#ruby and rupert

Feeding time!

They’re really starting to look like little versions of their parents. A couple of the bigger ones have started flaring and chasing each other. Some are developing quite solid colour lines and even a red tint on the fins.

The second tank babies are still going well too. Let’s all pretend you can’t see all that hair algae. I guess that’s what I get for letting that tank sit in the sun.

Rubras getting prettier by the day! There's a big auction coming up in two months so I'll be taking some there if you're in Australia in the ACT region. To ease stress as they're getting bigger I popped a couple of the biggest boys into the big community tank with Ruby. One was so eager he jumped out of the acclimatizing cup and promptly began mating with Ruby before I could even get the other fellow in the water.

My pretty babies are getting so big! I have split them between two larger tanks now and have an estimate of around 15-20 little Betta Rubra. I'll be keeping a couple of the best looking to try and improve my line but I'll start looking for homes for them soon.

Every time I come near the glass a half dozen little grumpy faces come over to see what's going on. That pout. I just die.

The Betta Rubra are getting so big and colouring up nicely. They look like proper fish now!

The tank is getting a little feral with hydra, as you can see, but the bubs don’t appear fussed and I really don’t want to nuke it when the hydra have been there since the fry were released and seem to only have helped clean up excess food. A big die off might be detrimental to water quality too. The little fish seem to be dodging them just fine. Rupert doesn’t seem bothered by them either, so I’m not going to mess around if things are working.

Little territory battles are occurring and they’re freaking adorable. No-one is getting banged up, just a little flaring and chasing. In a couple more weeks I’ll divide the babies up further so everyone has more room.

Meanwhile the competition brings out those colours. As you can see, feral hydra on the back glass but fat bellies on the babies, so they’re getting plenty to eat.

It's been a little while since my last update on the Betta Rubra babies. They've been on the backburner as my dog developed an eye ulcer that required a specialist (fortunately not the emergency surgery in another state we were told was likely), my big 220 litre community tank got velvet- which I was a little slow on the diagnosis with as in all my fishkeeping years I've never had it, so I think I'm gonna lose a few rasboras, and to top it all off Rupert, my breeding male Rubra somehow wound up paralyzed in his hind half. Not sure how, he was still in the tank with the bubs and they were all fine but I've had to take him out and give him his own little tank now. He still swims about quite eagerly with his pectoral fins but gets tired and needs a shallower tank.

It's been a rough time, but my best friend's cat fell into a diabetic coma and her dog has Cushing's so some poor soul always has it worse. At least these little fellas are still growing and getting more curious and colourful by the day. When things get a bit calmer I'll start trying to sell them. If you're in Australia and want Betta Rubra watch this space.

You see what I did there? ...Okay. I’ve taken a lot of cold medicine. Be nice, I’m sick.

I moved 3 of the month old bubs into a spare tank in an effort to not have “all my eggs in one basket.” They handled to move really well and are steadily exploring their new home. Separate from the little school, tiny personalities are emerging. One is quite timid while the other two are rather bold, like their mother Ruby, who is by far the sassiest Betta I have every owned.

In that photo you can just make out a tiny microworm landing straight up on the log behind the baby, though the bubs were more interested in checking everything out than eating. The reflections and my face were particularly interesting but the phone was very scary.