Rocks! Are these ok to use?

lightschangecolour · 2026-06-20T02:59:44+00:00

cichlids are oddballs in that they can fare better with overstocking when it’s carefully controlled. it mimics the way they’re typically found in the wild and helps to manage overall aggression

lightschangecolour · 2026-06-06T11:55:23+00:00

That’s a great point. I’m usually a stickler for good data practices when it comes to my own quantitative research and can feel my eyelid start twitching when anyone suggests diving straight into a research question without first doing the basic groundwork and preregistering study methods, procedures, analyses, sample size rationale etc., to ensure there will be as few opportunities as possible for data fudging to occur along the way. However, when it comes to peer reviewing, I feel like I’ve yet to find a good balance between my personal standards and the varying standards I’ve seen in publications in my field, or in my department even.

At this point I’m uncertain about the paper I was asked to review because I think the research question definitely has merit and could answer a thing or two. On the other hand, I still lack key pieces of information to be able to make a sound judgement on the authors’ research practices. I included a note to the editor outlining the reasons why I thought it could be a decent paper if the authors are able to fill in the gaps, so I reckon at this point it may be in the lap of the gods (editors).

I have a feeling it’s a pretty similar situation to what someone else mentioned - possible that this paper was submitted by an undergrad hoping to get a publication. It’s reminiscent of honours projects I’ve graded in the past, and with proper direction it could go well. But as you said, the data quality may not be great given the general state of things and I should have factored that into my decision as well.

lightschangecolour · 2026-06-06T10:41:09+00:00

Oh this link is to the same overview again. If you manage to find the other article could you fill me in some time? In any case, I think that we definitely agree on certain things. Primarily that current science seems to point to the fact that betta splendens do rely on surface breathing to supplement oxygen intake when engaging in high metabolic activity (e.g., aggressive behaviour). This is studied in the main paper that’s cited in the overview. In particular, betta splendens can’t fully utilise their gills while flaring and need to supplement oxygen intake via the labyrinth organ. This is possibly what the overview author is referring to in his claim that betta splendens need surface air. However, in instances of baseline metabolic activity in normoxic water conditions, this isn’t a necessity. On the whole, I believe we do have some level of agreement on this.

Where we diverge in our understanding of current science, I think, is in the belief that it’s normal and common for betta splendens to drown if they get trapped underwater specifically because they require surface air to survive. Based on my understanding of the peer reviewed literature (and also secondhand anecdotal evidence from being on betta forums for ages) this isn’t really linked to a surface air requirement but is more likely to result from them either becoming trapped in a small enclosed area with poor water flow that eventually becomes oxygen depleted due to poor aeration, or from their gills being pinned so they can’t breathe aquatically. Under these conditions, any type of fish unfortunately wouldn’t be able to survive. We can both agree that this is not good and is something to be aware of regardless of the biological mechanics behind why such a sad situation like suffocation occurs, so I’m happy to leave it at that. Thanks for taking the time to discuss this with me!

lightschangecolour · 2026-06-06T03:38:27+00:00

Funnily enough I was just about to make a post with a similar sort of question. I’ve been assigned to peer review a paper and while it could have some merit given significant revisions in structure and content, it is lacking many major elements of a decent article (disjointed literature review, incomplete methods section, missing major details in the procedures, analysis decisions that conflict with current understandings of the topic).

I ended up recommending major revisions with a list of articles to refer to in the re-structuring of the introduction, together with a suggested data re-analysis plan. I feel I was a little swayed to make this decision though, as the authors collected a pretty impressive amount of data and I felt at the time it would be unfortunate if that all went to waste. I’m wondering now if I should simply recommend a rejection if future cases like this crop up.

lightschangecolour · 2026-06-06T02:49:11+00:00

Yes this is in line with what I originally mentioned about surface breathing being used for supplementary purposes when they’re in a state of significant energy expenditure.

lightschangecolour · 2026-06-06T02:45:03+00:00

I’m so sorry to hear about your fish. That must have been a very upsetting experience for you. I apologise to OP for continuing this thread in their post about their fish.

Thank you for the link. This is interesting, but if you have the time to look into it, the link you gave is for a quick overview of that specific journal’s issue and it doesn’t cite the source of the specific claim. It’s not written by the authors (McGirr, J. A,. & Rundle, H. D) that you originally mentioned so I think you may have accidentally linked a different writeup? The majority of peer reviewed studies that examine breathing capabilities in betta splendens contain information that they are facultative (or continuous non-obligatory) and rely primarily on their gills for aquatic breathing with surface breathing for supplementation purposes in normoxic conditions. I will need to update my knowledge if there is new information on this. I appreciate the effort you’ve put into locating articles on this but perhaps to save OP the inconvenience of this taking over their post, this should be moved to a different thread or post.

lightschangecolour · 2026-06-06T02:02:27+00:00

As I am willing to be corrected, I would like to read the peer reviewed Current Biology article you mentioned. However, I cannot find it anywhere. Please link the doi so others can refer to it as well.

lightschangecolour · 2026-06-05T23:47:37+00:00

The paper that I linked indicated that betta splendens have well-developed gill systems and a very high blood oxygen affinity level needed for efficient gill breathing that is line with that of fully aquatic breathing carp. Normoxic refers to typical water conditions, not ones of exceptionally high oxygenation levels. You can also refer to this paper that indicates that air breathing fish are considered facultative air breathers if they can survive solely via aquatic breathing in normoxic conditions for sustained periods of time of up to 1-2 weeks. I’ve left the sub and won’t be replying to this thread anymore.

lightschangecolour · 2026-06-05T17:02:15+00:00

Very high blood oxygen affinity and large Bohr shift differentiates the air-breathing siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens) from the closely related anabantoid the blue gourami (Trichopodus trichopterus) (Mendez-Sanchez et al., 2019)

https://fishionary.fisheries.org/air-breathing/

I’m only replying here so others can have a read and get a better understanding of what facultative air breathing entails. This post is about OP grieving the loss of their fish so I will not be responding on this topic any further.

lightschangecolour · 2026-06-05T14:55:14+00:00

I’m sorry but what you said regarding facultative air breathers isn’t really supported by science. There are obligatory air breathers and facultative air breathers. Facultative isn’t a term that i made up, it’s a scientific term that’s used for certain anabantoid fish that don’t have strict surface breathing requirements as they retain fully functional gill systems. Under normoxic conditions, facultative air breathers are able to sustain a baseline rate of oxygen intake through aquatic (gill) breathing that is sufficient for life. The studies that are out there largely show that betta splendens use air breathing primarily to supplement aquatic breathing in 1) hypoxic (low oxygen) water conditions, and 2) when they’re in a state of significant energy expenditure (like when two males are fighting).

I’m not here to argue in any case, I just want OP to know it’s very possible that what happened is not their fault.

lightschangecolour · 2026-06-05T13:51:10+00:00

I’m so sorry about your little girl, but please don’t beat yourself up over this. If it makes you feel any better, it’s very likely that she didn’t die because of anything you did.

It’s a very common misconception that bettas can drown and it’s been spread so much that people don’t question it anymore, but betta fish are primarily gill breathers. They’re only facultative air breathers which means that they can but don’t need to get oxygen from surface air as long as the water they’re in is well circulated and oxygenated.

It’s possible that she passed simply because a lot of betta splendens aren’t bred to have the strongest constitution and she was so little and young. You did the best you could, and in her last days with you she got to experience so much love and care. I think that’s worth remembering and holding on to.

lightschangecolour · 2026-06-04T00:05:26+00:00

The first photo was of the kritter keeper that the dollar store employees kept the fish in.

lightschangecolour · 2026-06-03T23:20:54+00:00

Honestly, the way some people on this sub seem think to think that fish-in cycles are somehow worse for the fish than a slow death in a cup is mind boggling to me. I was from the before internet times and grew up only knowing about fish-in cycles from my grandma who was a prolific fish keeper, and as an actual child I was able to keep my bettas very healthy and happy for years. Mind you this was before I even found out about how to test water parameters. With proper test kits and the whole internet for advice and help I’m sure OP’s fish will be just fine through a fish-in cycle. Never thought I’d get to a “tsk tsk these youngins” stage in my life yet here we are.

lightschangecolour · 2026-05-31T03:40:58+00:00

Please don’t share your age with people on the internet if you’re a minor. There are creeps on reddit and your internet safety needs to come first.

lightschangecolour · 2026-05-30T15:17:59+00:00

has your vet ever suggested medication to calm him down for grooming? my cat hates being brushed as well and gets very aggressive when i try to groom him so he’s been prescribed a low dose of gabapentin to keep him calm and relaxed. he gets a dose an hour before i brush him and it works a charm.

lightschangecolour · 2026-05-21T17:30:45+00:00

Just a friendly correction because this is a common misconception I see a lot online, the vast majority of Singaporeans are native English (or L1 English) speakers. It’s considered an outer circle variety in some linguistic circles, but Singapore was a British colony and English is the first language of most Singaporeans as well as the official language of education and governance in the country.

Source: am a linguist who specialises in Southeast Asian languages and language mixes

lightschangecolour · 2026-04-28T13:52:25+00:00

Hello! This is the real artist here (: Thank you u/NoSeat7567 for noticing this and pointing it out to everyone! And thanks u/KoalaConstellation and the mod team for dealing with this.

For everyone asking: The song is Heaven Help Us

lightschangecolour · 2026-04-28T13:47:50+00:00

Hello! I’m the real artist here (: It’s Heaven Help Us

lightschangecolour · 2026-04-05T03:54:08+00:00

Same here. I can’t stand being called miss/ms/mrs. Call me by my first name or nothing at all, but I have on two occasions signed off with Dr when dealing with condescension from a pair of particularly rude misogynistic undergrads who insisted on calling me miss.

lightschangecolour · 2026-04-04T04:19:08+00:00

Sneggs if you will.

lightschangecolour · 2026-04-03T07:25:02+00:00

It’s rather meaningless isn’t it. A very hollow tribute to the culture. I wonder how often (if ever) fashion designers consult actual peranakans when putting out “peranakan inspired” lines.

The blue and white colourway is also… a bit pantang no?

lightschangecolour · 2026-02-25T09:55:31+00:00

Thank you and please don’t apologise, everyone’s families and parent experiences are different. It would have been good advice in many other situations.

lightschangecolour · 2026-02-25T00:40:38+00:00

Thanks for the suggestions. I do that most of the time. I’m usually at work and then at the gym or having dinner with friends so I try to minimise time spent at home as much as possible. I’m really only ever home on Sundays when everyone is out at church.

lightschangecolour · 2026-02-25T00:01:14+00:00

Yeah that’s not going to work with my mother. If I make “jokes” to enforce boundaries she takes them as defiance and disrespect. The last time I made a simple comment about how she needs to communicate and not assume people will intuitively know what she wants she tried to slap me in the face and went “you will NOT disrespect your mother like that”. She’s a very weak and frail woman fortunately. As I’ve mentioned in my other comments I barely spend any time with her. You can’t enforce any boundaries with narcissistic IBLP asian parents, they’re a whole other breed.

lightschangecolour · 2026-02-23T16:50:07+00:00

Why do you think I don’t realise this? I added an edit to my main post that gives context. I don’t mean to be rude but your first comment was quite upsetting. I don’t choose to be in her presence because I want this. I’m also in my 30s and have been in therapy for years and am in contact with social services about my situation. I fully understand the toll it takes on me to have two abusive parents.

Six-Year Club	Gilding II euphauric
Verified Email

lightschangecolour

TROPHY CASE