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 Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007 8:21 am
I just got a male betta fish about a week ago at Petco. This is my first experience with any kind of fish, and I read Petco's betta care sheet.
I've already bought betta food (I feed him sparingly 2-3 times a week), a little aquarium with a plastic plant and a little rock thing he can hide in, and he seems to like it, I have two nets, gravel, and water conditioner. I change the water once a week.
Any tips?
Here's a pic of my fishy:
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Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007 3:49 pm
Aw, he's so pretty.
I love male betta fish, they are one of the most prettiest fish there is.
Seems like your doing fine, although I'm not anywhere close to be an expert on bettas. sweatdrop
Here's mine. :3
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Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007 3:52 pm
don't clean the water too much because it will make him feel dizy and he'll die, feed him twice a day one in the morning and one at night b4 u go to bed, make sure the temp. is just right, and make sure you don't put to much decorations cause he needs alot of spaces, the temp. of the water is suppose to be warm and not cold
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Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007 3:57 pm
Maybe feeding twice a day might be overfeeding him? Like I said, I'm no expert but that sounds like a little much. Most of the food would probobly just dirty the water, wouldn't it?
75-86 F should be about the average temperature of the water. :3
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Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007 4:15 pm
the temp. is just right and last time i have a beta and ifeed it like 3 times a day then he died i bought another one i went to the vet and the vet said i over feed him and i need to feed him twice a day and only 2 or 3 piece of feed
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Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007 7:05 pm
HM O_O Maybe feeding twice a day might be overfeeding him? Like I said, I'm no expert but that sounds like a little much. Most of the food would probobly just dirty the water, wouldn't it?
75-86 F should be about the average temperature of the water. :3
Many betta foods nowadays are designed to not cloud up water - check the labels. I feed my betta frieze-dried bloodworms as his main diet twice a day. With his dinner at night, I give him a few flakes of TetraMin's BettaMin flakes. It took him a couple weeks to adjust to the second food, but its worth it to have variety in his diet. Food variety = very good.
I've found that my fish is good at telling me when he's getting full. When i first feed him, he snatches at food like a shark attack. When he starts filling up, he gets more sluggish about seeking out food, sometimes even picking up and spitting out pieces. That's when i know I should stop.
Piccy of him:
I actually just found out today that he's a male (he was sold to me as a female), so he's currently nameless until I find a non-female name that suits him. The full story's in my journal, so I won't ramble it all, but I noticed this morning that he was beginning the bubble nest pictured above. Girls don't exactly do that, so calling him "Rosa" is now out of the question. =)
Bettas should be kept in water temperatures ranging between 70 and 85 degrees F. 75 seems to be the ideal form what I've researched. If your betta has long fins, always use silk or live plants instead of plastic. These can catch on their fins and tear them. My shorter finned male has plastic ones in his tank that he's fine with, but he doesn't have much fin to worry about.
They can technically live in smaller bowls, but these are often cruel, and larger tanks are always recommended. The dedicated owners I've read material from suggest a minimum of 1 gallon for every 1.5 inches of the fish's length. There is no limit to tank size for a betta, provided it has constant access to the surface of the water and won't get lost. The surface access is necessary to keep bettas alive, as they are one of a few fish that contain a labyrinth organ that allows them to take gulps of air and use the oxygen in it. Without access to the surface, the betta will die. Bettas are notorious jumpers, so it's also higly recommended to keep the tank with some sort of cover that will still allow the air to circulatewhile keeping the fish from a suicidal leap. My betta's new tank uses a reptile wire cover, rather than a glass aquarium cover, because it keeps him in without restricting air.
If there is a water or air pump used in the tank, make certain it is a slow one. Bettas are not designed to fight currents, so constantly rushing against fast-moving water is not good for them.
Never keep them in untreated tap water. Though they are rather hardy fish, the chlorine and such in it is horridly bad for them and could kill them. Plenty of water conditioners and buffers, some specifically for betta, are available in pet stores (which you already seem to know about). They balance the pH (acid vs. base) levels of the water, condition it to de-stress the fish, and neutralize chlorine. Read what the item does before buying it, as one that doesn't neutralize chlorine won't help the tap water much! They're not really expensive and are well worth it.
Water in the tank/bowl should be replenished as necessary to keep it at the right level, and occaisional complete water changings are needed as well (you also seem to be good with this). I change my fish's water completely about once a week, like you do. Be careful not to shock the betta, though, when transferring it. I keep mine in a smaller container in some of his older water until his new water has been left in the tank to settle and let the conditioner mix in. Then, I put him in a baggy (still in his same old water) and let it sit floating on the aquarium water for about 20 minutes until I feel their temperatures are even. Only then do I let him out to the tank.
The average betta seems to live around 1.5 years, but that most certainly has not been the case for all. I've heard of science facilities where, when living in ideal conditions, the bettas have lived 7 years or more!
It sounds to me like you've already got a good handle on the fish's water quality and are giving him some fun things for his tank. Good for you! Though my betta doesn't really "hide," persay, he does seem to enjoy having things to swim in and out of.
Here is the frieze dried bloodworm food I use for my betta (though any frieze dried bloodworms are probably the same), and here is the BettaMin.
On a side note, mind if I ask some questions of my own for anyone who cares to take a stab?
1. My betta seems quite fascinated by the corners of his new aquarium.... perhaps because he's never had corners before and only been in round containers. I have no way to tell if he has. He seems to nose around them a lot, but he doesn't really smack against them....he won't hurt himself, will he?
2. Do I need a water heater for my tank? My house is generally kept between 70 and 72 degrees in the winter. My room might be warmer; I'm technically the attic of the house, and heat rises.
3. Does anyone know if it's necessary to buy a pump for a betta with a full aquarium?....Mine has a 5.5 gallon tank. If so, is it okay to turn it off at night?
sweatdrop I worry like a mother over this little fish. It's fun the spoil him.
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Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007 9:28 pm
I don't see anything wrong with it. It gave me a jump-start on remembering some of the things I wanted to mention.
P.S. - Could you take the quote of my post off of yours, please? It's too long. xd My rambling is uglifying the page when quoted. Heehee.
P.S.S. - I think I'm going to rename my betta Roosevelt. =D It means "from the rose field." And I can call him "Mr. President," Since FDR and Teddy had it as a last name. xd
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Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2007 2:55 pm
Thanks for the advice and comments!!
He is starting to grow and is getting very impressive mrgreen
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Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2007 4:19 pm
yea when i had my betta (for 5 years, but he died last year) I fed him once per day but only what he could eat in a minute. I also kept him in a small plastic tank ( about 4 inch wide& 5 inch tall) with colorful plastic rocks and a plant. One tip I have thought is how to give your betta exercise. I had another larger tank with a few fancy guppies in it and about once a week I would place his bowl close to the big tank so he could flare up and feel like a big tought fishy.lol.
p.s. I saved my betta from wal-mart. They abuse their fish!! scream If you look at their bettas, the wter is very dirty, and most of them have diseases. Please think about telling your local wal-mart how to properly care for fish.
biggrin
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Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 6:10 pm
meadow14 yea when i had my betta (for 5 years, but he died last year) I fed him once per day but only what he could eat in a minute. I also kept him in a small plastic tank ( about 4 inch wide& 5 inch tall) with colorful plastic rocks and a plant. One tip I have thought is how to give your betta exercise. I had another larger tank with a few fancy guppies in it and about once a week I would place his bowl close to the big tank so he could flare up and feel like a big tought fishy.lol. p.s. I saved my betta from wal-mart. They abuse their fish!! scream If you look at their bettas, the wter is very dirty, and most of them have diseases. Please think about telling your local wal-mart how to properly care for fish. biggrin
It was great of you to save him from Wal-Mart... but you know what? I really don't think they care about how they treat their fish, so it would probably be a total waste of time trying to tell them anything...
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Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 5:00 pm
awwww. that's a beautiful betta fish! i don't really have any advice, but here's a comment. betta fish aren't the best survivors. all the betta fish i've raised haven't lived more than 3 years. i don't think. i haven't had one in so long!
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Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 8:16 pm
I boycott Wal-Mart entirely because of its damage to American economy, but that just sounds like one more reason for me to steer clear. eek
My betta loves his new tank. =D He's stopped his corner fascination, so I don't have to worry about that anymore.
Oh, one thing I might add is that, since each fish has its own personality, you should be careful to arrange the tank for that. ^-^ For example: My fish LOVES to explore every nook and cranny of his tank - especially the nooks and crannies. I've seen him nudge through spaces between his silk plant that I didn't even know he could squeeze through. I want to buy him an ornament to swim in and out of, but i must make absolutely sure that he can easily swim through any gap or hole in it. Even if the hole isn't intended for the fish to swim in - he'll figure it out. xd It's cute, because it means he's smart and alert, but it's an extra thing to watch for.
I'm sure every fish has his/her own goofy issues like that to watch for.
Oh, and about the frequent feeding - keep in mind that I don't dump food in and leave it or anything. I usually only let a few pieces of food on the surface at a time, so I can monitor how much my fish eats before I give him a little more. It makes it much easier to prevent overeating or dirtying the tank. And my fish's morning meal is usually very small, just a few bites, compared to his normal meal at night.
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Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2007 11:01 am
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Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2007 11:49 am
Lady Nekochan HM O_O Maybe feeding twice a day might be overfeeding him? Like I said, I'm no expert but that sounds like a little much. Most of the food would probobly just dirty the water, wouldn't it?
75-86 F should be about the average temperature of the water. :3
Many betta foods nowadays are designed to not cloud up water - check the labels. I feed my betta frieze-dried bloodworms as his main diet twice a day. With his dinner at night, I give him a few flakes of TetraMin's BettaMin flakes. It took him a couple weeks to adjust to the second food, but its worth it to have variety in his diet. Food variety = very good.
I've found that my fish is good at telling me when he's getting full. When i first feed him, he snatches at food like a shark attack. When he starts filling up, he gets more sluggish about seeking out food, sometimes even picking up and spitting out pieces. That's when i know I should stop.
Piccy of him:
I actually just found out today that he's a male (he was sold to me as a female), so he's currently nameless until I find a non-female name that suits him. The full story's in my journal, so I won't ramble it all, but I noticed this morning that he was beginning the bubble nest pictured above. Girls don't exactly do that, so calling him "Rosa" is now out of the question. =)
Bettas should be kept in water temperatures ranging between 70 and 85 degrees F. 75 seems to be the ideal form what I've researched. If your betta has long fins, always use silk or live plants instead of plastic. These can catch on their fins and tear them. My shorter finned male has plastic ones in his tank that he's fine with, but he doesn't have much fin to worry about.
They can technically live in smaller bowls, but these are often cruel, and larger tanks are always recommended. The dedicated owners I've read material from suggest a minimum of 1 gallon for every 1.5 inches of the fish's length. There is no limit to tank size for a betta, provided it has constant access to the surface of the water and won't get lost. The surface access is necessary to keep bettas alive, as they are one of a few fish that contain a labyrinth organ that allows them to take gulps of air and use the oxygen in it. Without access to the surface, the betta will die. Bettas are notorious jumpers, so it's also higly recommended to keep the tank with some sort of cover that will still allow the air to circulatewhile keeping the fish from a suicidal leap. My betta's new tank uses a reptile wire cover, rather than a glass aquarium cover, because it keeps him in without restricting air.
If there is a water or air pump used in the tank, make certain it is a slow one. Bettas are not designed to fight currents, so constantly rushing against fast-moving water is not good for them.
Never keep them in untreated tap water. Though they are rather hardy fish, the chlorine and such in it is horridly bad for them and could kill them. Plenty of water conditioners and buffers, some specifically for betta, are available in pet stores (which you already seem to know about). They balance the pH (acid vs. base) levels of the water, condition it to de-stress the fish, and neutralize chlorine. Read what the item does before buying it, as one that doesn't neutralize chlorine won't help the tap water much! They're not really expensive and are well worth it.
Water in the tank/bowl should be replenished as necessary to keep it at the right level, and occaisional complete water changings are needed as well (you also seem to be good with this). I change my fish's water completely about once a week, like you do. Be careful not to shock the betta, though, when transferring it. I keep mine in a smaller container in some of his older water until his new water has been left in the tank to settle and let the conditioner mix in. Then, I put him in a baggy (still in his same old water) and let it sit floating on the aquarium water for about 20 minutes until I feel their temperatures are even. Only then do I let him out to the tank.
The average betta seems to live around 1.5 years, but that most certainly has not been the case for all. I've heard of science facilities where, when living in ideal conditions, the bettas have lived 7 years or more!
It sounds to me like you've already got a good handle on the fish's water quality and are giving him some fun things for his tank. Good for you! Though my betta doesn't really "hide," persay, he does seem to enjoy having things to swim in and out of.
Here is the frieze dried bloodworm food I use for my betta (though any frieze dried bloodworms are probably the same), and here is the BettaMin.
On a side note, mind if I ask some questions of my own for anyone who cares to take a stab?
1. My betta seems quite fascinated by the corners of his new aquarium.... perhaps because he's never had corners before and only been in round containers. I have no way to tell if he has. He seems to nose around them a lot, but he doesn't really smack against them....he won't hurt himself, will he?
2. Do I need a water heater for my tank? My house is generally kept between 70 and 72 degrees in the winter. My room might be warmer; I'm technically the attic of the house, and heat rises.
3. Does anyone know if it's necessary to buy a pump for a betta with a full aquarium?....Mine has a 5.5 gallon tank. If so, is it okay to turn it off at night?
sweatdrop I worry like a mother over this little fish. It's fun the spoil him.1. I think your betta will be ok. The only thing I think a betta could hurt themselves on is some of the jagged-edged plants in the aquarium. Sometimes they can snare their fins. 2. You could put a small heater in the tank. 70 degrees is a little cool for a betta fish but they shouldn't die because of it. 3. A pump couldn't hurt but it isn't needed with bettas since the adults have a way of breathing oxygen at the surface. If you want to use one to filter the water that would be good since ammonia and other waste does build up. You would just help to keep the water cleaner.
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