xXInkedPhoenixX

Have you watched this Co-op video? It was fascinating. 2 of the things I took away from it was he said "flow grows algae" which was 🤯 to me. He also said Rhizone plants only need 3-4 hours of light and Stem plants 6. It's worth trying. Plus the video is pretty awesome and his tanks are BEAUTIFUL

Hi @Kaining. Very sorry about your betta. Can you tell us if you test your water, what are your parameters if you do. Do you use a heater? What's it set to. Do you have access to medication? If so what do you have. A picture of the whole set up helps as well as any other inhabitants, how long have you had him and how old is the tank. These things will help. Just going on what I can tell so far, I would suspect a bacterial infection and fin rot, probably playing hand in hand. But it could be other things, additional information will help us help you.

Yes my Otos do that too as soon as the camera comes out or I approach the tank so I know it's hard. Sometimes if I do suspect illness I'll catch them out of the tank and put them in container and wait until they stick to the side (so hopefully a relatively see through container. This is also a hard task. All that to say, at least so far I'm not too concerned there's something wrong- but we need a belly/lung check, if the belly is like a pearl, the gills don't look inflamed and it's acting ok otherwise I think you're good. My Otos are different shades of the same pattern and sometimes change color.

Interesting. To me it looks more like a trick of the light. Otos are fairly translucent so it might not be a concern. Redness around the gill area would be more of an issue. Is it acting any different? If you can get a pic of the Oto against the glass it might be helpful to see their underside. I keep Otos so I know that's a big ask- they can be hard to catch on camera.

I make my Repashy with water from a heated water dispenser- so not technically rapid boiling like @Guppysnail but it really depends on how much water to mix you use, I like the gel to be a bit stiff so I put a rounded scoop of mix and then 2 of the same scoop (doesn't matter it's just 1:2) of the water from my dispenser- for me the rapid part is rapid stir (so I can get it all mixed in with a tiny whisk- I do small batches) and I might even then have to add just a little more powder mix to get it to set the way I like. Might still be a bit jiggly but I put it in the fridge and it sets up fine and easy to cut into cubes.

If we need an alternative....I started a 3 gallon tank for my Mum...has two very happy African Dwarf Frogs- she LOVES them. The tank is very stable with them and 1 Nerite snail, some Duckweed and a couple Anubias. If you get a boy, you can hear them singing at night when it's very quiet. They area admittedly not as "interactive" as a pea but my Mum has target fed them from the beginning with tweezers and boy do they know when it's time to be fed. They come to the front of the tank. It's fun to see them swim and interact with each other.

OTOCINCLUS VITTATUS: The Accidental Oto Tank If you're sensitive to deceased fishy pics you may not want to read this post. I guess I spoke too soon. After yesterday's post I got up this morning to do the daily maintenance. Unfortunately one of my 7 baby Otos was found gone. Everyone else seems ok. Upon inspection the gill area is a bit inflamed but that could be an after death effect as their gills are usually pretty pink to begin with and I'm not sure how long they've been deceased. That would raise a brow to check ammonia- couldn't test today as I had to be to work but the Ammonia Alert is bright yellow (meaning no "iffy" reading) and everyone else looks normal that I could see. So I thought, ok well I'm going to need to see them a bit better and maybe I have a bigger breeder box. So one of my new breeders isn't a lot bigger but definitely a bit bigger. And cleaner. So I can actually see the babies from all sides. I'm bummed about the loss but it does happen. Onwards and upwards.

I completely understand having to cull, but I couldn't do it. I'd keep all the defectives as long as they weren't suffering of course. That's different. This is why I don't want to breed fish.

Woohoo! Always cool when plants do this kind of thing!

@Guppysnail has bred plenty of CPDs....I can tell you I have 9 in a 4.12 gallon Aquatop...no heater their tank runs in the mid 74 range up to 77 and they are well colored and active. No babies yet but I'm not trying to breed. I was reading they can do fine in a tank in the high 60s too but I'm not aware of anyone here that does that.

Poor baby platies 😔

Welcome to the forum @PaigeIs, lots of helpful people willing to give a hand up.

Well I hope for your sake and your Betta it isn't. Do you test your water? If so what are the parameters? Do you do water changes? How often how do you treat your water? What's the filtration? What's the temperature? Is the other Betta (understand she was in a divided tank) showing any signs? This would be my concern- if it's an illness your other betta could get it or has it- so both the hospital and your display tank may need to be treated. Other than the physical signs how is she acting, can she swim is she flashing, anything else physical we can't see in the picture? Most important do you have any medications on hand? If so what are they. A picture of the tanks she came from may help. Not knowing further right now I'm posting a link with good general information on Betta illnesses, maybe something will stand out for you and maybe help you diagnose. If you have Epsom salt (plain, no scents or oils in them) you can make up an epsom salt bath (which helped in my past dropsy treatments but it's also good for other illnesses and bloating/constipation -so in the meantime you can do this if you're comfortable. 1 tablespoon, mixed in a gallon of water until disolved. I'd keep the gallon aside and put miss betta in a plastic container with enough of the water to be comfortable and not jump out, for 15-20 minutes a day. Then back into the hospital tank.

@Jennifer V I'm glad that helps! Though I only mentioned how many and how big each of my tanks are- I did also take into consideration the Hillstream in my Flex and the Otos in a 20 gallon. How much growth is available and what each creature needs an unlimited supply of. So there really IS more to it than, how many per gallon. 🙃

It's great to have a "per gallon" answer but, again, this depends on what's in the tank. For example, if you have Oto, or another algae eaters you have to consider this. If there are NO algae eaters it's another answer. How old is the tank, are there any potential predators etc. Each tank will have a different answer.

@TowMater88 Hi there, firstly I'm sorry you're having a rough time I totally understand. Your poor betta. You said her scales are really pronounced- if when you look down on her her scales stick out from her sides? This is something called "pine-coning" and sadly it's a sign of Dropsy. I've had a betta that had it. It is near impossible to cure, and even if you are able to usually the outward signs of dropsy has already started an organ failure they can't recover from. If it's not that bloating can also be constipation, sometimes a tumor (but one side is usually a different shape than the other). @Colu is our medicating guru, and there are lots of other betta keepers....others may have more insight. Do you test water? Can you tell us more about the tank sne was living in including temperature, your set up, if anything recent changed in the tank etc. It would be helpful so we can help you.

Tank looks awesome. It's funny how moving lights can really change how a tank looks. I moved a light on one of my 20 gallons because I had more algae at the back I was trying to get rid of, moving it to the front really changed not just the light but the shadows that apparently my Harlequins love.

Water parameter differences between you and the LFS can be an issue as others have mentioned also.... One thing to think of, Otos are mostly wild caught fish. Losses are not uncommon. For example, I put 7 in with my 10 Harlequins in a 20 gallon, 6 of them died (Don't worry later I got 7 more and they all made it- and they are worth it). Then the tank got Ich. It was a domino effect. There is potential they brought something in with them. The corys could just as well. Last time I got Otos (this time Tigers) I asked the LFS for some bags of THEIR water. I put them in a small Qt with the LFS's water with a sponge from one of my tanks. Over the course of their QT I changed small amounts of the LFS water out with my own. I had zero losses.

Casual mode seems perfect for me. Then I can have my Pirahna/Guppy tank.

I totally understand your line of thinking. I gave up on Bettas after I lost my last one. I wouldn't steer you away from the direction you're going but I have to say, since I gave up on the idea of "center piece fish" or solo fish, I haven't been happier with my tanks. I have 9 CPDs in my tiny tank that are fun to watch (when they come out, I've made far too many great hiding spots for them) and even better my Flex9 which WAS going to be my Betta's home is now FULL of active life with 4 male Guppies, 4 male Endlers, 7 Ember Tetras, 1 Nerite snail and 1 lovely little Hillstream Loach. You have LOTS of wonderful options to honor Hugo.

Hi @big bear Nerites are some of my most favorite inhabitants- there are some "rules" as you don't want to run out of potential food for them, Nerites don't really eat any commercial foods or prepared foods they pretty much subsist on the tank's biofilm and algae. So for example I only have 1 Nerite in my 4 gallon, and 1 Nerite in my Flex which is ultimately about 7 gallons. In one 20 gallon I have 3 and there is not a speck of algae so I won't add any more. My OTHER 20 gallon has quite a lot of algae/film and growth so I have about 5 Nerites. So the rule is: It depends! If you want further advice about what to do in your case, post a pic, how many gallons and what's in the tank! 🙂

Well @Streetwise, I can totally appreciate that answer.....silly risks in gaming life though still not the same as the experience even not taking risks in real life. And even if it's something you can do in a game (let's say jumping a river in a vehicle or putting a pirahna in a tank with guppies) isn't the same as real life (which would likely have bad consequences lol). I've played Mario Kart, but actual go-carting is sooooo much more exciting! All that to say, gaming is fun, I wouldn't dispute that for people (not for me) but it's not the same as OWNING an aquarium- if someone played it and never had an aquarium I'd totally get it. So I was just askin if there was a reason I wasn't seeing. 😉 @GameCzar's answer though, is perfect, love it 😄 My sister used to play Sims, she had fun making her people jump in the pool and taking away the ladder. 😵

I see you thought about it for a minute too hehehe

OTOCINCLUS VITTATUS: The Accidental Oto Tank So the babies in the floating breeder are doing well and have had no losses. They are as of today 2 months 29 days. This group I've observed do not keep their breeder very tidy- it's covered in algae (granted not the kind they typically eat but still you would think they'd have kept any algae at bay before it got anywhere). I've also seen this group is the TIGHTEST group I've had yet- they pretty much stick together the vast majority of their time. They have calmed down- don't ping-pong around the breeder like some younger Otos are prone to do (then they mosh somebody to death....). This is the happy group, all 7. No recent signs of babies here. Recent Parameters (1/20): Temp: 77.9 pH: 7.8 (up from 7.2 the prior 3 tests) Ammonia: 0 Nitrite: 0 Nitrate: 40 (just likes it here even with the bamboo experiment going) KH: 3/53.7 (down a degree from last test) GH: 125.3 (down from 143.2 last 2 tests) OTOCINCLUS VITTATUS: The Parent Tank What remained of the floating breeder is now down to 2. I'm guessing they are the original 2 I found in the Parent tank but there's no way to really know. 2 days ago I found the smallest of the remaining 3 deceased. Was past the stage I usually get "infant death" so I suspect this little one was moshed to death by its siblings as they are SUPER erratic still. No recent signs of any new babies. Momma Oto lurks in her turf...the previously mentioned fungus ridden eggs I found...well when I went to go collect them soon after mentioned, they were no longer there. I guess a snail or someone took care of it for me. Recent Parameters (1/20): Temp: 75.6 pH: 7.8 (been this for 2wks) Ammonia: 0 Nitrite: 0 Nitrate: 40 (just won't go down) KH: 4/71.6 (for last 4 tests) GH: 179 (up from last week but the same number the week prior to that) OTOCINCLUS COCAMA (TIGER): The 2 Gallon QT Patient with Popeye has their appointment with the University Tuesday morning. I was given directions on how to get there. The unfortunate thing is it seems they are still not letting anyone inside. This is a HUGE disappointment to me since half the point to me of a vet visit (ESPECIALLY WITH "EXOTICS") is being able to ask questions AS the exam is done, it also gives me an opportunity to THINK of said questions or be able to clarify things for the DR. A phone call to me in my car from the vet isn't very helpful to me. Now they didn't SPECIFICALLY say they aren't allowing people in but the gal on the phone did say they will guide me how to check in at the door. Since she didn't say at the front counter, in the lobby, etc etc I am just assuming this. I hope that it isn't the case when I get there, meeting face to face even if masked is very important to me in these cases. Hopefully after just about 2 years of this they have something that will make this less frustrating to me. 😞

Hmmm, measurable Nitrates is usually a sign of a cycled tank. Did you use any fertilizer (apologies if you mentioned this prior)