Hi, I'm a brand new -- and ignorant -- Betta owner. I was shopping in the fish department in Wal-Mart yesterday for our 37 gallon aquarium and came across Fred, a beautiful Betta that just looked so sad and depressed in his little cup.
So, in the spur of the moment, I purchased Fred. I looked over the collection of "Betta-specific" aquariums and bought the largest I found, the 1 gallon. No filter, no heater, nothing. I thought I was being generous.
Then, after the fact, I decided to do research and found just how wrong I was. So, today we went out and bought Fred a Mini Bow 5 gallon aquarium complete with filter, along with a heater, some live plants, and his very own cave.
I set up the tank using some gravel from our -- very healthy -- 37 gallon tank to help with the good bacteria growth. Once everything was ready I unleashed Fred from the little cup he had been not-so-patiently waiting in.
I had to laugh out loud, Fred is a very happy Betta. He almost seemed as if he couldn't believe it, he happily checked out every bit of the new aquarium. And he looks so much happier now than he did in the little 1 gallon.
I feel so much better knowing that now he is in the kind of environment he deserves. Thank you so much for providing such helpful information for those of us who are well-meaning but ignorant.
Here's the current setup -- it's by no means done, but it's a good start. (For one thing, I need more gravel and I need to put my background up). I'm also hoping to add a few ghost shrimp. Hopefully for decoration, but I realize they may become a snack for Fred.
That blur is Fred as he raced around exploring.
I'm beginning to think Fred needs a better name. Any suggestions?
So, in the spur of the moment, I purchased Fred. I looked over the collection of "Betta-specific" aquariums and bought the largest I found, the 1 gallon. No filter, no heater, nothing. I thought I was being generous.
Then, after the fact, I decided to do research and found just how wrong I was. So, today we went out and bought Fred a Mini Bow 5 gallon aquarium complete with filter, along with a heater, some live plants, and his very own cave.
I set up the tank using some gravel from our -- very healthy -- 37 gallon tank to help with the good bacteria growth. Once everything was ready I unleashed Fred from the little cup he had been not-so-patiently waiting in.
I had to laugh out loud, Fred is a very happy Betta. He almost seemed as if he couldn't believe it, he happily checked out every bit of the new aquarium. And he looks so much happier now than he did in the little 1 gallon.
I feel so much better knowing that now he is in the kind of environment he deserves. Thank you so much for providing such helpful information for those of us who are well-meaning but ignorant.
Here's the current setup -- it's by no means done, but it's a good start. (For one thing, I need more gravel and I need to put my background up). I'm also hoping to add a few ghost shrimp. Hopefully for decoration, but I realize they may become a snack for Fred.
That blur is Fred as he raced around exploring.
I'm beginning to think Fred needs a better name. Any suggestions?