[Tree]

Hello Everyone!

A little update on my beta, Joe.
I currently have him in a 1.5 gallon (That's what it says on the box, at least)
I realize I need a bigger tank, but this is what I have at the moment.
It'd currently 22-23 degrees in his tank. (I know this is cooler than reccommended but I do not have a heater)
Since moving him to the bigger tank, Joe is swimming around more happily. As soon as I get a chance to go to a pet store, he'll have a 3.5 gallon with a heater, and maybe even a snail friend.

Thanks everyone for all your help, I know it sounds like I'm tryng to kill this beta, but I just didn't have the money, and I recieved this fish as a gift.

Thanks!

-DoryAndNemo

P.S: Cheaper tank suggestions from petsmart or other places they might have here in Canada would be great

<3 I started out this way too. no heater and a small vase with a large plant on the top until I found this site. people make mistakes and you are fixing the problem to make him feel better. I hope you get a heater fast. I would try to find an area in the house that is warmer to keep your tank warmer for him.

 

[aselvarial]

Relax, 1.5 gallons is totally doable. No one thinks you are trying to kill him as you did come here. Next step, heater. Then put a wtb ad on craigslist and check your local classifieds. Ppl offload tanks all the time. Worst comes to worst, subscribe to Amazon Prime (still free for students I believe) and order a tank off Amazon. Concentrate on a heater now, and you can easily have a happy healthy betta in 1.5 gallons. Just check with those on here who have tanks that size for water change schedules.

 

[KFoster]

Hello Everyone!

A little update on my beta, Joe.
I currently have him in a 1.5 gallon (That's what it says on the box, at least)
I realize I need a bigger tank, but this is what I have at the moment.
It'd currently 22-23 degrees in his tank. (I know this is cooler than reccommended but I do not have a heater)
Since moving him to the bigger tank, Joe is swimming around more happily. As soon as I get a chance to go to a pet store, he'll have a 3.5 gallon with a heater, and maybe even a snail friend.

Thanks everyone for all your help, I know it sounds like I'm tryng to kill this beta, but I just didn't have the money, and I recieved this fish as a gift.

Thanks!

-DoryAndNemo

P.S: Cheaper tank suggestions from petsmart or other places they might have here in Canada would be great

Hey don't feel bad about having him. Lots of people get these fish and don't get the proper information on how to keep them. And I've seen some live a long time in crappy conditions unfortunately... I can tell that you want the best for this fish now that you have it and that's the best start! Just having the thought to post questions on here is great and now you have tons of information.

Everyone on here loves betta fish and they just want to give the best information possible. Some people get a little excited, but everyone is giving good info. No one thinks you're trying to kill it per se, lol.... everyone just wants to help.

Look up the water change schedules (within the one of the sticky threads) and decide which tank size has a schedule best suited for the time you can put into it. But like it was said the smaller tanks tend to be more work. Also the bigger the tank the easier it is to heat too! And make sure you don't get a heater over 25watts for a 3 gallon..

Let us know when you get the heater and he's all set to go! You had asked about the plastic plant --- if you can run panty hose all over it without it snagging its okay. If it snags take it out as it will tear his fins. Silk plants are good, if you want an easy hiding spot I heard a great idea of putting a small clean coffee cup or the like in there - just make sure it's rinsed well with NO soap.

I can tell you care and I wish you all the best with your new friend! I know you'll take good care of him. Keep creeping on threads and stickies on this site and you'll have more than enough info to have a happy companion.

 

[DoryAndNemo]

Aw, Thanks everyone

I'm currently in the process of trying to buy a 3 gallon, or the 5.5 gallon, depending on how much space I have!

I have medicine for torn fins, until I can get somethign he can hide in besides the plant (Which he *loves*)

I did my research o nthe tank, and it's about 0.7 gallons :/
A little bit bigger, but maybe it was a weird box? I don't know.
He seems happier though, which is good. I'm going to be buying a heater ASAP!

Any good suggestions for a heater for a 3 gallon, or a 5.5 gallon?

Thanks everyone!
(And I will be stalking the fourms daily )

 

[KFoster]

Top heater brands suggested on here are the hydors, ehim jagers, and aqueon pros.

The ehim ones are generally more expensive. I have an aqueon pro and like it so far.

With any of the above recommended brands do not get one that exceeds 25watts. I currently have a 25 watt heating my 10 gallon tank. I don't know of a smaller watt reliable heater but as far as I know people with 3-5 gallons use 25watt heaters.
Also - a thermometer is a must even with an adjustable heater as their calibrations are known to be off. For example my aqeon pro is holding steady at 79F but the dial is pointed at 84. So make sure you buy a thermometer to monitor the temp of the water! And not one of the stick on glass ones, a floating one or a glass one you can dip in to check daily is good.

With any brand make sure you check out the dimensions as some of them are very long. Make sure with the tank you get (I'm rooting for the 5.5 gallon ) that it can fit in there somehow (the submersible heaters apparently work best in a vertical position but I haven't heard a reason why....but lots of people put them in completely horizontal or diagonally across their tank to fit, if it fits vertical-bonus)
But if it's a fully submersible heater make sure it is fully submersed, and unplug before you do a water change.

Happy shopping