The Olive Oil Diaries

Hi! So, I guess I'm starting this little journal thread to track the progress of the newest addition to my 5.5 gal betta tank.

Basic info: Lightly planted tank, stocked with a little java moss, anubias and a few elodeas. Important to note: Big barrel decoration in center. Popular hiding spot.

Today, I picked up a mystery snail. It was between that and a nerite for a tankmate for my betta, Oil. I picked her out and named her Olive (a matching name for her soon to be roommate!) I am aware that some bettas can be aggressive and territorial. I have a backup tank ready for Olive to go into if this falls through, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that eventually Oil will realize that she's not a threat to him.

That being said, I acclimated her for about 30 minutes, and Oil definitely took an interest, jabbing at the bag a few times until he ultimately bored of her. Didn't take long for that to happen. He gave a few curious nips at her shell and was about his business as usual. Didn't even flare at her. Which surprised me, because sometimes, he flares at me!! (Note: I made sure earlier today before I went out to get Olive that Oil was appropriately fed. Gave him bloodworms, his favorite!)

Olive seemed to make herself right at home almost immediately, doing at least 5 laps around the tank, eating whatever she came across in her travels, and made herself comfy on aforementioned Big Barrel Decoration. Oil paid her little mind. I decided to drop an algae wafer next to her; just to fill her up and give her a little welcome treat. She accepted it graciously.

Here's where a little hiccup occurred. I think Oil was a little too curious about what she was snacking on, so he kind of just. Darted into her and knocked her a few inches away from her wafer so he could investigate and try some (he spit it out.) Since then after Olive retreated into her shell, ate a little more and then ditched the scene, I fished out the uneaten wafer and he hasn't bothered her since. He actually got close enough to her, looked at her, DRAPED HIS FINS OVER HER, ate a crumb of whatever was left of her wafer, and then left. Heh.

That's the first update. She seems to be sleeping on one of the openings of the barrel (see picture below) But, so far, not bad. Hopefully soon he'll realize she's just here to hang out and clean up a little bit.

 

My platies would do that often to my last mystery snail. Never seemed to be any harm done. Just watch out for the antenna.

 

My platies would do that often to my last mystery snail. Never seemed to be any harm done. Just watch out for the antenna.

Yup! So far, he's only just taken curious nibbles at the spiral part/tip of her shell. She doesn't even notice most of the time. Also, her shell seems a little worn towards the front/beginning, should I look into getting her a calcium block or anything?

 

Yup! So far, he's only just taken curious nibbles at the spiral part/tip of her shell. She doesn't even notice most of the time. Also, her shell seems a little worn towards the front/beginning, should I look into getting her a calcium block or anything?

Certainly wouldn't hurt. I usually just use those vacation feeder blocks. They have a pretty decent amount of calcium. Usually drop it in once every month or two. My bettas never mess with them. From what inhave seen, none of my fish do.

 

Update: I think I've passed the line of "will my betta kill my snail or ignore it?" and I am happy to confirm that they are co-habiting peacefully. Yay! Oil pays Olive no mind, and after close watching these past few days, I think I can breathe a sigh of relief. They get along, he doesn't bother her! I will upload some pictures of them playing nice

 

Hi! So, I guess I'm starting this little journal thread to track the progress of the newest addition to my 5.5 gal betta tank.

Basic info: Lightly planted tank, stocked with a little java moss, anubias and a few elodeas. Important to note: Big barrel decoration in center. Popular hiding spot.

Today, I picked up a mystery snail. It was between that and a nerite for a tankmate for my betta, Oil. I picked her out and named her Olive (a matching name for her soon to be roommate!) I am aware that some bettas can be aggressive and territorial. I have a backup tank ready for Olive to go into if this falls through, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that eventually Oil will realize that she's not a threat to him.

That being said, I acclimated her for about 30 minutes, and Oil definitely took an interest, jabbing at the bag a few times until he ultimately bored of her. Didn't take long for that to happen. He gave a few curious nips at her shell and was about his business as usual. Didn't even flare at her. Which surprised me, because sometimes, he flares at me!! (Note: I made sure earlier today before I went out to get Olive that Oil was appropriately fed. Gave him bloodworms, his favorite!)

Olive seemed to make herself right at home almost immediately, doing at least 5 laps around the tank, eating whatever she came across in her travels, and made herself comfy on aforementioned Big Barrel Decoration. Oil paid her little mind. I decided to drop an algae wafer next to her; just to fill her up and give her a little welcome treat. She accepted it graciously.

Here's where a little hiccup occurred. I think Oil was a little too curious about what she was snacking on, so he kind of just. Darted into her and knocked her a few inches away from her wafer so he could investigate and try some (he spit it out.) Since then after Olive retreated into her shell, ate a little more and then ditched the scene, I fished out the uneaten wafer and he hasn't bothered her since. He actually got close enough to her, looked at her, DRAPED HIS FINS OVER HER, ate a crumb of whatever was left of her wafer, and then left. Heh.

That's the first update. She seems to be sleeping on one of the openings of the barrel (see picture below) But, so far, not bad. Hopefully soon he'll realize she's just here to hang out and clean up a little bit.

Love your names so much!!!!