In the wild, H. boettgeri occurs in shady still water in lowland rainforest. It is a fully aquatic frog, meaning it spends its entire life underwater. Although, like all frogs, it has lungs and must surface to breathe.
Their color varies, generally ranging from brown to greenish, with black spots; with their undersides being lighter. They evolved these colors from their habit of spending most of their time at the bottom of the water body.
Aquariums are made of two types of materials… glass or acrylic. This article discusses the following 12 criteria and compares the two materials accordingly:
• Availability
• Cost
• Clarity
• Distortion
• Durability
• Impact Resistance
• Insulation
• Long Term
• Tensile Strength
• Versatility
• Weight
• Support
In the wild, nature selects for shorter fins enabling faster more agile movement, and duller shades of brown, grey, and green; colors which blend in with the natural surroundings. In Siam (now known as Thailand), bettas were primarily bred for bravery, not show, and while color varieties were selected for, long flowing fins were not. Wild bettas usually only show brighter colors when agitated and/or during mating season, whereas the bettas we see in aquariums today are bred for their long flowing fin shapes and vibrant colorations. Bettas are categorized according to fin types, patterns, and colors.
When choosing an aquarium, there are three main considerations to be made.
• Size
• Shape
• Material
Size is usually the first consideration that comes to mind. The right size is usually thought of as what will fit where. Whether as a freestanding unit in front of a wall, or an aquarium set on top of a flat piece of furniture already in the home or office, it is easy to choose size in this manner.
Shape is also usually a matter of where it will best fit within the already established home or office. In an otherwise unoccupied corner there is plenty of height for one of those tall aquariums.
Aquarium size is basically a question of what size fish population is desired. Beyond that, this article assumes the desire for an aquarium is the enjoyment of its aesthetic qualities, and not its maintenance requirements. These two desires are factors that both have a direct effect on water quality and thus the health, happiness, and longevity of the wildlife. This article makes a point that, with regards to water quality, larger aquariums are better. There are other arguments for larger aquariums, such as avoiding stunted fish growth (certain species) and aggressive behavior, but these will be discussed in another article.
Ich are a common freshwater parasitic protozoa of the genus Ichthyophthirius. It is also known as White Spot Disease. Ich is ciliated, meaning it is covered in small hair-like appendages called cilia that allow it to swim freely while it searches for a fish to attach itself to. Once attached to a fish’s skin, it forms a tough outer shell to protect it while it feeds on the fish’s bodily fluids. During this time, it grows large enough to be seen with the naked eye. Fish with Ich look like they have tiny white bumps on their skin.
