Best Betta Care Book /website/magazine?

[Volleyball_Rox]

Hullllllooooo. 3rd post ever!
Okey Dokey, well I got two books from my library, supposed to be a guide for betta owners, and it certainly is NOT. They have 7 pages explaining basic beginner care, and the rest of the 40 pages are on breeding. I do not want to breed, I would like to own a happy, healthy betta. That's all. So I ordered another book and am going to pick it up today, it is Animal Planet Betta book. So hopefully I will be able to get it all straight.
But do you have any good betta beginner websites or books? Help a fellow betta buddy out, please!?
Do you have any good advice for a betta beginner yourself?
Also, hows this routine sound?
Monday: Feed two Betta Pellets, remove two ounces of water. Let 3 ounces of tap water in bucket sit with water conditioner in it to become room temp. Place mirror in front of him for stimulation for 3 minutes.
Tuesday: Feed two Tropical Fish Flakes, crushed, add 3 ounces of water mentioned above.
Wednesday: Feed two pellets, remove 3 ounces of water from gravel. Let 2 ounces sit at room tempurature prepared with water conditioner. Let him chase finger for stimulation for 3 minutes.
Thursday: Feed two flakes. Add previously mentioned water.
Friday: Feed two pellets. Remove 2 ounces of water. Let 3 ounces of water sit at room tempurature with conditioner in it. Mirror stimulation.
Saturday: Feed 1 pellet and 1 flake. Add previously mentioned water. Finger Stimulation.
Sunday: Starve day. Mirror and finger movements.
Once a month, first saturday of month, do a complete water change, rinsing gravel.
Sound good?

 

[Jonty]

I'd say this forum is the best place for advice. Everyone is always happy and answer questions and I've found them open and friendly.

 

[woodstock]

I like it, but with just some details:

One: I never went to books. They're a little too technical and lack the "emotional appeal (?)" - or rather, very obvoius first hand experience with a betta. So I go to places like this instead

Remember, allow all foods to soak before putting it in. So get a tiny cup, get some tiny amount of water, and then let it soak for UP to 10 minutes, but at least 1minute.

I hear lots of debates with flakes, but personally, I'm okay with them. I don't feed them, but I'm not against them. I don't think you need to crush it either, we don't want it TOO small. but make sure the size is smaller than his mouth.

I don't think mirror stimulation is needed. This is so EASILY replaced with lots of interaction from the human..so, you. Lol. You play with him enough, he won't need stimulation. But you know, *nudge nudge* he'd be even perkier in a bigger tank. Lol. And, how are you on getting a bigger tank? No money, too much to handle, etc... ? And the heater, how's the heater coming along?

And also, where do you place him? If it's in a place where you see him often, then mirror stimulation definitely won't be necessary. He'll get his exercised from running against the tank to get to you. So cute.

Don't rinse gravel. When you DO clean it out, make sure you only move UP TO 50% to prevent any issues with cycling. Although cycling in a 1gallon is doubtful, better safe than sorry.

Oh, and when I feed, I always do finger movements. They love it! This is with their food on my finger and they chase it, and also against the tank and they just follow it.

You're doing great though! Have fun with your betta

 

[Volleyball_Rox]

I like it, but with just some details:

One: I never went to books. They're a little too technical and lack the "emotional appeal (?)" - or rather, very obvoius first hand experience with a betta. So I go to places like this instead

Remember, allow all foods to soak before putting it in. So get a tiny cup, get some tiny amount of water, and then let it soak for UP to 10 minutes, but at least 1minute.

I hear lots of debates with flakes, but personally, I'm okay with them. I don't feed them, but I'm not against them. I don't think you need to crush it either, we don't want it TOO small. but make sure the size is smaller than his mouth.

I don't think mirror stimulation is needed. This is so EASILY replaced with lots of interaction from the human..so, you. Lol. You play with him enough, he won't need stimulation. But you know, *nudge nudge* he'd be even perkier in a bigger tank. Lol. And, how are you on getting a bigger tank? No money, too much to handle, etc... ? And the heater, how's the heater coming along?

And also, where do you place him? If it's in a place where you see him often, then mirror stimulation definitely won't be necessary. He'll get his exercised from running against the tank to get to you. So cute.

Don't rinse gravel. When you DO clean it out, make sure you only move UP TO 50% to prevent any issues with cycling. Although cycling in a 1gallon is doubtful, better safe than sorry.

Oh, and when I feed, I always do finger movements. They love it! This is with their food on my finger and they chase it, and also against the tank and they just follow it.

You're doing great though! Have fun with your betta

Ohh soak the food? Didn't know that! I'll do that!
I make the flakes small enough for his mouth, LoL.
As with the tank, I am 12, so I don't have a job, but I serve funerals, and I just did and earned 10 dollars, and I plan to save enough to buy a 5 gallon or 4 gallon tank. My only problem with this is, I keep him on my desk, and do that so he will have some stimulation, and if I did get a bigger tank, I wouldn't be able to keep him there anymore.
And there is no where else in my room I can keep him in a spot he will still get stimulation. Sigh.
Would he honestly be more active in a bigger tank? What size do you keep your betta in, again?
THX!

 

[woodstock]

Everybody has a starting point, and this is yours. So no biggie

I have that same space issue. I have a 5gallon tank in my living room where everybody can see him. I love how he's by your desk, it's going to help him if you so often play with him, I understand the age thing, I'm 16 with no job and no car. (Frankly, grades > personal needs atm).

And you technically have a job. Oh geez. Haha well good! If you have a walmart near by, check this out:
http/www.walmart.com/ip/Tetra-Aquarium-Starter-Kit-5-Gallons-Fish-Aquatic-Pets/12177653

I have this. So great. 5 gallons with filter, light, blah blah... for $30. Cheapest you can find. You still need a heater though. I would say, save around $50. Remember, in terms of important, heater > filter. But both are important.

Good luck making space, lol. I'm in dilemna right now too. Debate with yourself and do the best you can!

4 gallons is just as acceptable. Bettas usually like horizontal swimming space. It's more ideal, But, if you can't do that, then consider the Hex Tank:
http/www.petco.com/product/12788/Marineland-Eclipse-Hex-5-Fully-Integrated-Aquarium-Kit.aspx

It saves a lot of space for ya. (I know you can get it in other places besides Petco. But as for the Walmart one, you can only get it there!)

But it's... expensive. $60 is not a pretty price for me.

Good luck

Oh, and here's a tip for conditioner. Seachem Prime. Detoxifies ammonia and nitrates (seriously, fish's top two killers. This is why most fish hardly last a month!), removes chlorine and chloramine. It's very very cheap for it's size, i got a small for around $6. Not required, but just a tip. If you're short on money, consider this last since you already have a conditioner.

 

[Volleyball_Rox]

Everybody has a starting point, and this is yours. So no biggie

I have that same space issue. I have a 5gallon tank in my living room where everybody can see him. I love how he's by your desk, it's going to help him if you so often play with him, I understand the age thing, I'm 16 with no job and no car. (Frankly, grades > personal needs atm).

And you technically have a job. Oh geez. Haha well good! If you have a walmart near by, check this out:
http/www.walmart.com/ip/Tetra-Aquarium-Starter-Kit-5-Gallons-Fish-Aquatic-Pets/12177653

I have this. So great. 5 gallons with filter, light, blah blah... for $30. Cheapest you can find. You still need a heater though. I would say, save around $50. Remember, in terms of important, heater > filter. But both are important.

Good luck making space, lol. I'm in dilemna right now too. Debate with yourself and do the best you can!

4 gallons is just as acceptable. Bettas usually like horizontal swimming space. It's more ideal, But, if you can't do that, then consider the Hex Tank:
http/www.petco.com/product/12788/Marineland-Eclipse-Hex-5-Fully-Integrated-Aquarium-Kit.aspx

It saves a lot of space for ya. (I know you can get it in other places besides Petco. But as for the Walmart one, you can only get it there!)

But it's... expensive. $60 is not a pretty price for me.

Good luck

Oh, and here's a tip for conditioner. Seachem Prime. Detoxifies ammonia and nitrates (seriously, fish's top two killers. This is why most fish hardly last a month!), removes chlorine and chloramine. It's very very cheap for it's size, i got a small for around $6. Not required, but just a tip. If you're short on money, consider this last since you already have a conditioner.

OMG okay I am probably just over reacting like normal, but I think i found a great deal.
It is Lee's Rectangular Kritter Keeper from Petco.com. It's largest size is 8.75" L X 14.5" W X 9.75" H. It is plastic, and reviewers use it as an aquarium. Best of all, it is 4 gallons, and only 9.97!!
Like I said, it can be and is used as an aquarium and is big enough and rectangular so it can support a heater and filter!
I also measured, and the kritter keeper would fit perfectly in the right side of my desk.
Here is the link: My link
Does this sound apropriate? And will it need gravel at the bottom, or is that not needed?
My only prob is: they are out of stock lol. Should get more in soon.
I'm so happy. Will this work? I hope so.

 

[woodstock]

4 gallons, you sure? I calculated and I got FIVE gallons! Maybe you got 4 IMPERIAL gallons (no. I don't know the difference. Haha) But this is great! I know I approve. Good luck getting this, and it's very cheap! Good for you!

Yes, gravel should be there. Not a MUST, but not only is it prettier, it helps with cycling and healthier bacteria. HEATER FIRST, then filter! And there should be a lot of plants. Since you're on budget, try working on bigger plants first, and then work on crowding it. Bigger as in, something he can actually hide in. Good luck. I LOVE Petco's silk plants. I'm working on getting all of them in my tank, haha.
If I'm right, I think you need around either 5 or 10 lbs of gravel. I think. Lol. Here's a tip: When setting it up, get the plants in first. and THEN gravel. Lol. Oh, and always wash the gravel over and over and over and over. You can use tap water. You should always leave it, filled with water, heater, filter, etc for at least a day (if you're going to do fish-in cycle, which I trust you're going to do constant and frequent water changes? Right?). And don't forget acclimation!

And don't be surprised if he stops eating for a while, etc. It's a natural thing. Give him (a lot) of time.

Good that he'll be next to you. He'll love that too

Good luck getting everything! It's surprising the heater and filter will be more expensive than the tank itself. Lol

Oh, and a tip on water changes. Well, how do you do yours? With a bucket? I found that inconvenient for me personally, so if you do, start looking into a siphon.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi Volleyball_Rox

My best advice to you is to just relax. Fishkeeping should be fun and you will do just fine at it.

If you would like to listen to some information about betta keeping and learn a little bit about the wild bettas too, listen to the podcast here.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/308000-coryolgists-interview-with-mark-denaro/

 

[woodstock]

Ahahaha, we're not freaking you out, right?

 

[Volleyball_Rox]

4 gallons, you sure? I calculated and I got FIVE gallons! Maybe you got 4 IMPERIAL gallons (no. I don't know the difference. Haha) But this is great! I know I approve. Good luck getting this, and it's very cheap! Good for you!

Yes, gravel should be there. Not a MUST, but not only is it prettier, it helps with cycling and healthier bacteria. HEATER FIRST, then filter! And there should be a lot of plants. Since you're on budget, try working on bigger plants first, and then work on crowding it. Bigger as in, something he can actually hide in. Good luck. I LOVE Petco's silk plants. I'm working on getting all of them in my tank, haha.
If I'm right, I think you need around either 5 or 10 lbs of gravel. I think. Lol. Here's a tip: When setting it up, get the plants in first. and THEN gravel. Lol. Oh, and always wash the gravel over and over and over and over. You can use tap water. You should always leave it, filled with water, heater, filter, etc for at least a day (if you're going to do fish-in cycle, which I trust you're going to do constant and frequent water changes? Right?). And don't forget acclimation!

And don't be surprised if he stops eating for a while, etc. It's a natural thing. Give him (a lot) of time.

Good that he'll be next to you. He'll love that too

Good luck getting everything! It's surprising the heater and filter will be more expensive than the tank itself. Lol

Oh, and a tip on water changes. Well, how do you do yours? With a bucket? I found that inconvenient for me personally, so if you do, start looking into a siphon.

Yup Yup! I'm excited about the new tank. But I have to wait until it comes back in stock, and Petco will send me an email when it is. And my mom said "We'll See." because I have to use her visa to buy it, and she doesn't understand fish keeping.
And I'm going to make that DIY sponge filter that one person gave me the link to..exept I need the empty can. So I have to get that. And then a heater, and my betta will be on it's way to a happy, healthy life.
I'm so glad I joined this website, it is soooo dang helpful. There is so much misleading info on the net and in books. (exa can only see one foot away!?) But I got a new book today, Animal Planet Betta Aquarium Keeping. It's the bomb.com so far. It explains everything to the perfect extent!
So how are your betta buddies doin?

 

[Mauricia]

Yep that plastic critter keeper should be fine, and then you just need to save for a filter and a heater. But you can make your own sponge filter for really cheap! You just need a pump for like 5 bucks, airline tubing and stuff from around the house. But I would wait to get a fish till you have a heater or you will just be sad when your betta gets sick. And a tank wont cycle with the gravel in it and no filter because gravel doesn't support enough bacteria for a cycled tank. If you're not going to have a filter (Which I really recommend you do, they make life easier) then you might as well not use gravel because you will need to do 100% water changes.

 

[woodstock]

Yup Yup! I'm excited about the new tank. But I have to wait until it comes back in stock, and Petco will send me an email when it is. And my mom said "We'll See." because I have to use her visa to buy it, and she doesn't understand fish keeping.
And I'm going to make that DIY sponge filter that one person gave me the link to..exept I need the empty can. So I have to get that. And then a heater, and my betta will be on it's way to a happy, healthy life.
I'm so glad I joined this website, it is soooo dang helpful. There is so much misleading info on the net and in books. (exa can only see one foot away!?) But I got a new book today, Animal Planet Betta Aquarium Keeping. It's the bomb.com so far. It explains everything to the perfect extent!
So how are your betta buddies doin?

Good good. And parents will never understand fish keeping... fight the power!! Surprised a book is that good. I'll go see it sometime.... hmmm.
And my two bettas are generally fine thank you, except for my second betta's poor, poor fin! But he's okay healthwise. I'll be patient!

Yep that plastic critter keeper should be fine, and then you just need to save for a filter and a heater. But you can make your own sponge filter for really cheap! You just need a pump for like 5 bucks, airline tubing and stuff from around the house. But I would wait to get a fish till you have a heater or you will just be sad when your betta gets sick. And a tank wont cycle with the gravel in it and no filter because gravel doesn't support enough bacteria for a cycled tank. If you're not going to have a filter (Which I really recommend you do, they make life easier) then you might as well not use gravel because you will need to do 100% water changes.

*Nod nod* Yup - to the filter. (To volleyball_rox: Oh, and it does depend what kind of filter cartridge you get. Just ask and we'll help.) The gravel CAN affect a cycle - pretty easily. I once mixed my gravel around too much - bam. Mini cycle. Not the best, agreed, but definitely plays a part.

 

[Mauricia]

Yes I agree that the gravel will affect the cycle and this is important to consider with a mature cycled tank. If you have a filtered tank then you want to keep this in mind. As far as I know though, gravel in a small tank won't be enough to support a colony of bacteria to keep the tank clean. Some bacteria will live there but it won't be stable. And because lots of muck and ammonia can be in the gravel I think you are better off doing 100% water changes with no gravel or thoroughly rinsing the gravel than you are trying to cycle a tank with just gravel. You can also cycle a tank without the gravel, most of my tanks have no gravel and are fully cycled because I have so many tanks i dont have time for gravel. If you cycle without gravel then all your bacteria will live in the filter, but if there's gravel in the tank then some will move to the gravel so removing it will cause the mini cycle. It kind of balances out at an equilibrium, although the equilibrium has a lot more bacteria in the filter. Anyway I'm sorry if this doesn't make sense I'm not expert so I might be off by a bit.

 

[woodstock]

No that makes perfect sense, and I don't think anything's that off. How many tanks do you have to not get gravel? Must be a lot..... Lol

 

[Mauricia]

24 right now, lol. But they're my boyfriends too (actually mostly his he's the expert, I just keep the bettas) and they're not all gravel-less. We have 5 display tanks, the others are basically holding tanks for breeding or for bettas. But we don't breed bettas at this point, don't want to deal with jarring. But none of the betta tanks have gravel, but don't worry they're still full of real and silk plants so the bettas aren't sad. We use stuff that doesn't need gravel and attach it to driftwood.
I kind of hate substrate though because I'm really obsessively clean and it bothers me to not have 100% clean at the bottom of the tank.