Questions and Answers

From time to time, we've got a number of questions about bettas that we thought better be answered in this one page :) Thanks AB and PM for list of questions. If you have more questions to ask, shoot us email and we'll list them here. The list will be added from time to time. Here they are...

1. Q: what size of tank for the giants? A: it varies, but larger size is better. Usually a 10" tank is good for 1 giant, 12" tank is the minimal for a pair.
2. Q: What is the size of your community tank? A: Our "community" tanks typically the 140+ L plastic container (tank). We found plastic container is more durable compared to glass tank. Ever wondered the experience of broken glass tank? :)
3. Q: How frequently do you change water, how, and how much? A: everyday, suck all water out to dry & take large bucket to pour to the tank back (mix hot and cold tap to make sure temperature is warm), all of it about 90+%
4. Q: Do you put other chemical (de-chlorine, multicure, others)? A: no. the fish aint sick, why give meds?
   
5. Q: Aren't you worry that you injured the fish? A: no, they are hardy as rock :)
6. Q: Do you have death on your tank? A: yes, about 1 or 2 fish every week each tank, the weakest dies first
7. Q: How much you feed your fish? A: each week we spent about $100 to feed them with live worms
8. Q: Isn't it a little bit too expensive? A: yes, but we justify it as they gave us enjoyment. We believed it's better to feed your fish best food rather than leaving them malnourished :) Their colour is more vibrant, they are more active, and we gets lots of enjoyment from it...
9. Q: What's the temperature of your tank? A: standard 20C - 28C. We use heaters in the tank (unreliable room temperature)
10. Q: How many tanks do you have? A: range between 8 to 15. Currently we have 8 growing up tanks, 2 breeding tanks, soon we'll add another 4 breeding tanks, etc.
11. Q: What's the secret of your successful betta spawn? A: correct tank size, good parentage, ready pair, abundance food, good temperature, and you're ready to go. Spawning is easy, successful large spawn is different. Rearing is different -- it needs diligent and knowledge. Similar to being "good" mother ;) there are tricks not widely available on the books. Individual breeders need to know their fish well (but not too much motherhood!!)
12. Q: Do you use special technique in your breeding? A: if you mean meds or almond leave, no. Our breeding tanks are bare empty. Sometimes we put plant there for artistic value (not for breeding reason).
13. Q: What's your smallest, average, and largest spawn size? A: smallest around 50 fry, average around 150, largest 800-1000 (lost count when they're too many of them).
    
14. Q: What's the common disease you've experienced? A: old age? we don't have diseases at all. maybe perhaps ick, but that's because sometimes the heater dies (hence temperature drop). dropsy occurs rarely.
    
15. Q: How many fish do you have and buy from others? A: the number of tanks give you indication of number of fish :) We have around 500-1000 fish at any single point in time, but usually only about 500. We buy fish from time to time, from local breeders but mostly imported from international breeders.
16. Q: What do you do with your spawn? A: some are sold to other breeders or interested individuals, some are given away to boyscout members (we're active in boyscout), some going to pet shop, some are given away to support other activities (such as charity etc)
    
17. Q: Do you have preferred international breeders? A: no, usually we work based on their words and some pictures. We do have some connections and monitor their stock regularly to see if anything fits our breeding program.
    
18. Q: What's most disappointing things in breeding? A: watching the juvies fighting :) They flare very pretty but torn fins never been an enjoyment.
19. Q: What's some silly questions asked to you from other people? A: not so much silly, perhaps just ignorant. Some didn't appreciate what we have and thought that all fish are "the same", hence expect the same price for example. There are so much different quality of bettas and one has to understand the reason behind a single "price". For instance, you can buy clothing from Target for $40 and that's decent and you can't compare that clothing with the one that you bought in big boutique. Not only the material is different, but the "style" is so apparent and different. Very much like comparing fake diamond and real one ;) The differences are sometimes so subtle...
20. Q: I've bought fish from you before, can I still buy a pair from the "same" line? A: yes, provided the line survived. Sometimes we had to terminate the line (very unfortunately) due to various reasons.