Tip of the Week
Snails aren’t just for eating algae! Freshwater snails make wonderful pets as additions to many aquariums.  But remember, most snails do not thrive on algae and will need their diet supplemented with other goodies!  More info to come when the new Snail Care page is up!

Tip of the Week Archives

The Think Tank by Aikidoka

I’m a TROPICAL Fish, For Crying Out Loud!!

What do you think of when you hear the word tropical waters?  Do you think of freezing cold water?  Do you think of stagnant, standing still water?  Or how about tiny pools of shallow, quickly disappearing waters?  I’m guessing you don’t.

If you are like me, and yes I am a fish, you think of waters that are slightly warm.  Gently flowing waters.  And huge oceans and seas of water.

So why on earth do people insist on keeping fish like me, betta fish, in non-tropical conditions? We are, after all, tropical fish.  Just like all the other tropical fish that are sold in pet stores, we need heated water, with a filter that gently circulates clean flowing water.  We also need larger spaces.  For some odd reason, and I can’t seem to figure out why, many people believe that we bettas enjoy tiny spaces, like in a cup or a bowl or a vase.  Well, we just don’t.  Our ancestors in the wild live in huge rice paddies of open slow moving, warm waters!  They have space to move about.

I wish all my betta friends lived in a home like mine.  The water at my house is kept at around 78 degrees day and night.  My parents are able to keep it this way because they use this thing that hangs inside of my house called a heater.  The other little thing, the thermometer as they call it, lets them know that the heater is working correctly.   I was just like thousands of other bettas that live in cups and vases where the temperature would change almost on a daily basis and certainly at night time.  That is so stressful on us fish and makes us more prone to illnesses.  My house also has a low flow filter that helps keep my water clean and keeps the water moving at a slow pace.  We are not strong swimmers so we don’t like a lot of added current in our waters; just a little bit will suite us just fine.  I feel badly when I think of all my betta buddies out there who live in tiny quarters.  I have all this space all to myself and some of them only have enough room to turn around…if that!  It’s sad really.  I try to be the best pet I can be and my family seems to enjoy me quite a bit.  I just don’t think that I would be able to provide the family with as much satisfaction if I were so unhappy in a tiny house.

I do hope I am able to reach some of those families who own any of my betta friends who might want to change out that bowl or vase for a nice, say, five gallon home. It’s made me the happiest betta ever and actually saved my life!  We bettas are tropical fish!  We need a tropical environment!

  Visit Aikidoka's The Think Tank Archives:

Give Me MEAT!

They DO Love Me!

I'm a TROPICAL Fish, For Crying Out Loud!

I prefer to be a loner!

Some special points of interest this month include:

	Got an algae problem in your betta tank and are thinking of getting a snail?  Better visit The Think Tank before getting the little guy.
	Think your bird needs a pal or mate in her cage?  This isn't always the best thing for all pet birds.  Paisley will fill you in on Cheep Talk!
	Cats come in all shapes, sizes, colors, breed and prices!  Just because a pure bred cat costs more doesn't mean that a cheaper cat, one from a shelter, might not make a good pet as well.  The boys discuss it on The Scratching Post.