Young Photographer Uses her Betta Fish as Inspiration and Model for Mermaid Exhibit

Orangeville’s Lindsay Dewar has her first photography exhibit at Aardvark Music & Culture on Broadway. Five pieces from her Siren Series will be on display at the store for the next few months.

But despite years of creative work, Orangeville’s Lindsay Dewar has never really felt like an artist — until now, that is. And she has her Betta Fish to thank.

The 25-year-old recently landed space at Aardvark Music & Culture (169 Broadway, Orangeville) to exhibit some of her photography for the very first time. Five pieces from her Siren Series will be on display at the store for the next few months.

“It kind of feels like I’m kind of an artist (now),” Dewar said.

The photos are her attempt at portraying mermaids as they were before Disney’s 1989 film, The Little Mermaid, changed people’s perspective on these mythical aquatic creatures with the head and body of a woman and the tail of a fish, she said.

“It’s about originally how mermaids were,” she said. “The series is more of a dark art series. It’s a different perception than most people are used to. … I’ve always been interested in darker story tales and lore and finding beauty wherever you can.”

Dewar’s mermaids are deadly seductresses, not cute and cuddly doe-eyed girls.

Betta Mermaid

Each piece is comprised of several different elements, which Dewar spends hours pulling together.

“It’s like a multimedia piece that’s realistic looking,” she said. “I’m a perfectionist — I have to make sure everything works.”

For one of the pieces in the series, which depicts a mermaid from the back, Dewar had to snap photos of a model, using her betta fish tail and scales, a waterfall as well as taking pictures at an aquarium.

She also incorporated some painting, a statute she’d made of herself and, as with many of her pieces, wrote poetry to explain the image.

“It’s a lot of different layers,” she said. “There were over 50 different elements to pull it together. That one might have taken a week.”

Dewar, who attended both Orangeville District Secondary School and Westside Secondary School, said in high school she was immersed in all sorts of creative pursuits.

“I was into drama, costume design, found art, I was even into video,” she said. “Everything that was artistic I was involved in. The costume designs in my pieces are usually something I’ve created.”

A little more than four years ago, Dewar took an introductory course in photography and discovered she had a knack for taking pictures.

“I kind of found out I had a lot of talent,” she said. “(Before that) I was one of those people who wouldn’t pick up a camera.”

Dewar later enrolled in Sheridan College, where she studied commercial photography. She now works with Tom Partlett at Eclipse Images doing wedding and special event photography.

“I do portraiture as well, but usually with a modern twist,” she said.

Partlett, who has had his work displayed at Aardvark, encouraged Dewar to approach owners Perry Joseph and Gordon Shawcross about displaying some of her pieces at the store, which regularly exhibits the work of local artists.

“For the longest time I was skeptical about putting them up,” she said. “It took five months to come in and show (Joseph) the pieces.”

When she first dropped by the store with her portfolio, Dewar tried to pitch them on displaying some of her other work. But the mermaid series piqued Joseph’s interest.

“She brought in her entire portfolio to the store one day,” Joseph recalls. “There was no question in my mind those were the most interesting (photos). … It’s really beautiful work.”

In fact, they’ve since asked Dewar if she’d be interested in putting together enough pieces for a much larger exhibition in the larger gallery at the rear of the store, he added.

Dewar certainly has lots of pieces to choose from including geishas, Zombies, a vampire series and a pirate series. And she’s not stopping there.

“I’ve got a lot on the horizon,” she said. “I think that being creative with art is a way to make people’s dreams a reality. That’s kind of what I wanted to show with my art.”

To view Dewar’s work, drop by Aardvark, or visit www.lindenphotography.ca.

“Want to know the Betta Facts for keeping your bettas happy, healthy and long-living? I have enjoyed raising healthy, happy bettas for over 20 years, and if you head to this amazing web site for some incredible betta care tips (and a limited time offer with some freebies) I know you will be blown away. See you there!”
Elizabeth Christopher
P.S.
And if you enjoyed the info, don’t forget to share with your friends through the social buttons below!
Let’s save as many Betta Fish as we can, and give them the best lives possible.

Betta Types – What is the Difference?

Betta Types – What is the Difference?
By Elizabeth Christopher

Identifying the different betta types can be a daunting task. They have been bred for over two hundred years, and this has caused several of the breeds to resemble each other in many ways. Generally, though there are certain things you can look for when attempting to identify the different betta types. The betta tail is the easiest way to recognize which type of betta you are looking at.

Betta types differ in size, shape, and color. Betta mating for the last two centuries has been used as a way to breed betta fish for temperament, plumage, and other desired characteristics. A betta tail may be rounded, heart-shaped or jagged. The body may be only one and a half inches when full grown, or may be three inches long and stout. And the color permutations are off the chart. Let’s take a quick look at some of the more common bettas.

There are generally seven recognized betta types, and all are identified by the shape of their betta tail. (Consult a comprehensive betta guide for pictures and more details):

1 – Veiltail Betta

Veiltails are the most popular bettas with long flowing betta tail fins which are longer on the bottom. This is the most common fish found in pet stores.

2 – Half Moon Betta

Halfmoons are actually a subset of Delta. They have long straight rays and their betta tail fin opens to a 180 degree semi-cirlce (like a half moon).They will have multiple rays with many offshoots.

3 – Crowntail Betta

One of the most loved of all betta types, they have a tail which fans out, resembling a crown.

4 – Delta Tail Betta

The delta has even length tail rays, but they can not extend to more than one-hundred twenty degrees.

5 – Super Delta Betta

This betta has straight tail edges, and a triangular shaped tail.

6 – Double Tail Betta

This came about as a genetic freak, with two tails emanating from the betta tail base. You can have permutations of the above fish with double tails. Example: Crowntail Double Tail, Half Moon Double Tail, etc.

7 – Plakat Betta

This is the short-finned betta, closest to its natural ancestors. It has a very short tail. Male plakats are sometimes confused with female bettas because of their shorter body, and similar tail.

Since breeding for coloration, ray design, and fin display is an ongoing process, there are literally dozens of offshoots of these seven main betta types. There are combtails, spade, pintail, roundtail and rosetail just to name a few.

“Want to know the Betta Facts for keeping your bettas happy, healthy and long-living? I have enjoyed raising healthy, happy bettas for over 20 years, and when you head to this amazing web site for some incredible betta care tips (and a limited time offer with some freebies) I know you will be blown away, just as I was. See you there!”

Elizabeth Christopher
P.S.
And if you enjoyed the info, don’t forget to share with your friends through the social buttons below!
Let’s save as many Betta Fish as we can, and give them the best lives possible.

Betta Plant Selection – What Is The Perfect Betta Plant?

Bettas in nature usually are found around plants and vegetation, and some even depend on plants for creating their bubble nests. But there are so many plants out there, how do you know which would be the perfect betta plant? Lets take a look at some of the better options for your betta that will help him thrive while adding some visual splendor to your tank.

This Betta Loves Natural Plants

1 – Plastic Betta Plant

Plastic plants have a few benefits that natural plants do not. adding a plastic plant or two means no dirt to clean up! Huge benefit there. Also, plastic plants last indefinitely, and will not create the need for extra cleaning. While they do not create oxygen for the tank like natural plants, they come in a limitless variety of colors and styles, both top water and anchored, which allows you no end in choosing the betta plant that accents your betta the best.

2 – Natural Betta Plant

Natural plants are the purists choice, and they provide needed oxygen to your betta tank. However, they do create a dirtier tank, and may cause more frequent tank maintenance. When choosing natural plants, make sure to follow the progress of the roots, which usually hang down. If they start to cramp your betta’s movements, or begin to become brown and squishy, they need to be removed.

One great natural betta plant is the water lily. This plant hovers at the top of the tank, is a lush green color, and provides excellent nesting and hiding areas. Some other good ideas for a natural betta plant are Chinese Evergreen and Philodendron. Philodendrons are a favorite of mine.

Want to learn more about betta plant selection and discover how to triple your betta’s lifespan? Then get the book pet store owners don’t want you to read. An acclaimed 25 year betta expert (and my good friend) reveals incredible tips to give your betta the healthiest, happiest, longest life. Available for immediate download at THIS LINK.
Beth C.

P.S.
I have arranged for $20 in free bonuses for you, and a discounted price! But this is a limited time offer. Wanna see what you’ll get? GO HERE for details.

Betta Tankmates – Choosing Roomies For Your Betta Splendens

Betta Tankmates – Choosing Roomies For Your Betta Splendens
By Elizabeth Christopher

Betta tankmates have to be chosen as carefully as a person chooses a roommate. Pick the wrong betta tankmates, and your fish will suffer. Choose the wrong roommate for yourself and you may suffer. You get the idea. Let’s take a look at some betta tankmates that will allow your fish to live a long, happy and healthy life with good neighborly interaction.

The right betta mates need to understand that he is living with a fish that can be surly, and even downright nasty at times. The perfect partner will allow his finny friend room to be himself, and shouldn’t clash lest there be dire consequences.

Apple Snail with Betta Fish

1 – Apple Snails

Apple snails are a great addition to a betta tank. These snails are small at birth, but can reach a size of 4 – 6 inches when adult, and add a peaceful nature to your betta. Bettas typically ignore them.

2 – Cory Catfish

Cory Catfish are the most common catfish kept in aquariums. Since they prefer the bottom of the tank, they typically do not run afoul of the middle to top-dwelling betta fish. They are hardy and very easy to breed and care for.

3 – Dwarf Frog

Betta tankmates need to be non-similar to the betta. Bettas attack other fish that resemble themselves. That is why a dwarf frog or two make such a diverse friend for your betta tank and a wonderful visual addition to your tank.

4 – Neon Tetras

Neon tetras are small (one inch max.), inexpensive fish that add motion and vibrant color to any tank. They respond extremely well with any betta fish.

Neon Tetras with Betta Fish

Remember that every betta fish has a distinctive personality. What works for one betta may not work for the next one. And when your betta mates, all bets are off, and a previous friend can become a foe in your fighting fish’s eyes. Don’t forgot that you should never keep more than one inch of fish per gallon of aquarium. If you follow these rules, you should be able to place some great betta tankmates with your beautiful betta splendens that will provide you with a full, visual experience.

Want to know how to triple your betta’s lifespan? Then get the book pet store owners don’t want you to read. An acclaimed 25 year betta expert (and my good friend) reveals incredible tips to give your betta the healthiest, happiest, longest life. Available for immediate download at THIS LINK.
Beth C.

P.S.
I have arranged for $20 in free bonuses for you, and a discounted price! But this is a limited time offer. Wanna see what you’ll get? GO HERE for details.

betta tankmates,betta mates,betta tank

Betta Diseases – Curing Your Betta Fish With a Salt Bath

Since many betta diseases occur due to improper tank conditions, most of these afflictions can be treated the same way. A salt bath may be the last thing you think could benefit your freshwater betta fish, but is actually a very effective, age-old cure that is one of the first steps you need to take to nurse your betta back to health. Of course, the best case is to have a proper betta tank set-up to begin with, but more on that later.

How can salt help a freshwater fish, you ask? The bacteria and protozoa that attack your fish when its immune system is deficient are very low single cell forms of life. Common betta diseases are then transmitted to your fish by these simple life forms.

Betta Fish With Dropsy

They have almost no form of defense system, so even a gradual change in the level of salt in your aquarium will cause instant death to these primitive beings. They simply can not adapt quickly enough to the resultant change in their environment.

Why doesn’t it harm my betta, you ask? Fish are more complex beings, and have internal organs such as kidneys to help them deal with external environmental changes. They are much hardier than microscopic bacteria. Therefore a very minute change in the salt levels of their tanks causes them almost no discernible level of discomfort.

To learn what ratio of salt to fresh water to use, consult a comprehensive guide (the same one I use every day is available at the end of this column, with some freebies I finagled for you) for your particular fish. Usually, a ratio of one tablespoon per five gallons of aquarium water is fine for ongoing conditions, but this level needs to be significantly increased when treating betta diseases in a recovery tank or bucket.

Using salt to treat your sick betta is just one step to take to bring your fish back to full health. Once healthy, ongoing tank maintenance needs to be followed, and other tips and tricks can be used to ensure your betta lives as long and healthy a life as possible. Most bettas live about six months on average, but when proper preparation and care are employed, you can have a vibrant, lively betta for three to five years.

Want to learn all about betta disease prevention and treatment, and discover how to triple your betta’s lifespan? Then get the book pet store owners don’t want you to read. An acclaimed 25 year betta expert (and my good friend) reveals incredible tips to give your betta the healthiest, happiest, longest life. Available for immediate download at THIS LINK.
Beth C.

P.S.
I have arranged for $20 in free bonuses for you, and a discounted price! But this is a limited time offer. Wanna see what you’ll get? GO HERE for details.

Time Sensitive Special Offer To My Readers!

Hi guys,
Elizabeth here.
I just wanted to let you in on a limited time special offer that a friend of mine has made available to the readers of my blog.

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This is the same course I refer to every day, and I know it can help enrich your life and the lives of your beautiful bettas.

Elizabeth

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Why Does My Betta Fight? Its All in the Breeding!

Have ever asked yourself the question, “Why does my betta fight?” In Thailand (formerly Siam) people bet on the outcome of a betta fight, and raising and breeding betta fish (called Pla Kat in Thailand) specifically for fighting has become a nationwide hobby. The increased popularity of this “sport” over the last several hundred years has actually made the betta a much more aggressive fish than nature intended, but shortened the betta lifespan. Let’s take a look at the way breeding has given your beautiful Betta Splendens its fierce nature.

Betta Fish Fighting

Ever since American C. Tate Regan named this colorful fish Betta Splendens (splendid betta) in 1909, hundreds of color and fin varieties have been bred, but few know that the color of a betta has a lot to do with how aggressive he is. Going back hundreds of years, a betta’s colors were tracked, and if the offspring of a particular betta were noted to be more aggressive than another, the coloring was noted, and bred then with other bettas of another agressive coloration, creating a particularly nasty fish in an entirely new color variation. Lineage can often be tracked back several generations to a particular color or fin style.

When weaker fish were bred, as they proved to be less aggressive, they were discarded. Nobody wanted weak fish in a betta fight! Because of this, after hundreds of years, the fish you now see in your local pet store are much more aggressive and fighting-inclined than nature intended. Just think, your betta might be the ancestor of a great fighting champion. Hail betta!

Further evidence in favor of the breeding argument is the fact that a betta fight between two Pla Kat Tung (a betta raised in nature) lasts only about fifteen minutes. However, a betta fight between two Pla Kat Mor (commercially grown betta) can last up to six hours.

The best fighters fall into three categories.

1 – Hokmokwai

This betta has a gray-blue/green body and no red coloration in its unpaired fins, with black pelvic fins.

2 – Angchae

The Angchae has a totally green body with its unpaired fins only half red.

3 – Honkamten

This fish is identified by a brown body with rows of green spots and a crescent pattern on the tail fin.

A betta fight generally never leads to death, it is more chasing and nipping, so a healthy fighting fish can be used for years. Pet-store bettas don’t usually live longer than six months, though the betta lifespan can be stretched up to five years if proper steps are taken and the tank is maintained properly. There are basically three secret ingredients to raising a healthy, long-living Siamese fighting fish; tank conditions, proper diagnosis of disease (betta get sick very easily), and tank maintenance.

Want to know how to triple your betta’s lifespan? Then get the book pet store owners don’t want you to read. An acclaimed 25 year betta expert (and my good friend) reveals incredible tips to give your betta the healthiest, happiest, longest life. Available for immediate download at THIS LINK.
P.S.
I have arranged for $20 in free bonuses for you, and a discounted price! But this is a limited time offer. Wanna see what you’ll get? GO HERE for details.

Betta Vase – Is it the Perfect Betta House?

Betta Vase – Is it the Perfect Betta House?

So, you’re thinking about buying a betta fish. You see them everywhere in a Betta vase, or small bowl, but is this type of Betta house conducive to long life and health? The Betta vase you got with your fish from the pet store may appear large enough for your little friend, but it is lacking three essential characteristics to make it the perfect Betta house your Neptunian buddy can be proud of.

Sad Betta Fish in Tiny Betta Vase

1 – Betta Temperature regulation

Unlike you and me, your little Betta can not simply add a sweater, or change into shorts and a t-shirt to regulate his body temperature. He also can not adjust the thermostat in his Betta house. In the case of a Betta vase, there is no means of regulating temperature. To provide your fish with the best possible chance at a long, healthy life, a heater with programmable thermostat needs to be in place.

2 – High Betta water quality

The water in a Betta vase, even when changed frequently, is not nearly as disease free and clean as that in a Betta house that has a water filtration system. Aside from filtering the water to clean it, the filter breeds good bacteria in its reservoir that help control the ammonia levels in your fish’s habitat. This keeps your finny friend comfortable and healthy, and makes water changes and tank cleanings much easier.

3 – Space

Yep, your fish can survive in his little Betta vase, but he can only thrive in a Betta house that is three or more gallons. Your fish needs more room to swim and check out his new digs. He gets much more exercise in a larger tank. His personality has room to grow, and he will live longer and stronger. I prefer five gallons at least, but a three gallon is even a huge improvement over the tiny Betta vase he is in now.

Happy Betta with Lots of Room to Grow

A Betta vase may look fine, but it is very minimal in providing your fish with a healthy environment. The perfect Betta house is at least three gallons, preferably five, and has a thermostat controlled heater and water filtration system. The three secret ingredients to keeping your fish living well beyond the industry average of six months are clean water, disease prevention and comfortable habitat, and these items cover all the bases. Provide them for your fish, and you can expect him to live as many as five or six years.

“Want to know the Betta Facts for successful betta set-up and care? I have enjoyed raising healthy, happy bettas for over 20 years. Head to this special web site for some incredible betta care tips (and a limited time offer). See you there!”

Elizabeth Christopher

P.S.
If you enjoyed the info, don’t forget to share with your friends through the social buttons below! Let’s save as many Betta Fish as we can, and give them the best lives possible.

Bettas show left-and right-hand preferences !

The Siamese fighting fish, Betta splendens, not only shows right- and left-hand preferences but also has accompanying body asymmetries according to research published in a recent issue of Behavioral Brain Research.

Lead researcher Yuichi Takeuchi aimed to answer three separate questions:

• In a display of aggression, would betta fish present one side to an opponent in preference to the other side?
• Are there are differences in appearance between the left and right side of the betta fish?
• Are differences in betta body shape linked to which side the fish presented?

Bettas prove ideal fish for such experiments, as Takeuchi explains: “Betta splendens show intensive aggressive behavioural patterns” and “remarkably erect the operculum during these social situations”.

In the first phase of the experiment, Takeuchi found that when placed in a mirrored, hexagonal tank  just over half of the betta fish showed a left or right-sided preference for displays of aggressions: “lefty” bettas were more likely to present and flare their left gill cover at the mirror image of themselves, while “righty” fish would do the opposite.

Betta Fish Flaring

In the second stage of the experiment, the researchers measured tiny differences in the body shapes of the fishes, specifically looking at the angle at which the spine met the head.  The overwhelming majority of betta fish had a slight left- or right-sided bend in their backbone.

Finally, Takeuchi compared the two sets of results and found that fish that were already identified as lefties had a subtle bend in their spine to the left while righties would most likely bend to the right, suggesting a link between body shape and left/right preference.

Takeuchi admits that the test may lead to more questions than answers, agreeing that “The reason for the relationship between behaviour laterality… and morphological asymmetry in Betta Splendens is not clear”, and that perhaps these results actually mean that it is time to “re-examine the widespread behavioural laterality in fish”.

“Want to know the Betta Facts for successful betta set-up and care? I have enjoyed raising healthy, happy bettas for over 20 years. Head to this special web site for some incredible betta care tips (and a limited time offer). See you there!”
Elizabeth Christopher

Don’t forget to share with your friends through the social buttons below! Let’s save as many Betta Fish as we can, and give them the best lives possible.

_____________________________________

Published: Dr Claire Inness Wednesday 19 May 2010, 2:21 pm

posted in Practical Fishkeeping at http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/content.php?sid=2839

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See ya soon, and Happy Bettaing! (is that even a word? lol)

P.S.

“Want to know the Betta Facts for successful betta set-up and care? I have enjoyed raising healthy, happy bettas for over 20 years. Head to this special web site for some incredible betta care tips (and a limited time offer). See you there!”
Elizabeth Christopher

Don’t forget to share with your friends through the social buttons below! Let’s save as many Betta Fish as we can, and give them the best lives possible.