Meet Horatio

[modernhamlet]

Hi,

I'm a brand new aquarist and am proud to announce that I have taken home my first fish, a lovely bicolored veil tail. His name is Horatio. Say hi to everyone, Horatio...

Apologies for the lousy lighting (incandescent) and for the low quality shot (it's a cameraphone). Where can I find a flourescent lamp that fits on a 2.5 gallon? The camera will have to wait... I'm broke now that I've found fish!

This pic was taken just a few hours after transport from the LFS. Horatio seems to have settled in nicely to his new (temporary) home, a 1/2 gallon bowl. He has been interactive and curious, even nibbling happily on the couple of freeze dried bloodworms I gave him awhile ago. I was hoping to get him into his real home, a 2.5 gallon rectangle, but annoyingly, the bottom (hidden by cardboard at the store) was broken. Luckily I noticed while rinsing it out.

Actually, that raises a question. Would it be better to leave him rest for a few days in the small 1/2 gallon or transfer him tomorrow into his bigger digs, once I've returned the broken one?

 

[wuvmybetta]

Congrats!! Transferring him tomorrow should be fine, although a couple of days resting won't hurt him either

He's lovely

 

[iloveyou]

is he red?... kinda looks brown lol... brown would be cool... but i bet he is red am i right?

 

[HeatherSweetness]

Congrats!

He looks so nice!

 

[modernhamlet]

He has a blue/red/violet body (depending on his mood) and bright red fins with bright blue highlights. I know he's pretty normal for a betta, but he's very beautiful and healthy. What more can a new fish owner ask for!?

Shopping list for tonight:
New 2.5g tank
small mirror

Should I get a mini filter or would twice a week water changes be ok for him?
Should I get a 25w heater? The room temp is around 70-72 F.

Thanks for all the well-wishes!

 

[wuvmybetta]

70-72 sounds pretty chilly, pick up a heater just to be safe. Pay close attention to the tank temperature after you install the heater, make sure it's functioning properly and not overheating the water.

Twice a week changes will be great but a mini filter will help a lot too, that's really for you and your betta to decide,he may not like the current but then again...it might not bother him a bit, they're all different.

Have fun shopping! Pick up some frozen Hikari bloodworms while you're out

 

[modernhamlet]

70-72 sounds pretty chilly, pick up a heater just to be safe. Pay close attention to the tank temperature after you install the heater, make sure it's functioning properly and not overheating the water.

Twice a week changes will be great but a mini filter will help a lot too, that's really for you and your betta to decide,he may not like the current but then again...it might not bother him a bit, they're all different.

Have fun shopping! Pick up some frozen Hikari bloodworms while you're out

2.5 gallon heated, filtered tank with juicy bloodworms... Yeah, I'm so going to spoil this little brat...

And to think, some people just put them in a little bowl!

The heater thing has had me a little worried (that's why I didn't get one yesterday), but I think a 25W in a 2.5 gallon should be ok. I'll monitor it for the next few days.