In The Beginning 0>WASSUP: Let me introduce myself my name is James, and recently my cousin BJ and I decided to start an aqauruim. At first we were going to do Oscars but in doing the research we found out that there was more to starting a fishtank, than just throwing some fish in it and calling it a aqaurium. We found out that we had to cycle the new tank, then we had to decide how to cycle it, then there was tank size for the type of fish we wanted, pump size,plant life and the list goes on. In the meantime we are going to different aquariums and looking at various setup and obtaining as much info as we can hold Thus far it has been a unique and interesting journey and we are still learning. We are beginners, any all information and advice will be seriously taken under considerationn Week one This was the week we began to search out fish, we went to several different locations and finally decided to on Capital Aquarium. My cousin and I picked out several different kinds of Oscars that we thought we might like to own, he contacted a friend and found us a nice 100gal tank and stand for a very reasonable price, if i told you how much it would make you blush, lol, I believe it even hs the pump as well. Anyhow while in the Store I found another species of fish and sort of fell in Love, although I have always enjoyed seeing them in the stores when i would go looking, I had never owned one. They are the Beeta's, also known as the Siamese Fighting fish. Well needless to say before leaving the stor i was the proud owner of two,not one mind u but two of these beautiful bois, Big Red and Mac Daddy Blue and this was the beginning of the Hairston clan. Shortly after that my cousin BJ purchased a 40gal Aqaurium, we went back to Capital along with his wife and talking with the sale person, who really was very knowledgable decided to start a African Cichlid tank. plants, rock, gravel,corral a pump, some aquarium salt, a master test kit and some other neccesarry items were purchased taken home washed, set-up and started. Two days later the first of our guest arrived and were appropriately named. 5 African & A Crayfish To Date our African tank is 19 days old and doing very well, several of the occupants two African Dwarf frogs, which i purchsed against the advice of the saleperson did not make it. So we have Azul and JC two Electric Blues, Ammario a Eletric Yellow, Pez who is an electric something we're just not sure what yet, as he seems tobe several diffeerent colors all at once, lol. Then there is Benita who is an Electric Orange and finally Benito who is a Blue Crayfish.We have since added another plant, after removing two one fake and one onion plant which they dug up and destroyed the roots. My cousin and his wife are now lloking to add two more at sometime in the near future. Betta's In the House If you haven't already guessed we are talking about two seperate household here, one with a African Tank and the other holding the Betta's. Yep that be me, I started with two Big Red and Mac Daddy Blue. that was up towards the beginning so they are about 21 days in the house, very active with good appetites and wonderful colors. I started off feeding them pellet4s which they ate but with no great enthusiasm so i added freeze dried worms which they like and eat with some gusto. They get some exercise when place they homes next to each other They go off like peacocks strutting their stuff. Yesterday on an outing to Capital i picked up to more, Pink Floyd and Black Satin. I have begun taking pictures which will be added in the near future along with the African Crew, lol. since we are Family. I have also added live food to their diets so theynnow enjoy bloodworms and brineshrimp as part of the meals. you shouuld see them go at it and with all four of them side by side i get a wonderful show of flaunting and fanning. Well stay tuned and as with the african all advice and information willbe greatly appreciated.