Hey all! Looks like I'm back here again *sigh*.
I joined 3 years ago looking for help after I found some family members had bought a Betta, and me, being the crazy animal lady I am, had to start obsessively researching to give "Frankie" a better life. I was able to get him into a larger and heated tank, which was a win. However I think he only lived 6 or so months longer.
Now, 3 years later, they just came home with another! In the same tiny, crap-o keeper, cold water. And on my end, outrage again... So here I am, back trying to get this darn fish a better life! I am however super overwhelmed with all the info, the cycling, the water testing, the water changes, what type of tank to get, what I'll put in it, and so on and so forth. I've pretty much decided new no-name will come live with me, and I have NO supplies right now. I think I'm looking for a 2.5-5ish gal tank, I'd like to have live plants (I saw the NPTs and I would LOVE to do that - seems like it comes out less maintenance with the mini eco-system, but is that too crazy for a total beginner?) Of course I was already considering getting a 10 gal and dividing it for more Bettas :roll:
I tried to read a lot of the threads and stickies and such, but it's just all too much for my head right now! So I would love some straight up advice on it all.
What tanks do you guys like best? Are any of the kit type of deals (tetra, eclipse, etc) worth it, or are the filters and such they come with not worth it and I should just buy all the parts on their own? Especially if I want live plants, is the lighting on any of these tanks workable with plants (or do any have bulbs that can just change out)?
Am I crazy for even wanting live plants to start out with? Are caring for plants really a lot of extra work?
Heater recommendations?
Decor tips/recommendations (I've seen that there have been Penn Plax issues - any others I should be wary of)?
Testing kits, additives, that sort of thing - what do I need?
Basically - EVERYTHING! HELP!
I joined 3 years ago looking for help after I found some family members had bought a Betta, and me, being the crazy animal lady I am, had to start obsessively researching to give "Frankie" a better life. I was able to get him into a larger and heated tank, which was a win. However I think he only lived 6 or so months longer.
Now, 3 years later, they just came home with another! In the same tiny, crap-o keeper, cold water. And on my end, outrage again... So here I am, back trying to get this darn fish a better life! I am however super overwhelmed with all the info, the cycling, the water testing, the water changes, what type of tank to get, what I'll put in it, and so on and so forth. I've pretty much decided new no-name will come live with me, and I have NO supplies right now. I think I'm looking for a 2.5-5ish gal tank, I'd like to have live plants (I saw the NPTs and I would LOVE to do that - seems like it comes out less maintenance with the mini eco-system, but is that too crazy for a total beginner?) Of course I was already considering getting a 10 gal and dividing it for more Bettas :roll:
I tried to read a lot of the threads and stickies and such, but it's just all too much for my head right now! So I would love some straight up advice on it all.
What tanks do you guys like best? Are any of the kit type of deals (tetra, eclipse, etc) worth it, or are the filters and such they come with not worth it and I should just buy all the parts on their own? Especially if I want live plants, is the lighting on any of these tanks workable with plants (or do any have bulbs that can just change out)?
Am I crazy for even wanting live plants to start out with? Are caring for plants really a lot of extra work?
Heater recommendations?
Decor tips/recommendations (I've seen that there have been Penn Plax issues - any others I should be wary of)?
Testing kits, additives, that sort of thing - what do I need?
Basically - EVERYTHING! HELP!