Easy Care Tips for Betta Fish

Betta Splendens commonly know as Bettas or Siamese Fighting Fish are popular pets.    The Bettas originate from Thailand living the shallow rice paddies.  Bettas are special in that they can breathe air from above the water’s surface.  Of course, they do need water, but this means they don’t need any aeration or filtration.  They can live in small bowls as long as the water is kept clean.   Never put two male Betta’s together.  Two males will fight to death (hence, the name Siamese Fighting Fish).  Females can live together.

There are a variety of Betta Bowls available from the basic Betta bowl to the decorative Betta bowlTetra’s Silver Glass Betta Bowl’s sleek design looks great on any desktop or coffee table.  It has a beautiful sleek silver design to highlight the Betta.   It includes an unique swiveling light arm that has a bettery operated energy-efficient LED bulb for powerful illumination giving a clear view of what the Betta is doing. Easy on/off one-touch switch. Size: 0.75 gallon.

After you choose a bowl, you need to add rocks and a plant. Bettas have delicate long fins. You must avoid jagged rocks or decorations because they can tear the fins.  Also, avoid hard plastic plants as they can tear the fins.   Silk plants work great for Bettas.

The bowl needs to be cleaned at least once a week and the water should be at room-temp.  Do not place the bowl in the sun, near a heating or cooling vent or near a draft.

Feed your Betta once a day and only feed the amount of food that can be eaten in 5 minutes.  Any Betta flakes, freezed dried brine shrimp or blood worms will work great.   Clean out excess food immediately.

With proper care a Betta can live up to two years!

Start Your Pet Channel and Their Care with TikTok

Welcome to the world of social media! In recent years, platforms like TikTok have become incredibly popular for sharing engaging content, and pet owners around the globe have found a creative outlet for showcasing their furry friends. If you’re a pet lover looking to connect with like-minded individuals and share the joy of pet ownership, starting a pet channel on TikTok can be a fantastic way to do so.

The Power of TikTok

TikTok, the viral video-sharing platform, has taken the world by storm. It allows users to create and share short videos featuring various content, including pets. With its user-friendly interface and extensive reach, TikTok provides an excellent opportunity to share your pet’s adventures, educate others about pet care, and even collaborate with fellow pet enthusiasts.

Tiktok campaigns from The Marketing Heaven have further amplified the potential of pet channels on the platform. These campaigns help boost visibility, increase engagement, and connect pet content creators with a wider audience. With their expertise in social media marketing, The Marketing Heaven can provide valuable insights and strategies to take your pet channel to the next level.

Creating Engaging Pet Content

When it comes to creating content for your pet channel, the possibilities are endless. Here are a few tips to make your videos more captivating:

  • Showcase Personality: Capture your pet’s unique quirks and showcase their personality. Whether they’re funny, mischievous, or incredibly cute, let their individuality shine through in your videos.
  • Include Training and Care Tips: Alongside entertaining content, educate your viewers about pet care. Share useful tips and tricks for training, grooming, or health maintenance to help pet owners take better care of their furry companions.
  • Experiment with Trending Challenges: TikTok is known for its viral challenges. Incorporate popular trends into your pet videos, but always prioritize your pet’s safety and well-being.
  • Engage with the Community: Respond to comments, collaborate with other pet influencers, and participate in pet-related hashtags to build a supportive and engaged community around your content.

Caring for Your Pet Channel

Running a successful pet channel requires time, effort, and responsible pet care. Here are some essential aspects to consider:

  • Health and Well-being: Ensure your pet is in good health and receives regular veterinary check-ups. Prioritize their well-being over creating content, and never force your pet to do anything they’re uncomfortable with.
  • Training and Socialization: Invest time in training your pet and providing opportunities for socialization. Well-behaved and confident pets tend to shine on camera.
  • Maintain a Safe Environment: Create a pet-friendly environment where your furry friend can explore and have fun without any hazards. Remove toxic plants, secure electrical wires, and keep harmful substances out of reach.
  • Balance and Moderation: While consistency is essential, don’t overwhelm your pet with excessive filming or stress-inducing situations. Strike a balance between creating content and allowing your pet to relax and enjoy their regular routine.

Remember, starting a pet channel on TikTok should be a fun and rewarding experience for both you and your furry companion. Capture precious moments, spread positivity, and connect with pet lovers worldwide. With dedication and a little creativity, your pet channel can become a source of joy and inspiration for others!

So, what are you waiting for? Grab your smartphone, set up a TikTok account, and embark on an exciting journey of pet content creation. TikTok campaigns from The Marketing Heaven are ready to support you in reaching new heights and making a pawsome impact!

Bett

New Tank Syndrome – Aquarium Cycling

Cycling your aquarium tank is probably something that you have never heard of unless you are an avid aquarium keeper. The effects of the cycling process are sometimes referred to as “New Tank Syndrome.”

“Cycling the tank” means that you are establishing a bacteria bed in your biological filter to remove the toxins that the fish’s metabolism creates.

There are right ways and wrong ways to do this.

There are two steps to cycling.

First, your filter will grow a culture of bacteria that digest ammonia and turn it into Nitrite, then your filter produces bacteria that digest Nitrite and turn it into harmless Nitrate. However, Nitrate will contribute to stress and appetite loss in your fish, as well as contributing to algae growth, so it is important to do regular small water changes to keep your tank in best condition.

Adding Instant Ocean Bio-Spira to a new tank eliminates the cycling period and allows you to add fish immediately without risking their health, in most cases.

How Do I Cycle MY Tank?
If you do not use something like Bio-Spira, yyou should cycle your tank with a small number of  fish. They should be hearty fish, and something that you will want to have in your tank in the long run.

Cycling the tank takes between two and eight weeks depending on several factors including:

Amount of ammonia in water for bacteria to digest
Availability of bacteria in atmosphere to colonize filter
Frequency and relative amount of water changes
Reliability of source of waste (ammonia and nitrite)
Amount of excess decaying matter in tank (dead fish, extra food, plant leaves, etc.)
Presence of toxins/anti-bacterial agents/sanitation chemicals in tank water
Use of chemicals to remove ammonia from the water.

Looking to learn more on how to maintain the cleanliness and clearness of your fish tank? Check out this petmaintain blog.

In a Nutshell Series: The reason that extra carbon is needed in planted aquariums

This article is the first in a series of articles that GregRobert Pet Supplies is offering that have been dubbed “In a Nutshell Series”.  These articles are concise, quick reads about the reasons behind what we do for our pets and how we care for our pets.

Plants need carbon to create their food (photosynthesize). We all learned about this in our freshman year biology classes – but relating this to our planted aquariums requires a few jumps of faith.

The plants in our aquariums obtain carbon from either carbon dioxide (CO2) or from carbonate hardness (KH).  It is easier for plants to get the carbon from CO2, which is naturally present in your aquarium, but not usually at the levels needed to stimulate quick growth of your plants.

As CO2 levels are lowered, plants slow their growth.  This naturally forces them to use the carbon from KH, which is the ingredient that holds pH level stable in the aquarium. (think about all those PH tests that you use for your aquarium). So, take it into account at the aquarium setup stage.

I personally love aquariums and also love fish tank’s premium fluval edge aquarium review, as that was the review which helped me decide which tank to set up at my new place.

When this buffers content is lowered, pH levels can change dramatically, which may severely stressor even kill fish.

This is why adding carbon to your aquarium that have plants is highly recommended and if you don’t add the carbon molecules – you put your fish at risk.

That’s it in a nutshell – try Seachem’s Matrix Carbon to keep your planted aquarium in balance.

Product of the Day: Tetraveggie Cichlid Pellets

New from Tetra are Tetraveggie Cichlid Pellets that offer your Cichlids the best of both worlds.

TetraVeggie pellets for Cichlids offer a nutritious diet that is algae enhanced.

Tetra uses a proprietary extrusion technology that allows the combination of concentrated algae along with staple nutrients into a single pellet that does not cloud your aquarium water.

Cichlids, particularily top and mid-water feeding cichlids will thrive with this new blend from Tetra.

Tetra has long been a leader in the nutrition vertical for Cichlids and other aquarium fish – it is no surprise that this economical and innovative cichlid food with algae was designed by Tetra.

We expect it to grow into a top selling fish food product at GregRobert Pet Supplies.

GregRobert is excited to introduce the API’s new Nexx Filter

GregRobert is excited to introduce the API’s new Nexx Filter.  Nexx is an evolution in filtration, as it gives users the ability to add extensions to the filter in order to increase filtration capabilities.

nexx is an Evolution in Filtration and designed with you in mind.  A modular filter that grows with your needs; you have the ability to add EXTENSIONS to the FILTER in order to increase filtration capabilities.

The nexx FILTER delievers crystal clear water quality for your aquarium by using the Size 4 Bio-Chem Zorb® cartridge.  Superior filtration with no bypass.

Ultimate convenience with 4 minute or less media changes, no mess and filtration options give you the filtration and flexibility you want.

Accessories

Water Quality in Your Aquarium

 Just as we need clean air, free of harmful products to breath; fish need clean water to survive.  Clean water is not just the clear color, but also includes water quality. 

Testing water quality should be a priority for your aquarium

The important levels that need to be tested are:
1.  pH – A pH level of  close to 6.5 is the ideal pH for MOST fish.

2. hardness –  Most fish require soft water.  Hardness test will  measure the amount of calcium and magnesium.

3. alkalinity – This measures the compounds that stabilize pH.

4. nitrite (NO2)–  This compound is highly poisonous. Nitrite is more toxic than nitrate.  High levels of nitrite require water change.  The addition of fluids with zeolite will also help.

5. nitrate (NO3)–  High levels of nitrate can be harmful over time. Again, water change will help; along with adding fluids with zeolite.

6. ammonia (NH3)– This is another highly poisonous compound. Again, water change will help; along with adding fluids with zeolite.

Individual strips can be purchased to measure each value, but it is easier and more economical to purchase a kit that measures everything at one time.  A kit, like the Mardel Master Aquarium Test Kit  (pictured above) measures all the levels.

In the breaking in phase of you aquarium, you should check the levels everyday.  Later, check levels every 1-2 weeks.  This will ensure proper water quality and healthy fish.

How to Make Plants Flourish in an Aquarium

Although planted aquariums are often considered to be too difficult for the beginning hobbyist, we believe that planted aquaria are actually ideal for the beginner.

With the right substrate the beginner can have a successful aquarium with a minimum of maintenance. As the beginner become more comfortable in the hobby they will feel inclined to experiment a bit and thus build on the solid foundation they have already established.

From our (Seachem) product line we normally recommend one start with Flourish™ and/or Flourish Tabs™. These provide a broad range of micro-nutrients (vitamins, amino acids) and micro and trace elements (iron, manganese, nickel, cobalt, etc) that will enhance plant health and growth.

If the growth rate is substantial the trace elements are often utilized more rapidly than the other components in Flourish™, thus in this case it would be beneficial to also employ Flourish Trace™ along with Flourish™ and/or Flourish Tabs™.

Once that foundation is set one can then explore the use of parameter specific supplementation.

Because plant nutrient requirements, usage rates and source water can vary drastically we have determined that the ideal approach to supplementation is to separate each component so that each can be dosed individually as needed. Sometimes these requirements can be determined by testing.

Yellowing Between Veins on your Aquarium Plants

Flourish Iron™ by Seachem is a highly concentrated (10,000 mg/L) ferrous iron (Fe+2) gluconate supplement. It should be used in those cases where the iron requirements exceed that which can be delivered by Flourish™ at the recommended dose or signs of iron deficiency appear (such as short and slender stems or yellowing between veins.)

Contains no phosphate or nitrate.

Plants are able to much more easily derive a benefit from Flourish Iron™ than from EDTA-iron sources because all EDTA iron is in the ferric (Fe+3) state. Since plants require iron in the ferrous (Fe+2) state, additional physiological energy must be expended in order to extract the ferric iron from EDTA-iron and then convert it to the ferrous form.

Use 1 capful (5 mL) for each 200 L (50 gallons*) or as required to maintain about 0.10 mg/L iron. For smaller doses please note that each cap thread is about 1 mL. Use a test kit to monitor iron concentrations. Use as needed to combat signs of iron deficiency (usually seen in new growth) which include: chlorosis (yellowing) of tissue between veins and short and slender stems.

Carbon in the Planted Aquarium

Carbon is the backbone of all life.

Every organic molecule of every living organism is predominantly carbon based. Given this simple fact, it becomes clear why carbon plays a pivotal role in the planted aquarium.

Aquatic plants extract CO2 (carbon dioxide) from their environment and employ it in a process called photosynthesis. Photosynthesis combines CO2, water and light energy to produce simple carbohydrates and oxygen (O2). The first and simplest carbohydrate produced from photosynthesis is 3-phosphoglycerate. It is from this simple molecule that larger and more complex carbohydrates arise (by way of a variety of enzymatic processes).

Growth rates of aquatic plants are strongly correlated with availability of carbon and the plant’s affinity for carbon uptake. Studies1 have shown that plants with the greatest carbon affinity have the greatest growth rates, whereas those with lower carbon affinity have correspondingly slower growth rates. Because carbon availability is normally the limiting factor to growth,addition of CO2 to a planted aquarium will always result in large increases in growth (assuming other critical elements are not lacking).

Flourish Excel™ provides a simple organic carbon molecule that plants can use as a building block for more complex carbohydrates. Because Seachem’s Flourish Excel ™ is an organic carbon source it does not impact pH. The chemical structure of Flourish Excel™ is quite similar to some of the products of photosynthesis such as Ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate and 2’-carboxy-3-keto-Darabinitol 1,5 bisphosphate. Flourish Excel™ possesses the same basic 5-carbon chain seen in these molecules

Yellowing on Older Leaves in your Aquarium

Flourish Potassium™contains 50,000 mg/L of potassium suitable for the natural planted aquarium.

Potassium is one of several elements that are vitally important to maintaining a vigorous level of growth in a planted aquarium. Potassium can become depleted in a rapidly growing system or when the source water has a low mineral content. In these cases potassium could become the limiting factor to growth.

Use Flourish Potassium™ to prevent potassium depletion (signs of which include yellowing in older leaves) and maintain the highest level of growth.

The most easily obtained sources of potassium are potassium nitrate and potassium phosphate. Both of these sources add to either nitrogen or phosphorus as well as potassium, making it virtually impossible to target a specific NPK ratio. Flourish Potassium™ by Seachem is derived from potassium sulfate, allowing the user to adjust potassium levels without affecting nitrogen or phosphorus.

Use 1 capful (5 mL) for every 125 L (30 gallons*). This dose raises potassium by 2 mg/L. Repeat 2–3 times per week or as needed (in response to signs of potassium deficiency in older leaves which includes: chlorosis (yellowing), necrosis (death/browning), and weak stems and roots.

Elemental potassium is present at a concentration of 50,000 ppm (e.g 5%). Archaic fertilizer laws require us to list potassium in terms of equivalence to a material that is not present (K2O) rather than the more scientificaly sound method of simple elemental equivalence.