anti chlorine, untreated salt & melafix. check!

if i remember it right...not everywhere sells melafix....

Irene Aquarium stocks Melafix.

And oh, some of you will be happy to know that the hole is getting smaller. YAY!

Is this worth USD25?! Is it cheap/expensive?

Hmm... Slight crowning expression... Slightly rounded edge... Shows MG colouration, though not very distinguished.... Maybe the light coloured variant... Caudal fin too short / anal fin too long...

If me, I wouldn't take it. I like stronger colours...


But beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder. So if you like it, then price would not be an issue

nola...not getting any bettas....no time to care for them...

I bought a metallic black half moon betta before. I'm not good with fishes but it survived in my care for about 1 to 2 months.

Before that I had a crowntail deep greyish black betta that lived with me for 8 months.

Can anyone help me answer why my bettas are so short lived? I used a water conditioner that claimed to remove chlorine as well as chloramine and treated fish salt claimed for reducing stress.

I like bettas a lot but because I find they don't live long in my care, I'd rather not have them.

This post has been edited by Reanne: Aug 19 2006, 11:09 PM

Hmmm.... There are many reasons actually.... But the most important factor with all fish (including bettas) is water parameter... With more delicate show bettas like crowntails and halfmoons, this factor is most pertinent...

First, a few questions to ask:
1. What was the hardness of the water?
2. What was the pH of the water?
3. How often do you change the water?

Do note that with HMs and CTs, absolutely clean water is very VERY important... HMs in particular fall sick easily when the water is not clean... CTs are more resilient, but at the expense of their finnage.

pH is also important, as most show bettas, especially the long finned forms need neutral water pH... Otherwise, their fins will become fragile, and prone to tears. This inturn exposes them to all sorts of diseases that can be fatal.

If you'd like, you may start by trying to keep show plakats first... Or maybe HMPKs... They are about as resilient as their plakat brethren... Their genetics are much more developed in terms of immunity and stress control...

If some one like me, then for sure no time... I've 400 fishes from 2 spawns... AND 20 jars of selected adults... Now want to focus only on 2 colours and 2 forms...

Actually, of all the fishes.... Bettas are considered one of those that requires less care... IF you're keeping for fun la... If serious breeders, then will have a lot of things to take of lo... Water, food, etc...

You're from Monash ah? Me too!!!!

I used normal tap water treated with the stuff said in my last post on my siamese ones before, they were fine for awhile but died about I think 10 months later. I did the same for the crowntails but they had pop-eye, so I switched to drinking water I purchased from the supermarket. They were ok in that for awhile but didn't for long.... I didnt add anything to the drinking water, I just used it straight from the bottle. Tried reverse osmosis water as well, same results.

I change it more often when the water is dirty, but regularly every 5 days to a week. 50/50 water change. I've also tried this pump-like thing that allows you to suck only the dirty stuff from the bottom of the tank/container, keeps the water longer from being changed.

pH? I don't know. :S

I used to have a MG plakat.... lived for 2 years... then let my uncle use to breed.... so sad... bred 2 times but only 3 were good coloured ones... the rest either too light or females....

u from monash? hehehe....still there? taking wat course? cari me for makan-makan session

the normal life span of bettas are around 1-2 years....not like dogs and to betta breeders, the only use of bettas are to stay beautiful and multiply

PH? hehe...last time when i was still an active betta breeder, i also neglect the PH part....

This post has been edited by ynneb25: Aug 20 2006, 12:03 AM

y betta skin become golden b4 they die ar?

golden? i don't think its golden..its more like lose its colour (on their scale) i think....

hmm...i remembered my last 2 betta b4 they die they look like gold colour den after a few mins den kua jor

ynneb25: Heh... I've graduated de lo.... Biotech grad...

reanne: Hmm.... Seem to be doing all the right things ah.... 10 months is quite long actually, as bettas bought from aquariums are normally already 6 months old. And as ynnedb25 has mentioned, bettas normally live up to 2 years. So 10 + 6 months and you've a fish that is already near the end spectrum of life. Do take care of feeding; dont over feed, as it can actually shorten their life span. And with HMs and CTs, you'd need to change water at least once every 2 days...

Oh ya, the thingy with the pump sounds like part of a barrack system, normally used by breeders of quality show bettas.... Good choice

M@r0R: Hmm... Depends on the base of the fish.... Metallics normally will have that sheen.... Non-metallics bodied fish tend to become dark coloured just before they die...

This post has been edited by Michael J.: Aug 20 2006, 12:38 PM

Hey guys need some help... one of my bettas eyes has become very big, like popeye like that. How should I go about treating it and any idea what might have caused it?

buy the medicine for popping eye...some bacteria infection...could be caused by dirty food or dirty water...