Quick Question

[timmystood]

I've just got another quick question!
My Simease fighting fish keeps swimming up to surface and sticking his mouth out of the water! I thought I brought fish - not a whale or something! Why is he doing this? Lack of oxygen? My Tetras aren't doing it? Why is this?

 

[SkiFletch]

Its a natural behavior. Bettas and Gouramis too come from natural habitats where water quality is so poor that they normally have to come to the surface to breathe air (rice patties are a little nasty ). So its an evolutionary thing that they do all the time, nothing to be worried about.

 

[timmystood]

Phew - thanks sooo much! Does that mean that it should survive through my process of cycling the water! I know I should have done fishless cycling but my LFS didn't tell me any of this!

THANKS

 

[SkiFletch]

no prob. The betta stands a much better chance of surviving the cycling process than the tetras do as bettas are a much hardier species.

 

[timmystood]

That's good news! The betta was expensive and also looks fantastic so it would be a shame to lose it. Thanks

 

[SkiFletch]

If you're gonna keep him in with other fish, be careful what you put in there. Bettas are not the most compatible community fish out there. They usually do OK with Tetras so dont be worried about what you currently have, but if you end up adding more fish, make sure to check for compatibility

 

[timmystood]

I will do thanks!
Although the research I did suggested that even with some types of tetras they can be dangerous for example neons and bleeding heart tetras - they will eat them apparently.

I would like some glass fish but I don't think they will mix with Simon my Simease fighting fish!