My Newest Addition!

[Hollyweb]

I went to PetSmart today to pick up some food for my fish and I wasn't planning on actually buying any fish but I stopped by the betta section which is always a mistake, and I saw a gorgeous half moon betta that I absolutely had to have. I had a female betta die about two weeks ago and it really bummed me out, so I was really excited when I found this guy.
 
I have him in a small betta bowl right now because I'd bought a small tank for him with some gravel and decorations so he can have the place all to himself, but the setup didn't come with all of the components it was supposed to have, so now I have him in a temporary home until I can get back to the store and exchange it. I was pretty annoyed. He'll be okay in a small bowl for a little while as long as I do frequent water changes, right?
 
 

 

[PrincessKiara]

For a little while, yes, he will live, but I wouldn't do that...Seeing as it's all you can do, though, then yes, do it. Don't worry. As long as the temp and water quality are fine he will be, too.
Is his future home at least 5 gallons, heated, filtered and (preferably) aerated? Can you put in live plants/hiding places?
He is beautiful by the way Have you named him yet?
By the way, you can keep bettas in community tanks as long as they are large enough and the individual fish's temperament allows it. One of my bettas lived in a 28 gallon community tank for 2+years, with no problems.

 

[Hollyweb]

It is a 5 gallon set up with everything, but when I brought the tank home and opened the box, it didn't have any of the components, just the tank itself.
 
His name is Raphael!
 
I have a 20 gal tank but it already has another male betta. My roommate's son had a betta with his pictus catfish and the pictus tore nearly all of his fins off so we had to move him to a tank with less aggressive fish. We named him Brutus because he's a bully. He doesn't seem to fin nip, but he does chase my other fish around and flares his gills at them.
 
I plan on going back to PetSmart on Sunday to exchange the tank for one with all of the parts.

 

[Wildbetta]

He will be ok in the bowl as long as you do 100% water changes daily on the bowl.  Hopefully his tank is at least 2.5 gallons with a heater.  If the tank is under 5 gallons, then it is really up to you whether you want to filter it or do more water changes on the tank.  Bettas have no need for the filter past the fact that the filter once cycled keeps the water quality better longer between water changes.  
 
I do not recommend community tanks for bettas just because you have no idea how the betta will react.  Bettas act 1 of 3 ways (aggressive, easily stressed, or calm/indifferent) and there is no way of knowing which way it will turn out and to me is not always worth the "test".  
 
He is a gorgeous boy and I understand why you had to have him.  Good luck with him and I can't wait to see his new setup with him in it.

 

[RCA]

+1 to the above advice.  He is a stunner, great find.  Look forward to seeing pictures of him in his new home.

 

[AlitaConejita]

+1 to the above advice.  He is a stunner, great find.  Look forward to seeing pictures of him in his new home.

Ditto!

 

[Meeresstille]

Beautiful Betta with a beautiful name!

 

[lepackt]

I had a betta in a 5 gallon tank no heater no filter and no air pump ( they make great desk fish and bring alot of fun and colour to an office!!) for a couple years when I was a kid, there was 3 plants in the tank for hiding and weekly water changes. If fed pellet food I found my water was fine and he lived for years
My only main suggestion is a tank with a lid! Bettas a great jumpers and I was not aware of that until I woke up one morning and found my first betta dried out on my dresser

 

[iBetta]

Oh he's gorgeous! 

Would love to see updates on this guy!

 

[tunagirll]

Love him! Welcome to the family Raphael!

 

[Hollyweb]

My roommate got me a tank today for Raph. It's a 3 gallon bow front and it came with a bubbler, LED lights and a filter. I'm going to go get a heater for it tomorrow so he'll be comfortable, and some décor for the tank. I'm really excited about this guy, and I'm trying to decide if I should get a live plant to put in his tank or stick with silk plants.

 

[RCA]

Live plants all the way in my opinion.  They love to laze in the leaves of something like an Amazon Sword, or Anubias.  That said, I have, and do use, some silk plants with some of my boys, until the live plants grow tall enough for them to hang at the surface.

 

[Hollyweb]

I have live plants in my 20 gallon but I think there's something wrong because my amazon sword went from a pretty vibrant green to getting holes in it, almost kind of a lacy effect and has started to turn brown around the edges. I'm thinking of pulling it out and getting some new.
 
My concern is the tank wouldn't get enough light for them to grow healthy. The betta tank sits across the room from my window on top of my dresser and it came with one of those color changing LED lights and I don't think there is a way to set the light on a certain color. When I pull the curtains back on my window during the day, light comes right in.
 
Also, I think my betta doesn't like the bubbler in the tank. The bubbler is in the middle and he stays on the outside and hasn't been swimming around a whole lot. I fed him this morning but he didn't even try to go after the food. I'm going to get a heater for him today and I was thinking maybe if I pinch off the air tube so it's not bubbling as much it might be better for him.

 

[Hollyweb]

Is it normal for bettas to "lay" on the bottom of the tank?

 

[PrincessKiara]

As long as they're not on their side and look fine, yes. My betta used to do it all the time. He was so lazy

He especially loved to do it in a broken-jar ornament with bubbles running through it. He'd just sit on the bottom and poke his little head out of the opening.

That was his favorite hiding place, I believe. I wish I'd kept that ornament.