Beads or marbles

[lihairden]

I'm going to get beads or marbles from a craft store or department store for my boys tanks since I find gravel annoying to clean. I'm wondering which would be better and if there's anything special cleaning (besides hot water and aquarium salt) that would have to be done.

On another note....Simon's flaring now. He did it to me first a couple of days ago and now he's doing it to Bubba. Funny thing is he won't flare at Bubba when I'm there....we've got them on the entertainment centre and can see them from the couch. Simon's also taken to 'dancing' with me. If I move one way he follows and if I move the other way it's the same thing. Sometimes I'll just stand there and he'll start. It's too funny.

I'm also looking into getting bigger tanks for them since they're in 1/2 gallons. My hubby said he saw either 2 or 5 gallons at a lfs for $10.

I'm going to take some webcam pics of them soon and put them in my yahoo pics so they can be seen...it'll be easier to see Simon's colouring than describe it lol.

One more thing...I'm on the second round of Bettafix (I'm going to get Melafix or Bettamax next time) for Simon's fins (they were pretty ragged when I got him, but look a lot better now) and I'm not sure if I stop medicating him when the fins are all better or if this should be the last round.

I had to put Bubba back on it since I saw a small hole in a fin...his anal fins are weird looking and I'm not sure if it's age, just the way they are, or because he was fair size and in a tiny cup.

[Jenny]

I don't know exactly what you mean by beads, but if you mean the flattened glass jewels, they sound fine, and just as good as marbles. It's just a matter of what you think would look better. I don't think any special cleaning would need to be done, just rinse them in really hot water.

The way fish flare is sometimes funny. For awhile I had one fish that would only flare at another one, but the other wouldn't flare back. The other would only flare at a mirror, but ignore any other fish.

Bigger tanks are definitely a good idea. They can live for awhile in half gallons, but they will be happier in the larger ones. Also they will need to be cleaned less often.

If you already have bettafix, there is no need to get melafix. They are the same thing, only bettafix is more dilute. Both of these are things that will help a bettas fins grow back. Bettamax is different it is a tonic that will help bettas that are listless or losing color or appetite.

You are probably right that the bettas fins are ragged from being in small cups and dirty water. You probably don't need to continue the bettafix, as only clean water will help them, but it also may help them to grow back faster, so its really your call whether you want to keep using it.

[mickey85]

You could probably just use regular beads as long as they're not the teeny ones (if you can use them with yarn, they should be fine). I've got marbles in one of the fish jars, and they work fine, but I think the beads would be fine too, just harder to clean with the holes in the middle.

[1sooner]

I started w/gravel and it was just too difficult to keep clean. Then I bought big "jewel" stones - kinda flat- and they work great. Much easier to clean; just use lots of hot water. Gil sometimes like to get under the stones, which scared me at first. I kept hearing a "clink" in the tank and it was him. I think he was just playing. He's healthy, has a bubble nest, and a hidey. He's a very aggressive guy compared to Nemo, so I think he is just looking for something to do.
We got the jewel stones at our LPS.

[palepinkvase]

I have use marbles and glass beads. 2 of my guys are have marbles and the other 3 have the glass beads. I found some that are the flattened type and others that have more free-form. The main thing when cleaning is to check for any that may have chipped or cracked. Jagged edges and Bettas are a bad combo! Also, when I put the beads or marbles back in the tank, I gently shake the tank to ensure that the beads/marbles settle. One of my guys really likes to nose about his marbles, and I don't want one to shift/topple and trap him. When you buy the beads/marbles, check each one for cracks and gunk. For some reason, some seem to have dirt stuck to them. good luck and have fun!

[lihairden]

Well, I got the new tanks today. 1.17 gallons. It's made by the same company that makes the one I'm using (Marina by Hagen) so I know I'll like it. These tanks are called Small Pals Pen by Livingworld (which is also Hagen...if I remember correctly). I found it funny that the Small Pals Pen and Marina are exactly the same...except one lps was charging more for the Marina.

I also got some polished river rocks (I looked them up on the 'net and found that there haven't been any problems with them), marbles, 2 silk plants, and I did end up getting Melafix since I'm almost out of Bettafix and it was cheaper in the long run. My husband's going to pick up some Tetra Aquasafe tomorrow (I've read good things about it and it's all in one). I'm cleaning everything out tomorrow and setting it all up so it can sit for a day before I switch.

There were, of course, bettas for sale. On one shelf the air holes in the lids of the teeny cups weren't blocked when they were stacked on each other and on another shelf they were all lined up....it was really nice to see. I fell in love with a beautiful betta...it was white until about the middle and then went purple/white down to the fins. He was active and flaring at everything. I took out my compact so he could look in the mirror and the bettas around him 'woke up' and started to flare. Unfortunately, I wasn't allowed to get him...lack of room and too many mouths to feed (3 cats, two rats, guppies, pleco and 2 bettas). I wish we'd win the lottery so we could move into a house and have more room lol.

I saw some cute ornamental turtles that were next to the silk plants. I'm wondering if they'd be a good idea though...would it be something the fins would catch on. That's something to check before I buy them.

[palepinkvase]

You could always gon into the store with some pantyhose and rub the turtles and get strange looks from the other customers!

[lihairden]

That would be funny lol. I was going to say that it would be funny if a salesperson came over and asked as well, but then I remembered that at that lps it's pretty rare to have one of them ask if you need help. I was surprised that one was asking us the other day.

I was thinking the turtles would be good for the betta tanks. That was until I'd put the rocks, marbles and plant in each tank. I realized there'd be no room for the fish lol. Course I could still get them and put them in with the guppies and the pleco

[*~labxing790~*]

I use glass marbles in my bowls too. I don't recommend them for tanks though, since you never do cleanouts w/ rinsing marbles like you do with bettas. I tried the marbles, and since I don't take them out to clean them every week, they started looking like piles of poo and algae instead of marbles! I finally bought some gravel, and now have lots of extra pebbles for bettas.

[lihairden]

We leave the gravel for the guppies lol. The boys seem to like the rocks and marbles. You can hear them move things around. The love the silk plants...they beach themselves on them or hide behind them and try to sneak up on us lol.