nmwierman1977

Well with everyone getting all these new babies I just can't resist it anymore. I will be getting another one very soon. I plan on getting a female. I was tossed about rescuing one from a store, which those of you that know me know that I have had trouble in the past with them(Royell), but still feel very bad for them or buying another one from Miami Aquariums. I may end up trying to buy one from the store again. I intend on keeping RJ in the 3 gallon as his permanent home. I will be buying another oto cat because Barney died a tragic death last Thursday night or Friday morning and I found him Friday afternoon when I got home. So I'll be getting another oto cat and a female betta to occupy Fred, my other oto cat. I have names picked out for them also. The oto cat will be BJ(Barney JR because his death was extremely accidental and I feel he needs a name sake, and the Betta will be Pebbles. As you can see it is following the theme of the Flintstones!! LOL So as soon as I get her I will let you know and will post pics when I can.

Just so you know RJ is doing very well still. His tail is fully grown back now and still growing looking beautiful as ever. He seems very content in the 3 gallon and that is why I've decided to leave him in there and get another one to house the 5 gallon.

I can't wait. I am very excited. My husband doesn't seem to care either that I get another which I almost fell over when he said that. All he said was that I had to wait till next month. He said that yesterday. Well I guess that means I can get him next week because next week is the beginning of next month. :P LOL Natalie

COBettaCouple

Hey Natalie,
Can't wait to see the pics when you get your new little girl. We were sorry to hear about Barney's unfortunate demise and wish Barney Jr. all the best.

voiceless_kat

Hi Nat! So you are finally caving...LOL. If one is great, two must be better!!! I am so happy both that I "rescued" the mostly dead Storm and fell for teeny tiny Wink Jack Sparrow. No one can tell me there are no miracles, because Storm is a beautiful and seeminly healthy betta who never seems to sleep and is full of himself!! His fins are long and healthy and he takes great pride in showing them off. One would never know he was even the same fish!

And little Wink J.S., well he is so teeny tiny, and so busy all the time. He flares whenever you look at him, and it is so comical to see, because he is so small and acts so big and brave. He tries to get things both inside and outside his tank ( like bubbles, food or water drops on the outside of the tank), When he looks at you head on, his little head is way less than 1/4 in wide, then he flares and looks like he will turn inside out. He never stops his "busy swimming" ( my new name for it) up down and all around looking at anything and everything. I can hardly wait to get him into a bigger tank.

Neptune is charming, shorter tail and all, and is certainly the "grown up" of the bunch! He is finally into his cycled tank ( we had a party that night)...and is a very happy camper.

So here am I with 3 bettas, 1 cycled tank, and one tank almost finished cycling. Who woud have thought?? This second tank is going much faster and much easier cuz I learned so much from the first cycling thingee. Like - pay attention - I totally missed the first cycle on it and had to start over!! I am using Zymbac again, it is one week, and the tank is half way through cycling.

Anyway, enough of me. It is good to hear RJ is doing so well, and kicked off that fin rot quickly. I will be anxious to know if you did a rescue or a Miami Aquarium fish - I would so love to get one of their beautiful boys with those big fins!!! Sigh!! Even my husband is into these fish now, even if it did take him 20 hours to see Wink J.S. LOL

Would also love to see a pic of RJ...... so good to see you on the site again. Take care, and keep us posted. Val

nmwierman1977

Thanks Val. I actually am on everyday. I just don't send out my own posts as much anymore. I do respond to ones on here.

Anyway, I was going to clean RJ's tank last night and I completely forgot that I needed to get ammonia and nitrate tests because I was all out of them. So, I went to petsmart and found the nitrate test, but no ammonia tests, so that meant I had to go to the dreaded Petco up the street. Thank god these stores are only right down the street from me. So, I went to Petco and got my ammonia test and I went to go look at the Betta's. I found the cutest little girl ever. She's red and oh so tiny. Very young, can't be more then 3 months old given her size.I almost brought her home last night, but I needed to reset my 1 gallon up which she'll be staying in for the next 2 weeks to make sure she is healthy.
I only have room for that 1 gallon to pose as the q-tank/hosp tank. I don't think it'll be a problem keeping the water warm anyway because the temps here in AZ are in the lower hundreds now and I think it's going to stay that way now for the summer. I set it up with some of RJ's water and some fresh new water also. I did have a filter for it, but it won't work. I need to get an internal filter instead, so I'll be picking up the whisper 3i when I pick her up tonight. As soon as I can get pics and post them I will. Our computer is still down because our office has yet to be put back together. I don't know if I can convince Mike to post them on his laptop or not. We'll see. Natalie

voiceless_kat

I can't wait to see your little girl! Wink J.S. is also in a small tank right now ( 1.66g with filter and incadescent light for heat) since I am doing a fishless cycle for Storm, then when he moves, I will cycle his current tank for Wink. He seems to be very content in the 1.6g & I don't feel bad about it at all since it is only temporary. - I was toying with not using the light/filter, but decided to use both in the end. He likes to catch the bubbles.

I haven't used the whisper 3 - it hangs outside the tank, right? Is it quiet? Walmart here has kind of a neat set up with one of those,. pretty inexpensive also.

So I will wait for pics. Val

COBettaCouple

So glad to see you bringing that little cutie home.. you'll love having her and keep an eye on her and RJ.. they might start getting ideas..

nmwierman1977

Well I brought Pebbles home last night and she is doing well. Before I put her in the tank I tested the temp in the tank to see where it got to during the day with the light on. It stays at a steady 80, sometimes close to 81. Of course the temp goes down a couple degrees when it's off to 78, but that's OK. It doesn't take long to warm back up in the morning. she's not too sure about the pellets yet, but like RJ she'll get used to them and learn to love them.

Her coloring is so pretty. Her body is a coral pink, with red freckles on her head, and her tail and fins are red. She's so adorable. When I am able to get pics I will post them.

Right now she seems to asx a shy personality. She swims around the tank being very careful too look and investigate everything. I love her already and it's only been a day. She's so darn CUTE! Natalie

Jendayi

Welcome Pebbles! Oh it sounds like she is going to be a perfect girlfriend for Romeo! I think it will be ok if they have one of those internet romances... As long as they don't rack up high phone bills! lol Pics pics pics!

Romeo has been in a one gallon tank with a filter and only his light for heat for about a month now, waiting for me to get my tanks cycled. The temperature fluctuates a bit at night when his light is off. I don't know if this has contributed to his tail fin fraying a bit or not, but I tend to think not. He is a pretty happy fish in general.

COBettaCouple

that's what young bettas do late at night - sneak out of the tank and IM each other. ahh, betta love in the cyber-age!

voiceless_kat

yay Nat...........Pebbles sounds adorable. Can hardly wait for pictures. Aren't we all a funny bunch of people. Hope she enjoys a long and healthy life. I know she will have the best of care, and reward you with many hours of smiles and love!! Val

nmwierman1977

Thanks. I'll TRY to take pics this weekend and maybe convince my hubby to post them on his laptop. Natalie

chickadee

Well, Natalie, you were my inspiration to add to my crew and now you have added to yours and it sounds like she is a little angel darling so Congratulations from all of my crew and me. We all send hearty hand and finny waves to her and best of wishes for her continued health and happiness. We know she will receive the best of care and the best that life has to offer for her.

Welcome Pebbles. We would love to see you.

Rose

and Alexander, Nate (I am named after your mommy, you know), JT, Marty Jr., and of course, Damon (I am your size)

nmwierman1977

Thanks, Rose. I did take a few pics of her and a short video of her. I have not been able to post them yet. We were so busy this weekend. We had to re-do the office flooring again because we decided it looked like the . LOL. Thank god it's just one of those tongue and groove floors that just snap together. So, I'm sure once the office is back together we will set the computer's back up and pray that there are no problems with them since they've been unhooked for a couple months now. I did kind of non-chalantly mention to Mike that everyone here wanted to see pics of her, but he didn't say anything about being able upload them on his laptop. So, I'm assuming he doesn't really want to do that, but we will see.

Anyway, Pebbles is doing very well. She is becoming very playful. I did a water change in her tank the other day because it's cycling and the ammonia was getting a bit high, so I've been just changing out some of the water to reduce it low enough, but not get rid of it entirely and I dripped some water down the outside wall of the tank and she chased the bubble all the way down trying to bite at it. LOL

She already loves the pellets. It only took her a couple days to learn that this will be her main diet. I fed her some pea the other day too w/o fasting her and she gobbled it up. I was surprised at that. So, she's doing very well with all of her foods.

More updates later. Natalie

COBettaCouple

It's great that she's doing so well.. i love how the females adjust to their new home. Pebbles is a great little Betta and I wonder - has she caught sight of RJ?

nmwierman1977

No, I don't think that she has cought site of him yet. I'm pretty sure he has of her though. He goes crazy whenever he looks at the front of the tank, so I assume he's looking at her trying to figure out a way to get to her. He doesn't flare at her though. In fact RJ isn't one to flare much at anything unless he's P.O.'D about something. He's flared at Mike a couple times. That was last week, but I wonder if that's only because I had just brought her home and he noticed her for the first time. Natalie

COBettaCouple

Aslan noticed Sweetie here on the computer and didn't flare at her, but was he ever strutting his stuff for her.. lol.. he's now got paper up so he can't see her (and she can't see him - they aren't breeding and i don't want her producing eggs).

nmwierman1977

yeah I don't blame you. You already have 1 pair having Babies. You don't need 2. LOL. Natalie

COBettaCouple

LOL.. especially splendens with all that breeding takes.. of course i'd just have to scoop up the nest & eggs after she dropped them if that happened.

nmwierman1977

Pebbles is still doing very well. I did another water change last night in the tank and sucked up what little debris was in there with a turkey baster. She didn't mind it at all. she just stared and watched as I cleaned it. She's so mellow about everything and just goes with the flow. Mike said Her and RJ were playing peek-a-boo with one another. I missed it, but he said it was funny. Natalie

chickadee

WOW are you hooked ..... How many tanks are you going to make room for? HMMMMM? They sound like they are doing all the cute things that LED me into the MTS situation that I have now. It is painless but it sneaks up on you and you just as well give in as the fight it gives you is more painful than the joy of letting it overtake you. .

Have fun with your little ones...I am just so happy for you!

Rose

nmwierman1977

Thanks Rose. Unfortunately I can't get anymore tanks until we get a house. We just don't have anymore room. I would love to though. Atleast get one more, plus I need to get a permanent hosp. tank since I turned the 3 gallon into RJ's permanent home. I have to use my 1 gallon as a hosp. tank for the time being, which is working out fine. Natalie

COBettaCouple

LOL.. that is a good one.. did he say if RJ was strutting his stuff and giving her the full fins look?

nmwierman1977

LOL...no he didn't. He said they were hiding behind the decorations and then swimming out towards the front of the tanks looking at one another. They were going back and forth doing that. I wish I could've seen it. Maybe I'll catch them doing it again. Nat

COBettaCouple

lol, i bet you will.

nmwierman1977

Well I'm hoping to put Pebbles in her permanent home this weekend. I've decided to put her in the 3 gallon instead of the 5 with Fred. I'm so leary about it after hearing so many horror stories about the females attacking other fish.she's become very feisty, so that is why I'm nervous about putting her in there with Fred. RJ isn't fond of him, but he will at least tolerate him and if he gets in his way he will flare at him and tell him to move and Fred will move right away.

It probably won't be until the weekend or next week sometime when I will move her in there. I dismantled the 3 gallon last weekend because it was in our bedroom and we re-tore the flooring out and re-did it so everything came out. I also bought some of that Zymbac that Val cycled her tank with. I wanted to try it out. So as soon as I get that I'll be setting it back up and Pebbles will be in her new home for good.

I'm so scared though. The last time I purchased a Betta from a local store and I thought he was healthy (royell) he got sick and died after being in the quarantine for 2 weeks. He was moved into the 5 gallon and soon after that's when he got sick. I'm so nervous with this one because she seems to be very healthy. Very Feisty eating just like Royell was and Royell was even building huge bubble nests and he ended being sick w/o me knowing it until it was too late. I just pray that she's is healthy and is going to remain so once she's moved into her home. Everyone pray for me and Pebbles when I do this. Natalie

chickadee

You and Pebbles will definitely have my prayers and thoughts, and wishes for good health and happiness.

Rose

voiceless_kat

Hi Nat............I am happy with the Zymbac...I am doing a fishless cycle, and I think Storm will be moving by the weekend. That is 3 weeks, so I am happy. ( it might have happened anyway, but what the heck, after the long go of my first tank, this was so much easier. And you can use up to 5times more of the product go go faster, which I might try when I cycle Storm's old tank for Wink Jack Sparrow. Wink seems pretty happy in the small hex, so I think I will just leave him there until I get Storms current tank cleaned, new gravel, etc and on its way with Zymbac.

I am happy your little girl is adjusting well and will be thinking about you both when you get things moving this weekend. Best of luck!! Val

COBettaCouple

Natalie,
Pebbles is going to do great.. even our little Sweetie who we picked up colorless, with major stress lines, missing scales, a torn up pectoral fin and more than 50% gone dorsal fin has not only made it, but turned into a stunning rainbow metallic beauty. with how you care for your babies, she's in great hands and you have nothing to worry about. well, maybe losing Drury - THE MAN -- but that's another topic altogether.

Phloxface

All my fish are cup Bettas from Petsmart and were sad and lethargic and had faded colors and stress stripes when I first brought them home. Other than Lava who is having a lot of problems, they are all very healthy and have not even had so much as a case of finrot. Even Karma, who was near death when I brought her home has been healthy and feisty since she recovered. I know you've had a bad experience with Royell but not all store bought Bettas will get sick. Most of mine are VERY healthy. Just take care of her the best you can and I'm sure everything will turn out alright.

nmwierman1977

Thanks for the reassurance guy's. I'm just paranoid about it is all. Even though I only had Royell for a month, half of that time him being sick with Dropsy, it still really broke my heart that he died the way that he did and it was a big shock for me. Whenever I buy a Betta from petsmart I always try to make sure I pick the healthiest looking one and liveliest and he was both of those and that's why I had such a hard time with it. After that I really didn't want to buy anymore from a store. I know that some can be healthy and live a long time if taken well care of.It also depends on on how long they've sat in those cups. If they aren't in them for long and you buy one shortly after they arrive at the store the chances are greater that they can be healthy. The sickly ones do have a chance to survive and live long healthy lives as long as they go to someone who will take the time to medicate them and bring them back to health.

I'm sure that Pebbles is very healthy, but it doesn't mean that I'm not paranoid and nervous about it. I know that she will be OK. Each day that gets closer and closer to that time though and I think about Royell and what happened with him. It just saddens me. RJ reminds me more and more of him everyday. He is Royells twin for sure. Anyway, enough sappiness, I'm done crying over it. Pebbles will be fine and she will live a long, healthy and happy life. I hope. Nat