Betta tank- 1 year update!

Kiwibird

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Jul 12, 2012
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Been about a year since I set up my betta tank, thought I’d do an update. After an initial fight with fin rot brought on by a broken tank heater over the Christmas holiday, Bamboo the betta has been a very healthy and active fishy since. He is really gorgeous, and I’m pleased he has remained the same unique peachy color as when I bought him (I read some bettas fade in color when stressed and he was in a cup marked “red betta” so wasn’t sure if he’d turn red over time or not). He is quite interactive for a fish and will swim right over when you approach the tank and follows fingers. He also heads up to the top right corner of the tank at the end of the day, which has become the time and place he gets fed. He’s always waiting for dinner there, even if I’m late lol.

I was initially a bit intimidated to do a planted tank since I kind of have a brown thumb, but I bought 4 plants and only 1 has died. The other 3 seem to be doing well. 2 plants though have put off several baby plants, so I didn’t even need to replace the dead plant! I also bought 3 marimo balls, which all seem to be doing well too (kind of hard to tell with slow growing balls of moss? They’re still green at least!).

As for the shrimps, what was I thinking?! I bought 3 amano shrimps to start with and 2 immediately escaped and died on the floor (the tank has a cover but also has cutouts for cords). I bought 3 more and they basically all just hide all the time and add nothing to the tank. The betta is more scared of them than they are of him too, so it’s not a fish aggression thing. One more escaped in the spring and died and another one went down the sink as it was hiding in the filter when I cleaned the filter. I’m down to 2 and when they die, they will not be replaced!

EjMzc5X.mp4

Bettas are very active fish when in a properly sized tank with light, mental stimulation, heat and filtration!

VPRmCIY.jpg

A close up of Bamboo. He’s such a pretty fish!
 
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chris-md

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Looks like you’re doing an amazing job!

I find it so funny you said you have a brown thumb but can grow these aquatic plants. I was a horticulturist for 10 years, and have a pretty good green thumb. But in my tank I’ve killed almost every plant that was ever planted. And now I have diatoms:mad:
 

SailBoat

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Congratulations to Kiwi's Mom...
I also loved the reference to the dreaded brown thumb...
I have no experience with fish tanks and what is required to provide a healthy, life assuring environment.
Again, Congratulations.
 
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Kiwibird

Kiwibird

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Looks like you’re doing an amazing job!

I find it so funny you said you have a brown thumb but can grow these aquatic plants. I was a horticulturist for 10 years, and have a pretty good green thumb. But in my tank I’ve killed almost every plant that was ever planted. And now I have diatoms:mad:

How funny. It seems the exact opposite for me. After my last houseplant died around 3 years ago, I gave up and decided no more innocent plants need die at my hands:eek: I tried for years and killed SO many plants:( It’s been surprising that these aquatic plants seem to be doing well. I literally haven’t done anything for them beyond keeping the tank clean, plucking the occasional dead leaf and installing a plant light on the tank when I bought them (which is on 8 hours a day). I haven’t fertilized them, used basic aquarium gravel as substrate, haven’t messed with CO2 injection... nothing fancy or special at all. Perhaps these particular plants thrive on my neglect lol.
 
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Kiwibird

Kiwibird

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Congratulations to Kiwi's Mom...
I also loved the reference to the dreaded brown thumb...
I have no experience with fish tanks and what is required to provide a healthy, life assuring environment.
Again, Congratulations.

I find it a fun challenge and something of a science experiment to keep the aquarium running smoothly. Apparently, it can be more challenging for a novice to establish a smaller tank than a larger one. I’m pretty proud of my success since fish are new to me (besides the ill fated goldfish I won at a carnival as a kid).

Of course, Joe has decided he very much likes the look of a well maintained fish tank and has talked of getting a BIG fish tank when we have the room. Presumably, I would be solely responsible for cleaning, checking water parameters, feeding etc... of this very large fish tank he speaks of and he would just enjoy looking at it:rolleyes:
 
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SailBoat

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Hmmm, possible Bamboo doing his part in all of this!?!?!

Hmmm, you got it Joe! Plant the seed and step back just far enough to allow things to flow. Oops, she's got your number... Welcome to being married just long enough that she's figured that out. Well on to stage two; Just being even more blatant. Doesn't help regarding 'pulling something off.' But, it will keep them busy trying to figure out what you are really up to. :D
 

chris-md

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Tell him to do the weekly water changes on this large tank just twice, and he’ll think twice:D
 
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Kiwibird

Kiwibird

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HA! Joe clean an aquarium. In some other reality...maybe:p

Mind you, it was always the agreement I could get a parrot if I was the one who took care of it because he doesn’t want to take care of pets, so not complaining buuuuut.... after this baby comes, for the week or 2 I’m recovering, it will be the first time he has ever changed papers and cleaned up Kiwis cage area that I can think of :eek: And we’ve had Kiwi for 11 years! My husband likes animals enough and wouldn’t care if I had more pets, but only if he doesn’t have to be bothered with the not so fun parts of having them:rolleyes: And as the sole caretaker of pets in this house, owning reptiles again is far higher on my personal want list than a big aquarium is!
 

OutlawedSpirit

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HA! Joe clean an aquarium. In some other reality...maybe:p

Mind you, it was always the agreement I could get a parrot if I was the one who took care of it because he doesn’t want to take care of pets, so not complaining buuuuut.... after this baby comes, for the week or 2 I’m recovering, it will be the first time he has ever changed papers and cleaned up Kiwis cage area that I can think of :eek: And we’ve had Kiwi for 11 years! My husband likes animals enough and wouldn’t care if I had more pets, but only if he doesn’t have to be bothered with the not so fun parts of having them:rolleyes: And as the sole caretaker of pets in this house, owning reptiles again is far higher on my personal want list than a big aquarium is!

Compromise then. Just get a big terrarium. It's big, made of glass, and houses reptiles. Everyone is happy, right?
 

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