Betta Acting Strange

[PaintedOaksOki]

You don't need an airator, bettas breath from the surface. You don't *need* pellets but they are easier to feed and it's easier to portion out!
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Building a bubble nest just means they are alive, it does not mean they are happy and healthy... Lebron has a thread about it...
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In a one quart bowl you should be doing water changes ALOT more frequently I have a filtered 5 gallon, and 7.5 gallon, both of those get weekly water changes..

[PaintedOaksOki]

Originally Posted by zebra3

I'll get some pellets and a test kit tomorrow. Any brand pellets you recommend?

#1 choice: New Life Spectrum
#2 choice: Omega One Betta Buffet

[LebronTheBetta]

Originally Posted by zebra3

I'll get some pellets and a test kit tomorrow. Any brand pellets you recommend?

I recommend New Life Spectrum Betta Formula. Or even Attison's Betta Pro. NLS seems to be 1st or 2nd best so far... High-Quality and it lasts a LONG time. :P
Bubblenests don't mean they're alive, it just means they're protecting territory or are ready to breed. No happiness. Just instinct.

[zebra3]

Thanks to the last 3 guys for the recommendabtions. I'll head to Petco after work tomorrow.

To clarify to "paintedOaks"- I do NOT have him in a quart of water, except for the 15 minutes it takes to clean his tank thoroughly (without soap, I know). It is a one gallon set up. My next objective is to buy a small plant, however all the ones at petco have snails on them, so I'm going to drive to the store about a half hour away to get something nice for him.


PS- How do you guys take your fish out to clean their home? Do you chase him with a small bowl or use a net? I'm afraid of a net tearing fins or scaring him too much. Plus I don't like the idea of unceremoniously dumping him from a net into a bowl and back to the tank.

[ChoclateBetta]

Anything with Fish meal as the first ingredient is fish meal your fish without a bigger tank will a severely shortened life re homing it is a better idea.

[ChoclateBetta]

Originally Posted by zebra3

Thanks to the last 3 guys for the recommendabtions. I'll head to Petco after work tomorrow.

To clarify to "paintedOaks"- I do NOT have him in a quart of water, except for the 15 minutes it takes to clean his tank thoroughly (without soap, I know). It is a one gallon set up. My next objective is to buy a small plant, however all the ones at petco have snails on them, so I'm going to drive to the store about a half hour away to get something nice for him.


PS- How do you guys take your fish out to clean their home? Do you chase him with a small bowl or use a net? I'm afraid of a net tearing fins or scaring him too much. Plus I don't like the idea of unceremoniously dumping him from a net into a bowl and back to the tank.

I keep my male in a 10 gallon just suck a few gallons a week it is easier female in community 20 gallon suck around half the water out a week.

[LebronTheBetta]

Just cup him out. No damage to him.

[dramaqueen]

I net mine then put them in the cup they came in, change the water then put them back in. A net won't hurt them as long as you're gentle.

[ChoclateBetta]

A net will not hurt he will either die from Ammonia or freeze to death.

[MollyJean]

Zebra, you seem like you are really trying, and that's good. A lot of the people here are very passionate about fish and really want the best for all of them, even yours. Get the pellets, I use Hakari Bio-Gold, but New Life Spectrum is really good, too. And a net is best in a small container like that, or, if you're going to use a cup, use a clear one, so he won't see it coming, less stress. The net won't hurt his fins and as long as it's done quickly without any accidents, moving him either way is fine. Just get it done fast so he's not too upset. (Thanks for the wording, I had a mental image of a ceremony centered around moving a betta from one container to another.. long black robes, chanting.. yeah... I'm strange.)

Do you have a thermometer in there? If you said you did, I somehow missed it. Grab one when you have the chance. they're only a dollar or two. All of this will be a great start to getting him healthy and happy. But as soon as you have the money for a larger tank, get one. He'll be a thousand times happier and healthy in something 2.5 gallons or more. even doubling his current home would be good. I know sometimes money is tight, but thrift stores sometimes have bowls and containers that are large enough for a betta, and you can check Craigslist. Or ask your friends, someone might have a tank they're not using.