Keeping Fish

[oldhenlikesdogs]

The bettas are in what's called breeders boxes, they are used to separate live bearers like guppies and platies when the give birth to their babies. I find that bettas enjoy other males to display at, I used to keep them separately but they would get depressed and just lay there, now they get exercise trying to out display each other.

I found Cory cats to be easy to keep, mine lived more than ten years, keep them in groups as they like company, and don't touch them as they have a spine in their dorsal fin, they also dash to the top of the tank to take in air occasionally.

I haven't kept shrimp, they would probably do well with a Bettas as cleanup as well, and I had a plague of snails long ago and bought some loaches to get rid of them. I'm sure you are talking about Apple snails or something like those.

If you are just starting up a new tank and do not have a tank that is established than make sure you buy one of the commercially available bacteria cultures to fire up the tank. Fish keeping requires tending to bacterial colonies that you can't even see, have the correct organisms in your tank and keeping fish is easy, just doing water changes every week or two. If you don't get the tank started right it will be a nightmare. So glad to hear your planning ahead.

I currently have 6 tanks, two tropical, the rest goldfish, my first love, I have my big ones in a 125 gallon. I will be happy to answer any tank questions, been keeping then for 12 years, took a bit to get it right.

 

[Shellybean02]

What are some bacteria cultures that you prefer? I actually really like your tank design because if I keep females together in the tank and the males in the little boxes, I will know which males and females are ready to breed (sorry not sure if this is a good idea, just came to mind when I thought about tank design.)
So I would have to start up the tank, then put decoration/setup/plants, and then introduce the fish and maybe shrimp.
Do you keep anything in the tank besides the bettas and cories in the boxes? Just curious, I didn't see any in the picture.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I at one time had a bunch of female bettas too so that works well too. I would set up the tank, add the decor, let it sit for a couple of days to let the water settle and all dissolved gases to dissipate. I would add the bacteria the second day with a pinch of food to feed the bacteria than start adding fish a few days later. I now have established tanks so I can set up a new tank fairly easy by transferring some gravel or used decoration or the biofilter from an established tank to the new tank to seed it. Without adding bacteria it can take weeks to allow a tank to naturally season itself, that's how it used to be done, it was a long slow process with fish dying from too much ammonia waste.

In that tank I don't currently have any Cory cats, there are three platies with the six bettas, and I also have three fancy goldfish with swim bladder problems that I don't have the heart to cull, so I take care of the disabled. That tank is a 29.


I also have four bettas in my 75 gallon with my angle fish.

 

[LeafBlade12345]

Oldhen, I'd assume that the betas will eat the shrimp if they can fit into their mouths. I'd try some Mexican dwarf lobsters which are actually crayfish. Now I'm a little confused, Shelly, I though you were getting a gecko, not betas...they are both work and cost money, so I would take it one step at a time, especially since you want the gecko to be tame. Have you gotten him/her yet?

 

[Shellybean02]

I didn't mean I was getting everything at once, sorry for the miscommunication. Today we picked up three beautiful females, they came with almost everything they need for $40. They are okay with handling, you just have to make them feel secure or they get squirmy. I will post pics tomorrow.
I just want info so I can be an expert before I even prepare for fish. The geckos will be fairly easy (not saying they're just a simple chore, but I have a good idea of their requirements and feel that I can handle them.) Maybe some time in the future I can save up for a simple ten gallon with a few fish, nothing fancy. I will never jump into something that I know I won't be able to handle; my experience from my previous pets taught me that.
I appreciate everyone's insight.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Congratulations on your new pets.

 

[LeafBlade12345]

Sorry for my part in the misunderstanding as well. Have fun with your geckos! I have some quick training advice:

After handling your geckos, feed them mealworms or crickets as a "reward". Therefore, they will associate you with food. You can also dust their snouts with calcium, they will lick it off and get more vitamins. Freshly chopped ham or bacon can occasionally be fed to willing geckos though mine will not eat much in the way of human foods. Also, pick your geckos up bye their tails. Unlike most lizards, they do not drop their tails nearly as easily as they usually grow back misshapen smaller when they regrow. Picking your geckos up by their tails will do many things. It'll keep the pesky little buggers from snapping at you, it will help establish trust and dominance, and it will prevent the crushing of your geckos' rib cages. Never try to restrain a struggling gecko, put her back in her cage or set her down on a flat surface. How old are your geckos? If they are young, check their vents. They should have large vents located at the base of their tail with no markings. If you see a small triangle of glands or enlarged vents, they are most probably male. It would be great to see some pictures of them and a few of their vents to help with sexing. If you have males, I'd be happy to take them if you are close enough, depending on their color morph and age of course. Good luck keeping your geckos, and sit back and enjoy. I remember clearly wanting one animal after another, just take some time to relax and stop thinking about future animals. Spend some time with yours and bond, then after a year or two, you may choose to move on.

Regards,
LeafBlade

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I didn't mean I was getting everything at once, sorry for the miscommunication. Today we picked up three beautiful females, they came with almost everything they need for $40. They are okay with handling, you just have to make them feel secure or they get squirmy. I will post pics tomorrow.
I just want info so I can be an expert before I even prepare for fish. The geckos will be fairly easy (not saying they're just a simple chore, but I have a good idea of their requirements and feel that I can handle them.) Maybe some time in the future I can save up for a simple ten gallon with a few fish, nothing fancy. I will never jump into something that I know I won't be able to handle; my experience from my previous pets taught me that. 
I appreciate everyone's insight.

you seem pretty smart, keeping fish is pretty easy once you understand the basics, I find it relaxing to watch my fish. Let me know if you want any advice, I have a whole bunch of different critters, I have always learned about what they need before getting them, I read your other thread and it sounds like you were getting beat up a bit. I wasn't allowed many pets as a kid, well not as many as I wanted, now I have everything I want and can care for, one day I'm sure you will too.

 

[Shellybean02]

To Oldhen - Thanks!
To Leaf - It's okay. I intended on giving them treats for being handled. I don't grab them, but I scoop them up into my hands and hold them gently. Is this fine to hold them like that? One lady is 8 years old(woah) and the sisters are younger but much bigger and much more alert, I believe they may be a few years old. They snap??? I was hoping they weren't the type to easily bite... does it hurt? As long as they don't have tiny razors I think I can handle a few nips. Once again, I'll try and post pics later... yesterday was so busy!
To Oldhen - Thanks again! I like to be educated, it helps with everything. I look forward to my future with animals.

 

[politicalcenter]

Its great to see the tanks people have and the way they set them up. All my fish except one are outside. My channel catfish are getting just about big enough to eat. I figure that when I get the last bag off food fed to them they will be ready. Everything else seems to be doing well on a feeding now and then plus neglect.

Since I have two greenhouses built I would love to try Tilapia culture. I am sure I can do better than China.

I was using the water in my hog trough to filled aluminum cans in my greenhouse and noticed water fleas in it. I then proceeded to dump that water into my ponds and use pond water to fill my cans. I hope they will reproduce and clear the green water. If they don't get eaten.