ebbandflow

Thanks. But the picture seriously doesn't do him justice. My arms just got tired so I had to stop trying... and he'd always be in a perfect position when my camera was resetting or off! Oh well thats how it works sometimes.

I'm pretty sure about the readings. Problem is that I'm partially colorblind (I can tell two colors are different but not if their the same... its strange i know.) But I got my parents to separately tell me what they thought the readings colors showed and they said the same thing. Its possibly because of the Cycle (product) that I added.

I should probably do a water change now then because ammonia is between .5 and 1. How much should I change? And is there a better time of day (less stressful for Satin) that I should do the water change at? Should I vacuum the gravel or just take out water and put back in fresh?

chickadee

I would do a 25% water change and no gravel vacuuming - he hasn't been in there long enough to cause much debris and the bacteria are trying to establish on the gravel. The ammonia levels shouldn't be wiped out completely or you will stop your cycle but you do need to keep Satin from suffering. That little of a water change may slow things down a little but make him more comfortable.

Your Baby is BEAUTIFUL. I have never seen such a beautiful blue. Your tank is nicely arranged and looks like a very nice home for him. I can tell he has you right where he wants you. I had a smile about the decision to leave him in the 29 instead of putting him in the 10. He is going to rule the roost, and believe me I know the feeling LOL. The pictures are great and I will say that the only time I ever was able to get really good pictures of mine was when they were flaring either at each other or a mirrored image. Otherwise it is very hard to get a really good image of them (Marty always wants to look right at the camera LOL and I am always getting Noels little backside, Misty is so curious she wants to watch me take her picture and that doesn't work at all LOL)

Just be careful about the feeding, a constipated (overfed) Betta is NO JOKE. If you haven't checked the FOOD section under the welcome message, since he is eating bloodworms, a meal is 6-7 worms and he can have 2 meals a day. Don't let him have more. He will make you feel like you are starving him and he will look up at you with begging eyes and swim around oh so nicely and make you feel like a heel, but practice a little tough love and keep him from making himself sick. Bettas can die of constipation.

Omorrokh is very right about the fins. They don't make the effort to raise them unless they are flaring. It doesn't mean a thing unless you start seeing holes or ragged edges or transparent places on the fins or if they start looking like they are "curled" like someone used a curling iron on them. Those are signs of finrot.

Since you have found something he will eat, I will give you one little piece of advice. Bettas are not like other fish. they are not much into variety. Don't waste your money buying him treats. He has found something he likes and you will have a terrible time getting him to try anything else. He doesn't want anything else. He is more than content to have the same thing all the time and will resist your efforts to "be nice to him". As long as he is eating the food just let him eat what he wants. If they had little feet, I could just see them planting them in the sand and saying, "If it ain't broke don't fix it." LOL (words of experience - I have spent a fortune on "treats" none of which have been accepted)

Sorry, this turned into another book. I just tried to answer several questions at once and got carried away.

Beautiful baby picture. Satin is a very handsome guy.

Rose

ebbandflow

Oh yeah one thing that ive been wondering about.

I keep hearing that bettas can jump out of their tanks... something I have been real scared about so I've been keepin the hood open to a minimum. How low from the top can I keep the water so that I wont have to worry about this?

chickadee

Well, I don't have a top or hood on Misty's tank and she has water to about an inch to the edge but she is a baby and I don't really recommend that. It just has worked for her because she is little.

I would never dream of having the boys without a hood no matter what the water level was. They would be able to jump a couple of inches if they really wanted to. If they have a cover or hood where they cannot see the "above world" they would not try to jump as there would be nothing to tempt them. They don't stir themselves to jump unless there is food to be had around here. Noel will come right up out of the water for his peas when he is offered them and so will Misty, but since I am right there I don't worry about it.

If you want to lower the water level just to be sure, I wouldn't think you would need to lower it below the regular fill level specified by the manufacturer of the tank. I really believe you will be okay. That is where the boys' water level stays and I have never had a problem. Let's see what everyone else says.

Rose

Butterfly

Food - I agree whole heartedly with Rose!!! Then several months ago I moved my Betta from the ten gallon to the 75g which is a community tank. Now when food hits the water he's right there with everybody else getting his share Isn't it funny what a little competition can do. He's so pretty swimming around in there.
Carol

chickadee

It really is too bad mine only have Otos in with them. I really do believe they would be easier to feed but as they do not eat the same things or at the same level, they don't pay any attention to each other. You have really made a good point about them doing better in a community tank. They behave better, the little stinkers LOL.

Satin is going to be a much better behaved boy than either of mine probably LOL.

He really is SO beautiful.

Rose

ebbandflow

Thanks rose. I've been spending so much time with him since he arrived that my friends think I've gone crazy. I just sit here staring at him... and talking to him... maybe theyre right :P.

He is behaving real well now. Im starting to feel bad about putting other fish in with him though. He loves swimming around the whole thing... king of the tank. I dont want a pouty betta... and ive been thinking about what you said about moving him around. I really dont want to overstress him. I dont know what to do. Any suggestions?

chickadee

He will eventually need to have some other fish in that big a tank just to keep the balance going. And besides it does not hurt him a bit to start living a "normal life". Just make sure you quarantine the fish from him and the other after you buy them for at least a month before you put them in the tank to prevent the possibility of introducing a disease from the pet store. They can wipe out a whole tank. I know that is hard to do if you only have 2 tanks but what I do is get a brand new 5 gallon bucket from a store like the Dollar Store or Family Dollar ( a cheap one) and clean it with dechlored water (not detergent) and fill it and you will have to get another heater and thermometer (doesnt have to be fancy) and a filter and run it through a cycle or use used tank water to get it going. I don't bother with gravel, it just adds more mess and makes clean-up harder. Put a few things like a small terra cotta plant pot that has been bolled and a couple of fake plants that have been weighted down with a small bag of sand or gravel tied to the bottom of it (string or thread will do) in it. It is a cheap tank and I use a sponge filter if you can find one as you can put it in your 29 gallon for 10 days or so and it will mostly cycle itself already so your tank will already for your new fish. Then unless they get sick, you can put it right back into the 29 gallon when you are done with it to keep it ready for when you might need an emergency quarantine tank or another tank for new fish. The sponge filters share the perks of being super cheap and when they need to be replaced all you do is buy a new sponge refill not the whole filter.Be sure you get a 50 watt heater as there will be no lid on this and it will need the extra wattage to keep the water warm. I just throw a light layer of cloth over the tank at the end of the day and let the ambient room light take care of the light or in the case of bettas, I did finally invest in a small tank light. They make regular fluorescent lights for small aquariums but they run anywhere form $15 - $28, so use your judgement. I use one on Misty's tank but if you don't use one all the time it may not be worth it.

He can move one time and it will not stress him that much. Just leave him there until you have ALL the other fish you want in the 29 in place even if it means a few months. It won't hurt him and it is still so much better that the little container he was in when you got him, right? It will just make him so happy with you all over again when he can go back to the big tank. But as long as he is alone in the 10 gallon, he will be fine or if you want to get the 10 gallon fish introduced first then that is another thing. He may be unhappy with the smaller quarters and become aggressive.

Just think about it, but I would still follow your original plan and put the other fish in his 29 so he can have company. He really has been lonesome long enough.

I certainly do understand spending time with him. It is hard to love something so much and not to spend time with it. I know you love Satin already. It comes out in every post you write and all the care you give him. good Luck and may he continue to provide you with the kind to enjoyment you are receiving from him now and may you keep giving him what he needs just liike you are doing now.

Rose

ebbandflow

Thanks Rose,

Quick clarification. You think that if I put him in the ten gallon with some other fish he will attack them? I didnt understand that part... cuz I thought about it a little and maybe setting the ten gallon up as a betta tank isnt that bad an idea... get all live plants in there (I actually have a plant light for that tank.) And then add a few other cories or ottos. But if he is gonna attack them then I'll just stick with my original plan. (I change my mind to much).

chickadee

Corie grow to 2 inches and Bettas for the most part about the same (don't count the tail). Cories need to be in groups of 3 according to everything I hear around here and I believe it since the people who are saying so are folks who would know. This would lead me to believe that you could have 3 Cories and Satin in a 19 gallon but that would push it to its limit and it would probably need FREQUENT water changes. (maybe 25% twice a week). It would be a good tank and the Cories would need to have a while on their own to establish a territory. My suggestion would be use the 10 gallon as your quarantine tank if that is where you are planning to put Satin permanently since he is already in the 29 gallon. Put the Cories or Otos whichever you decide on in the 10 gallon for at least a month on their own to let them establish their territory and to see if they might have any problems that need treatment before you add Satin. Since you have to have them in a quarantine tank and the 10 gallon can be it as long as you do not plan to add more fish. (except for Satin after the quarantine period). Please correct me if this is not making sense, but it is the easiest way to handle the situation I can figure out.

Yes, sad to say Satin will have his little tantrums no matter what you do, but they will be harmless. If the other fish are established when he enters the tank, he is going into THEIR house and will not be nearly so feisty than if they were to be brought into the 29 gallon. I am afraid even if he was out of the 29 for a period of time he would still consider it HIS. As far as the harassment is concerned, my experience is that My guys chased the Otos and Marty still does, but they don't bite. It looked like they nipped a couple of times but when I checked the fish they hadn't. They have gotten to the stage not where the Otos either just don't pay any attention to them or the Bettas just hover and watch them. It is a new an curiousity thing more than anything. Please remember what I have said in some of my other posts. PATIENCE is the most important word in dealing with the Betta, and I am afraid Satin will be no exception. He is not going to know how tio play nice for a while, but I have not seen any real damage done here at home and I usually just tap (lightly) on the aquarium or do something to redirect their attention and they give up. It did take a while to get ove the real hefty chasing and the more cramped the quarters the worse it will be, but I honestly saw one of my Otos swim right by Marty's nose not long ago as if to "dare" him to chase them. I am wondering now if it has not become a game. I really believe if you give the other fish cover and they can hide for a while Satin will get tired of being a Little Pain.

You must also remember that all of my little ones came from breeders and were VERY young when I got them and are still young compared to those offered in most pet stores. The fish sold in pet stores are probably going to be more like my first Betta, Azul and be a bit more laid back and not so touchy. I am still going through puberty with Marty and it is an experience. LOL

The decision is of course yours. Each person should make their tanks their own. This is one of the best things about this particular hobby, you can make it truly your own. (within the limits of what is the best thing for the fish you want) What you are wanting to do has been done with success so there is no reason whatsoever that it cannnot be done again. Like I said the keyword is Patience, but that is going to be the case in whichever tank you put him. There is a certain amount of training (gentle) involved - tapping on the glass or redirecting with a pellet or worm (take it out of the next meal so they really don't get too much food that day) or put your hand on the side of the aquarium and talk to him or (don't laugh) sing to him. Even if you just put your hand on the glass and say "Satin" a couple of times, it will sometimes break his concentration. This is one reason why it is a good reason to get him used to being called by his name. I always talk to my little ones while I feed them and their names always come up during the conversation often. When they get "called to dinner" I put my hand on the glass and use their name to let them know it is time to eat. Maybe it isn't their name they respond to but my voice, but the point is that they do respond and if he is chasing or behaving badly that is what you want to accomplish and that WILL be better done in the smaller tank.

I hope this is the information that is going to help. If not let me know if I am not making the point you need. I tend to go off on tangents about my little ones and may not be getting to the point.

Rose

0morrokh

Rose, I'm sure your Bettas are responding to something--I swear my Guppies and Platys recognize the flake containers--but can fish actually hear you from inside the tank?

chickadee

Yes they can hear through the walls of the aquarium. Especially if you put your hand on the wall and don't put your body or arm against anything else, the sound waves seem to get to them better, but when I "sing" to them they know it. (Maybe it is just my rotten voice) But they also hear the stereo and the television although they are not far from either of those.

Rose

0morrokh

Seroiusly? I knew fish could feel vibrations, like from really loud sounds, but I didn't know they could actually hear you. So now I know all my talking to the fish wasn't in vain. I'm gonna try something that every non-fishy person who knows me is gonna disown me for ...I'm going to see if I can teach my fish to recognize words. Like, say "food" before every feeding, and then after several weeks say "food" randomly and see if the fish all go rushing to the top. I wonder if it'll work? Fish are a lot more intelligent than most people would think they are...

ebbandflow

Haha... I'm trying that too 0morrokh. So I'm not crazy! (or were both crazy). I think Satin already figures out when he's eating by the sound of the storage door opening and me shaking the food container to put some of the food in the cap. Whenever I start the process hes already at the place in the tank where I feed him... swimming back and forth vigorously!

And thanks Rose, that made perfect sense.

chickadee

Let me know if it works. *All I know is that Noel likes one song and Marty another when I sing and when I start to sing Marty's song Noel leaves and swims away. *Misty likes "the Itsy Bitsy Spider" (there goes my sanity rating) and comes to the side where my hand is when I sing. *Ordinarily she goes to the upper corner where she eats when she just sees me. *

Rose

0morrokh

um...I think we're just both crazy.
And Rose, don't worry about your sanity rating...it can't go any lower. JK!!!!!!! I think all of us fish nuts are just about there...in the eyes of non-fishy people that is. (sorry that joke was kinda mean... )

vin

Yes....fish can hear you....which is why everyone says you have to be quiet when fishing.......Sound resonates through water......

chickadee

Well, I had 2 pouty little boys today because I have been outside planting flowers and forgot to turn on the TV and they have been bored. Now they are watching TV and ignoring me. They would hardly come for their supper they were so engrossed in the TV screen. I do believe I am being chastised. LOL

Rose