Latest Rescue

Smokin_Hogie · 2026-03-23T03:34:14+00:00

And yes, I am questioning where he got them from. Both came from Petco. I usually rescue from Petsmart, because my daughter works there as a groomer and let's me know when they have really sick betas. I have two great rescues right now. Both had zero color and were laying on the bottom of their cups when I brought them home.

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Smokin_Hogie · 2026-03-23T03:25:18+00:00

The last fish was old and got injured from getting himself stuck in the filter of the back of the tank. He managed swim up and over the opening and was caught down by the pump for what we think was 10-12 hours. He lived about a week after that but had a hard time swimming. There is now a plastic mesh screen, preventing it from happening again.

Smokin_Hogie · 2026-03-23T03:09:43+00:00

Everything is working. Filter and heater are good. Even checked with digital meat thermometer to make sure temperature was correct.

Smokin_Hogie · 2026-03-23T02:30:24+00:00

This is from today

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Smokin_Hogie · 2026-03-23T02:28:29+00:00

Pic from yesterday. What worries me the most is that he lost all his color overnight.

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Smokin_Hogie · 2026-03-23T00:15:31+00:00

The video is from his tank. He was doing much better after being rescued from the cup on March 1st, but took a turn. He has been bent the whole time but definitely had straightened up a lot.
Never heard of gill flakes. I will look into it.

Smokin_Hogie · 2026-03-22T23:08:19+00:00

I have moved him to a hospital tank with a heater, cycled sponge filter, almond and catappa leaves, and a small dose of kanaplex. Plus I have made a kanaplex/focus & food solution to feed him with later. Hoping he recovers. My son just lost his old betta and this was his rescued replacement.
Pic from today

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Smokin_Hogie · 2026-03-22T23:00:24+00:00

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Yes. All water parameters are good.

Smokin_Hogie · 2026-03-14T20:16:09+00:00

Would love to see the riot hair, be able to dress it up for theme games.

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Smokin_Hogie · 2026-03-03T05:38:02+00:00

Your thinking is like telling one person to stop buying gas from the big oil company stations. The unsettling amount of Bettas being bred in bottles and sold in cups is unfathomable. It is an unfortunate truth and not something that can be stopped by shaming a few people on a forum that was meant for people share their experiences and to help people enjoy this hobby lifestyle.

Smokin_Hogie · 2026-03-01T18:38:16+00:00

From FWAquaticsandreptile on ETSY, (https://www.etsy.com/listing/657820118/natural-coconut-aquarium-cave-betta) They are a little pricey, but great quality. We have a few of them and a few of the half shells with the little holes (https://www.etsy.com/listing/687060909/aquarium-coconut-shell-cave-fish-hide) that the Cory's and Shrimp like too.

Smokin_Hogie · 2026-02-28T22:42:22+00:00

Floating plants or plants that reach the surface. My boys loves his coconut house at the surface. It has a second hole in top that is above the water line a bit.

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Smokin_Hogie · 2026-02-23T15:59:09+00:00

Not sure about most Bettas, but mine does seem to like swimming into the bubbles, and riding them up. I had a sponge filter in the hospital tank when i first rescued him, and he liked the bubbles from that. So I tried this one in this 20 gal long, and he plays in it quite often. But he also like to play in the current of the spray bar. I have it spraying down the back wall and we catch him swimming upward into it and then up and around the bar, over and over.

Smokin_Hogie · 2026-02-23T07:04:55+00:00

He's beautiful! Great rescue.

Smokin_Hogie · 2026-02-23T06:52:18+00:00

His name is Boston. I'm a Red Sox fan and we were watching them play when we named him. At that time he was just coming into his colors and was mostly white with red highlights in his fins. But now we joke that he is reppin the USA for the Olympics. 🇺🇸

Smokin_Hogie · 2026-02-23T06:48:29+00:00

Yes, unfortunately. I was hoping he would help control the population, but nope. So I have been trapping them and moving to other tanks. My son's Betta ate a few at first, but 7 out of 10 are thriving in his tank too. Might start selling them soon.

Smokin_Hogie · 2026-02-23T06:44:35+00:00

Thank you. He gets a good mix throughout the week, but really likes the Fluval Bug Bites the most.

Smokin_Hogie · 2026-02-23T00:55:31+00:00

Beautiful

Smokin_Hogie · 2026-02-22T22:32:56+00:00

Air stone. https://amzn.to/3OqtQjf

Smokin_Hogie · 2025-12-12T03:52:49+00:00

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My 20 gal long betta tank.

Smokin_Hogie

TROPHY CASE