No the temperature is ok, I've kept my bettas this way for years. They are in 1 gallon containers, not small bowls, it bothers me to see them in those little cups... but thats another issue :( When I said color fading, it was more like their pigment was slightly paler just cause of the lack of light at night and it does return within about 5 minutes or so. As far as I know the light doesn't bother them, I was just wondering if it would be better to cover them. I haven't had any problems with this before, my fish have all lived long healthy lives. But its just somthing I was thinking about this morning. Doesn't hurt to be double-triple sure :) The two that are under the light that I'm talking about are quite young, the crown tail doesn't appear to even be full size yet, though he could just be smaller overall. We'll see! These two I just bought about a week ago. So far, they are settling in nicely! And bettas really do have distinct personalities. The crown tail is the first male fighter I have ever had that is actually overall quite timid. It may just be he's taking longer to get used to really living and not just sitting there in that shot glass, but usually the guys are quite the show offs! Certainly his neighbor is, and the ones out in the living room are no less showy. I feel like I have a special one! Somthing different than the usual "I'm king of the world" attitude, although if he catches sight of his neighbor the timidness dissipates quite rapidly! One more question, does this forum allow picture uploads? It would be nice to give them their 15 minutes of fame! - snakoyd

As the jewel painted sky slowly slides under the cloak of night my mind drifts into another world where the sounds that are muted during the light of day suddenly burst into a crescendo of music and the fragrances of the day that have been overwhelmed by all the heat and frenzy of the sun sweep across my heightened senses teasing and flirting as they tempt me to put a name to their heady aromas. I sit under the stars and watch as they slowly waken and paint the sky into the most gorgeous map of the world. A map that can direct any person regardless of their location. I watch as the lights wink from airplanes circling overhead and the occasional shooting star that blazes across the dark night palette. Slowly my body unwinds and relaxes as the sounds of night birds caress the darkness with their sweet haunting sounds as one by one the lights in the homes dim and the houses blend into the blackness that speaks such color. Scents taunt the ragged nerves of my soul and massage them into pleasing chords of bliss. Fireflies illuminate the dark as if thousands of small candles flicker their lights around the area. Occasionally the bark of a seal brings me back into reality but then as the soft warm summer breeze teases the hair surrounding my face and sweet sweet nectar fills my nose with heady fragrance I let go and drift once again into a land of mystery and delight. The clock strikes midnight and I slowly stroll around the garden for a lingering goodnight to my babies and then crawl into a freshly laundered and cool bed only to awaken around 3 am for another quiet time in the garden. I amble around the streets that are not quiet as they are alive with the nightlife that awakens as the sun disappears. It is another night spent communing with the other world of shifting senses and I greet the new day as lights once again come on one by one in the slumbering houses and the rosy fingers of dawn begin decorating the sky with jewels of light. Flowers awaken and turn their faces upward to greet the morning and once again the nightly beauty and life of each garden fades into the heat of a new day and the morning crew takes over. It is at this point that I thank God for allowing me to witness both worlds and for all the intricate work he put into the beauty of a single flower and leaf. Enjoy the new day and save some time to experience the night. Linda

Donna--- I really dont have an answer to your question unless they just sense an urgency to feed all they can because of the storm , sorta like fish that will bite better just before and even during rain. Yes , I agree location is more important that the actual feeder although the feeder does play a part. Today before I left I noted both rear feeders nearly empty so I brought those in to clean and refill and boy you should of seen the devil they gave me. There must have been 10 or 12 hummers fluttering along the slider where the feeders hung and tweeting their little heads off staring in at me , like "whats going on, how can you do this to us, wheres our food". I even added the 50oz artline that I had out last year since the activity has picked up so much. And tomorrow I will be gone fishing all day so I wont be there to refill. beaglemom-- the activity has picked up here lately to where Im sure Im using at least a half a gallon a day also and it may increase before the action dies down here. They are keep me busy. I have 96oz ready for them for tomorrow hopefully that will hold them till I get home late tomorrow night.

So far we win the prize.....and it is not a prize I want to win. Nineteen degrees here and I suspect my onions are probably dead even though I covered them up with hay quickly last night as I was leaving to take dinner to the firefighters. I didn't cover up anything else but all my tender seedlings and potted plants were either in the house or in the well-insulated barn/garage. I hope to carry the plants back out at mid-morning after it warms up, but whether or not I manage to depends on the fire activity. Before I can spend time gardening, gotta run outside and feed all the animals, and then make a run to Sam's in Sherman to get several dozen cases of water and Gatorade and tons of food. It is taking a lot to keep our firefighters, now in their 8th day on this brushfire, fed and well-hydrated. Mitch, usually potatoes will regrow from the tubers even if all the foliage is blackened and frozen. After last year's late freeze in May, it took mine at least 2 weeks to put out any new growth though, so you may have to wait a while to see the recovery. I hope all the plants that were covered up made it through the cold in everyone's yards the last couple of nights. Jay, if y'all are "late" with the corn that far north, imagine how my "old farmer" buddies who normally plant corn in March are feeling now.....everyone's going nuts! Now that a rapid warm-up is expected, let the planting games begin! Scott, I'm not optimistic either. Know I'll lose the remaining fruit at 19 degrees. The native pecan trees haven't leafed out yet, but I bet they will soon. I'm ready to plant anytime after today but the ongoing wildfire issues will dictate my schedule, unfortunately. I'm running out of creative cooking ideas for large crowds, too! On the other hand, hungry firefighters will eat anything you cook for them. Yesterday, I made 15-bean soup, cornbread muffins and mixed berry cobbler. Today I am so tired that they may get hot dogs and chips. :) I think one of the other wives is going to make chicken spaghetti today in anticipation of the FFs needing to be fed tonight, so that takes some of the workload off of me. So far, our evil little fire has burned an area almost 6 miles long and 4 miles wide, but we've only lost a couple of houses and a few outbuildings. I need for these wildfires to stop so I can get back to my gardening. At least with a hard frost on the ground, we shouldn't have fire issues until the morning sun burns the frost off the grass. Dawn