Kiwibird
Well-known member
- Jul 12, 2012
- 9,539
- 111
- Parrots
- 1 BFA- Kiwi. Hatch circa 98', forever home with us Dec. 08'
Been about a year since I set up my betta tank, thought Iād do an update. After an initial fight with fin rot brought on by a broken tank heater over the Christmas holiday, Bamboo the betta has been a very healthy and active fishy since. He is really gorgeous, and Iām pleased he has remained the same unique peachy color as when I bought him (I read some bettas fade in color when stressed and he was in a cup marked āred bettaā so wasnāt sure if heād turn red over time or not). He is quite interactive for a fish and will swim right over when you approach the tank and follows fingers. He also heads up to the top right corner of the tank at the end of the day, which has become the time and place he gets fed. Heās always waiting for dinner there, even if Iām late lol.
I was initially a bit intimidated to do a planted tank since I kind of have a brown thumb, but I bought 4 plants and only 1 has died. The other 3 seem to be doing well. 2 plants though have put off several baby plants, so I didnāt even need to replace the dead plant! I also bought 3 marimo balls, which all seem to be doing well too (kind of hard to tell with slow growing balls of moss? Theyāre still green at least!).
As for the shrimps, what was I thinking?! I bought 3 amano shrimps to start with and 2 immediately escaped and died on the floor (the tank has a cover but also has cutouts for cords). I bought 3 more and they basically all just hide all the time and add nothing to the tank. The betta is more scared of them than they are of him too, so itās not a fish aggression thing. One more escaped in the spring and died and another one went down the sink as it was hiding in the filter when I cleaned the filter. Iām down to 2 and when they die, they will not be replaced!
Bettas are very active fish when in a properly sized tank with light, mental stimulation, heat and filtration!
A close up of Bamboo. Heās such a pretty fish!
I was initially a bit intimidated to do a planted tank since I kind of have a brown thumb, but I bought 4 plants and only 1 has died. The other 3 seem to be doing well. 2 plants though have put off several baby plants, so I didnāt even need to replace the dead plant! I also bought 3 marimo balls, which all seem to be doing well too (kind of hard to tell with slow growing balls of moss? Theyāre still green at least!).
As for the shrimps, what was I thinking?! I bought 3 amano shrimps to start with and 2 immediately escaped and died on the floor (the tank has a cover but also has cutouts for cords). I bought 3 more and they basically all just hide all the time and add nothing to the tank. The betta is more scared of them than they are of him too, so itās not a fish aggression thing. One more escaped in the spring and died and another one went down the sink as it was hiding in the filter when I cleaned the filter. Iām down to 2 and when they die, they will not be replaced!
Bettas are very active fish when in a properly sized tank with light, mental stimulation, heat and filtration!
A close up of Bamboo. Heās such a pretty fish!
Last edited: