New betta boy needs a name

I think kimoore wins! I glanced over at the tank (yes, it's right next to my bed XD) and Dirk really just fits him. He is right now surfing the current from the filter. lol Fitting since my first betta's name was Al (he was a blue and red CT that was absolutely magnificent! Had someone offer me $60 for him once, just based on a crappy pic I had up on a forum...he's the one in my avatar).

Yay! I win I win! Wait, what did I win? lol!

 

Yay! I win I win! Wait, what did I win? lol!

[announcer voice] You win..... A BRAND NEW CAR!!![/announcer voice]

 

Yay! I win I win! Wait, what did I win? lol!

There's usually a HUGE pile of cash involved, don't let BBD tell you any different......

 

Dirk the manly man LOL!

 

Unfortunately, he is now Dirk, the dead manly man. :'( I couldn't find him this morning and after looking around the tank, I found out the little bugger had jumped. I hate this tank. This is the third betta I've had jump out of this tank (and all three have happened to be my favorites...first Brisingr, then Jack, now Dirk). I was actually gonna get a large piece of plastic craft canvas to serve as a lid on Friday when I got paid so that he couldn't jump (I can't have a glass lid because of the bamboo and my light fixture). I am so beyond bummed right now. Gonna look at bettas on Friday and see if I spot one I like, then get some craft mesh and make a lid. *sigh*

 

Oh no! I'm so sorry to read this. What a bummer. So sorry you lost him. Rats, that's terrible. Sorry.

 

I'm gonna concentrate on finding a marble like Jack was (he started out a blue marble dragon with a TON of white and very minimal blue and ended up a mostly blue dragon by the time he finished marbling out). Still want a HMPK cuz they're my favorite. Gonna get some more plants, too. I'll post the new betta and plants when I get them.

 

He looks elegant and graceful like an elf. So how about Legolas?

 

You have horrible luck with jumpers... where does that come from? Sorry you had this happen diva

 

I don't know, Shine. I have only had jumpers in this tank. I had Jack in a ~5gal tub with a heater and weekly water changes for almost two months (long story) and he never once even tried to jump...but when he moved to the 20gL, he jumped within a week.

I am definitely getting a couple of sheets of plastic craft canvas tomorrow and making a lid.

 

Aww, I'm sorry


Perhaps there's something wrong with the water that you can't test for that the bettas don't like?

 

Unless there's something leaching from the substrate or the bamboo or something, probably not. I'm in a completely different town than I was before when Brisingr and Jack jumped. And I have the little GBR in the tank and she's happy and healthy. Beautiful colors, actively swimming around exploring and picking at the plants, chasing the bubbles that are coming off the plants that are pearling.

 

Hm, weird...

 

Well, you have a lot of cool stuff in your tank. You mentioned that Dirk squeezed through a hole in your decor. I saw the picture and I was amazed that he squeezed through there. I wonder...could it be that the bettas don't have enough swimming space? That could make them skittery enough to jump after a few days in their new surroundings.

Wish I could offer more concrete advice. Just trying to think out of the box here...

 

If you looks at the pics of the tank, there's WAY more swimming space than decor. The main decoration (the rock formation with the temple on top) takes up less than 15% of the total tank space.



Sorry for the blurry pic!

 

Yep, even I could swim in there.

Hmm.

 

I don't think it's the filter current, either, since there's PLENTY of space to get away from the filter output (the filter is as far to the left side of the tank as possible).

 

Hopefully your new tank cover will take care of any future jumpers.I'm just so sorry you lost Dirk.

 

Okay, so I decided not to make a new thread and just update this one. I got a new boy today. My Petco hasn't had HMPKs in almost a month (which is REALLY disappointing because they usually get AWESOME ones in...that's where I've gotten all my HMPKs except Tanis and the recently-deceased Dirk), so I went to Petsmart and found this boy. I can't get any good pics of him yet, but I'll keep trying. I'll post what I have, though. I temporarily have the mesh top sitting on the tank. I still have to cut it to fit. Good news is that this boy isn't FREAKING like the first one was, so that gives me hope that he won't jump.

I'm thinking of naming him Dirk, as well. I don't know why, but it fits him. Maybe because he's green?

He and Summer are making me laugh (Summer is the GBR, BTW). A bit ago, Dirk was exploring the "cave" created by the cabomba plants and Summer casually swam up to his flank and nipped him. He spun around like "What the heck?!" and gave chase. Summer lazily swam away and when Dirk flared at her, she just looked at him like "Oooo...big scary. *rolls eyes*" Dirk was quite miffed that his scare tactics didn't work. Then a little while later, he popped out from under the temple and flared at her and she completely ignored him. Yeah, I have never seen a betta THAT crestfallen. lol!

Anyway, here's the best pics I could get for now. I apologize for the bleariness. This tank isn't in the best location to take pics and I was trying to do it one-handed with my bad arm (having shoulder surgery next week...the angle I was at was NOT comfortable and was making my hand shake) while lying on my bed lol.

FTS (added some plants, including more cabomba, frill, red temple plant, jungle val and broadleaf ludwigia...the hornwort was moved to another tank)...(also, ignore the fact that the water is low...I am currently heating water to go in this tank):


Summer (just because she's ' adorable!):


And Dirk...

Grumpy Dirk:

Let's NOT sit still so Mom can take our picture! XD

Blurry, but you get the idea:


About to chase Summer for bothering him:

 

Thanks for the update!

Great to hear about your new boy. And what a funny story. You could title it, "Dirk and Summer: A Love Story."

Hope your surgery goes well. Keep us posted!