Trying out Riparium/Paludarium (Betta Macrostoma)

[Ingen]

Recently decommissioned my 2ft forest scape tank and decided to try out something different. I'm unsure what's the proper naming, Riparium, Vivarium, Paludarium or neither haha.

While some online literature would state that the tank specification may be too small to house a pair of Betta Macrostoma, some local hobbyists have shared that it's sufficient and even have success in breeding them in these specifications. Such, I embarked on my Betta Macrostoma Journey, setting up with their needs in mind (hopefully). While it's not a completely clean tank, I'm hoping the substrate, the hardscape, the water flow will provide what are needed for proper parameters and hiding places.

Please feel free to share your knowledge on how to keep them properly or enhancing the scape health.

Below are the scape specifications (Copied the format from UA post :P).

Tank Size: 60cm x 30cm x 36cm (ADA 60P)
Substrate: ADA Aqua Soil Malaya

Filter System: Eheim Classic 2215, output 12/16mm rainbar
Filter Media:Seachem Matrix (Planning to include purigen)
Temperature: 22-24°C, Full Day

Lighting: ADA Aquasky 601 stand, LED swapped to zetlight instead of 601
Light Duration: 6 hours

Pressurized Co2: Intense Solenoid Pro Regulator, ANS Inline atomizer ( 2bps)
Co2 Duration: 6 hours (9am-5pm)
Fertilizer: ADA Brightly K, Step 2 and Shade, 1ml daily
Fan/Chiller: Resun 200 mini

Water Change Regime: 10-20% Weekly

Water Parameters:
pH = 5-5.5
TDS= 100-150
Ammonia = 0 ppm
Nitrite = 0 ppm
Nitrate = 5-10 ppm

The scape was left to cycle using my old canister media for 4 weeks before introducing this pair on 22nd August 2015. Will continue to update pictures when the pair start to come out more. Please pardon the not so good quality pictures, still do not know how to take fishes effectively...

Frontal View:





Spot the pair



Blurred Male...



Female Macrostoma:



The pair: Quite blurred picture...

[wongce]

Nice....................

[aza]

I'm camping here How about a post on flora used? Especially the paludarium segment.

[tohtruck]

Very nicely done.. Good life for the bettas


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[Ingen]

Nice....................

Thanks for liking it.

I'm camping here How about a post on flora used? Especially the paludarium segment.

Er... I can try must best, not really sure what are some called... Not sure if its paludarium since not much land area haha.

Surface portion:
- Alternanthera Reineckii - those growing over the top of the wood. Got them from Aquatic Avenue as they have them growing emersed
- Hydrocotyle Triparitita
- Utricularia Graminifolia - It was doing well for two weeks and suddenly portion by portion melted. Not sure if there are some invisible fungus attacking them...
- Mini Bolbitis
- Hygrophila Pinnatifida: Hidden somewhat between the water and surface
- Mosses: mixture of flame moss, US Fissidens, Tropica/Singapore moss, willow moss, moss from below my block, holland moss, even small patch of mini peilia
- Venus fly trap: at the very top, may not be suitable as there are very little space for the roots to grow

Aquatic area:
- Eleocharis Mini - Lazy to do trimming, thus choose this almost no maintenance needed foreground plant
- Microsorum Pteropus 'Trident' - slot inbetween driftwoods
- Hygrophila Pinnatifida
- Bucep, brownie purple/blue series
- Willow moss, us fissiden, flame moss, mini peilia

I believe that's all, maybe missed out some here and there haha. Mostly trimming from my other tank, less the Pinnatifida and UG (which I have never been able to grow it...)

Very nicely done.. Good life for the bettas


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Hopefully, I think created too many hiding spots with the driftwood at the back of the tank. The male is forever inside, I need to search high and low to make sure he is alive and well. While the female more sociable, will come out to greet me (ask for food more like it) and swim around when I'm standing at the tank.

[MCE]

The smallest tank that had successfully bred b Macrostoma was reported in 1x1x1 ft. tank. Small (chiller) tank cost less in energy bill, but requires more frequent water change. Water quality is key to keeping healthy macrostoma, they eat a lot and hence good filtration is important.


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[Ingen]

The smallest tank that had successfully bred b Macrostoma was reported in 1x1x1 ft. tank. Small (chiller) tank cost less in energy bill, but requires more frequent water change. Water quality is key to keeping healthy macrostoma, they eat a lot and hence good filtration is important.


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That's good to know! I'm feeding sparsely, 2-3 pellets twice a day. My male went into hiding for the past 4 days, saw him swimming at the back of the driftwoods, while the female will swim out and greets me whenever I'm at the tank. I reckon she has associated me with food haha. I'm hoping the male will do that soon too.

[TheAquarist]

What if the male is currently brooding eggs in its mouth

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[Ingen]

What if the male is currently brooding eggs in its mouth

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Unfortunately not... The mouth area looks normal, probably just afraid of the female. The female is just swimming around like shark waiting for her next meal to drop in, while the male is stagnant in one dark corner where my intake is, not swimming much. Fortunately, the fins are not clamped or torn and no sign of external parasites.

Hopefully he will be a accustomed to the new environment and swim out more often.

[sherwin]

how do you keep the emersed area moist? do you use rainbar to flow the water there?

[Ingen]

how do you keep the emersed area moist? do you use rainbar to flow the water there?

Yes, the rainbar is placed at the back and water flow down from there. Also have some air tubes to direct to different area.

[Ingen]

Been a month after the introduction of the macrostoma pair to the tank. The supposedly female is acting up like a male and being all dominant over the red male. Snap some pictures of them sizing each other up when I re-introduce the female to the tank from the breeder box.

Male chilling before the female was released from the breeder box



Sizing each other:



The stare down:



The sizing:






Short clips of them flaring and fighting... Betta they are...

First major showdown after I sealed up the hiding place.




Maybe I will edit all the clips to a single video someday.

[Ingen]

2nd attempt to introduce the pair after 5 days of separating with transparent breeder box. Didn't go quite well haha.

[AQMS]

Awesome....

[Razzy Razman]

Very nice....

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[Ingen]

Well, this pair just spawned yesterday, however, I think the male ate all the eggs haha. He went into hiding, not sure if it's due to brooding or because the female went back to the aggressive nature after "sex". Couldn't get it on film as they were doing it at the back of all the driftwood and such, wasted. May next time...

[kennethc]

Any updates? Very nice tank!

[Ingen]

The top portion is all filled with mosses, Hydrocotyle Triparitita and some stray plants. I have since raised the water level to about 3/4 of the tank to give the mac pair more space to wander. Will try to take a picture, however, they are always hiding behind the crevices and driftwood haha.

They have been spawning every 12-16days but have never held to term. I guess holding is not the male forte, heard that once the male been eating the eggs for few cycle, it may become habit. Oh well, guess I will just enjoy the pair for now

[Ingen]

Oh yah, they just spawned on Saturday, so will not disturb the tank for another week or two. Depending when the male eats the eggs lol