I got my first Betta, Biscotti, just over a month ago, knowing nothing about Betta.
I found him in a local pet shop that was going out of business, in a cup with about an inch of water in it, and filthy on the bottom. Like the other Betta there, he was teeny tiny, and his fins were all closed up because there wasn't enough room to open them. He was a dark blue color. I thought I had killed him on the way home, as it was cold outside, and it was a long trek home. Halfway there, he sank and stopped moving, much to my dismay. I put him in my pocket, and by the time I got home he was doing better
He is being housed in a filtered 5 gallon tank, with 3 soft plastic plants, one he likes to hide in or "perch" on. I change the water at least 20% every week, leaving the new water to condition and adjust in temperature before changing the old stuff out and replacing it, to avoid shock. My biggest issue with tank setup is my lack of a heater, so I keep the room extra warm to make up for it until I can get to the city and buy a nice one. I also think the filter may be a little strong for him... I may shut it off a few days and see how he responds so I know if i should get a gentler one.
I very rarely see him on the bottom half of the tank, unless he is hiding or checking something out ( like when I put something new on his counter).
He is extremely responsive, and will follow you as you walk by, or follow your finger. He responds very well to sound and LOOOOOVES his feeding times. I feed him 3 betta pellets in the morning and 2 at night. He swims to the top and I feed him one at a time and wait until he swallows it before giving him the next, otherwise I get to worried about him not finding them ( because he has lost some under his plant leaves before). I always speak to him when I feed him, so he has become extremely responsive when I change pitch in my voice. It is so cute.
He flares often if his tank ends up brighter than the room, because he sees his reflection, and he circles the tank, up and down. His fins are unbroken, and flare open beautifully. He has grown to just under twice his size since I got him, and his color has become more vivid; the solid dark blue has since become purple and shot through with red. His back is an aqua green.
I hope I have been doing a good job caring for him....
I found him in a local pet shop that was going out of business, in a cup with about an inch of water in it, and filthy on the bottom. Like the other Betta there, he was teeny tiny, and his fins were all closed up because there wasn't enough room to open them. He was a dark blue color. I thought I had killed him on the way home, as it was cold outside, and it was a long trek home. Halfway there, he sank and stopped moving, much to my dismay. I put him in my pocket, and by the time I got home he was doing better
He is being housed in a filtered 5 gallon tank, with 3 soft plastic plants, one he likes to hide in or "perch" on. I change the water at least 20% every week, leaving the new water to condition and adjust in temperature before changing the old stuff out and replacing it, to avoid shock. My biggest issue with tank setup is my lack of a heater, so I keep the room extra warm to make up for it until I can get to the city and buy a nice one. I also think the filter may be a little strong for him... I may shut it off a few days and see how he responds so I know if i should get a gentler one.
I very rarely see him on the bottom half of the tank, unless he is hiding or checking something out ( like when I put something new on his counter).
He is extremely responsive, and will follow you as you walk by, or follow your finger. He responds very well to sound and LOOOOOVES his feeding times. I feed him 3 betta pellets in the morning and 2 at night. He swims to the top and I feed him one at a time and wait until he swallows it before giving him the next, otherwise I get to worried about him not finding them ( because he has lost some under his plant leaves before). I always speak to him when I feed him, so he has become extremely responsive when I change pitch in my voice. It is so cute.
He flares often if his tank ends up brighter than the room, because he sees his reflection, and he circles the tank, up and down. His fins are unbroken, and flare open beautifully. He has grown to just under twice his size since I got him, and his color has become more vivid; the solid dark blue has since become purple and shot through with red. His back is an aqua green.
I hope I have been doing a good job caring for him....