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Jun. 29th, 2002 11:53 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sublimatedangelWell now, let's see...
Last night was gaming, which was alot of fun and very silly. Much fun. Much silly. Much late when we got home. Woken up sixish?? by the kittens but we're kinda used to it, woken up sevenish by Nate's work that he has to be in by eight. ewwwww not enough sleep. I get a little more sleep then get up. The big tank is doing well so I moved over three of the barbs to it. Nate is in shower now, after which we shall head to bday party at Bob's house which we had planned to be at around noon. Ah well, they know we're running late and why.
In other fish topics, the new betta is doing well and is already regaining some of his color. He seems somewhat less *dark* blue though, and more of a soft pretty blue. Not sure if that's temporary or just the fact that I'm comparing his color against the vibrant egomaniac that is Icthulhu instead of the other petstore bettas. Or maybe it is his "real" color. In any case, I think he'll soon be up to flaring etc. though he is still a little shy... getting less scared though. Need to get care packages out to my other betta buddies! The new one does eat the flake food though I haven't given him any treats yet. I have to remind myself that he won't eat as much as Icthulhu because he is littler and not used to being a piggy.
Last night was gaming, which was alot of fun and very silly. Much fun. Much silly. Much late when we got home. Woken up sixish?? by the kittens but we're kinda used to it, woken up sevenish by Nate's work that he has to be in by eight. ewwwww not enough sleep. I get a little more sleep then get up. The big tank is doing well so I moved over three of the barbs to it. Nate is in shower now, after which we shall head to bday party at Bob's house which we had planned to be at around noon. Ah well, they know we're running late and why.
In other fish topics, the new betta is doing well and is already regaining some of his color. He seems somewhat less *dark* blue though, and more of a soft pretty blue. Not sure if that's temporary or just the fact that I'm comparing his color against the vibrant egomaniac that is Icthulhu instead of the other petstore bettas. Or maybe it is his "real" color. In any case, I think he'll soon be up to flaring etc. though he is still a little shy... getting less scared though. Need to get care packages out to my other betta buddies! The new one does eat the flake food though I haven't given him any treats yet. I have to remind myself that he won't eat as much as Icthulhu because he is littler and not used to being a piggy.
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Questions for the fishie guru
Date: 2002-06-29 04:54 pm (UTC)I will see how the bettas have held up over the weekend. So far, niether of them have seemed much interested in eating anything, which I hope was just shock or something... I'm not sure if I should just float a flake or a pellet and see if they're interested in it and then give them more?
I shouldn't have gotten fishies... my birds seem to be having problems and I may need to call the vet for them. Another set of pets to worry about probably wasn't a smart decision. *sighs*
Re: Questions for the fishie guru
Date: 2002-06-29 08:33 pm (UTC)My bettas: Currently they are in a tank that is a little over 3 gallons. Icthulu has half of it and the new one has 1/4 of it, and they seem to like it. Icthulu is happier in still water (most bettas are) so I don't have a filter or bubbler in the tank. It's new so I haven't really gotten into a routine... I think I'll be changing the water 1 - 2 times per week? but it really depends on how dirty they get it. I usually do about a 50% change for small tanks, and I do a 20% change on the big tank roughly once a week. Probably more often than I really need to, but I have time to do it. I am thinking about getting a heater for the betta tank but for now I just put the light from another tank on if it is chilly. Usually it's warm here though. On really hot days I put ice cubes in a baggie and float the baggie in the tank, but the weather hasn't been *that* hot for several weeks now.
Plants: theoretically will keep it cleaner. However, I seem to kill aquarium plants, and dying plants to not make clean water, they make ucky water. I'm going to keep trying though. I think it's because I don't have plant lights, so I want to get some java fern. It's supposed to be super easy to grow and live in low light. It sounds like you may have enough going on with the pets, you might want to wait on the plants?
Eating: they are likely stressed and should start eating once they feel settled in. Drop the food in and give them a little time.. sometimes they don't notice it's there right away. Then if they don't eat it after several minutes, take it out. It takes 2 - 4 weeks for them to starve, so don't worry if they don't eat for a few days. What kind of food are you using? I'll send you a few of the things I have so you can try and see what they like. Icthulhu is really picky and generally only eats peas chopped to pellet size or pellets. I've seen it recommended not to feed them for a couple days if you are trying to introduce a new food that they don't want to eat, so even if they are picky they should start eating this week.
Lastly: I really like having friends with bettas to compare and talk about fish, etc, but if you really do regret getting them, the fish store might take them back. I don't want you to have them if you don't enjoy them.
Re: Questions for the fishie guru
Date: 2002-06-29 09:56 pm (UTC)As far as food, I've got flakes, pellets and little shrimpies. But I haven't seen them eat anything so far.
Re: Questions for the fishie guru
Date: 2002-06-29 10:04 pm (UTC)Re: Questions for the fishie guru
Date: 2002-06-30 10:20 am (UTC)Also, plastic plants are very bad and often shred betta's fins. If you want to do real ones that is awesome, I wish you more luck than I've been having... Otherwise you can use soft silk plants as they are safe for his fins.
Re: Questions for the fishie guru
Date: 2002-06-30 12:24 am (UTC)Mom has two aviaries full of finches, doves and parakeets.
Oh ya, and the psycho cocatiel, too.
What are your birdies doing that makes you want to call the vet?
Re: Questions for the fishie guru
Date: 2002-06-30 08:59 am (UTC)I noticed a few weeks ago that they hadn't been cooing at all... I'm not sure if that's only a mating season phenomenon or not. Sometimes I'll clear out the sink and let them bathe and play in the water while I'm cleaning out the cage (I lock the cats in the bedroom). A couple of weeks ago when I was cleaning their cage I noticed they had feather mites and lice. *sighs* So I gave them medication for that and sprayed the cage down and those seem to have gone away.
But now they seem unwilling to be handled. They sit on their perch and stay fluffed up and shiver when I come near. I don't know if I broke their trust with the medication or what, but I know that the fluffed-up part is often a sign that they may be sick. Though they eat and drink just fine, don't seem to be loosing wieght, and don't have... ummm... bowel problems.
So... they don't coo, the lice and mites have been taken care of (how the heck did they get them in the first place?) and they're fluffed up and shivering all the time. I plan on getting a heat lamp and maybe that will help, but I don't think that they're actually cold. And why the not-cooing?
I'm just confused, and I can't find any good information on the 'net, other than "you can't tell what it is, take them to the vet."
Re: Questions for the fishie guru
Date: 2002-06-30 10:08 am (UTC)Keep them out of drafts, first and foremost. It might be some sort of infection and they probably need an antibiotic. A heat lamp is a very good idea but most important is to keep them out of drafts.
Re: Questions for the fishie guru
Date: 2002-06-30 10:19 am (UTC)*sighs* I don't know where I'd find antibiotics, and I won't be able to take them to the vet for several days at least. Damnit.
Re: Questions for the fishie guru
Date: 2002-06-30 11:04 am (UTC)Re: Questions for the birdie guru
Date: 2002-06-30 10:26 am (UTC)(Leaving for a few days for a work thingy... I really don't want to come home and have them dead because I didn't do enough.)
Re: Questions for the birdie guru
Date: 2002-06-30 11:06 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2002-06-30 10:09 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2002-06-30 10:21 am (UTC)