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 Prefer To Be A Loner.

My home is my palace.  It’s warm, it’s clean, and it’s decorated just how I like it.  Best of all, it’s mine, and only mine!  I have lots of room to swim and play.  I get my very own meals twice a day.  Sooner or later though, you might wonder if I want a housemate.  Well, to tell you the truth, I’d really rather not.  I’ve heard my parents talk about other folks who own bettas just like me, but insist of putting them in tanks with other fish.  This really does make me worry.  Now, don’t get me wrong: we are all a bit different and have different attitudes.  We are just like any other animal and have our own personalities.  But, picture us in the wild.  We are solitary.  Personally, I prefer to live on my own.  I’ve heard of too many of my ancestors and family members being picked on or even gotten rid of because they are the ones doing the bullying.  Frankly, we are an aggressive species of fish and we just flat out do better on our own.  We see each other as threats, to tell you the truth.  Especially if two of us boys get together; we have to be tough and the end result isn’t often pretty.  I am not too fond of any other kind of fish either.  I prefer to have my own territory to myself.  I suppose I wouldn’t mind having a small Apple snail friend, but it’s hard to tell until it actually happens.  I have a friend, Mickey Dee, who lives in his own five-gallon tank here in the house.  Mickey had an apple snail friend; but Mickey is such a bully that the snail had to be moved out for his own safety.  On the other hand, the late Tai Sabaki, lived with a snail buddy for quite some time and they got along beautifully.  So you see, we are all different and have our own personalities.  Some of us prefer to be totally on our own while others may tolerate a small snail buddy.  Snails don’t pose too much of a threat of taking over our territories so many of us do not mind them.  However, most all of us bettas do not do well at all with other bettas or other types of fish.  In my own fishy opinion, I prefer that we live alone.  It’s just so much more relaxing and stress free to know I can be comfortable at sleep time and not have to fight for my food, or to even have to defend my territory.  So my recommendation would be to keep us by ourselves.  If you want to try to see if your betta would like a snail buddy, be prepared to have another space ready for the snail if your betta picks on it.  And just as a hint, for those of us who do pick on snails, be sure to check the antennae of the snails, as these are the easy targets for us.  We don’t get lonely by ourselves, we really truly are happy being alone.

Visit Aikidoka's The Think Tank Archives:

Give Me MEAT!

They DO Love Me!

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

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.