[Aside]

I got my first Betta yesterday.

I put water in the 1.5 gallon tank I had lying around and added the water conditioner I bought at the store.

Last night he ate a little (I think I may have fed him a little too much by mistake) and was swimming around the tank. He mainly kind of hovered near the bottom but would sometimes swim around.

This morning I went to petland to pick up a larger tank and other necessities. I got a tank but I'm not happy with it so I might take it back. He's still in the 1.5 gallon and doesn't have a heater or filter yet. It's top on my list of priorities to fix that but I'm nervous about getting them before I'm settled on his tank.

He doesn't seem to be eating and there seems to be just a bit of white fuzz growing on his back.

I don't know what I did wrong or what to do now.

I don't know if he's stressed in his tank. I've never had a betta before so I'm not sure what stressed looks like.

I just added a few fake plants and a leaf hammock. He appears to be swimming around and checking them out. He's kind of hovering near the hammock but not actually on it.

I snapped some pictures for reference They're pretty big so I'll post links.

http://i797.photobucket.com/albums/yy253/plutherA/DSC_0786.jpg
http://i797.photobucket.com/albums/yy253/plutherA/DSC_0785.jpg
http://i797.photobucket.com/albums/yy253/plutherA/DSC_0784.jpg
http://i797.photobucket.com/albums/yy253/plutherA/DSC_0782.jpg
http://i797.photobucket.com/albums/yy253/plutherA/DSC_0781.jpg

Also, if he's in a 1.5 gallon is upgrading a top top priority? I can't find any tanks that I like. I'm in Manhattan so selection in stores seems to be limited. I've checked Petco and petland so far so any suggestions or advice about that would be lovely.

 

[Ramble]

You may not have done anything wrong- sometimes you just get a sick fish from the pet store. You might want to make a post over in the Sick Fish and Emergencies thread. There are a lot of skilled people on the boards that can give you good advice on treating your betta.

 

[Aside]

woops, that's where I meant to post this.

 

[jasonh]

Betta fish can freak out for a bit when you put them in new surroundings. it has happened to every betta i've owned.

make sure you get a heater with thermostat.
don't worry about it not eating at first. they can go for weeks without food.

i cant see white fuzz on it in the pictures. dont go nuts and get all kinds of medication,etc if you are not sure if they animal is ill or not.

you can harm or stress the animal.