Plant Update

still no sign of the shrimp but all of the plants are looking great. here's a higher quality video that i took.

Spawn Update

I didn't post anything about the spawn I had going on here because I lost all of the fry before I started this blog. I was really upset about this and was thinking that the male may have eaten the fry, but after deeper investigation I learned something new. At 2 weeks of age betta fry are developing their labyrinth organ. During this process they need the air temperature to be the same as the water temperature (where I went wrong, I had a lid with a hole in the top next time I am using plastic wrap to retain heat better) or else they will get mucus in their labyrinth organ and die rapidly. On day 13 I had fry, on day 14 I had none. Once I have a well conditioned male again (The daddy of this spawn is bubble nesting but I want to give him a rest) I will pair him with the appropriate colored lady from my sorority or one of my two platinum red crowntail females but most likely not as they are part of my friend's project I don't have any crowntail males and prefer not to cross into crowns.

More Pictures

So here's some updated pictures. Haven't seen the shrimp today, but I'm sure they're just hiding. I didn't find any shrimp parts anywhere... as you can see the Pennywort is REALLY standing up now.

The caves that I can only see into with the flash.

Here's a front view of the tank, I really need to fill in those last couple of inches so my pictures aren't so blown out.

Closeup of the front left.

close up of the front right. once again I apologize for the top being blown out. The Java Moss in that jungle clump are REALLY growing I'm surprised. I'll have to get a close up for you later. I plan on fixing that mess of Java Moss in the front It's been bothering me.

Sorority Update

So I did a few changes since my last post. I did a 3 gallon water change trying to take down some of the tanins, it worked well while still keeping the auburn color. Also, yesterday I bought a pair of red cherry shrimp and some more java moss (which looks a mess I need to tuck it away better) for the shrimp to possibly breed. If the shrimp breed and I get more, yay for that because they're super cute. If the shrimp breed and the females eat them, yay for that because they're probably pretty healthy for them. I will post pictures once I get some of them, it's hard to spot a 1" shrimp in a 14 gallon heavily planted aquarium.

Lighting

In case anybody is wondering why the lighting looks a little wacky in the pictures sometimes is because I have a 10,000 K bulb on the back fixture and a 6,500 K bulb on the front fixture. The 10,000 K is very white light and is being used with the prospect that extra light in the back will grow my background plants taller. The 6,500 K light is very red/purple and brings out the red in my cobomba.

Female Sorority Update

So today I noticed that the pennywort was turning more towards the light, it's hard to tell in the pictures that it wasn't but you might be able to see that it is now in the new pictures.

so dense, can't wait for that anacharis to really start growing.

My Halfmoon Blue Butterfly Male in Photo Tank

Strong Tanins

between the Indian Almond Leaf extract and the mopani wood tanins this tank is getting really dark. going to have to do a 50/50 this week with regular plant food conditioner instead of the almond leaf extract until the mopani wood slows down on leaking the tanins. also, I will be adding ottocinclus next week most likely after the water change. here's how dark the tank got by the end of today.

looking at it again I may do a water change sooner but I will OF COURSE keep you updated! :)

here's a video I made along with that picture.

 

the two males in the critter keepers are waiting for their divided tank to be ready, which I will post as soon as it is :)

Introducing the Females

First I added Indian Almond Extract which gave the tank a nice brown color, I think it looks very natural.

I introduced the females, in here are four delta tail females. One is teal, one is blue, one is blue with a red head, and one is a multicolor marble. They flared up at each other but nothing serious. After trying to take pictures then taking a video I fed them brine shrimp to keep them distracted. They seem to REALLY like the dense anacharis.

when I went back in for more pictures/video the anacharis was moved to the center and more spread out, the females seem more comfortable with this.

VIDEO update

14 Gallon Update

Last night I set up the 14 gallon tank with hopes of setting it up for my four delta tail female bettas. The mopani wood leaked some tanins giving the water a nice natural color plus I have a 10,000 K bulb and a 6,500 K bulb to bring out some reds in the plants. I hooked up a 10 gallon filter (ANY suggestions on the filtration much appreciated) and with the temperature of my "critter room" the water is 82 degrees Fahrenheit without a heater. I suctioned a heater in there anyway but didn't plug it in just so I can easily plug it in if it gets colder in there and I wont use it for another tank in the meantime. haha. I have a tendency to double up on filtration but a friend of mine told me not to worry about it with the female bettas, once again any feedback on this is MUCH appreciated.

 

as you can see the anacharis is no longer floating all over but bushed up on the right side of the tank. I may add a lot more anacharis.

Copper Delta Tail Male

 

 

Setting up the Female Sorority

So I decided to use my 14 gallon tank for a female sorority for four female delta tail bettas. I started by adding ten pounds of gravel and two large rocks.

then I added a piece of mopani wood.

 

now some water.

now some plants.

then I rearranged the plants and added the java fern and floating anacharis before adding more water.

I will be adding the filter and heater tomorrow and for the next couple of weeks will be cycling the tank and allowing for more plant growth before adding the females. I may add more plants to provide better hiding spots. Updates as soon as the tank changes again. Suggestions GREATLY appreciated.

Female Sorority

Ok, so tonight I will be setting up my female sorority with four female delta tail bettas of various colors. :) I will post pictures every step of the way and will be sure to keep it updated as often as possible.

Hey Everybody!

My name is Evan and I'm just building this site now! I am going to be posting photographs of my bettas as well as updates on how each of them are doing and spawning and such. :) I'll be sure to make a "Meet the Fish" Post soon.