Betta fish, need help

[Marissa]

Okay, so I was at Petco today and was browsing through their clearance items and found this neat looking Betta Home for $5 bucks and could not pass it on. To make the story short, I also had to get this crown tail betta which cost more than the house.

Here's the problem, I have no experience whatsoever on how to take care of this little guy. I bought the food and gave it 4pcs since I got home. I have not transferred it to it's new home. Can I use tap water, rain water or bottled water? How often should I feed it and how much? The directions on the food says 2-3/day but it does not say how much.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

[cb977]

Found this:
Crown Tail Betta (Betta splendens)

Hope it helps

The folks at the store really should have given you some instruction on it's care...shame on them!

The information says:
Minimum Tank Capacity: 10 gallon

[moonflower]

Hi! I have a friend who is ALL into fish, and he asked me to pass this message on to you: "...feed the fish six times per week...once a day for six days and then fast it for the seventh.
After she transfers the fish to its new home she can use tap water with fish dechlorinator (also bought at PETCO).
Once time per week she should empty 50% of the water in the bowl and add new with the dechlorinator. Also, the betta's stomach is as large as its eye, so not much food."...I hope this helps!

[SeanJS]

I believe Petcos policy is to feed bettas 2 or 3 times a week. So he may be reluctant at first to accept a more appropriate schedule. Bettas can also be pretty finicky when it comes to accepting new foods, if you purchased a different kind of food than the one they fed him at the store (if they even fed him at all). Alot of betta nuts culture their own creepy crawlies to feed their bettas and a varied diet would do him good. Freezedried or frozen bloodworms are common. The instructions for Hikari Betta Bio Gold say Feed 1-3 pellets, 2-3 times a day as an example of how much to feed. Make sure to remove any food he doesn't eat after 10 minutes or so, and don't let any food sink to the bottom and stay there. A turkey baster can be helpful for cleanups.

I think the biggest issue with which water to use is pH. I believe Petcos use RO water which should have a pH of 6 I think. My tap water here is 8.5. Id recommend using a consistent source of water to reduce stress on the fish. Also make sure to set your makeup water for water changes in the same room for 20 minutes or so, so that when you change the water the fish isn't jolted with a rapid fluctuation in water temperature. I prefer to use rainwater for my aquariums (and Chids!) I bought about 10 of those 20 gallon utility tubs to collect and store rainwater in. When its not raining, I use RO water.

I would do at least one water change per week, depending on the volume of water in your container. I prefer to do partial water changes rather than complete water changes. By not removing all of the water, you are allowing some of the bacteria that has colonized inside the container to stay. This bacteria helps to break down fish waste and lends to a more stable environment. For a 5 gallon tank Id probably change 1/3 of the water a week. For half a gallon or under Id change 1/3 of the water 3 times a week or more.

The main reason for changing the water is to remove dissolved waste products that build up in the container. If you don't change the water often enough, ammonia/nitrite/nitrate build up and can lead to diseases, most commonly bacterial or fungal infections. Keep an eye out for any dark pieces of fins laying on the bottom of the tank, curled or ratty looking fins, or ulcerations on the fins or body. Those could be symptoms of infection.

I would also recommend against the standard aquarium plant type decorations. These tend to be very rigid and have lots of areas for fins to get caught and torn. Most pet stores sell soft silk-type decorations that would be more suitable to the betta's long delicate fins, and he does need a place to hide.

Also be aware alot of people recommend placing 2 bettas side by side so they flare out their fins. This is a territorial response and it is very stressful on them so I would advise against it.

I would really advise against a small container, unless it is your only option. While bettas are adapted to breathe air and survive in mud puddles, they appreciate a larger tank more than one would think. They also do very well in community aquariums with a variety of smaller schooling fish, as long as they are carefully selected. Larger tanks are also much more stable and require less frequent maintenance than smaller containers.

Oh and be sure to avoid putting the betta in a window or direct sunlight or near an air conditioning vent. These guys are very hardy and adaptable, but its still best to reduce stress as much as possible.

I hope that was helpful!
Sean

[SeanJS]

Oh wow, there are pictures. What a purdy betta! Glad to know those little tanks are on clearance! Ill have to pick some up. And to think they are still making a profit at $5...

[Marissa]

Thanks for all the advice, I can't believe how much I learned about this guys in a few hours. We went to a different pet store to get the Betta Water Conditioner and put it in its new house after the acclimation period.

I noticed that it spits out the food a several times before swallowing it.

The house looks bare right now, I have to go back to the store to get some decorations and a place for it to hide, I'm sure it needs privacy too...

[camille1585]

You got nice instructions from Sean! I had some Betas 13 years ago when I was just starting with fish. I kep the poor thing in a large fishbowl. They can live in a smallish container, but they are a bit of a pain to maintain. Depends how small yours is. Do you know how many gallons it is? I used to change about 50% of the water each week. I used tap water, so I would fill a jug with it the night before so that the chlorine would evaporate and the water would reach room temperature. I also would use a water conditioner. I either would feed him betafood from the petshop, and also some frozen bloodworms sometimes, every morning and after school. Don't feed it anymore than it will eat in a few minutes, or else the leftovers all go to the bottom. To keep the water clean as long as possible I siphoned off the poop at the bottom every 2 days or so.

After that, we got him a better home, in a 10gal tank! Maintenance was sooo much easier. I had a few other fish in there too. When we moved to France we bought another tank, this time a 30gal tank. No more betas anymore, but if it hadn't been for them, I probably wouldn't have the gorgeous tank I have now.

[Brooke]

Go here

International Betta Congress

This is the home page for the International Betta Congress - a very active group that breeds and shows Bettas. There is an active group in southern CA. I'm sure by poking around you will find everything you want to know about keeping a Betta. There are also great pics of what a good Betta looks like.

I used to breed and show Bettas via the IBC. Bettas love fresh water. If you don't want to do the necessary water changes, you can add filtration to the tank via a small undergravel filter or sponge filter run via an air pump.

They also love and thrive in a tank planted with real aquatic plants. It helps cleanse the water naturally and gives them areas to hide and rest.

Do not put a female in the tank without the necessary hiding places to stay away from the male. They will spawn and that creates another fiasco unless you are prepared to take care of the fry.

Be careful, raising and showing fish can be addictive too :>)

Brooke

[Gin]

My daughter is giving me a 50 gal tank right now my female Betta is in a gal and a half tank from Wal Mart , what type of other fish would you suggest that would work in the 50 gal with her . Thanks for the good info . Gin

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by Gin

My daughter is giving me a 50 gal tank right now my female Betta is in a gal and a half tank from Wal Mart , what type of other fish would you suggest that would work in the 50 gal with her . Thanks for the good info . Gin

Avoid fish that have large fragile fins, like guppies, or fish that are fin nippers (I think tetras like to nip). I think very colorful fish are also a no no. Is it going to be a heated tropical tank or a cold water tank?