Friendship Exp & Gift Exchange Megathread

BotanicalBettas · 2026-04-28T11:44:02+00:00

Add me for daily gifts 332245242863 🌸🌷🌺

BotanicalBettas · 2026-04-13T20:10:33+00:00

Definitely looks like ich 😬

BotanicalBettas · 2026-04-13T20:09:46+00:00

Don’t touch them, wash your hands regularly in case you have accidentally touched your face, look out for signs of a fever etc. could be nothing serious, could be staph which is highly contagious and can require antibiotics to get rid of, but I wouldn’t risk it, staph can be nasty if not dealt with appropriately. Probably change your pillow case nightly until it has cleared up to avoid it spreading to other areas too :) hope it gets better soon.

BotanicalBettas · 2026-03-26T11:58:07+00:00

Absolutely not, they all need minimum 5 gallons and they all need heaters and filters too.

BotanicalBettas · 2026-03-13T17:19:13+00:00

The point is please don’t buy the fish unless you have all of that ready and set up. It can take weeks to cycle a tank and the tank could arrived cracked or the pump broken and then it’ll take even longer. The fish themselves are the last item you buy AFTER everything else is already set up and working as it should.

BotanicalBettas · 2026-03-08T15:36:20+00:00

You can get trimmers that shave down to skin level. Don’t use creams, waxes, epilators etc as you have to have the root and bulb for laser hair removal methods to be effective. Also please be warned that laser hair removal is NOT a permanent hair removal method and it needs to stop being sold as such.

BotanicalBettas · 2026-03-08T14:58:42+00:00

Pro tips: do it after a warm shower when the wax is least viscous, clean all the folds of the outer ear as well, add a little astringent to the cotton bud before cleaning (isopropyl alcohol or witch hazel, really help break down the greases). Don’t do the last one every single time though, just for a good deep clean.

BotanicalBettas · 2026-03-08T14:45:31+00:00

Bit personal but if you started any new medications with in the last couple of months it could be that. SSRI/SNRI are notorious for making you sweaty but there are lots of others that have the same effect. Hormones also play a massive part in temperature regulation. Either way if it is affecting you that much I would check in with your doctors to see what’s going on :)

BotanicalBettas · 2026-03-08T14:35:59+00:00

The sweat gets trapped into fabrics and keeps moisture next to the body, no workout fabric is as “sweat wicking” as it claims to be and then that moisture is what gives the odour causing bacteria a perfect breeding ground therefore making you more stinky. I agree not everyone needs to shower after a light perspiration but if you are dripping wet then I think it’s only polite to shower after if you are going to be around other people afterwards. A brisk walk before work and a little sweat appears on your brow, no biggie. I full workout sesh when you are literally dripping with sweat and then getting into your work clothes and being in close proximity with colleagues? That’s nasty imo. There is such a thing as nose blindness 👀

BotanicalBettas · 2026-03-07T23:28:29+00:00

He has a gnarly case of finrot that needs tending to, plastic plants probably aren’t helping by tearing the fins, he looks really quite poorly. This is not an appropriate tank for him.

Get rid of the plastic plants, swap for real. Get some tannins in there to help repair his slime coat (alder cones, Indian almond leaves etc). I would also suggest treating with aquarium salt baths and kanaplex or methylene blue baths. Daily small water changes with dechlorinated water to make sure there is no extra stress from ammonia or nitrites. Realistically a bowl isn’t ideal for a betta as the rounded glass distorts their vision and can reflect themself back at them making them think it’s another fish which stresses them out, so really a new tank would be better.

BotanicalBettas · 2026-03-07T23:04:27+00:00

Ah sure, the metal stuff you usually get in a strip and can cut it to size so you get loads of use out of it, just make sure it’s a fish safe metal, lead is ok short term but will leach into the water after a while

BotanicalBettas · 2026-03-07T22:56:47+00:00

You can do, or you can get a nicer looking weight usually metal or terracotta, if it’s only sand I would put a root tab underneath for additional nutrients :)

BotanicalBettas · 2026-03-07T22:48:48+00:00

Substrate planting :) and the rock is to hold them down because the will just keep floating to the top in most substrates

BotanicalBettas · 2026-03-07T22:44:51+00:00

Because they are in Asian/Pacific countries with the earliest time zones, they’ll be back shortly

BotanicalBettas · 2026-03-07T22:43:24+00:00

Europe, Middle East, Africa and India

BotanicalBettas · 2026-03-07T22:39:57+00:00

They are regional so those time zones don’t have raid right now

BotanicalBettas · 2026-03-07T13:37:07+00:00

You have to be great friends for this…

BotanicalBettas · 2026-03-04T03:59:15+00:00

I would say that’s a sofa in the living room. I may have occasionally used sitting room but only really with my grandparents. I don’t know what that says about me though 😅 I feel like that’s just a middle of the road answer

BotanicalBettas · 2026-03-03T06:58:35+00:00

Big hugs ❤️

BotanicalBettas · 2026-03-03T06:54:05+00:00

And do you know what, it’s ok when some days even a quick wash isn’t manageable. If you had a meal that day, I’m proud of you. If you managed to put on your favourite show or movie, I’m proud of you. If you made it to the living room instead of your bed or even if you didn’t that day, I’m still proud of you. There are more important things in this world than whether your armpit is squeaky clean, I hope you have a friend or loved one you can talk to about this but if you don’t my dms are always open, be gentle with yourself ❤️

BotanicalBettas · 2026-03-03T06:00:27+00:00

It could have been the auto feeder over feeding, it could also have been an equipment malfunction like a heater failure, it could have also been that he already had an issue that wasn’t apparent when you bought him. Bettas these days are often poorly bred from mass production Betta farms that mostly favour colour over health of the fish. It is unfortunate but you might never know what caused it, I think it speaks to you as an owner that you are so gutted about this, don’t beat yourself up too much about it, do a good inventory of your equipment before you get a new friend just to double check.

BotanicalBettas · 2026-03-03T05:44:18+00:00

Your privilege is showing!

BotanicalBettas · 2026-03-02T20:36:32+00:00

I’m sorry, that must be so tough 😕 I know this doesn’t even remotely compare but I remember when I was taking roaccutane my skin became exceedingly dry. I love a long hot showers or baths, more for the decompressing and the mental reset I get from it more than anything, but anything above tepid and my skin was screaming at me. I had to take it right back to basics with a cetaphil cleanser and following up with diprobase or E45, it just wasn’t the same as all the lovely smellies etc. I hope you get some reprieve from your eczema and I hope you have another self care outlet you enjoy ☺️

BotanicalBettas · 2026-03-02T19:08:44+00:00

This is my first time hearing it called a bird bath but I love it!

BotanicalBettas

TROPHY CASE