Fighter Fish Questions

[sharkybubba]

Hi peoples,
I was really enjoying this forum but it seems to have stalled!
If we expect this forum to grow we MUST continue to put in new threads and replies, how ever trivial they seem, so comon and start typing!!!!
:biggrin:
Dazz[/b]

Hi Dazz,

im a new member, found this forum through google! and i agree with you- i found an american forum and it was bursting with information however i decided to keep it closer to home! i am excited because i have a few questions bout my tanks! i guess the first and foremost is i was wondering if anyone had any siamese fighting fish and would possibly know a thing or two about them?

-also is there anyway you can find out what fish other members have? through profiles or something? would love to read about peoples tanks!

[joz]

Hi Dazz,

im a new member, found this forum through google! and i agree with you- i found an american forum and it was bursting with information however i decided to keep it closer to home! i am excited because i have a few questions bout my tanks! i guess the first and foremost is i was wondering if anyone had any siamese fighting fish and would possibly know a thing or two about them?

-also is there anyway you can find out what fish other members have? through profiles or something? would love to read about peoples tanks![/b]


Welcome Sharky,I used to breed some fighters back in the day.So if I can help just ask! :)

[sharkybubba]

Welcome Sharky,I used to breed some fighters back in the day.So if I can help just ask! :)[/b]

Hi Joz,

just a quick question, im mega confused on how much i should be feeding my fighter, on his food container (betta food pellets) it recommends 6-8 pellets twice a day which i think is way too much (and i am slowly learning to ignore what manufacturing labels say) so ive adjusted to 4 pellets maximum a day- but sometimes he just does not eat at all and the food just sits on the bottom, do you think feeding him even less (amount/frequency) would be better or is there something wrong with him?

-also i have a great aquarium that i go to and i asked about feeidng him live food which of course is better for them (apparently) but the lady said that once they become use to eating live foods it is hard to get them to go back to pellets and of course i cant really afford to keep the live food going! - do you think if i fed him live food every now and then this would also be beneficial?

thanks joz, i have more questions but i shall wait- dont want to bombard you with questions straight up!!!

[joz]

Hi Kat,I'm not sure how big the pellets are?

But for one fish,as a guide do not feed more food than say the size of its eye(guide only).

Or just add the pellets, only a couple at a time till its lost interest.But try to remove any uneaten food particularily as its only such a small tank.

With live food its hardly worth buying for only a couple of fish,unless you give them live worm.The worm can be left to live in a bare bottom tank and then picked of at leisure by the fish.In a gravel bottomed tank they'll just burrow in and dissappear :(
Or depending on where you live you may want to harvest Mozzy larvae.
This can be done with a bucket of water left out in the back yard with a few tree leaves in it.Soon the wrigglers will be growing and with a super fine net you can scoop up a few at a time for the fish.Your fish will love them,and its also a great way to bring fish into breeding condition,both male and female.

[sharkybubba]

Hi Kat,I'm not sure how big the pellets are?

But for one fish,as a guide do not feed more food than say the size of its eye(guide only).

Or just add the pellets, only a couple at a time till its lost interest.But try to remove any uneaten food particularily as its only such a small tank.

With live food its hardly worth buying for only a couple of fish,unless you give them live worm.The worm can be left to live in a bare bottom tank and then picked of at leisure by the fish.In a gravel bottomed tank they'll just burrow in and dissappear :(
Or depending on where you live you may want to harvest Mozzy larvae.
This can be done with a bucket of water left out in the back yard with a few tree leaves in it.Soon the wrigglers will be growing and with a super fine net you can scoop up a few at a time for the fish.Your fish will love them,and its also a great way to bring fish into breeding condition,both male and female.[/b]

no worries, thats a great help, thanks joz!

:rolleyes:

[joz]

no worries, thats a great help, thanks joz!

:rolleyes:[/b]

Hey girl,don't you roll your eyes at me,i get enough of that at home :wink: :biggrin:

[sharkybubba]

Hey girl,don't you roll your eyes at me,i get enough of that at home :wink: :biggrin:[/b]

hahaha sorry joz, still trying to figure out the icons- :biggrin:

[sharkybubba]

hi joz,

another question, does it matter what size tank your fighters in, can he go bigger than what ive got him in currently which is around a 14 litre tank?

[joz]

I'd say as big as you'd like.But for breeding I would suggest nothing larger than an 18" and don't fill more than about 6"deep.
Having said that they have bred in my 1000+ltr tank.

[sharkybubba]

I'd say as big as you'd like.But for breeding I would suggest nothing larger than an 18" and don't fill more than about 6"deep.
Having said that they have bred in my 1000+ltr tank.[/b]

ok cool! thanks joz!

[aquariumleasing]

Hey Kat,
As a foot note to your feeding question, keep in mind (most) fishes stomachs are only as big as one eye - bubble eyed goldfishes excepted! And a study (overseas?) determined optimum growth was acheived by feeding small quantities 3 times a day (depends on how optimum your time allows you to be!). My rule of thumb is to underfeed if unsure. And the mozzie larvae is a great idea. But also introduce small feeds of dry food in an attempt to coerce them. ...John

[sharkybubba]

Hey Kat,
As a foot note to your feeding question, keep in mind (most) fishes stomachs are only as big as one eye - bubble eyed goldfishes excepted! And a study (overseas?) determined optimum growth was acheived by feeding small quantities 3 times a day (depends on how optimum your time allows you to be!). My rule of thumb is to underfeed if unsure. And the mozzie larvae is a great idea. But also introduce small feeds of dry food in an attempt to coerce them. ...John[/b]


thanks john, thats a great help! just bought another fighter yesterday which is exciting! thanks for the heads up :biggrin:

[subnormal]

Or depending on where you live you may want to harvest Mozzy larvae.
This can be done with a bucket of water left out in the back yard with a few tree leaves in it.Soon the wrigglers will be growing and with a super fine net you can scoop up a few at a time for the fish.Your fish will love them,and its also a great way to bring fish into breeding condition,both male and female.[/b]


Hi, further to this mozzie larvae, i live behind a creek and plenty of mozzies around, Can they be used to feed normal tropical fish? are they ok to throw straight from a bucket into a tank? and can they go into a tank with gravel? Thanks for your help

[joz]

Hi, further to this mozzie larvae, i live behind a creek and plenty of mozzies around, Can they be used to feed normal tropical fish? are they ok to throw straight from a bucket into a tank? and can they go into a tank with gravel? Thanks for your help[/b]


If your certain the creek water quality is good(no pollution)you should not have any issues.Just don't add to many at a time so that the fish don't eat them.

[Sloory]

If your certain the creek water quality is good(no pollution)you should not have any issues.Just don't add to many at a time so that the fish don't eat them.[/b]


Lol yeah or you be eaten alive at night :p

[subnormal]

If your certain the creek water quality is good(no pollution)you should not have any issues.Just don't add to many at a time so that the fish don't eat them.[/b]

How many do you think is a good number to feed the fish at one time? 2-3 for each fish?
Ill put a bucket out the back for the mozzies because im unsure of the water condition, it looks alright but i wouldnt go drinking it.

[joz]

Lol yeah or you be eaten alive at night :p[/b]

Exactly :biggrin:


I'd probably add just a few at a time,just as long as they get a few each.

[sharkybubba]

Hi Joz,

ive noticed recently that my older fighter has seemed to have an enlarged air bladder, he has completely puffed out-looks as if he had swallowed a marble! its not affecting his swimmin and he still eats fine, and is as active as he normally is....but it dont look good! is there anything severely wrong with him? if so, what should i do?

[joz]

They occassionaly get that fat look? :wacko:
but has it got a look like its scales are sticking out away from its body?
Could possibly be diet related or an internal infection?

Maybe not :( good.

[sharkybubba]

They occassionaly get that fat look? :wacko:
but has it got a look like its scales are sticking out away from its body?
Could possibly be diet related or an internal infection?

Maybe not :( good.[/b]


Hey Joz,

umm i wouldnt say his scales are sticking out as such, just kinda streched out where he is bloated, so nah i wouldnt say sticking out. he seems fine, healthy and all :cool: , "They occassionaly get that fat look?"- do you think thats all it is? do they know why this happens?

[joz]

I'm not going to bet my life on it,but I'd say it's not a good sign.
Is the fish doing normal poo? Could be blocked.

[sharkybubba]

I'm not going to bet my life on it,but I'd say it's not a good sign.
Is the fish doing normal poo? Could be blocked.[/b]

Kat signing in on poo patrol!

yea, thats all fine too! you think it'd be worth carting him down to the aquarium to see what they say? :(