mattk87

My pea puffer, Peewee, has been getting skinnier and skinnier over the past few months. She was happily eating ramshorns, small pest snails, and frozen blood worms. I started going heavier on the blood worms to fatten her up when I noticed her belly sinking in. I did the med trio when I got her two years ago. I recently did two rounds of Paracleanse (with the break in between) just in case it was an internal parasite. Now the snails are building up a colony in her tank and she’s struggling with eating blood worms. Her teeth do look bigger compared to other pictures I’ve found online. Is it possible that they’ve overgrown and is there anything I can do to trim them down? I tried feeding frozen baby brine shrimp and daphnia but I haven’t seen her eating them. She will eat detritus worms but I don’t think that’s enough. Has anyone had experience with this?

I have a pea puffer in a 5.5 gallon and she demolished the established snail population pretty quickly. I think she went on a killing spree after she was full. I feed her scuds, pond snails, and ramshorns that I scoop out of another tank. I also feed frozen bloodworms with tweezers in hopes that she won’t become completely dependent on live food. She oddly gets along with my cherry shrimp culls. I don’t see many baby shrimp so she might be getting some.

Thanks so much! I’ll definitely get a cover. That video was really helpful.

I’m thinking about using a co-op sponge filter in my small outdoor pond this year instead of a Tetra fountain filter. The fountain filter is good but it gets knocked over from the wind easily. Should I cover the air pump since it’s outside? I’ve seen fake rocks at garden stores that are hollow where I could possibly put it. Would that be enough to protect it from the rain? 🤔

Thank you so much SWilson! I’m really nervous about school this year. I’d love to see a picture of your betta too!

Welcome! Your tanks sound awesome!

Thank you so much Atitagain! It’s funny how he got the kids’ attention. Whenever they signed on they wanted to see him immediately. He changed colors since I got him and he looked even crankier in the beginning.

Thanks GameCzar!

Thanks Griznatch!

Thanks lefty o and Tihshho! Hopefully Cranky Franky inspired a younger generation of fish hobbyists. Here’s my classroom bulletin board at school:

Hi Everyone! I’m Matt and this is Cranky Franky. I’m a music teacher and I decided to get a betta fish to become “my virtual music class pet” while I was teaching remotely last year. The kids in my classes LOVED him! They sang songs to him, the kids made drawings for him, and it gave us all something to laugh about. He’s in a 5 gallon tank with a Fluval 25 watt nano heater and a small sponge filter. There are different varieties of anubias, some dwarf sag, hornwort, and 3 nerite snails. I’m thinking of upgrading his light. I love watching Cory’s videos and I’m looking forward to learning from everyone!