seagullnz

Hi Everyone

My little Zen Betta Boy is doing just so great (even though he is one fiesty little fish!)

Now that I am boycotting the local LFS I am going to place a bigger order on line with Big Al's and was just wondering if there is anything in particular that I should stock up on.

I already have the Boyds Vita-Chem (since soaking the freezedried bloodworms in it, Zen is looking so much better - when I first got him he had kind of a black tinge to his tail - I noticed today that the black is almost gone and it is translucent - I'm guessing that he had the beginnings of tail-rot and the clear means is now it getting better - if someone could clarify this that would be great)

So these are the things on my list so far

Seachem Garlic Guard (do I use this as well as the vita-chem or only one or the other)

API Betta Fix

What else should I get.

I noticed that some of the products that have been on the forum are not available at Big Al's like

Atison Betta Spa (or any other Atison product)

All help greatly appreciated

Thanks a lot
Lily

StriderHiyru

if you don't want strong currents from your filter, get one of those weighted sponge filters that also act like a bubbler, my bettas love em

COBettaCouple

Big Al's deals in tortured fish though, but may still be better than some LFS's.

Fish Protector is great if they have some, as well as Prime.

Bede

I use both Vita-Chem and Garlic Guard together. I usually just drop the Vita-Chem in the water and soak the food in the garlic. The garlic works miracles for getting a certain picky boy of mine to eat things that are good for him.

My betta, Pongo, was a rescue and his fins were just a disaster. I thought for sure he was going to get fin-rot big time. I used both the Vita and Garlic heavily on him that first week. He lost quite abit of finnage, but it seemed to just dry-up and drop off, no rot and he's got lots of new growth coming in. Good,good stuff!!

LetDiceFly

Tortured fish? What do you mean?

chickadee

For Canadians, Big Al's is the most likely place to find fish supplies without spending a fortune in shipping and handling fees. So whether they carry approved products or not they are approved for what they DO carry. It is so hard for you all to get what you need that this is why I recommend them for you. I do not recommend getting fish from them but products can be the same and why should you pay tariff fees and high rates from the States if you can get some of it there and not pay any shipping any handling.

I think the idea of a sponge filter and a good Whisper airpump would be wonderful if you do not have them. They area a good back up for your filter and also add oxygen to your water and then you don't even need an airstone or airwand. I keep them bubbling in the back of my tanks all the time to use in a hospital or quarantine tank in case of an emergency or just for the bettas to play in the bubbles. My fish even like to rest on them.

Rose

mlinden84

My bettas are picky about too much current, so I bought a few sponge filter replacement sponges and just slide them over the intake tube of the power filter. It slows it down just enough for the betta to still swim around, but it isn't overpowering. I have whisper 5-15 power filters and pengiun mini bio wheels and both work for this.

COBettaCouple

They carry dyed and tattooed fish. They are a great resource for Canadian shoppers and have good prices, but unless they were my only option, I wouldn't buy from them because they knowingly encourage the torture and high death rate those bring to fish. I won't buy from walmart either - they carry fruit tetras.. on top of all their terrible treatment of fish already going on.

Lucy

What are fruit tetras?

COBettaCouple

Dyed white skirt tetras.
EDIT: Here's a link on them (and other dyed fish). You can see why I'll not be giving any of our fish business to a place that participates in this.
http://freshaquarium.about.com/cs/be...aintedfish.htm

Lucy

Omg, that's so horrible and sad.