Brought home my first fish yesterday-- recommendations?
I found the most gorgeous crowntail when I visited the pet store and he just called to me. I have a limited budget so I went with the the basic Marina betta starter kit. It's the covered 1/2 gal tank, which is a good thing considering I believe he tried to jump a couple of times in the first hour of being in the tank.
I have the tank placed 1 1/2ft above the room's electric heater and the front of the tank is no more than 1ft from the heater. I will be getting a thermometer and a light shortly to make sure he's fairly comfortable, as well as a container to store the water for water changes.
The kit came with water conditioner and flake food that lists krill, fish meal, and another fish ingredient as the first 3. He's been swimming around, exploring everything and spreading his fins (but not his gills) fairly often since going in the tank. He's fairly active so far. I will be trying a little feeding tonight since he'll have had time to settle in.
I would like some recommendations on water changes and anything else you think I should know. I have read the sticky about betta care, but I would like advice specific to what my little tank allows.
I found the most gorgeous crowntail when I visited the pet store and he just called to me. I have a limited budget so I went with the the basic Marina betta starter kit. It's the covered 1/2 gal tank, which is a good thing considering I believe he tried to jump a couple of times in the first hour of being in the tank.
I have the tank placed 1 1/2ft above the room's electric heater and the front of the tank is no more than 1ft from the heater. I will be getting a thermometer and a light shortly to make sure he's fairly comfortable, as well as a container to store the water for water changes.
The kit came with water conditioner and flake food that lists krill, fish meal, and another fish ingredient as the first 3. He's been swimming around, exploring everything and spreading his fins (but not his gills) fairly often since going in the tank. He's fairly active so far. I will be trying a little feeding tonight since he'll have had time to settle in.
I would like some recommendations on water changes and anything else you think I should know. I have read the sticky about betta care, but I would like advice specific to what my little tank allows.
On a 1/2 gallon tank I would do 100% water change daily. Ammonia can build up fast in a tank that size.When you do water changes make sure to get the new water as close to the temperature as the old water so not to stress him out. Flakes are ok to feed but be careful you only feed him one or two at a time and he eats it, otherwise they can dirty the water pretty fast. I prefer pellets. I have one betta who will only eat flakes though!
A thermometer is a good idea. Betta fish are tropical fish and love warm water. too many temperature fluctuations can stress them out and make them more likely to get sick.I am not sure if they make heaters for a tank that size...but if you decide to get something a little bigger for your little guy I would look into getting a heater for him.
Best of luck with your new fish! I look forward to pictures!
And if you prefer a glass aquarium over the critter keepers, 2.5 gallon aquariums only cost around $13 and, if you have the room, a 10 gallon aquarium only costs about $12. I was surprised to find the 10g was cheaper than the 2.5g.
Congrats on your purchase. Because you are on a limited budget you do want your new buddy to be with you a long time, right? Well maintained Betta's have been reported to live up to 5+ years in captivity.
That said, in a 1/2 gallon home consistent water changes is pretty much key. As the poster stated above, 100pct changes daily is the rule, not when the owner feels like it. At low volume, water quality will spike quick. Your betta may look healthy Sunday evening and can quickly become sick 24 hours later and you may find yourself spending more $$$$ on unnecessary medication additives to save him.
Far as proper water changes. Have an empty gallon water jug on hand, since your setup requires daily changes, get two jugs. Fill them with tap water and add conditioner (product called PRIME is a good value and will last you a long time). Let these sit 24 hours or more, this is done to allow the water to get up to room temperature. On the day of your water change use one of these jugs to fill....
Last edited by scootshoot; 03-31-2011 at 08:35 AM.
And if you prefer a glass aquarium over the critter keepers, 2.5 gallon aquariums only cost around $13 and, if you have the room, a 10 gallon aquarium only costs about $12. I was surprised to find the 10g was cheaper than the 2.5g.
I know isn't that crazy!? I went with a 10 gallon too for this reason. If you decide to do this just make sure you keep the water level down an inch or two because bettas love to jump! I haven't had any issues with my open top 10 gallon...but my fish is an old guy and he moves around pretty slow most of the time. He is more interested in finding the cory cats food at the bottom than jumping out I guess.
Congrats on your purchase. Because you are on a limited budget you do want your new buddy to be with you a long time, right? Well maintained Betta's have been reported to live up to 5+ years in captivity.
That said, in a 1/2 gallon home consistent water changes is pretty much key. As the poster stated above, 100pct changes daily is the rule, not when the owner feels like it. At low volume, water quality will spike quick. Your betta may look healthy Sunday evening and can quickly become sick 24 hours later and you may find yourself spending more $$$$ on unnecessary medication additives to save him.
Far as proper water changes. Have an empty gallon water jug on hand, since your setup requires daily changes, get two jugs. Fill them with tap water and add conditioner (product called PRIME is a good value and will last you a long time). Let these sit 24 hours or more, this is done to allow the water to get up to room temperature. On the day of your water change use one of these jugs to fill....
...speaking of "not when the own feels like it." I need to go do a water change. Thanks for giving me a guilty conscience ;) jk
I agree with Littlebitttyfish about flakes. I don't like them especially if people doing partial water changes. Flakes go right to the bottom of tank and contaminate the water.
I also like 100% water changes.
I want to recommend the pellets that all my bettas love:
BettaFood by AQUEON -love those pellets.
New Life Spectum Betta Formula
Color Enhancing Betta Bits by TOP FIN-they a little bit bigger pellet then other ones but all my bettas love them too
I also like Hikari freeze Dried Blood Worms with bio -Encapsulated Multi-vitamins.
All those pellets have fish meal,brine shrimp, vitamins, protein, garlic etc
I agree with Littlebitttyfish about flakes. I don't like them especially if people doing partial water changes. Flakes go right to the bottom of tank and contaminate the water.
I also like 100% water changes.
I want to recommend the pellets that all my bettas love:
BettaFood by AQUEON -love those pellets.
New Life Spectum Betta Formula
Color Enhancing Betta Bits by TOP FIN-they a little bit bigger pellet then other ones but all my bettas love them too
I also like Hikari freeze Dried Blood Worms with bio -Encapsulated Multi-vitamins.
All those pellets have fish meal,brine shrimp, vitamins, protein, garlic etc
"Flakes go right to the bottom of tank and contaminate the water." That's what bottom feeders are for ;D
A 1/2 gallon is perfectly fine, don't mind these people who always inist on others to get a bigger tank. Those people wouldn't be satisfy if your betta's aquairium were as big as Shamu's.... they'll still not be satisfied so don't mind them.
And daily water changes? Are you freakin' kidding me? Tell me you are, to whoever suggested that. To the thread starter, as far as water changes go these people always try to tell someone to over-do it... for whatever reason, who knows. For me in a half-gallon I would do 1-2 water change per week. Constantly changing water will stress the fish out and not give him enough time to acclimitize to the water.
These are just my opinion.
What does that even mean? :P No one "always" insists on bigger tanks. Sure, 1/2 gallon is fine if you don't plan on putting plants or ornaments in there...not much room to swim around in and explore. There is a difference between swimming around and simply swimming back and forth.
Check out the eBook Betta Fish Care Made Easy
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Brought home my first fish yesterday-- recommendations?
If you decide to do this just make sure you keep the water level down an inch or two because bettas love to jump! I haven't had any issues with my open top 10 gallon...but my fish is an old guy and he moves around pretty slow most of the time. 
