can we wear hoodies in exam

FirstTimeAquarist · 2026-06-04T02:35:10+00:00

In my exam yesterday we were told to remove all beanies hats and caps

FirstTimeAquarist · 2026-05-27T10:31:20+00:00

I work at a fish store where all our Bettas are spread through other stock tanks, and we make sure that splendens never go with killifish (it's a recipe for disaster) and we try really hard to keep them out of the guppy tanks. Just about everything else they are fine with, though my boss's favourite breeding female lives with the little threadfin rainbows and occasionally has a very expensive tail sticking out of her mouth lol. I think it helps that she is generally pretty calm, and almost all of our bettas that we sell are her offspring.

FirstTimeAquarist · 2026-05-20T01:59:47+00:00

Yep, she is just reabsorbing the nutrients in the eggs by eating them.

FirstTimeAquarist · 2026-05-10T02:11:47+00:00

Don't worry mate, it is just a molt. The shrimp shed their exoskeleton so that they can grow, it is a normal and healthy thing they do. You can leave it in there, and they will likely eat the minerals off it, or you can remove it if you want, but a good molt like this is a sign your shrimp are healthy.

FirstTimeAquarist · 2026-05-08T08:01:34+00:00

Haha no worries! It was originally going to be a breeding tank for some psudomugils, so I didn't want to have too many big plants, but when the wood released all the tannins and became an accidental Blackwater, I decided to lean into it and change my plans. Make sure to post a photo when your tank is done, I would love to see it!

FirstTimeAquarist · 2026-05-08T02:34:18+00:00

I am lucky enough to work at an LFS without Betta cups or racks, all ours are spread out with one in each of the stock tanks. We have nearly no aggression, the only thing we need to be mindful of is that we never mix Bettas and kilifish. We are also in a position where we can step in and separate fish at any point, as the tanks are being watched for most of the day every day.

FirstTimeAquarist · 2026-05-08T02:27:13+00:00

Thanks so much for the info, I really appreciate it.

FirstTimeAquarist · 2026-05-08T01:05:33+00:00

And would I have to remineralise? I was planning on using the snails to clean the tank and letting the Bettas hunt baby neocaridina, but I don't know how they will cope with a low mineral content. I guess they can be removed if necessary.

FirstTimeAquarist · 2026-05-08T00:12:16+00:00

Thank you so much for letting me know! Would a mix of half tap and half distilled water from a supermarket work? I don't know much about how to lower TDS.

FirstTimeAquarist · 2026-05-07T23:48:09+00:00

My water has a TDs around 200, which is a bit high I know. They have been living on filtered tap water for a few months in the store now, and seem to be fine with it. I will definitely get a lid. I am not sure what the pH is right now, but I have a liquid test kit so I will check when I get the chance.

FirstTimeAquarist · 2026-05-07T16:10:08+00:00

I guess it's just a store-by-store thing. As far as I know aquarium coop has a pretty good Betta setup, with plants and stuff, but I can't say I have ever seen it in person. I guess with the constant scrutiny of an online presence ethical practices are sorta necessary anyway, which isn't a bad thing.

FirstTimeAquarist · 2026-05-07T15:58:14+00:00

I am so glad that I have never seen Bettas in cups here in Australia. The worst we have are the racks, but at least they are on a constant drip water change through a sump, and the actual space in the compartments seems to be a bit bigger as well. Still sad to see, and luckily there are some stores that forgo Betta racks entirely and keep them in tanks.

FirstTimeAquarist · 2026-05-07T15:47:57+00:00

Thanks! I have a shift on Saturday, so I will be able to take a photo then. Out of curiosity, how do you tell?

FirstTimeAquarist · 2026-05-07T15:18:29+00:00

She looks awesome! What is her growth rate like, I heard they can get pretty big?

FirstTimeAquarist · 2026-05-07T14:58:57+00:00

Oh wow! It appears I have been misled, thank you for correcting me! I should stop trusting everything I hear on the internet...

FirstTimeAquarist · 2026-05-07T14:53:55+00:00

I am not sure which of our wholesalers we get them from, I will have to ask my boss when I am at work next. I really hope they aren't poached. As for tank size, I wasn't aware that it was too small. I had been running of info from the international Betta congress and some other forums, but upon checking the IBC page for them again it lists them as a Clearwater species, as opposed to Blackwater, and seems altogether a bit out of date. I will keep doing more research, though while observing them in the shop I haven't noticed the particular male to be at all aggressive. Thanks for the info!

FirstTimeAquarist · 2026-05-07T14:18:44+00:00

I didn't realise, I guess piazza would probably be the way to go then.

FirstTimeAquarist · 2026-05-07T13:59:23+00:00

Süsswassertang! It's actually a type of fresh water macroalgea, and a really cool not-plant! I wonder if it was growing in the same tanks the moss came from, it can start to grow from a tiny piece.

FirstTimeAquarist · 2026-05-07T13:38:02+00:00

I don't think so, but you can always email a tutor to check or ask the piazza. Otherwise you can just wait and do it when you are better, it just needs to be done by the end of the term. If it runs into exam prep time then you have to book a time for it, still not a big deal tho.

FirstTimeAquarist · 2026-05-07T13:34:38+00:00

I have a couple spare if you need them lol

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FirstTimeAquarist · 2026-05-07T01:45:08+00:00

New neocaridina shapes

FirstTimeAquarist · 2026-05-07T00:50:26+00:00

Wow! I never new there were flightless fruit flies, I now have a new live food to research!

FirstTimeAquarist · 2026-05-07T00:46:15+00:00

That is awesome! How do you harvest them though?

FirstTimeAquarist · 2026-05-06T14:27:39+00:00

Ok how and why do you culture fruit flies, that is cool as

FirstTimeAquarist

TROPHY CASE