The Fish (fishkeepers, breeders, fish lovers)

[Lacy33]

Who are the Fish lovers here. I am finding a few fellow Betta servents.
Who here is keeping a fish tank?

We currently have two Betta boys. :!) They just had their one year birthday with us.

 

[drizzle]

I love your fishy avatar Lacy!

 

[Yanick]

We got a tank for my dad for his birthday last year. We didn't know anything about fishkeeping, and I was really busy, so I left it to my mom and girlfriend to take care of. We, unfortunately, listened to the staff at one of the pet stores around here and wound up losing most of our fish within a couple of weeks (they sold us 13 fish to dump into an uncycled tank). One tough little dwarf gourami made it through the cycling period and all seemed to go pretty decent from there. We tried to re-stock but I was, once again, busy and left it to my dad and girlfriend to take care of. They went out and bought a bunch of fish at once and we lost many of them again. Then the gourami (we called him Napoleon because he was small but a tough/mean little bastard) passed away for no real reason at all (I now suspect Iridovirus which is supposedly rampant amongst gourami's nowadays).

We left the tank empty for a while and just about two weeks ago got ourselves another gourami. She seems to be doing well for now but supposedly this virus may take months to kill the fish. I'll be handling all of the stocking and maintenance from now on so we're taking it slow and trying not to cause too much bioload on the tank at once.

At the moment I'm fighting some pretty incessant algal blooms. Its a really addicting hobby and I never thought I'd be attached to fish as much as I am. I really do get depressed when we lose a fish and really come down hard on myself. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that all goes well this time around.

What kind of tank do you have?

 

[lisab]

Who are the Fish lovers here. I am finding a few fellow Betta servents.
Who here is keeping a fish tank?

We currently have two Betta boys. :!) They just had their one year birthday with us.

Which one is the alpha?

 

[Lacy33]

Thank you Drizzle.
Yanick,
Thank you for sharing all this. I know how fish love can sneak up on you and there you are. But just like you experienced, there we were, with the wrong information, equiptment and eventually dead fish, one right after the next. I think the worse burial in the park was our second when I passed out coming home. The emotional attachment to these little aquatic personalities is so strong. Who would have guessed.
We now have two tanks and they are too small.
I admit.
But now we have all the chemicals, heaters, filters and meds that we did not know we needed when beginning our fishkeeping experience a few years ago.
If it were not for a website that would be to fishkeepers what PF is to science students, we would have lost our boys now living with us long ago.
I wish you much luck and happiness with your fish and hope you increase your population and with that your family.

 

[Lacy33]

Which one is the alpha?

LOL, And now you know THE biggest secret in the universe!
They are betta boys and are fighting over that right now.
One of them WILL be Alpha!

Until that is decided, they are Goldie.. (he hates that) and Rocky "da shark" Balboa.

 

[Evo]

Love your new avatar lacy!

I used to raise fish when I was younger, it was a lot of fun, but a lot of work.

 

[Proton Soup]

i kept fish for years and years. even tried breeding bettas once and actually managed to get one fry into adolescence.

eventually, you find that it's pretty simple for the most part. de-chlorinate and don't kill your biofilter. keep temps stable (including air temps for bettas) and do regular water changes.

the best thing about bettas is their complete fearlessness, nibbling on your fingers and such. if you're good, you can even net one in your hand (just be careful, they jump).

 

[NeoDevin]

I have 3 piranhas, and 2 turtles (not in the same tank).

 

[Lacy33]

I have 3 piranhas, and 2 turtles (not in the same tank).

What's it like being the pet of piranhas? And do turtles communicate?
We here are so use to the betta boys pretty much running the home, I was wondering if other marine family members are so take charge.

 

[Lacy33]

Love your new avatar lacy!

I used to raise fish when I was younger, it was a lot of fun, but a lot of work.

Thank you.
Yeah, what started off as a dainty little "hobby" has turned into buckets, hoses, chemicals, marine medicine and the study of alian behavior.

 

[turbo]

I never raised fish, but had a college buddy (fellow musician) who did. He and his wife had salt-water tanks and some of the typical pretty reef-dwellers, but the ones that intrigued me were the octopuses and sea-horses. We mostly talked music and guitar-technique when I visited, but I got the overall impression that breeding and raising octopuses (his favorite) was pretty tricky and labor-intensive. Lots of observation, installing barriers and providing lots of crevices of various sizes to minimize cannibalism...

 

[Evo]

My brother had an incredible salt water aquarium, but there ws a fire.

 

[Lacy33]

My brother had an incredible salt water aquarium, but there ws a fire.

Evo, I know I don't have saltwater fish. And they must take a different kind of care, but, but a fire? You really can start a fire in salt water?
I really should be spending some time upstairs here learning.

 

[Danger]

I love finnin haddie, but cod is almost as good. It all depends, of course, upon the batter.
Never tried Betta, but that seems a little less than bite-sized.

 

[Lacy33]

I love finnin haddie, but cod is almost as good. It all depends, of course, upon the batter.
Never tried Betta, but that seems a little less than bite-sized.

have you ever? ya, have you ever been feeling so sick and some smart a** comes along and says something that hits you so funny that you laugh and laugh, pityfully laughing over the pain. You wish you could stop but you just can't?
aaha...aaha...ooo...ahaaa ... no more please.

note:
never have a whole jar of cookies for dinner and a pot of coffee.

 

[Lacy33]

They think they are going to need a bigger bowl for the fish!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/wor...-Biagini-catches-massive-30lbs-goldfish.html"

 

[OmCheeto]

They think they are going to need a bigger bowl for the fish!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/wor...-Biagini-catches-massive-30lbs-goldfish.html"

Wow. Never seen one that big.

I got addicted to fish as an 8 year old. The local department store was giving away free comet goldfish. Just like drug dealers, they knew that once I was addicted, there was no turning back. My most exotic fish were a pair of Mozambique Tilapia. They are mouth brooders. Always fun to watch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkmmpSrbbjM

If only human children were so easy to get to bed.

 

[Lacy33]

Wow! That's a lot of kids. Are they Hasidish?

 

[Andre]

Been there too, but moving a lot wasn't helping, so I stopped fish tanks a couple of years ago.

I bred several species for fun, favorites were the Ram, who seemed to have traveled around in about all genera of chiclids and the Bivittatum who doesn't even have a wiki page.

Breeding was most successful with the Blue acara until I could not find anymore fish dealers around who were interested in it.

 

[Lacy33]

I would love to learn breeding. And even learn more fish. Right now we are kinda in the hospice phase with our little betta boys.
Some day we will invest in a larger tank.

I just noticed how close the toilet thread is to this fish thread.

 

[turbo]

II just noticed how close the toilet thread is to this fish thread.

Keep swimming boys! Don't even take a nap!


(flush)

 

[Lacy33]

Keep swimming boys! Don't even take a nap!


(flush)

LOL!

 

[Evo]

My favorite to watch was my lochikens (kuhliloach)they eat the algae off the sides of the aquarium.

 

[Lacy33]

What a cute kid you had there. I wonder if it would eat my cooking if it eats algae?
Our betta boy are encouraging us to look at other fish. They use to get jealous.
Was this a fresh water? I would look it up but have to make a cake before the sun crashes on my cooking party.

 

[Evo]

What a cute kid you had there. I wonder if it would eat my cooking if it eats algae?
Our betta boy are encouraging us to look at other fish. They use to get jealous.
Was this a fresh water? I would look it up but have to make a cake before the sun crashes on my cooking party.

Yes, they're fresh water, and they do a great job keeping the aquarium clean.

 

[DaveC426913]

I've only got three tanks right now.

- a 5gal. custom wall hung "picture frame" tank of my own design (only 4" deep) with some danios
- a 2gal. custom "office desk" tank of my own design (fully self-contained) with a betta
- a 50gal. "gift" with a fat goldfish and a half dozen serpaes (I gave the giant pl*cos away to a friend with a pond)

 

[DaveC426913]

My favorite to watch was my lochikens (kuhliloach)they eat the algae off the sides of the aquarium.

I love Kuhlis but, consistently, after a few months of them burying themselves in the sand where I can't see them, I assume they've perished, stop leaving bottom food, and they get emaciated.

 

[Evo]

I love Kuhlis but, consistently, after a few months of them burying themselves in the sand where I can't see them, I assume they've perished, stop leaving bottom food, and they get emaciated.

 

[Proton Soup]

kuhli are a bit crepuscular. more active at twilight.

 

[Danger]

have you ever? ya, have you ever been feeling so sick and some smart a** comes along and says something that hits you so funny that you laugh and laugh, pityfully laughing over the pain. You wish you could stop but you just can't?
aaha...aaha...ooo...ahaaa ... no more please.

You are far too easily amused.

 

[DaveC426913]

kuhli are a bit crepuscular. more active at twilight.

And skittish.

If you look at them funny, they rocket around the tank, sometimes shooting straight up the wall and out the top of the tank. I've found more than one mummified little piece of beef jerky on the table behind my tank.

 

[Evo]

And skittish.

If you look at them funny, they rocket around the tank, sometimes shooting straight up the wall and out the top of the tank. I've found more than one mummified little piece of beef jerky on the table behind my tank.

No lid on the tank? We also had a cat.

 

[DaveC426913]

No lid on the tank? We also had a cat.

I try to avoid tightly covered tanks. Interferes with gas exchange.

 

[Danger]

Sort of reminds me of the old "Far Side" cartoon with a fish skeleton and a stick lying beside a bowl of water. The caption read something like "World Pole-Vaulting Record for a Goldfish".

 

[Evo]

I try to avoid tightly covered tanks. Interferes with gas exchange.

They have grated lids.

 

[dimensional]

Both of our lionfish just died due to tainted food... :(

 

[Evo]

Both of our lionfish just died due to tainted food... :(

Oh no, what happened to the food?

 

[dimensional]

Well, their food happened to be live goldfish, and I'm not entirely sure what went wrong. We got them from the same place we always do. The day after we fed them they both died. I suppose it really could have been coincidence, but I'm sure it was because of the fish.

They were both awesome, too! Rest in Peace Spike and Sting.

(this only happened a week ago)

 

[DaveC426913]

Both of our lionfish just died due to tainted food... :(

Oh man! That sucks.

 

[Lacy33]

Well, their food happened to be live goldfish, and I'm not entirely sure what went wrong. We got them from the same place we always do. The day after we fed them they both died. I suppose it really could have been coincidence, but I'm sure it was because of the fish.

They were both awesome, too! Rest in Peace Spike and Sting.

(this only happened a week ago)

Sorry for your loss.

 

[Evo]

Well, their food happened to be live goldfish, and I'm not entirely sure what went wrong. We got them from the same place we always do. The day after we fed them they both died. I suppose it really could have been coincidence, but I'm sure it was because of the fish.

They were both awesome, too! Rest in Peace Spike and Sting.

(this only happened a week ago)

RIP Spike and Sting.

 

[Lacy33]

Dimensional, Did you write an ode to Sting and Spike?




Daaaaaave? You and i will just be respectful Right?

 

[Lacy33]

Both of our Betta boys are sick, but Hubby has asked me not to put them to sleep.

A "little" upset about this, I know why he asked me not to.
But I so wish they had made out a living will!

 

[Evo]

Both of our Betta boys are sick, but Hubby has asked me not to put them to sleep.

A "little" upset about this, I know why he asked me not to.
But I so wish they had made out a living will!

Do they have ick? That's treatable, isn't it?

 

[Lacy33]

Do they have ick? That's treatable, isn't it?

No it's not ick. Tho they did have it over a year ago and that is when we went for information and a complete overhaul on their living conditions. Heaters, filters and such. No, Evo, I clipped our stronger betta with a tool and he is having a very hard time recovering from his wound. This is very hard to talk about.
I am using betta fix and something else i would need get up and go look at.
The other boy, Goldie (he hates that name), was sickly when we got him, but he is so unfish like that we don't know if he is dying or rehearsing for a Broadway play. We are a block from Broadway you know. Goldie the Drama King. Goldie loves humans so much I think he would go shopping, and sleep in the bed with us if we let him. Rocky, I fear I may have hurt so badly he, may have a hard time recovering.

 

[OmCheeto]

Goldie loves humans so much I think he would go shopping, and sleep in the bed with us if we let him.

I don't see anything wrong with taking your fish out for a walk. Do it!

Though sleeping in bed with you? That might require some serious fishy habitrail gerbil ball technology.

ps. Probably the only reason I've not installed a fishy habitrail that runs through my entire house is the prohibitive expense of the tubing, the risk of leaks, and the fact that my family would finally have me committed.

 

[Lacy33]

OmCheeto, You are such a nice fish daddy to take your dear fish out for a swim.
Rocky is not feeling well at the moment but Goldie (he hates that name) wants to go sledding.
Something about that thought makes me think of the Cat In The Hat books.

 

[Evo]

No it's not ick. Tho they did have it over a year ago and that is when we went for information and a complete overhaul on their living conditions. Heaters, filters and such. No, Evo, I clipped our stronger betta with a tool and he is having a very hard time recovering from his wound. This is very hard to talk about.
I am using betta fix and something else i would need get up and go look at.
The other boy, Goldie (he hates that name), was sickly when we got him, but he is so unfish like that we don't know if he is dying or rehearsing for a Broadway play. We are a block from Broadway you know. Goldie the Drama King. Goldie loves humans so much I think he would go shopping, and sleep in the bed with us if we let him. Rocky, I fear I may have hurt so badly he, may have a hard time recovering.

awww {{{Lacy}}} I'm sure he'll be ok.

 

[DaveC426913]

Probably the only reason I've not installed a fishy habitrail that runs through my entire house is the prohibitive expense of the tubing, the risk of leaks, and the fact that my family would finally have me committed.

Fish habitrail? http://boingboing.net/2007/01/09/habitrail-for-fish.html"