 

Ooh another question the betta at work goes mad for bloodworms, I only have daphnia and brine shrimp and flakes, I would need betta pellets but do I also need bloodworm?
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Offline Sue

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Re: Wondering about a new fishy direction?
« Reply #26 on: September 26, 2014, 11:00:41 AM »
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He'll also be quite happy with daphnia and bloodworm, though if you want to get that as well he's enjoy that too. Only once or twice a week though.
I'd forgotten you'd got the betta at work  :-[

I use Hikari betta pellets simply because they were the only ones I could getat the time. I prefer Atisons but they've all but diappeared from sale. There's only one seller on Ebay at the moment.
I also soak the pellets before I feed them as they swell when wet and I'd rather them swell outside the fish's stomach.

When the bettas are in tanks with other fish there is the danger they might have been picked on. If there are bits missing from the fins they could develop finrot, so look out for that.
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Offline jesnon

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Re: Wondering about a new fishy direction?
« Reply #27 on: September 26, 2014, 01:38:05 PM »
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Ooh I might get stone bloodworm as well then. The betta at work is lovely!

Heres two very tempting bettas from shop no.1!







both of them seem in good health. The blue one absolutely storms around his tank he seems quite the character.  I love the red one because he looks so delicate
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Offline Sue

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Re: Wondering about a new fishy direction?
« Reply #28 on: September 26, 2014, 04:34:26 PM »
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The blue one looks like mine when I got him, so be warned he might turn plain blue with time.
The red and white crowntail is pretty too. That's what I meant by cambodian pattern.
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Offline jesnon

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Re: Wondering about a new fishy direction?
« Reply #29 on: September 26, 2014, 04:51:21 PM »
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I thought he looked familiar! He's quite a nice blue so I wouldn't mind if he went that colour everywhere.  The other one is lovely! He wasn't quite as active but still came up to me when I put my finger to the glass. 

I still need to go to the other shop to get a cave as no suitable ones were in the Aquajardin so I might be tempted by another but right now I just can't decide which one I like the most!! My decision may already be made I guess if one gets bought before tomorrow!!
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Offline jesnon

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Re: Wondering about a new fishy direction?
« Reply #30 on: September 27, 2014, 04:19:34 PM »
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Right, I made my decision! Today I came home with. .....



The red and white betta! He's still awaiting naming and being acclimatised as we speak. I also got myself a moss cave which looks lovely and I'm attempting my hand one more time at plant keeping with an anubias that I'll attach to one of my bogwoods in due course
 I've just popped it in the tank as is for now until I have time later to properly attach it. .. I never have much luck with this bit!

I also got some bloodworm and some Tetra Betta Flakes, neither shops had pellets... I hope this will be ok?

Right I best get back to settling Mr Betta in!
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Offline chris213

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Re: Wondering about a new fishy direction?
« Reply #31 on: September 27, 2014, 06:57:27 PM »
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congrats on your beta jesnon ,
i sure i speek for all members here when i say the words piccies  :rotfl: :fishy1:
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Offline jesnon

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Re: Wondering about a new fishy direction?
« Reply #32 on: September 27, 2014, 07:03:58 PM »
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Quote from: chris213 on September 27, 2014, 06:57:27 PM
congrats on your beta jesnon ,
i sure i speek for all members here when i say the words piccies  :rotfl: :fishy1:

Thank you! He seems happy in his new home so far.  Hehe I will get some pics tomorrow once he's had some time to settle. I need to rearrange where things are in my tank but I'm quite happy with my new plant and cave!

There are some absolutely lovely endlers in the shops today.  Some shocking pink endlers that were also Blue! Gorgeous colours.  As you can tell I'm a little sad to say goodbye to my endler buying days!!
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Offline Sue

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Re: Wondering about a new fishy direction?
« Reply #33 on: September 27, 2014, 07:18:49 PM »
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Congrats on your purchase  ;D

I've used those flakes before with no problems. I would soak them first so he doesn't eat almost dry flakes. Once he realises they are food, they won't be in the tank long enough to soak up water. Don't worry if it doesn't eat them at first. Newly purchased bettas can take several days to start eating especially if the food the shop used is different. He will eat eventually, they don't allow themselves to starve.

And don't give in when he begs for food, they are little pigs!
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Offline jesnon

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Re: Wondering about a new fishy direction?
« Reply #34 on: September 27, 2014, 07:29:15 PM »
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Quote from: Sue on September 27, 2014, 07:18:49 PM
Congrats on your purchase  ;D

I've used those flakes before with no problems. I would soak them first so he doesn't eat almost dry flakes. Once he realises they are food, they won't be in the tank long enough to soak up water. Don't worry if it doesn't eat them at first. Newly purchased bettas can take several days to start eating especially if the food the shop used is different. He will eat eventually, they don't allow themselves to starve.

And don't give in when he begs for food, they are little pigs!

Thank you Sue! And thanks again for all your advice! I will make sure to soak the flakes and avoid temptation to feed him too much hehe
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A Selection of Fish in my Fish Community Creator Tanks
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Offline jesnon

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Re: Wondering about a new fishy direction?
« Reply #35 on: September 27, 2014, 08:17:20 PM »
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So here's a few snaps!















I hope to get a better photo of him soon! He doesn't look quite as bright in my tank, I think it might be my lighting. Though I've just notice he has a little freckly nose, so cute!

I was hoping some other more design focused fish keepers could recommend how to place everything in my tank.  I can't quite work out how it would all look best!

As you can see I still haven't got rid of this blasted purple algae either!
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Offline dbaggie

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Re: Wondering about a new fishy direction?
« Reply #36 on: September 27, 2014, 09:22:08 PM »
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It's a nice thermometer admittedly, but I'm not sure we needed 3 photos of it..... ;) The Betta in the background is lovely though!   ;D
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Offline jesnon

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Re: Wondering about a new fishy direction?
« Reply #37 on: September 27, 2014, 11:10:41 PM »
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Quote from: dbaggie on September 27, 2014, 09:22:08 PM
It's a nice thermometer admittedly, but I'm not sure we needed 3 photos of it..... ;) The Betta in the background is lovely though!   ;D

Haha I just thought I'd show it off haha.  I'll get some better photos another day!!
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Offline dbaggie

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Re: Wondering about a new fishy direction?
« Reply #38 on: September 28, 2014, 12:03:57 AM »
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I've got a small shrimp tank project on the go at the minute but I'm fairly sure a Betta tank will be next on the horizon - they're great looking fish.
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Offline Diz1

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Re: Wondering about a new fishy direction?
« Reply #39 on: September 28, 2014, 08:09:01 AM »
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Jesnon, your new Betta is beautiful! I hope I can find one as nice when I'm ready to get mine.
You must keep us updated on his progress. Are you going to put anything else in there with him? I know some people do, but I think I'm just going to have one nerite snail in with mine (if he tolerates it). Anyway, with something so handsome as the centre piece, you don't really need anything else anyway!
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