I will admit I did not do the amount of research that I should have, and now I am ashamed at that.
Whenever I was young my cousin owned two bettas at two separate times. They were both kept in the same aquarium (It was purchased whenever the first Betta was purchased, and then once that Betta died, the new fish went into it.) The tank was only 1 gallon, and to a 6 year old it was a pretty impressive tank.
I've recently been into fish and really wanted a Betta. I quickly did some "research" and found people saying that 1.5 gallons was OK, so I got a 1.5 gallon tank. Today I purchased my little guy and love him to death, I'm so attached to him already. I had his filter running the night before, preparing for his arrival, and made sure the water was conditioned with water conditioner and made sure the rocks were rinsed to get rid of particles.
Today I went to pick him up, and he is beautiful. His head is black and goes to a royal blue as it goes down his body. (I named him Louie.) and oddly enough, like I said, I already love this fish and want to take care of him and make him a happy little fish. After I put him in the 1.5 gallon tank, (after letting him get used to the water in his little petsmart bowl for an hour) he didn't look happy, at all. He had a black stripe going down his side that I didn't notice before, and I read that that means he is incredibly stressed out. I turned off his tank light and my bedroom light to help him relax more, and the stripe went away after a few hours but now his back fins are starting to look a lil white? they have white strands..like he's turning white. and it's scaring me. That's when I dipped a finger into his water and it was FREEZING! I quickly ran to walmart and got a heater for him and now the heater is heating up is 1.5 gallon tank. I did a bit more research and realized he needs a 5 gallon tank, and I feel horrible for not getting him one in the first place. I plan on getting a 5 gallon tank whenever I get my paycheck, hopefully soon. I've been sitting here with him (Close to tears, sadly.) waiting for his water to heat up. (I feel god awful..) He seems to prefer one corner of his tank..which scares me also. I gave him a few blood worms and pellets and he quickly ate those (not the last blood worm though..so I stopped feeding him after that since I don't know if the pet store did earlier this morning.) I just now noticed that his front fins (the ones under on his belly/chest) are infact red? Is this stress related also?
I'm so scared, I wont get enough money for the 5 gallon tank for at least two weeks.. I don't want Louie to die and I wont beable to live with myself knowing that since I poorly researched, I killed a fish.
I can post pictures if needed.. if I left out any information just let me know.
Whenever I was young my cousin owned two bettas at two separate times. They were both kept in the same aquarium (It was purchased whenever the first Betta was purchased, and then once that Betta died, the new fish went into it.) The tank was only 1 gallon, and to a 6 year old it was a pretty impressive tank.
I've recently been into fish and really wanted a Betta. I quickly did some "research" and found people saying that 1.5 gallons was OK, so I got a 1.5 gallon tank. Today I purchased my little guy and love him to death, I'm so attached to him already. I had his filter running the night before, preparing for his arrival, and made sure the water was conditioned with water conditioner and made sure the rocks were rinsed to get rid of particles.
Today I went to pick him up, and he is beautiful. His head is black and goes to a royal blue as it goes down his body. (I named him Louie.) and oddly enough, like I said, I already love this fish and want to take care of him and make him a happy little fish. After I put him in the 1.5 gallon tank, (after letting him get used to the water in his little petsmart bowl for an hour) he didn't look happy, at all. He had a black stripe going down his side that I didn't notice before, and I read that that means he is incredibly stressed out. I turned off his tank light and my bedroom light to help him relax more, and the stripe went away after a few hours but now his back fins are starting to look a lil white? they have white strands..like he's turning white. and it's scaring me. That's when I dipped a finger into his water and it was FREEZING! I quickly ran to walmart and got a heater for him and now the heater is heating up is 1.5 gallon tank. I did a bit more research and realized he needs a 5 gallon tank, and I feel horrible for not getting him one in the first place. I plan on getting a 5 gallon tank whenever I get my paycheck, hopefully soon. I've been sitting here with him (Close to tears, sadly.) waiting for his water to heat up. (I feel god awful..) He seems to prefer one corner of his tank..which scares me also. I gave him a few blood worms and pellets and he quickly ate those (not the last blood worm though..so I stopped feeding him after that since I don't know if the pet store did earlier this morning.) I just now noticed that his front fins (the ones under on his belly/chest) are infact red? Is this stress related also?
I'm so scared, I wont get enough money for the 5 gallon tank for at least two weeks.. I don't want Louie to die and I wont beable to live with myself knowing that since I poorly researched, I killed a fish.
I can post pictures if needed.. if I left out any information just let me know.