I would feed small amounts two or maybe three days a time, with a good 7 or 8 hours between feedings. And how much depends on what you are feeding...pellets, frozen foods?

 

But he slowly moves around

Just to check, your tank for him is cycled, and he's warm enough (78-80 degrees F)?

If so, you may have found yourself a calm, relaxed betta As for being stuck with him regarding his color as he matures, my little girl was a perfect opal color initally, and now the only thing left on her that is still cream is her dumbo fins lol. He's in your life for a reason, enjoy him and everything about him 💞

 

NOT CYCLED
FOOD = Aqueon NutriInsect because it was the smallest Betta food I could find at the store
TEMP = both fish are in the same types of container, resting on a seedling heat mat, so I assume both are the same temp, which as of this second is about 76-78º (I need to get a second thermometer)

 

This might be helpful if you haven't seen it yet;

CYCLING: the two-sentence tutorial

Change half the water when either ammonia or nitrite approach 0.50ppm (alternately, 25% at 0.25ppm), or weekly, whichever comes first. Add Seachem Prime at 2-drops per gallon of tank size every day until cycled. That’s all you have to do. You can stop reading now. But there’s a lot of...

www.bettafish.com

 

 

You could always crush those pellets up a bit, and then feed him the small pieces. He's a beautiful fish! 💞

 

Yeah, I am finding even the small food is STILL sometimes too large for him! It is interesting to see how he seems to manipulate a too-large pellet with his little mouth until its small enough for him.

 

UPDATE: first, I think I got the "cycled" term mixed up with "filtered". Second, as-yet-to-be-named fishy is still tiny and carefully swimming around. He seems to like the little hollow "rock" I bought when I got Pearl (who liked it for a while but would jam herself next to it and the tank-side instead of swimming into it!). It's funny that sometimes I can't FIND him in the tank!

As for food, I read that babies (at least super tiny fry) need a variety of foods. Finding and feeding live food is way beyond me, and he seems just fine with "fake" food at his age. I have been making sure his pellets are crushed. I've found him finding sunken bits and there's no way he can eat the dried "bugs" I picked up for Pearl. Changed his water, too. He seems to still be OK! I also have yet to see any bad behavior between him and Pearl, but I still am not sure she can see him in the tank right next to her.

More updates to come!

 

So, Baby's tank is cycled?

Any cycled tank smaller than 5 gallons needs a water change twice a week.

 

Well if it means changing certain percentage of treated water then YES.

Here's a pic of Un-named and my impulse buy... a small JAWS, which he DID swim through but won't pose for me!

 

if it means changing certain percentage of treated water

You might want to take a look at this;
CYCLING: the two-sentence tutorial | Betta Fish Forum

 

I DID look at it.

Change half the water when either ammonia or nitrite approach 0.50ppm (alternately, 25% at 0.25ppm), or weekly, whichever comes first. Add Seachem Prime at 2-drops per gallon of tank size every day until cycled.

I just don't have the strips to test water. I need to find a source of test strips that don't cost so darn much. Those things used to be CHEAP for things like science classes, so I need to see if non-aquarium sources are out there.

 

UPDATE: Not-yet-named baby got a nice water change today. He seems to be a little bigger, I can actually see his tiny front fins a little now. He just swam through Jaws, and seems to be more and more interested in me.

One thing I notice is that unlike Pearl, baby patrols the bottom of his tank, looking around etc. My understanding is betta are more "middle/top of tank" fish. They don't pick at gravel like goldfish do.

 

They don't pick at gravel like goldfish do.

I have barebottom tanks. My little girls, more often than the boys, will regularly hunt on the floor for any leftovers

 

 

QUESTION: male betta have more of a "tummy", correct? I want to make sure I am not over-feeding Un-named and it is just a different body shape than Pearl the girl. He still seems happy and swims just fine.

 

This graph is for adults so I don't know how much it applies to your situation and fish, although certainly the emaciated image would be applicable no matter the age of the fish;

 

I've seen that chart, good to know... it chart applies to males AND females? The "tummy" I refer to would be a side view thing.

 

It applies to both males and females.

Maybe this will help;

PetCo Baby Betta Care

So most of us have come across the Baby Betta's at PetCo or perhaps you've just stumbled across one on your travels! You pick it up and don't see anything in those cups until you turn it and there's a tiny Betta! You marvel at the size and perhaps it breaks your heart because the poor baby is...

www.bettafish.com

 

if you are looking for a food option with small pellets try this one out :

New Life spectrum betta small. The pellets are really tiny.

 

THANKS as_aran, but I did find some small pellets already. I saw the ones you posted later on at a store as well. The good thing is Pearl is also now eating the little pellets, so she gets some variety now

That old thread posted about PetCo babies does indeed mention big tummies, and that this is normal when they are eating enough. I feel better now!

 

Un-Named after two weeks:

Those front fins are starting to show up more, but the swimmy-fins are still almost impossible to see!

 

So cute!!! Is that a little egg spot in the 2nd pic? 💕

 

So cute!!! Is that a little egg spot in the 2nd pic? 💕

WOAH!!! Good catch! DANGIT, I hope not! I wanted a boy so I could see the difference between owning a male vs. female! If it IS an egg spot, then HE who has yet to be named just might be a SHE who has yet to be named!!!

 

She (?) has that pudgy looking middle - chest and tummy- like some females have.... 😇

Angel would be a good she-name, lol!!!!

 

Geesh... I feel like a parent who just found out they have a bouncing baby girl when they already have 6 daughters!!! Dissapointed... I guess we'll have to wait until he/she gets a bit older to see what the real deal is!

If he DOES end up being a girl, the name "Pat" springs to mind, after the character from Saturday Night Live in the 1990s, the one who no one knew was a male or female. Thing is, I was reserving that name for any future fish I may acquire that is either green or light-blue, as I am a fan of actor Patrick McGoohan, who was Irish (green fish) and had amazing light blue eyes (blue fish). "Buster" is being reserved for any male gray/black & white fish I may have, after comedian Buster Keaton who was in (yup) black and white films.

I suppose if it IS a female, and keeps the red/blue coloring, which is patriotic, I could go with "Kate" after singer Kate Smith, known for her recording of "God Bless America".

I'M SO CONFUSED! TORN!! RATTLED!!! BEMUSED!!!!

 

Geesh... I feel like a parent who just found out they have a bouncing baby girl when they already have 6 daughters!!! Dissapointed... I guess we'll have to wait until he/she gets a bit older to see what the real deal is!

If he DOES end up being a girl, the name "Pat" springs to mind, after the character from Saturday Night Live in the 1990s, the one who no one knew was a male or female. Thing is, I was reserving that name for any future fish I may acquire that is either green or light-blue, as I am a fan of actor Patrick McGoohan, who was Irish (green fish) and had amazing light blue eyes (blue fish). "Buster" is being reserved for any male gray/black & white fish I may have, after comedian Buster Keaton who was in (yup) black and white films.

I suppose if it IS a female, and keeps the red/blue coloring, which is patriotic, I could go with "Kate" after singer Kate Smith, known for her recording of "God Bless America".

I'M SO CONFUSED! TORN!! RATTLED!!! BEMUSED!!!!

as a keaton fan myself, i realy realy need you to let us know when you find the right fish for the name...

 

Great spotting @Rose of sharon ! 😂🥰

 

You all should have seen me trying to get decent photos of Un-named last night so we can get a better look at things! This was the best I could get: