New betta!! :) And annoying plants!

[Sasami]

Today I was at PetCo...I don't normally shop at the big chains but I needed alot of stuff (chew toys, bedding, timothy hay, a new waterbottle, a new leash, and a new food dish for the dogs). Also, I wanted to check out the reptile section since I'm planning on getting a lizard this autumn. Anyways, I looked at the bettas and I saw this really pretty male and he looked depressed in his little container and he had such nice coloring! So I took him home . I'll have to get some pics tomorrow.

Now, the reason I posted this is because of the stupid plants!!! I can't get them to stay at the bottom and I'm getting really mad! I've always had issues with getting the plants in but not like this! They're small, fake plants (though they're pretty cool...they look realistic). Before I got one to stay but the other two floated to the top and I had to put them back in every hour or so. Then, a few minutes ago, I go in the room and all three of them are at the top!! Anyone have any tips? I'm desperate, LOL.

[Eli]

do you have beads or rocks on the bottom of the bowl, or aquriam??? because beads don't hold those down worth anything. I was told that I need rocks for the aquarium, if I am going to have plants.

[Sasami]

Quote: Originally Posted by Eli do you have beads or rocks on the bottom of the bowl, or aquriam??? because beads don't hold those down worth anything. I was told that I need rocks for the aquarium, if I am going to have plants.

I use gravel in all the aquariums.

[Eli]

Then Id on't kn ow what to tell ya...lol, except to just cover it with the gravel..... but I am assumin you already did that/

[lixx]

Congrats on the new guy. I refuse to use fake plants after they killed one of my fish (he got caught in it). I hope youfind a solution.

[Jamys_mom_1990]

I use lots of gravel in mine. if you move the "roots" out of the way and jam the pebbles down in the plastic thing and then cover it up with more gravel usually it works. also you can use a suction cup with super glue on the bottom of the plant. I did that once with a goldfish I had. good luck!

[Sasami]

Thanks, guys.

Quote: Originally Posted by lixx Congrats on the new guy. I refuse to use fake plants after they killed one of my fish (he got caught in it). I hope youfind a solution.

Oh, wow. I didn't know that could happen as we never had any problems. These plants I don't think he'll get caught in but I'll be careful.

[Crazy Chin Lady]

They actually make plant anchors. I think they're by Penn Plax and I also think Lee's has one as well. Maybe those will work for you?

[Sasami]

Quote: Originally Posted by Crazy Chin Lady They actually make plant anchors. I think they're by Penn Plax and I also think Lee's has one as well. Maybe those will work for you?

I'll have to look out for them. Thanks

[Amethystbelle]

Congratulations on the new betta, look forward to seeing those pics

As for the plants i think your going to need to weight them down somehow, i only have one fake plants in all of my tanks and that came with a weight which i buried under the gravel so never had any problems, do you have rocks that you could use to anchor them down as that could be a solution?

[Sasami]

Quote: Originally Posted by Amethystbelle Congratulations on the new betta, look forward to seeing those pics As for the plants i think your going to need to weight them down somehow, i only have one fake plants in all of my tanks and that came with a weight which i buried under the gravel so never had any problems, do you have rocks that you could use to anchor them down as that could be a solution?

I have some rocks but the way the plant is I dunno if I'll be able to. It doesn't have fake roots...just a stem. I might just get new plants, lol. I think I might've gotten one to stay but I'll see. I'm gonna also try using more gravel.

[pihlaja]

When doing research for our future tank, I read that plastic plants are generally not good for fish with long fins (like the betta) since their harsh texture can easily tear their fragile fins. Most of the sites I've gone to suggest that if you use fake plants, you should get the silk-type variety which are more gentle on fish fins.

When we get our tank, I plan on using real plants. I find them prettier and here they are cheaper (and more abudandt) than the plastic!

As for keeping those little buggers down, I think the suction cup is a good idea. I don't know how well it would work, but you could also try super-glueing a heavy rock to the base? These stubborn things just need a better anchor!

[dragonmaster]

They actually sell fake plants specially designed for bettas, that's what my mom uses for hers. As for keeping them down...I dunno, we've just never had any problems with that sort of thing...

[Sasami]

Thanks . I finally got some of them to stay down with some more gravel and alot of re-arranging. There are still more that I want to put in, though. Next time I go to the petstore I'm gonna look for those plant anchors...