fishclubgirl

Am also planning on doing an article on local (Alberta) fish breeders. I'm looking for the breeders with websites, etc and who are set up to ship. Please PM me with all contact info and I hope to get this in as spring arrives. We are also looking at doing a list of breeders who are with the Calgary Aquarium Society too. Thanks!!!!

Guess you can't be a cichlidmomwanabe anymore. Congrats to yourself and your fish too!!!

Hi guys, Tried something different with my last betta spawn. I put java moss in for some infusoria for the fry but this time I put in a couple of marimo moss balls. The little guys loved it and did so well. I didn't have to feed them much at all and they had nice full stomachs. There is only 3" of water so the moss balls were the right height. Heard back from some other betta breeders and they use them too. Beats trying to make a science experiment on the counter!!

Bettas can be really hard to breed during the winter(not like they're easy otherwise). That's why I was surprised at the giant PKs breeding so easily. I have lots of almond leaves if you need some. I could say "try this or that" but they just might not be in the "mood." I'm setting up my spawn tank in the next couple of days so I'll be back to the frustrating business. Good luck and may next year be "betta".

Well, that sucks!!! I get my shipments sent to me at work so they're indoors asap. Not too familiar with madagascar lace bulbs. Heard they can be finicky and I follow the KISS principle. I do have regular java fern too if you need some. Finished my order from Asia but am getting a bigger one ready out of the US. I'm getting pretty tired of this cold too!!!

Great, I've been away on and off so have used mother nature as a food source. Put in java moss and 2 marimo moss balls so they've been feeding off the infusoria from that. Now that I'm back, they get some BBS too. I think I'll try feeding all my spawns this way as they seem to have full tummies. One is already "livebearer" size but they don't have much colour yet. How's your spawning going?

Just had a sailfin molly with tail rot and he is doing much better. Used melafix and he seems to growing his tail back now. Follow the directions on the medicine as some lose their effectiveness when water changes are done. It almost killed me not doing water changes on the "hospital" tank. "Get well soon!!".

Being a member of the International Betta Congress, has been amazing. Someone from Indonesia congratulated me on my first spawn. Met up with fellow members in San Francisco who took me around to the stores and even gave me fish. If I have questions, issues or successes, I have an international group of friends!! Hopefully I can afford to go to their convention in Dallas this year.

It is with sadness that I announce the death of 3 Spot (yes, a 3 spot gourami) at the age of 10 or more. He had lived with me in 3 different homes and died of old age. The tank won't be the same without him!! He is outlived by "Mr. Suckface Guy", a pleco who is even older. RIP 3 SPOT!!

Hi my "betta" friends, Just to let you know that Betta Breeders Canada is up and running. We are an officially sanctioned member of the International Betta Congress(that's a whole other story but join that one if you're really into bettas).Every month, we have an online meeting( next one January 7) and we would love to have more members. It's a great way to meet other bettaholics, trade fish, increase your knowledge of the only fish that matters, etc. (oops I said something bad AGAIN) Anyhow please pm me if you want to join. Hope to "see" you at our meeting!!!!

Hi, I have some sagitarrius(or maybe it's a libra, I'm not big on technical names). It's 1"-2" high and grows by runners(looks like a mini val). Seems to grow well for me in Calgary and it's pretty easy; gravel and light, that's it. Please let me know if you're interested and I should be able to mail it. I've got plants mailed from Ontario so it should work(I'll guarantee it).

Please let us know who wins; the JDs or the Oscars. I hope for the frys' sake that the JDs do!!

I'm definitely no expert but I'd be getting the oscars out asap. My pair attempt to eat anything other than the big pleco including my fingers. As culling machines, they're scarily effective!!

I've just started another order too. Hopefully it warms up before they arrive. Thought it was interesting that my plants from Asia were okay but had to get a refund from one of my US suppliers. I'll probably do an order from another US supplier though.

Thanks, good to see some local content and the pictures too. Really want to make this magazine more interesting with a wider mix of articles. Will PM when I need it and am planning on getting it going next week. So let's get more of those articles coming in. Werner, am expecting lots of plant articles from you!!!!

Hi guys, Have gotten involved with the magazine for my local aquarium society and would like ideas for it. I would appreciate if anybody wants to send me articles as I'd like to see local content. Of course, you'd get full credit. Moderators, would love to see an article about Alberta Aquatica. I feel that if we all work together, we can help grow both organisations. Please post or pm me with ideas or articles. Thanks in advance and Merry Xmas to all, fishclubgirl

When I deal with a new supplier, I make it clear that I will be buying more and recommending them too. Makes sure that they give me good service. You're right; they don't do the necessary paperwork but they aren't the only ones. Have had plants come in from the states that had no paperwork. On aquabid, "feedback is your friend".

I got some from a breeder in Edmonton. He told me that it's difficult to fertilise the eggs in hard water. Mine did breed in Calgary water and I pulled the eggs(they were on a sword plant) and put them into softened water. I did get fry but then overfed them and lost them all. Not sure if this helps at all. After all this, I think I'll stick to breeding bettas.

Hi guys, I'm addicted to aquabid and have been getting some of my plants on there. Decided to try getting plants from Singapore at the beginning of December(Why don't you wait until it's warmer?, the other half says. My selective hearing kicked in.) So they took 2 and half weeks and arrived in when it was minus 25. Also sat on my desk for 2 days as I was out of town(getting more plants too,oops). The portions were more than generous and 2 of the 4 plants looked like they'd just come from the store. The others will take a bit of time to catch up but look like they're going to make it. I have started another order already as I'm really pleased with my purchases. So if you're thinking of ordering from Asia, try it. The prices are good and the shipping is super cheap. Just thought I'd let everyone know my experience.

He was off with the "sniffles" the night I went through. Not that I brought any plants back!!

If you put them into a makeup bag and have something else, like a box of fish to distract them, you don't have to worry about it. Not that I've ever done anything like that!!!

My plants from Singapore arrived yesterday after over 2 and half weeks. So far, they look okay which was quite the shocker to me. I wouldn't be too worried about plants in this weather but wouldn't ship fish though.

If your room is warm enough with no drafts, you don't need to heat them. I keep 30- 40 bettas in my laundry room which is 70 degrees with no problems. Bettas need to be warmer only when they're breeding. Trust me on this, as I'm a member of the International Betta Congress.

My giants are 3-4" long and came from Thailand. I've never seen them in a LFS here. Am hoping this spawn does okay so there is some in Canada. Fishgear, glad to hear the bettas are doing well. I'll be increasing my breeding efforts in the new year so hopefully I can spawn something other than PKs.

She didn't help Dad at all but built her own later. (Now that's a liberated girl). The fry are too small to photograph and I'm a lousy photographer. I will put a pic of the parents. They are in show tanks so hopefully that gives you an idea of their size(3"-4").