intro and questions

[gardengirl13]

OK after lurking for a few days I can't find the answer to a question. I looked on aquabids and am totally in love with three fish, but in no way shape or form can I afford $50+ each for a fish. How can I find fish just like them locally? My LFS is walmart and petsmart. They seem to carry ok betts, but nothing like these boys!

http://www.aquabid.com/cgi-bin/aucti...asd&1298034608

http://www.aquabid.com/cgi-bin/aucti...asd&1298035202

http://www.aquabid.com/cgi-bin/aucti...asd&1298035203


The betta we have now is from petsmart and has been the best fish we've ever owned. He thinks he's a dog but we don't have the heart to tell him he's really a fish. I don't mind getting our next fish from the same store (more of a pity rescue since they're kept in those horrible little blue water filled cups and they all look so sad,) but I'd really like a beautiful healthy fish.


Also I've read that in tanks that are about 2 gals you should do 100% water changes weekly. But then I read that 100% changes are bad and to do two 50% changes a week instead. We've been doing 100% and he's been perfectly happy (he knows that when he goes back into the tank he get a dried worm for a treat.)

And i know this is totally insane for me to think this, but I worry he'll get jealous of a new fish. I would put the new one in the bedroom to keep them apart, but I know how social these little guys are so I want him in the living room where we'll see and talk to them more. The problem is we'll have to put them next to each other as we don't have room anywhere else for a tank that isn't right near a window or door. And our fish gets mad when we move anything near his tank. He has an orchid there and even switching out to a different plant gets him flaring and angry seeming. Even holiday decorations near his tank had to come down. He just freaked out even with them being 4 feet away! He would run and hide and when he came out he acted all twitchy and skittish. When we moved them he calmed down again. ???

[kelly528]

1) Maybe at a local aquarium club... search for a forum or breeders in your area. I have also seen nicer fish in the $20-$50 range at some independently owned pet stores. Not often though. Again, this would be something to ask on a local fish forum (eg. I visit BCAquaria, a community for fishkeepers in British Columbia, Canada).

2) 100% water changes at least once a week... its math. Assume your betta makes .25 ppm of ammonia each day. You are doing 50% water changes every other day (3-4 times a week!). This is what your ammonia levels would look like:

Day 1: .25ppm
Day 2: Water change: .125 ppm
Day 3: .375 ppm
Day 4: Water change: .1875 ppm
Day 5: .4375 ppm
Day 6: Water change: .2185 ppm
Day 7: .4685 ppm (round up to .5 ppm)

Day 8: Water change: .25 ppm
Day 9: .5 ppm
Day 10: Water change: .25 ppm
...and so forth.

See, even if you are doing 50% water changes daily, assuming your betta produces .25 ppm of ammonia per day you will wind up with .5 ppm in just one week! And from then on, it will only keep wavering from .25 ppm to .5ppm.

[Aluyasha]

Some LFS take requests for certain Betta colours and fin types and will call you when they come in.
Your current Betta should get used to the new Betta's tank being next to his. If not, you can put a piece of paper or something in between them so they cannot see eachother, that way, if you mess with the new tank then your current Betta will not see you doing it and would not get freaked out. :)
Good luck!

[Lion Mom]

Those are BEAUTIFUL bettas, but I don't think you will have much luck finding anything like that locally.

IF you are willing to shop on AB, here are a few beauties, IMO:

http://www.aquabid.com/cgi-bin/aucti...asd&1297751266

http://www.aquabid.com/cgi-bin/aucti...asd&1297837864

http://www.aquabid.com/cgi-bin/aucti...asd&1297837864

http://www.aquabid.com/cgi-bin/aucti...asd&1298011947

FWIW, I have gotten a LOT of fish (both bettas & angel fish) from this seller and have ALWAYS been happy. Good prices, good shipping costs & packs EXTREMELY well! :)

And here is one from the above seller's husband. I have also purchased fish from him and same deal - all very nice fish and terrific service! :)

http://www.aquabid.com/cgi-bin/aucti...asd&1297975824

Matter of fact, the fish in my avatar - Hot Rod - is from them.

[Lion Mom]

One more thing - purchasing from the above sellers saves a TON in shipping costs since there is no trans-shipper fee and there isn't any double shipping since the fish are raised right here in the States. :)

[Aluyasha]

Originally Posted by Lion Mom

Those are BEAUTIFUL bettas, but I don't think you will have much luck finding anything like that locally.

IF you are willing to shop on AB, here are a few beauties, IMO:

http://www.aquabid.com/cgi-bin/aucti...asd&1297751266

http://www.aquabid.com/cgi-bin/aucti...asd&1297837864

http://www.aquabid.com/cgi-bin/aucti...asd&1297837864

http://www.aquabid.com/cgi-bin/aucti...asd&1298011947

FWIW, I have gotten a LOT of fish (both bettas & angel fish) from this seller and have ALWAYS been happy. Good prices, good shipping costs & packs EXTREMELY well! :)

And here is one from the above seller's husband. I have also purchased fish from him and same deal - all very nice fish and terrific service! :)

http://www.aquabid.com/cgi-bin/aucti...asd&1297975824

Matter of fact, the fish in my avatar - Hot Rod - is from them.

Those are indeed some beautiful fish!

[Lion Mom]

Originally Posted by Aluyasha

Those are indeed some beautiful fish!

I agree - I just can't say enough nice things about Michelle & Roy's fish!

I am just LUSTING after that MG, but I just don't have the room!!!!

Just as an example of how good their fish & packing job is, I will tell you about the most recent fish I received from them. He was sent out on 1/31/11 (Monday) and should have been here on 2/02/11 (Wednesday). Little did Michelle or I realize that Snowstorm/Blizzard Connor would start on Monday & shut half the country down - EEK!!! No fish on Wed. OR Thursday and we were getting worried - I was SURE he was a goner between the hold up & the sub-zero temps!

Well, Friday (2/04) the box FINALLY got here and when I opened the box I was delighted and AMAZED that it was still warm & the 72 hr. heat pack (at no extra charge) was still active!!! And the fish? ALIVE and WELL!!!!

Because he is black, it is VERY hard to get a pic of him. Due to his color and his shipping ordeal, I have named him Stormy!

So here are a couple of pics of Stormy (if you can see him) and please pardon the water spots.

[Aluyasha]

That is a very black Betta! Beautiful! :)
It is hard to find actual black Bettas.

[Lion Mom]

Originally Posted by Aluyasha

That is a very black Betta! Beautiful! :)
It is hard to find actual black Bettas.

Thank you! As with all the fish I have received from them, I am VERY happy with him!!!!

[gardengirl13]

lion mom those are very pretty!! I'll have to look into them in the future.

We did find a pretty betta this weekend at petsmart, we set his tank next to the other guys and after a few minutes they were flaring like crazy, but not stressing too much. The spot it turns out doesn't really hold both well, it holds them but looks weird so we moved the new guy (still not named, this is the longest we've ever taken naming a fish!) and he is very happy so far. He's been begging for food since the morning after we brought him home.

I will look at that couple on ab for the next one. Thanks again!!!