Betta Fish.....

[PinkMartini]

Anyone else own a betta fish?

I've owned fish in the past (10-20 gal aquariums) but they never seem to prosper. After awhile the fish just start dying :(

So I was looking online last week at "easy" fish to take care of and came across the betta fish aka siamese fighting fish. I read all I could find on their care, ect and thought I'd try my hand at one of these guys. Today I went to the local pet store and bought all of the supplies I need to care for one, and brought home "Jack" :) From what I found online, he's a crowntail betta. Very pretty. I got him home and took some pictures of him, here he is

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v131/PinkMartini/PictureStuff003.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v131/PinkMartini/Fish010.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v131/PinkMartini/Fish009.jpg

In the second picture, he's 'flaring' at me. For those who don't know, these guys will fight to the death if put in a tank with 2 males. Flaring is one of the signs that they are getting ready to be aggressive.... All puffed up like that, he's gorgeous....

So, anyone else have one of these beauties? If so, share :D

[JubileeDawning]

He's beautiful! You picked a winner.

I've had a few Bettas in my lifetime. My first (besides the one I had when I was little), Gamma, went to my freshman year of college with me. My roommate didn't like him, so he went home over one of the breaks. Long story short, I called to ask how my fish was one day later, and I got the response "What fish?!" :eek: He was a pile of bones. (I DID tell them the fish was there, and requested they feed him.) Gamma take two was bought by my dad in an effort to make up for starving the first Gamma. He bit the dust shortly. My parents and animals really don't mix.

My DH had a Betta- Red- that lived for all of his college years. A hearty little fish. He died of ick- only because I found him when it was too late, and no one believed me that ick was a real fish disease. :rolleyes: Boys.

I love Bettas- :D I just don't have a great history with them. They are pretty and hearty and will live a long time, as long as they are fed!

[keska]

I had one once but I think he was depressed. He was never very active. After about six months, he jumped out of his bowl while I was gone one day and died.

[littlejules]

That is SO weird that you mention your Betta jumping out of its tank. I have this memory when I was little of my Betta jumping onto its tank "ledge" to kill itself...I would freak out and push him back into the water, but eventually, he bit the dust. For YEARS, I've thought I was fabricating that memory!!! I wonder if anyone else had this experience?

[Kanga]

Jumping out of tanks by bettas is most likely because the water quality isn't good. In the wild they live in very very small bodies of water (near swamps IIRC) and when the water quality is no longer suitable, they hop out in hopes they'll land in a nearby puddle. This is why the water quality should be checked regularly (weekly) and a lid kept over the bowl. The water needs to be changed regularly, although NEVER all at once (about 25% once per month) and the gravel cleaned out to get all the uneated food and waste.

[charliezangel]

I had one once but I think he was depressed. He was never very active. After about six months, he jumped out of his bowl while I was gone one day and died.

My mother taught pre-school for a whille and they had a beta as a class pet. She brough it home over the holiday. One day my sister and I were over my parents house and i had looked in the bowl (it was sitting on the kitchen counter by the sink) and asked where the fish was. my sister didn't know so we just llet it go. A little later, i was fixing a snack in the kitchen and i looked more closely at the bowl and counter. There was blood on the counter and it made kind of a trail toward the window sill. Sure enough, there was the beta, right under the window....dead as can be and bleeding...which i thought was weird.

Jumping out of tanks by bettas is most likely because the water quality isn't good. In the wild they live in very very small bodies of water (near swamps IIRC) and when the water quality is no longer suitable, they hop out in hopes they'll land in a nearby puddle. This is why the water quality should be checked regularly (weekly) and a lid kept over the bowl. The water needs to be changed regularly, although NEVER all at once (about 25% once per month) and the gravel cleaned out to get all the uneated food and waste.


I never knew this. Very interesting.

[Tonysweetie]

I have teal betta fish named Ceaser. I've had him since February. I had another one named Matty but he died shortly after we got him. I think he is such a joy to watch. Not to metion the cats like him too :rolleyes: Here is Ceaser....

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f184/Tonysweetie/c.jpg


Congrats on your new addition!