Got my first betta

[ccg]

Hello everyone,

I had a post a few days ago questioning if I could put a betta in a 10 gallon, heated and filterd tank with 4 corys. Today while I was at work my little sister had picked up a VT betta (i believe). It's body is a peachy colour, and has blue and red and pink at the start of its fins, and it fades as it goes out towards the ends, very pretty fish. Anyhow, after about 4 hours in his new home I tried to feed him. My 8 year old sister not knowing enough to get betta pellets for it didn't bring any of those home. So i tried flake food and he ate it no problem. Is this alright he is eating this untill I get get to the LFS? He also took a bite out of a shrimp pellet, and just before lights out he had a little frozen brine shrimp, so he has a full tummy and a nice new home.

A few questions:

1. He randomly starts to flare, Ive seen him do this about 3 times today, is this normal?
2. If he likes flake food can I continue to make this a part of his diet?
3. He kind of lays in the fake plants I have put in there for him, looks like hes just resting, this is fine i take it?
4. How often should a male betta be fed.
5. How many hours of light?

Thanks everyone, I'll try and get a nice picture of him tomorrow.

 

[Dart]

When he flares is it at something? Like large object beside the tank? My one guy flares all the time and jumps but he's going after the betta on the fish food bag

They actually sell betta flake food too, but i think a betta would be fine eating tropical fish food as long as it was a carnivore fish food with high protein

The resting depends on the betta;
You just got him so wait a few days to see what he's like, just keep an eye if he starts to breathe heavily and get like that.

I feed my guys 2 times a day, 2-4 pellets each time - depending on the size of their belly

Light - i keep them in the same hours of light that the sun gives me I don't think it's too critical.

Can't wait to see pics

 

[BettaMomma]

Congrats!

Sounds like he's a very happy boy! The flake food should be okay as long as it's not permanent. If he's partial to the flakes you can get some flakes specifically made for bettas - they are carnivores and need meat in their diet. Pellets are usually a good way to go - they're sold right by the bettas usually in fish stores.

Flaring is normal.
They do that for a couple of reasons - to impress a female... to show another male who's boss... or because they might see their own reflection, or not like somehting that they're looking at.
They love to rest in fake plants - that's usually their most favorite place to be.
Mine get fed 3 pellets in the morning, a few again in the evening, and once in a while they get a treat of frozen blood worms, freeze dried blood worms, and then daphnia or cooked, shelled, chopped peas.
As far as the light goes - one of my tanks can only be on for a few minutes out of each day because of the flaring caused by reflection thing. I do leave the room light on for several hours each day, but not necessarily the tank light, unless you go with a live plant. Then you'll want flurorescent lights on for several hours a day, if your fish can handle it.

Good luck, and congrats!

 

[ccg]

I am also concernd about him jumping. Only about 70% of the top is coverd up. Wonder if I should try and cover the rest of it somehow?

I plan on feeding him flakes, pellets, frozen/live foods, along with whatever veggies he's into, so I'm sure he'll have a good diet over all. He appears to be very healthy, and I got him from a LFS that does not keep betta's in cups or small containers so he came out of a good sized tank.

 

[BettaMomma]

Yep - I'd make sure to cover the whole thing.
If you can't get it covered by anything permanently tonight, you can stretch saran wrap over it, with tiny holes poked in it.

 

[ccg]

I have coverd the tank now, there is sitll a bit of a gap, but thats near the small filter on the tank and it in a corner. there are a lot of bubbles there and a bit of water movement, so not likely he'll head in that corner anyhow.

Ive been reading the betta section for some time now, as I have wanted to get one for a while, now that I have one I want several more... After work I want to go check them out when I go to get some pellets, lol I better not bring him a few more.

 

[eudielynn]

Repeat after me:

"My name is ccg and I'm addicted to bettas."