voiceless_kat

Well, well, well. I just needed to let you all know that my second tank finished cycling yesterday, and I moved Storm into it. I took the decor out of his other tank, he did tell me he loved what I did with the flooring (substrate) but wasn't too sure about the wallpaper ( background - I have been making them out of this scrapbooking paper I have that has sparkles on it- what can I say - I love the glitz!).

Also this gave us a good excuse for a little celebration of joy with a glass of wine...kind of like a graduation party! LOL

So he didn't have much to get used to, but seems happy to be in another high traffic area - people, cats, other fish in the kitchen.....so he has lots to look at. Now he is sitting next to Wink Jack Sparrow...........not too close, they haven't really seen each other, and lights went out around 930!! Considering he is "risen from the dead" he has become quite a spirited little guy. My phone rang just as I was preparing to dump him into the tank, and the cup was on the cupboard without the lid on. I guess my finger was in the water, and the little turd jumped up and bit me. I am so happy to finally be in the club with the rest of you who have been bitten. He kept doing it, but wasn't flaring or anything. I cracked up!!

Anyway, cycling took 3 weeks with the Zymbac. Tomorrow I am going to scrub and clean Storm's old tank, and then start to cycle that so Wink JS can move, but this time I am going to increase the amt of Zymbac a lot ( says you can) to see how quickly I can get it cycled.!!


Yay...........Betta love is the best............!!! Val

armadillo

Congrats (again) on the cycling! I'll try to beat you by cycling in under 3 weeks without any products. It's going to be tough as it's been 10 days and I have ammonia = 0; nitrites = 0.5; nitrates = 50. The race is on.

I cycled with fish 2x, and every time it only took 4 weeks. Am starting to think that cycling with fish is the best thing to do (using Prime and looooads of water changes).

COBettaCouple

lol.. yea, he got you.. they love to attack those unsuspecting fingers.. one of ours (Sora) will do that and then flare at my finger for not having any food on it.

armadillo

Does it hurt? I'm not sure I want my fish to bite me!

Phloxface

Their teeth are way too small to penetrate human skin. It just feels like a little peck or like a piece of tape stuck to your finger. It doesn't hurt at all.

armadillo

When my mollies do that, I call it kissing my finger. I don't know why they're called 'toothed' carps!

COBettaCouple

when our bettas nip, it feels like a little suction cup but without much suction.. they each have a different way of nipping and it's funny when they grab onto your finger and try to shake it. livebearers do it also.. live your mollies and our platies.. if i stick my finger in their tank.. they'll all come around and nibble, nibble, nibble at my finger until they figure out there's no food on it.

armadillo

No no no. You've got it all wrong. They're kissing us because they are grateful of all the care and affection we show them.

COBettaCouple

lol.. yea, that's why sora flares at my finger if he nibbles it and finds no food.

armadillo

They flare?! But you said bettas were lovely and cuddly and cute and your friends? They don't sound like they like their human so much!

COBettaCouple

lol.. they love us, but i think food is a VERY close 2nd. i think it's funny how he flares at a food-less finger - he is so mellow and that's just about the only time he EVER flares - he won't even flare at a mirror.. it's like he's saying "how dare you get my hopes up?"

armadillo

Oh I can't wait. Another 4 weeks or so, and I'll have a dwarf puffer, a zebra pleco AND a betta. Heaven. She sighs dreamily.

COBettaCouple

LOL.. you'll be dreaming of more fish (and where to put them) before you get those.

Jendayi

Congrats on your cycled tank and getting Storm moved in! I know he is loving his new place and it is awesome that he turned out to have so much personality after rising from the dead

Romeo, my favorite little lover boy, will jump out of the water to take a nip at my finger, too. One of these days I'll try to get a video of it because he is so cute and small and acting all tough like Jaws! lol

voiceless_kat

A ten day head start is cheating!!! We would have to go from day 1 together!!. With 3 tanks, and occassional fin rot to treat, I just am not into changing water every couple days. Lazy bones I guess. I love my fish, but my life actually moves on and so many things to keep me busy............however they make it happier!! Even with your 10 day start let's see how we do

I have Storms old tank all cleaned etc and filled. I will let that water sit until this evening, and then add the Zymbac. I added AmQuel+ to ensure all the chlorine is out of the NovAqua treated water - I am leaving nothing to chance...LOL

I think the bite feels like the tiniest ever shock........anyway it feels neat. I kept putting my finger back in once he did it, and he kept biting. It was hilarious. As if he was saying, "Mom, get me out of this cup and into my tank - I am Storm, I am risen from the dead, and I am way above being in a cup". And so I did!!

Everyday something new to laugh at. I used to say no one could be depressed if they had cats/kittens with all their antics, I am thinking the same with Bettas........each one different, each one funny in their own way. Life is good!!!!

armadillo

Oh, but we'd just be playing for who takes the least number of total days, not who finishes the earliests. And I have to cycle another tank next week. I'll start a contest!

Yep, changing water 2x a day was no fun. And when you cycle with fish, you're reducing their lifespan (I hear).

I can't wait to get a betta (in a month I think)!

nmwierman1977

That's awsome Val. Much easier isn't it? But OMG Does that stuff smell awful. Phew. I opened it up yesterday to put some in The 5 gal because for some odd reason it's going threw a mini cycle. I did a water change in it yesterday and there was ammonia, which I never get unless it's cycling of course. So I assume for one reason or another it lost it's cycle and is now re-cycling. I put 2 oz in the tank itself and put 1/2 an oz on the filter sponge.Now I have a question.It say's all UV sterilizer must be off. So what does that mean? Can I have the light on in the tank while I'm using it? I just got a little confused . Even though I'm a brunette, I can be a blonde at times too. LOL :P No offense to all you blondes out there. LOL Natalie

COBettaCouple

i think a UV sterilizer would be something different and am pretty sure neither of us has one.