Hi Everyone!
So my first Betta, Elmo, passed away a couple of weeks ago and I didn't know if or when I would get another one. I went into Petco on Monday to get some dog toys and I wandered over to the betta section to check out what they had in stock. There were a lot of pretty ones but none that I felt I had to have. Then, this weekend I thought that I'd go back and get some more test strips and maybe cycle my tank for a few weeks and see if that might jar me into getting another fish. Well, I walked in yesterday evening with my best friend (bad influence) and she went right over to the betta section and began showing me all the fish. They had definitely gotten in some new ones because when I was there only a few days before I looked at EVERY fish. I really wanted a Crowntail but then I saw this adorable and completely beautiful Delta male. He was so tiny but extremely spunky and friendly and I knew I had to have him immediately. So, I left the store with my new little baby and a new bag of gravel (I threw out Elmo's gravel when I cleaned out the tank because he had been sick).
I have a 3 gallon Eclipse and my bio wheel is still good and has a lot of good bacteria on it. I set up the tank and added aquarium salt and stress coat and ran the tank for about four hours. Then I tested the water and the ammonia levels were "ideal" and the heater was at 80 degrees. It took me about a half an hour to transfer the little guy from his cup to the tank, but when he got in there he was so happy!!! It was past midnight and I watched him for like a half an hour swim ALL over the tank exploring all his hiding spots and the plants, etc. The only thing that worried me was that I think the filter is too strong for him so I turned it off. I just had horrible images of "Finding Nemo" in my head. Elmo handled the filter just fine but he was like 4 times the size of this little guy.
So here are my two questions:
1. I measured him and he is only a little over an inch long (from head to base of body, not including tail) and he hasn't been in the store for more than 5 days. I know its hard to estimate a betta's age but would you say that he is probably younger than the average 7 months. Also, do males always start to blow bubble nests from the time they are born or do they start at a certain age. He hasnt blown a nest yet so I was just wondering.
2. Regarding food, I have Hikari pellets and a large supply of frozen daphnia, bloodworms, and a few mixtures that came in a combo pack from San Francisco Bay Co. I waited until this morning to feed him and soaked one pellet and gave it to him. He ate most of it but it took him a really long time because he would "chew" and then spit it out like it was too big for him and then repeat the process about 6-7 times until there was only a little bit left which he finally let sink to the bottom. Is that normal?? I put a 2nd pellet in but he ignored it so I took it out. How should I go about feeding the little guy? He obviously likes the pellets but one is more than enough for him. How many should I feed a day and then when and how often should I give him some of the frozen mixtures?
Oh, and I haven't come up with a name for the little guy yet!!! Any suggestions would be great! I almost feel like female names fit him better because he is just too darn pretty for a tough guy name. Lol.
Thanks!!!! : )
So my first Betta, Elmo, passed away a couple of weeks ago and I didn't know if or when I would get another one. I went into Petco on Monday to get some dog toys and I wandered over to the betta section to check out what they had in stock. There were a lot of pretty ones but none that I felt I had to have. Then, this weekend I thought that I'd go back and get some more test strips and maybe cycle my tank for a few weeks and see if that might jar me into getting another fish. Well, I walked in yesterday evening with my best friend (bad influence) and she went right over to the betta section and began showing me all the fish. They had definitely gotten in some new ones because when I was there only a few days before I looked at EVERY fish. I really wanted a Crowntail but then I saw this adorable and completely beautiful Delta male. He was so tiny but extremely spunky and friendly and I knew I had to have him immediately. So, I left the store with my new little baby and a new bag of gravel (I threw out Elmo's gravel when I cleaned out the tank because he had been sick).
I have a 3 gallon Eclipse and my bio wheel is still good and has a lot of good bacteria on it. I set up the tank and added aquarium salt and stress coat and ran the tank for about four hours. Then I tested the water and the ammonia levels were "ideal" and the heater was at 80 degrees. It took me about a half an hour to transfer the little guy from his cup to the tank, but when he got in there he was so happy!!! It was past midnight and I watched him for like a half an hour swim ALL over the tank exploring all his hiding spots and the plants, etc. The only thing that worried me was that I think the filter is too strong for him so I turned it off. I just had horrible images of "Finding Nemo" in my head. Elmo handled the filter just fine but he was like 4 times the size of this little guy.
So here are my two questions:
1. I measured him and he is only a little over an inch long (from head to base of body, not including tail) and he hasn't been in the store for more than 5 days. I know its hard to estimate a betta's age but would you say that he is probably younger than the average 7 months. Also, do males always start to blow bubble nests from the time they are born or do they start at a certain age. He hasnt blown a nest yet so I was just wondering.
2. Regarding food, I have Hikari pellets and a large supply of frozen daphnia, bloodworms, and a few mixtures that came in a combo pack from San Francisco Bay Co. I waited until this morning to feed him and soaked one pellet and gave it to him. He ate most of it but it took him a really long time because he would "chew" and then spit it out like it was too big for him and then repeat the process about 6-7 times until there was only a little bit left which he finally let sink to the bottom. Is that normal?? I put a 2nd pellet in but he ignored it so I took it out. How should I go about feeding the little guy? He obviously likes the pellets but one is more than enough for him. How many should I feed a day and then when and how often should I give him some of the frozen mixtures?
Oh, and I haven't come up with a name for the little guy yet!!! Any suggestions would be great! I almost feel like female names fit him better because he is just too darn pretty for a tough guy name. Lol.
Thanks!!!! : )