Back to the HM’s.

I lost them all. All of my half moon bettas were gone in an instant. Years and years of selective breeding were gone for ever. Normally I do not cry when my fish dies, but to loose them all, that was simply not possible to bear so I bawled when I saw it. One stupid water pipe repair that I didn’t know of and following water pollution was all it took.

This happened at Easter in 2003. As I write this it is almost Christmas 2004. A year and a half has passed since.

After the initial chock had passed I started to like not having to change water all the time and I took some time to explore some other fish species. I also had gotten some aquarium contacts that had nothing what so ever to do with fancy bettas and IBC. It was an enormous relief to get out of the eternal bickering of betta breeders who fight over knowledge and gene pools.

I bred some tetras and a few other fish, but it was not really ever the same. If you breed a pair of tetras, the offspring is virtually identical to each other and their parents. The same goes for most fish. Of course it is cool to be able to do it, especially when it is a species that is considered “hard” to breed. So, I did it, proved that I could and now what?

Summer 2003 it all came to a temporary halt. We had agreed to move and since it was unknown when we would be doing so, I didn’t breed any fish since I didn’t want the hassle of moving fry.

My interest in the fish slowed down to an almost complete stand still. By the time we moved last Christmas I was pretty much at the point of selling all the equipment and the fish.

But the water at our new home proved to be no less than ideal for fish. All of them look better than ever and I finally got my aquarium room all dedicated to the fish. So I stuck with it a little while longer.

Then one day I ran into Marie online who was just starting out with HM’s along with her husband. After a few emails forth and back I started to feel that I simply HAD to get back to the fancy Betta splendens breeding. By chance I came upon a few males that had each some potential to work with. Go ahead and laugh, I see potential in veil tails now. I did ten years ago and I can do it all once again. This time at least I know a whole lot more about what to look out for in terms of potential.

As I write this, two spawns are growing in my tanks and I have lots of plans for them.

I got a part of my identity back finally. And this time there is room enough for both fancy bettas and all the others.

Trust me, he's got potential!

Back to main fish page.