First Ever Betta... (pics added)

[SarahBravo]

I've never really 'got' bettas - they just didn't rock my boat. Mind you, i always dismissed guppies as kids' fish. I got the guppy bug in a big way, but still resisted bettas and flet smug about it.

However, I got my comeuppance today. Went into the LFS with £4 credit on some fish I took back and £2.96 in the bank. Looked at all the lovely loaches, and cichlids, and barbs, and nothing really spoke to me. first time ever, they had some female bettas.....looked at them, thought should I, their colours are pretty but they are still ugly shaped fish..... looked at the next tank up
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betta boy very VERY determinedly making an enormous bubble nest. This caught my attention so I looked at him. Greeny blue colours also with purpley reds....hmmmm. so I put my finger on his glass to mark him as 'being considered' so no one else could get him. this got his attention so he swam right up to the glass and eyeballed me and I'm eyeballing him, and we're both going: 'wot YOU lookin' at???' and I thought....
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"I'm gonna kill wuv and bettamomma and all the rest" and then i bought him.

So how the heck do I take care of a betta? He is floating in a measuring jug in the tank I just got back off someone I lent it to, which I have been frantically scrubbing. It is a 40 litre Tropiquarium 55. It is filtered (but I uncycled it by cleaning it) with a heater. i have filled it and put in water conditioner and a small amount of aquarium salt. It has new fine black gravel that is coated so not scratchy. The output from the filter is very gentle.

What temp is he best at? Should I do daily water changes till tank is cycled? What %? What does he eat?? Does he need something in there to rest on near the surface??

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[GrullaQuarters]

Yeah, I got suckered in a couple days ago too...lol...my first betta....but don't have a name for him yet!

 

[Bettaman]

Your tank don't need to cycle as you can just do a water change every 3 days and he will be fine i suggest you do a bit of looking at old topics and having a read to help you look after your new betta......best of luck with your purchase and get some pictures of him......

 

[GSD]

any pics pleaseeee

 

[Raechal]

If you have any gravel or decor from an already cycled tank you can use that to speed the process up a little. Or you can run your betta's filter in an already cycled tank if you have one. My little boy is in a 1.5 gallon bowl and I added some gravel from my already cycled tank. He doesn't have a filter as his fins are ripped to shreds and he is battling a bad case of finrot. So I do water changes every 2 days for him. I try to keep his temp at around 78-80 F but I think it should be fine anywhere from 72-82 or something like that. Someone who is more knowledgable about bettas (bettamomma or wuvmybetta) will come by and help you out more than I can. I would do water changes every 2 or 3 days as you don't want the ammonia to build up and harm him. Make sure not to do too large of water changes as I heard that can really slow down the cycling process.

As for eating, they eat almost anything. It is good to feed him a variety of food so he stays healthy. I feed mine haikari betta pellets, freeze dried blood worms (only as a treat once in awhile), tropical fish flakes, brine shrimp pellets and baby shrimp pellets. I know they love live foods like brine shrimp. I just have a hard time finding them at any of my LFS's.

It is a good idea to have something in there to rest on, but I don't think it is necessary. He will probably enjoy snugging up between the heater and filter if there isn't anything else to rest on. I have a java fern in my 1.5 gallon bowl for my male and he loves resting on it.

Goodluck with your betta! Hopefully I will be getting a new boy today.

 

[SarahBravo]

Okay, here's pix.... I can't get over that he can look so many different colour just when the light catches him differently....

and here's his tank. I put foam over the filter outflow cos when i cleaned it the current was quite strong.

I didn't put the backing on very well and there are large air bubbles. He keeps flaring at his reflection - will this harm him? I have turned the light out for tonight to give him some quiet time. Should i try and replace the backing or are there any tips you can give me?

Thanks guys!

 

[GrullaQuarters]

That boys color is gorgeous!

 

[GSD]

awww hes so cute

 

[Joby]

Awww he's lovely

He'd go lovely with my evil girl Roxy in my avatar or is his true colours the pic below it is amazing how the light can make them look different.

Like Bettaman says, just do regular water changes and cycle it the normal way you would with fish. Mine like pellets, flakes and frozen foods.

He doesn't need something to rest on, but that plant is nice for him. Some people put pots in to make a cave and they can shelter from the current in there, but mine don't have one and they do fine. I keep mine at around 79 degrees. Looks like he's got a lovely home with you

Be warned, bettas are addictive

 

[SarahBravo]

Thanks for the compliments and the advice! I will certainly keep changing his water on a more regular basis than the others till he's fully cycled. I have 3 types of cichlid pellets, blood worms in jelly, 2 types of flake and various algae wafers - trying all of those should keep him going till i get paid and can get him some hikari betta food. My other fish (apart from the Malawis) usually get live bloodworms once a week - would these be okay for him too? Do they like veggies?

BTW, I've just read the tail-type post - what tail type is he? I'm guessing at delta??? His tail is also dimpled - I'm assuming this is a flaw? I don't know how to describe it properly....umm... get a plastic carrier bag, grab it, and push your thumb into the plastic - it makes a dimple. His tail is like that - concave. It looks like you need to get a pair of scissors and snip some vents in it so it can open up. (Don't worry, I'm not going to!!!!!) Is this something that he may grow out of? Anyhow, I don't mind if he does or he doesn't, he's still my baby!!

Found good advice about not having a background, will take it off first thing in the morning.

Sarah

 

[BettaMomma]

SarahBravo @ Mar 19 2005, 08:15 PM
"I'm gonna kill wuv and bettamomma and all the rest" and then i bought him.

LOL!
How did I miss this whole topic when it first came out??!?!

LOVE your boy, he's gorgeous.