AboutNicole Putnam Expertise Keeping freshwater fish is simple given you follow three golden rules: light and balanced stocking scheme, frequent water changes, and feeding a variety of foods, not just dried. Problems occur when you deviate from any of these or choose unhealthy stock. Once in a while fish do succumb to diseases, but healthy to begin with fish in ideal water conditions do NOT usually get sick.
Experience I keep a few freshwater tanks: a 55 gallon African cichlid tank, a 29 gallon South American community tank with tetras, rams and corydoras, another 29 gallon tank featuring a pair of pearl gouramis and various tetras, and a 15 gallon planted tank with a female betta, small tetras and rasboras. PLEASE NOTE: All bettas need heated, filtered tanks to thrive. Before medicating, consider that most diseases are environmental. A 5 gallon acrylic tank with integrated filtration is readily available from pet stores or departments, and with the addition of a heater (coupled with good husbandry) this setup will keep your betta healthy for its lifetime.
Education/Credentials I read Tropical Fish Hobbyist and Practical Fishkeeping and subscribe to Aquarium Fish International. I have read many an aquarium book cover to cover, and encourage you to do the same!
Expert: Nicole Putnam Date: 7/4/2008 Subject: mickey mouse fish
Question My Mickey mouse fish had babies and she looks like she is about to have some more. I was wanted to know how often do they give birth?
Answer Hi Kelli,
Sorry it took a little while to get back to you.
Depending on a few environmental factors, such as water chemistry, diet, tank size...she will probably give birth once every 4-6 weeks. 20 fry at a time seems to be a fairly consistent number, but sometimes you may end up with less (or she may eat some, strange as it sounds) or perhaps more. Reportedly, they can give birth to up to 80 fry!
Other than their few special needs (an inability to tolerate soft water, needing water that is hard and alkaline, needing "green" foodstuffs, e.g. Spirulina flake and seaweed strips, aka nori) livebearers all share similar preferences, gestation periods, and loveable traits, namely the assembly line style of baby making! Just make sure you have a place for them all. Most local fish stores will take trade-ins, whereas chain pet stores such as Petco and Petsmart usually do not have such a policy. Try the phone book, usually there is a fish store somewhere, either in your town or a nearby one.
