I don't know the gender but I'm going to refer to the baby as a boy
-spacing so easier to read
Yesterday I went to Petco. While I was looking around I noticed these baby bettas in such tiny cups and I felt horrible for them so I took one home. He's in a 5 gallon tank (only filled halfway) with a large fake plant (very soft, won't hurt, but not silk) and a betta leaf hammock. He did fine the first day, curious to explore his new home but stressed from the change.
My room is always around 73 degrees no matter high you try to put the temp, and I know that's too cold for a betta, especially since he's a baby. I woke up a few hours ago to find him happy and alive, but I was still worried about the cold. I took an old stomach heating pad (used during pregnancies) and stuck it under his tank, trying to warm the water. I didn't put it on full heat right away, I sat next to his tank for close to 2 hours with my eyes glued to him, turning the heat up time to time.
When I started out he was fine, happily swimming around, exploring, taking some time to stare at me, and when it reached full heat I left it there for two hours. I came back up to my room just now only to find him sitting on the bottom of the tank, motionless. I was freaked out because he didn't move as I approached the tank, so I tapped the glass. He moved, swam up a tiny bit, and then went back down.
I was panicking so I took the tank off of the heating pad. As I type he's happily swimming around again. I'm not sure of the temp but when I put my finger in to test it, it's somewhat cold. When I first took the tank off of the heating pad it was lukewarm.
Now I know (after a lot of research) that betta fry are difficult to take care of. I regret not buying an adult but I don't have the heart to take my little guy back, he doesn't deserve a tiny cup and I'm already too attached. He doesn't have a filter, heater, or even thermometer yet. I have a filter that came with the tank, but a few years ago I had a few neon tetras in there with the filter and it sucked them right up, killing them. He's the size of a large neon tetra atm so I'm not going to risk it, I'll just be doing frequent water changes.
The thermometer is to arrive in the mail monday, I had ordered a heater with it but I cancelled it after starting the heating pad. I won't be using the heating pad anymore. He seems to thrive without a heater, but I want to be sure. Can anyone help?
*Please don't criticize me, I'm trying my best to provide for him.*
-spacing so easier to read
Yesterday I went to Petco. While I was looking around I noticed these baby bettas in such tiny cups and I felt horrible for them so I took one home. He's in a 5 gallon tank (only filled halfway) with a large fake plant (very soft, won't hurt, but not silk) and a betta leaf hammock. He did fine the first day, curious to explore his new home but stressed from the change.
My room is always around 73 degrees no matter high you try to put the temp, and I know that's too cold for a betta, especially since he's a baby. I woke up a few hours ago to find him happy and alive, but I was still worried about the cold. I took an old stomach heating pad (used during pregnancies) and stuck it under his tank, trying to warm the water. I didn't put it on full heat right away, I sat next to his tank for close to 2 hours with my eyes glued to him, turning the heat up time to time.
When I started out he was fine, happily swimming around, exploring, taking some time to stare at me, and when it reached full heat I left it there for two hours. I came back up to my room just now only to find him sitting on the bottom of the tank, motionless. I was freaked out because he didn't move as I approached the tank, so I tapped the glass. He moved, swam up a tiny bit, and then went back down.
I was panicking so I took the tank off of the heating pad. As I type he's happily swimming around again. I'm not sure of the temp but when I put my finger in to test it, it's somewhat cold. When I first took the tank off of the heating pad it was lukewarm.
Now I know (after a lot of research) that betta fry are difficult to take care of. I regret not buying an adult but I don't have the heart to take my little guy back, he doesn't deserve a tiny cup and I'm already too attached. He doesn't have a filter, heater, or even thermometer yet. I have a filter that came with the tank, but a few years ago I had a few neon tetras in there with the filter and it sucked them right up, killing them. He's the size of a large neon tetra atm so I'm not going to risk it, I'll just be doing frequent water changes.
The thermometer is to arrive in the mail monday, I had ordered a heater with it but I cancelled it after starting the heating pad. I won't be using the heating pad anymore. He seems to thrive without a heater, but I want to be sure. Can anyone help?
*Please don't criticize me, I'm trying my best to provide for him.*