Well Water
Steve, Thanks for the enlightening input on Betta water changing, and I trust you know of this personally. As we all know, everybody’s water is different, and with some sources this may be completely allowable, especially when coming from a private well where no chemicals are added.
Knowing only a handful of Betta Breeders over the years, but those who rank up there at the very top, I can add that they’ve confided in me that one of their main success secrets is to never change 100% of the water, and as we know, this is not recommended at all for general fish maintenance for the average hobbyist for so many reasons that would get them in trouble (dead fish in short time).
You may know (or know of) Rich Martucci, an NJAS member up here in North Jersey who is one of the top Betta breeders in the Northeast and a consistent trophy winner. At our meeting only last week, he was telling me about how he bastes (turkey baster) 200 jars a day cleaning up the waste, etc., from the bottoms of the jars, but never does a complete water change. He explicitely told me that he would never even consider doing 100% water changes; he went on to say that in doing so, he would be inviting damage to his fish’s fins; not physically caused, but that caused by a complete change of water.
I’m sure you must have known the late Warren Young. Warren (and his wife Libby) were also NJAS members back many years, and as most anyone knows were world reknown as Betta breeders — Warren developed the Libby Betta, named after his wife. During my visits to his fish room, he told me flat out that 100% water changes are never to be done with Bettas, and that although it would make life much simpler in maintaining all those hundreds of jars, he would never attempt that.
Another well known Betta breeder of that time by the name of Nick Messina, an Exotic Aquarium Society of NJ (now defunct) member back in Warren’s time also subscribed to the same reasoning. I would also like to point out that Walt Mauris, whom I’m positive you must have known, never employed nor recommended complete water changes either in his discussions with me.
However, as I’ve just stated earlier in this thread, I frequently do 90% (or even 95%) water changes with my Angels and other S.A. Cichlids as the more fresh water I give them, the more these particular fish love it — you can see it in their demeanor — although I would not generally recommend it to the average hobbyist. I’ll admit that I occasionally do 100% water changes, and the only reason I don’t do a bit more of this not only because I don’t feel the need to (no further benefit), but that I prefer keeping the fish in the same tanks and I’m not about to draw the water down below their dorsal bases. But then, with knowing my water the way I do, I’m confident in realizing I can do this to the fishes’ advantage. Ray
Category: Philippines Internet Koi Society
