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You know what I miss?

2K views 14 replies 6 participants last post by  LittleBettaFish 
#1 ·
I realized today that I don't see my bettas as pets so much anymore. I used to have several, each in it's own tank, decorated to match it's color and perceived personality, all with names. As I got involved in breeding and aquabid, I sort of ...forgot how much fun it is to have them just as pets. I mean obviously they still are, but caring for them is like an investment and I don't interact with them much anymore. Boys are in divided tanks, girls are all doing their own thing in the sorority... I miss having a betta by my bed to wake up to.

With all this said, I am definitely still interested in breeding and will continue, as it's something I'm passionate about, but I'm also going to remove a few and create little fun spaces with them. First up, a little dt pk I just got going into a triangle tank by my bed. Then, I'll come up with some names :)

Just wanted to share without judgement here, it just feels like my relationship is focused on the results/business side and like I lost some of the fun side! Going to get it back.
 
#3 ·
I got a cute little tank set up for this guy and set up all these new silk plants in my divided male tank. Maybe I'll put some photos up of it later. I mean of course they still have decorated tanks and I don't see them as money makers or anything, but it's just like my relationship of fun with them kind of went away. Also all the sick fish and the loss of a whole spawn I had kind of daunted me for awhile. Just about put me off, actually.
 
#11 ·
I'm one to always decorate my betta tanks. One way that has kept me from buying every gorgeous betta I see is to only buy fish if I also have the money for gravel, a cave or tank decoration, a few plants and a tank if I don't have one already. I'm an artist (especially known for interior designing, I'm a 14 year old boy and my sister let me plan her wedding, and my parents let me design most of the houses rooms) , a clean freak, and would never have an ugly tank with plastic cups, no gravel etc. like I see many people having.. I know it's saving more fish, but really? At least for me anyways..

I happened to have 50 bucks the night I bought the two new guys so I was able to get blue gravel, some pretty tall dark blue shiny plastic plants, and these pretty light blue silk plants and these little figurines, one a whale cave with blue waves around him, and the other I haven't bought for yet, but I'm thinking of maybe getting green gravel, red, green and white plants (He's all white, and if you haven't noticed by my betta fishes names in my signature, I loooove Christmas and winter time, so I'll probably incorporate his name when I think of it with Christmas) and just something natural looking like a turtle log.. (if you haven't noticed, turtle decorations cost A LOT less than fish tank decorations! At least at my Petsupermarket).
 
#4 ·
This is kind of why I never did get into breeding bettas.
I love them as pets too much to make a profit off of them.
While I love them all, I make sure I have control over my hobby. 1 75 gallon and 1 5.5
That is as much as I will have. I've got my dog, my kitty and my horsey. I'm satisfied....just need a bit more moola xD
 
#6 ·
Well for one thing, if I ever make a profit, it will be so slight. I have probably invested a grand or more in shipping, fish, tanks, heater, containers, food, etc. that it's not like I could ever make up for it with a spawn or two. The people who make big profits take immaculate care of their bettas, only use their best stock, and often have show winning fish. I think mine will be lovely, but not that lovely.

I haven't sold any fry yet, in fact the only fish I've sold were for the price I've bought them for to people who want to breed, negating the shipping costs. There's another one for the - side of the equation... not that I mind, I'm just saying, betta breeding isn't a booming business or anything :)
 
#9 ·
Well for one thing, if I ever make a profit, it will be so slight. I have probably invested a grand or more in shipping, fish, tanks, heater, containers, food, etc. that it's not like I could ever make up for it with a spawn or two. The people who make big profits take immaculate care of their bettas, only use their best stock, and often have show winning fish. I think mine will be lovely, but not that lovely.

I haven't sold any fry yet, in fact the only fish I've sold were for the price I've bought them for to people who want to breed, negating the shipping costs. There's another one for the - side of the equation... not that I mind, I'm just saying, betta breeding isn't a booming business or anything :)

i didn't think it was a huge business, but it looks very time consuming. it seems like you have to love it a lot. its intriguing to me though. i'm new to bettas, so i have only experienced having the as pets. i'm glad you like it though :) also, i see you are a fellow washingtonian!!! i'm actually only an hour or two from you.
 
#7 ·
I've gotten like that lately. I have around 50-60 bettas of various species/ages and sizes and most of my time is spent feeding, doing maintenance, water changes and looking after cultures.

However, after a recent outbreak of ich decimated my new sorority, I spent half of today just fiddling around with their tank (the survivors are all better now thankfully) and watching them and the rest of my fish in the 'fish room'.

I mostly breed wild bettas (well they breed like rabbits) but am going to start getting into breeding splendens. However, I am afraid I am going to get too attached and not be able to sell any!

I am already facing the fact I have 12 fry that will not be leaving me, and now I have a surprise spawn in my grow-out that I am slowly falling in love with.

I definitely am not in this hobby for any potential income. I think unless you have a massive set-up like the farms over in Thailand and open yourself up to the wholesale market, it's not a very profitable business.
 
#13 ·
What's ugly to you, Jrf, may be lovely to others. You sound really conceited! It's nice your family supports you, but you don't need to downgrade other tank styles because they're not your preference. Being artistic is cool, being fourteen and already a snob, is not and won't get you anywhere :(

Oh so you're right on my drive up Djem
 
#15 ·
Uh-oh, most of my tanks are bare-bottom with PVC pipes, java moss, an IAL and some java fern :shock2:

This is because I have to do 100% water changes every four days on my uncycled tanks, and it is much easier to maintain them that way. I have 27 individual tanks and it already takes me a couple of hours to do water changes some days.

However, all my fish are happy and healthy in these set-ups. I have a few imported HM males that I keep in these sparsely decorated tanks because I don't want my $50 fish tearing his fins to shreds.

When you have a lot of bettas it's just easier to keep things as simple as possible.
 
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