Betta fish

[MrsJaaxx]

I got a Betta fish to keep me company at work. I put him in a 3-gallon tank on my desk, right next to the computer. I put him in there on Friday, so today even though the office is closed, I went up there and fed him. I fed him a few freeze dried blood worms and 3 ants that were crawling around on my desk.

He is red, with some iridescent purple and blue on him, and his fins and long and flowy. He's very active and curious, and I can tell that he's going to be good company. I named him Fabio.

I got decorations for his tank today. Can't wait to get him all decorated on Monday! I'm bringing some live plants from our pond. I think I am going to change his decor with the seasons/holidays.

 

[happily]

why is there freeze dried bloodworms and ants crawling on your desk

 

[TDM]

Careful feeding him insects mrsjaxx. If the ants have been through any poison it can kill fabio. I used to own a pet store. we had a 6 foot long lizard and it died when a local kids needed money and I had him catch crickets in a field to feed the lizard. the field had been sprayed.

 

[Wildsky]

OH I had one on my desk for about 2 years, till the stupid safety people told me it was some kind of FIRE DANGER... ......!

My guy did fine over weekend without being fed, I did have a small tank with a filter and pump and stuff so he was nice and comfie.
One of my co-workers also had one, her boy kept trying to build nests with those bubbles - really nasty looking, cracked me up. For some reason my guy never did that. (perhaps the pump and moving water put him off)

He lived for a LONG time, after I brought him home he lived another year or so...

That took me on another trip back to the pet store, I bought a 10 gallon tank and all the fittings, and bought a couple of fish, those died, then I bought a feeder fish... one of those orange 10c little critters. The tank was for my son, I used it as a kinda night light and white noise machine - and he could lie in bed and watch the fish.
That tiny little feeder fish got a buddy, a black goldfish - the tiny feeder fish is about 4-5 inches long now.

 

[MrsJaaxx]

The blood worms I bought, they are just regular betta fish food. I also got him some other pellets.

TDM, I think the ants in my office are safe, only because my boss refuses to use poison. (That is why I have ants crawling on my desk LOL) She is so soft-hearted and she says they are probably coming in because it's hot out.. doesn't have the heart to kill them. Me, I'm moderately sweet and all, but I kill the ones I see on my desk with a kleenex!

Wildsky, you ended up with a big fish for 10 cents! I want a betta for at home, too.. but my Jaaxx, who is generally wonderful and gets me anything my heart desires, stands very firm on the "no more pets until one of ours dies" rule. We have one dog and one cat.

 

[Mary Kay]

Mrs. Jaaxx, don't forget to wash all the tank decorations in clean water before putting them in. They have been in a warehouse and those places get dusty! The pet supply warehouse Mike worked in had birds flying in the rafters, think bird mites..ugh.

 

[TDM]

The blood worms I bought, they are just regular betta fish food. I also got him some other pellets.

TDM, I think the ants in my office are safe, only because my boss refuses to use poison. (That is why I have ants crawling on my desk LOL) She is so soft-hearted and she says they are probably coming in because it's hot out.. doesn't have the heart to kill them. Me, I'm moderately sweet and all, but I kill the ones I see on my desk with a kleenex!

Wildsky, you ended up with a big fish for 10 cents! I want a betta for at home, too.. but my Jaaxx, who is generally wonderful and gets me anything my heart desires, stands very firm on the "no more pets until one of ours dies" rule. We have one dog and one cat.

Kinda morbid a dog or cat has to loose its life so a fish can move in???

What would have to die to get a bird???

 

[Menolly]

I love bettas. For a while I had my own little school of females in a 30 gallon tank. They may not be as fancy as the boys, but they can be very pretty.

(The longest lived fish I've had have been from Wal-Mart, suprisingly. But when you think about it, if they've survived living at Wal-Mart they must be tough!)

Kinda morbid a dog or cat has to loose its life so a fish can move in???

What would have to die to get a bird???

At least he's allowing for "replacements"! Mine says no more dogs altogether, and no more cats until EVERYBODY is gone. (Pretty sure he'd make an exception for a kitten if we were just down to the birds...)

 

[breakfastchef]

We had a red one called 'Tuna'.

Skip the live plants from the pond and stick with the plastic ones in the store.

For periodic recreation, put a small mirror outside the tank to give Fabio a chance to fluff his fins and strut his stuff!

 

[radsmachine]

The lonest living fish I ever had is a puffer goldfish, she's big and black with gold specks. She's about 11 months old. I call her Oprah.

 

[effigi]

I have a beta fish vase that looks kinda like this



The plant i have is smaller, with less roots, so the fish (Clive) can swim more freely.

 

[MrsJaaxx]

No live plants? Why not? I had it in my mind that they would be a healthy thing for him and for the tank in general..? What about live plants from the pet store instead of the pond? I'm concerned that the plastic ones could snag his beautiful fins. Though silk ones wouldn't cause that problem. I read that if something can snag panty hose it can snag his fins.

 

[effigi]

Mine is a real plant. It it awhile getting the roots cleaned up and making sure all the soil was removed, but it is thriving. ATM, I think Clive, my beta, is going to out live the plant.. (I hope anyways)

 

[Rhetoric Camel]

I need to get a job at a desk where I can keep a fish, I work in a crappy warehouse in an assembly line and I can't have anything near me unless it's work related, makes for a long 10 hour day.

 

[breakfastchef]

In my freshwater aquarium days, I recall cautions about using wild plants. Better to buy something from the pet store specifically for aquarium use. I just do not know what a native pond plant might bring to the party.

No live plants? Why not? I had it in my mind that they would be a healthy thing for him and for the tank in general..? What about live plants from the pet store instead of the pond? I'm concerned that the plastic ones could snag his beautiful fins. Though silk ones wouldn't cause that problem. I read that if something can snag panty hose it can snag his fins.

 

[MrsJaaxx]

Yay! Fabio is definitely healthy and happy! He has made a bubble nest! He is such a friendly little guy.. I was trying to remove a piece of food that was floating at the top of the water-- you're supposed to get out anything that he doesn't eat in a short amount of time so that it doesn't rot and cause the water to be toxic-- and I could hardly do it for him trying to be all up on my finger! LOL

I will post a pic of him this evening.. Don't have the capability at work.

 

[TDM]

Whats good about betas is they dont have to have pumps or moving water. So you can put him in a cup with a lid and take him for walks and picnics. Just no tuna sandwiches on the picnic! He may quit talking to you

 

[tamiflu]

My Beta was blue and green. I named him Bob. He really would respond to me when I walk into the room.

I agree with Truckdrivingmouse. Be careful not to eat seafood infront of him...they can be really sensative. Mine was.

 

[TDM]

Isn't anything more pathetic than a beta fish that is upset. Those little eyes just staring at you through the glass

 

[SannerSays]

I remember when I was a real little kid my parents brought home a bunny for my sister and me for Easter. About a year later some cousins came in from out of town and brought their dog with them. The dog ended up chasing the rabbit, caught it, and made it his dinner.

To make up for the tragedy (it was a pretty tragic sight for a little kid) they went out and bought me a Beta fish..... Beta fish are cool fish....but definitely not a replacement for a murdered bunny! Needless to say, since then I have had a black spot in my heart for Beta fish hahaha.

Haha sorry to put a dark cloud over the happy thread