Guidelines for Email Questions

maybe, originally uploaded by Silent Bright.

Hi Readers!

Wow, I can't believe all the amazing emails I have gotten full of great questions. You guys sure do keep me on my toes and thinking about all aspects of betta care and aquaria. To make things easier I am putting together some helpful guidelines. These guide lines will help me to better answer you in a thorough and timely manner and will also get YOU thinking of ways to be proactive about your fish care.


1. Grammar & Spell Check: Many of the emails I get are so riddled with bad grammar, spelling and incomplete sentences I need an expert in hieroglyphics to decipher them for me. I promise you that I will return your email with a well thought out response written in complete sentences and proof read before I send it. Please do the same for me. I understand you may be REALLLY!!!!!! REALLLY!!!!! ***FREAKING****out... and have MAJOR quesTIONs?????? but seriously, I don't need all those extra exclamation points and questions marks. Besides, I have to fix them in order to post them on the Blog and it takes time away from answering you.

If English isn't your first language, no problem. I'm cool with some grammar/spelling issues. Just do the best you can. If English IS your first language, no excuses. ;-)


2. Give Adequate Information: Of course people new to fish care may not know what exactly is enough information to give. I understand that so let me help you help me... uh... help you. (or something like that) A broad question will get a broad answer. "Why is my fish lethargic?", may be answered with 20 possible options. The more information you can provide, the more detailed a response you will get. Here is a list of helpful information to include in your email. If you don't have all the answers, include as much as you can.

1. What is your tank size?

2. Have you tested for ammonia- what were the results?

3. Have you tested for nitrite- what were the results?

4. Have you tested for nitrate- what were the results?

5. Have you tested for pH- what were the results?

6. What temperature is your tank?

7. How often do you perform water changes, how much water do you change?

8. What water additives are you using (please include any conditioners,
salt or medications)

9. What type of food are you feeding, how often and how much?
10. What kind of tank mates, when were they added?

11. Is your tank planted?

12. What are the symptoms, when did they begin and is there anything else
we should know?

3. Beware of EMERGENCY questions: Remember, this is email and I do my best to answer as many questions as fast as I can but this is something I volunteer in my free time. Please keep in mind that responses may take several days. I pretty much answer them in the order in which they are sent. If your fish is in a life and death situation you may be served better at a live online aquarium forum. I love Aquamaniacs.net for fast replies to urgent questions. Of course you may still email me and you will get a response but it may take awhile.

Well that's all I have for now. I hope these guidelines will help to better serve you. Thanks for reading and for your emails.