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Okay, quick update on the tank situation. The babies are growing, and getting more colorful every day. I have approx 12 now. The older ones are around 1/2-3/4 of an inch long. Plus the 3 adults which are just under 2 inches, plus the betta, it makes for a pretty busy tank. Which I don't mind, but obviously full grown these babies just can't stay. And worse, they may be nipping at Zuko's fins. He seems to be happy and in good health, but his fins don't look as full and perfect as when I got him.

I'm definitely going to attempt to get some photos and videos today.

So I stopped at the aquarium store yesterday. They DO take trade ins, though the manager didn't seem to be like...positive...hard to explain. Anyway, he said it would be best to wait till they were a full inch, that at that point he could give me 50c each for them and to call a few days in advance so they could be sure to have the tank space available.

Well 6 bucks of store credit would be awesome. But I don't think I can let a dozen fish get that big in my 15G. What's the rule again? 1G per inch? I would have to buy another 15G JUST for the babies. I just don't have any money right now, so I'm going to call soon and ask if he'll take them and whatever he can give me for them will be fine.

But here are some options I've been mulling over.
1. Buy the 15 dollar tank divider (provided it fits I have to check dimensions) and allow Zuko to live in piece in maybe 5G and then let the platties have the other 10G to grow to market size. Although it may be a bit over crowded with 15 platties in 10G. My other option would be to buy a cheap heater for my spare 5G, the $10 heaters at walmart never really got warm enough but they kept it from getting too cold. And put the babies in the 5G till they grow a bit. Although I can't afford a separate filter too. I could put an air stone in, but a filter would be too expensive right now. And really I'd just need another month max I think.

I also have one other pet store I can ask. And I can try kijiji again though I had two people who never showed up. I'm just getting worried about my betta and I want to try to get him separated soon. Even though I'm not entirely sure that's what's happening.

Oh, and when I was at the pet store, I saw these amazing Betta's. They looked like the wild type betta but they were called dragon scale. They had much shorter fins than Zuko though. Damn, if I had the money for another tank I think I woulda gone there. Especially after seeing that gold nugget pleco.

Speaking of Pleco's! You would never know that I have one. Every week or so, when I'm cleaning water, I lift up all the hides to check he's still alive. There's algae growing on the tank but he continues to hide. I've even, some days, not fed him. Saying to myself, there's food growing on my tank!! But still no sightings. I think my fish needs therapy guys this is ridiculous. I'm cleaning water and buying food for a fish that I bought, but, NEVER see. I'm not talking 1 or 2 days. I mean, unless I actively start lifting stuff out, I would not know if he was still alive.

Oh, and back to betta's, can anyone suggest a good quality flake? Or well, anything other than bloodworms, cause I finally trained my betta to eat lol. Took what, like 2 months, but he realizes that stuff floating on the water is food. And he's even started to come up when I open the hood. So I'd like to give him something besides bloodworms which can't be a complete and balanced diet I assume. Right now I have nutrafin flakes, that I've had for over a year, and before that they belonged to someone else so not sure how old they are.

I'm gona go attempt to get you guys some video and pictures now.

Flakes are actually not good for Bettas to eat on a regular basis. They need a staple diet of pellets. I suggest New Life Spectrum.

Also, and inch per gallon means nothing with a Pleco, thats why you don't have a 6 incher, like you wanted lol I suppose it could work with Platties, but its still not a good guide to go buy. Activity level and a biload is better.

AquaTech filters at WalMart are 10 gallons, and are for up to 15 gallon tanks. I use them on my larger tanks in addition to larger filter.

The short fined Bettas you saw where Plakats. Most females in chain stores are actually Plakat males. Dragoning is a trait, and its one that is becoming quite popular.

Don't worry about Shy. He'll come around at some point. Some people never saw their Clowns at all for months, and then one day, they were out all the time. Its just how they are lol

Ok thanks, I will look for those. And then get Hikari if I can't find them.

I need to do something about Zuko NOW. I shot some video this morning. I apologize it turns out my go pro doesn't film well under water everything is out of focus. But you will see Zuko when I got him, full long fins with black at the edges, then this morning a lil shorter, with what looks like a rip.

This afternoon I shot some pics, there's a big chunk of his back fin that is missing! That is NOT fin rot, that was NOT like that this morning.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPJ51UHPijc







Now I didn't see it happen, I dunno if it's the babies, the adults, or something he got caught on in the tank.

I dunno if I should separate them or sell all my platties. I'd feel bad doing it. I've gotten attached to them. They are pretty pea brained but very stunning. But Zuko is my favorite and I can't let anything else happen to him.

More money is going to be spent on animals rolleyes

Misc pics:

Liking his betta log


Babies

Fins dont grow back do they? sad my poor Zuko is a cripple!

They grow back! Take if from me, and my rescue Plutto (who has since died sad We had a good two years)

If it is the filter, you can use panty hose or a filter sponge to cover it up.