[aaamborghini]

Hello Everyone!!

I just recently purchased a Crowntail Betta, dubbed Midnite. I currently have him in a 2.5 gallon tank with led colorchanging lights, it doesn't have a filter but it has a blower with an airstone inside an inner tube in the tank (just look at my avatar, thats the tank), heater, and live plants. I feed him 2 betta pellets in the morning and 2 before bed. He seems happy enough, and I understand it's going to take some time for him to warm-up to me. I'm interested in feeding him Frozen Brine shrimp, and I already purchased the stuff in little frozen squares. How do I feed him this? Just cut off a little piece and drop it in once thawed? Or do I thaw a whole block and is there a little shrimp in there I throw in? Not sure how that works. Also is my tank and efficient enough for the little guy to thrive in?? I've only had him since Tuesday, but I'm already in love with the little dude!!! :-D​

 

[Sivan]

It sounds like you are on the right path! I have never used froze brine shrimp but have been warned of the dangers of them occasionally containing diseases. I'd get information from regular uses, though. Generally people just let them thaw.

How often do you do water changes? What conditioner do you use? You seem to be very caring.

 

[aaamborghini]

I change 1/3 of the water every week and plan to do a complete tank breakdown once a month to really clean the rocks, and under the drain plate, replacing 1/4 of the old water with clean tap water treated with stress coat (recommended by a specialty tropical fish store.) and then sits at room temperature for a week. I still need to purchase a ph test and chemicals, but like I said, for now he seems happy.

What food do you recommend feeding him either as his second feeding or a nice snack once in a while? I'm considering buying live brine shrimp or bloodworms, although I'm not into seeing something alive get eaten...but if that's what he wants...lol

 

[MollyJean]

It seems like a good setup. I have a version of that tank and a few things you need to keep in mind.

Make sure you cover the top of the air pump tube, it should come with a cover. Your fish can and will get stuck in it.

The bubblier is great, but will make the water move around a lot, and some fish don't like that. If you are worried about him moving too much and you think it might be upsetting him, you can turn off the bubbler, it's not going to change very much (even though I think it does look nice). Or you can "baffle" it by putting a sheet of plastic inside the bubble tube to force the bubbles to only flow to one side of the tank.

The LED light in the hood is not water tight as it should be, so condensation from the warm water and bubblier can make the inside of the light damp, and the LED light will short out. I've taken a sandwich bag and placed the light in the bag before sliding it into it's housing on the hood. It keeps the moisture out, so the light will last longer.

Good luck with the new fish. We love pictures, by the way.. *nodnod*

 

[aaamborghini]

Yes, the bubbler tube has a lid and I always secure it. I only turn the bubbles/lights on for about 1/2 hr before bed. I feel like I'm doing good putting a little oxygen in, even if it does nothing, it makes me feel better lol. The light is actually pretty cool, it's placed UNDER the plexiglass tank and shines up the center tube. Walmart actually did me good this time!!

It's funny to watch midnite when I turn the bubbles off, he quickly swims to the top to examine and perches himself at the top like king of the tank. Not much competition huh? Haha

 

[Olympia]

In 2.5 gallons you should be doing a 100% and a 50% change weekly.
Other than that, sounds good. There isn't much risk feeding frozen food disease wise, as far as I know. Most food-borne illnesses come from improperly raised live foods.

 

[MollyJean]

The light is under the tank.. oh so jealous! I don't know if that one is big enough, but mine has a betta log floating in the top and it gives Bettabettabetta a little hiding place form the flow of the water when I have the bubbler on.

 

[aaamborghini]

In 2.5 gallons you should be doing a 100% and a 50% change weekly.
Other than that, sounds good. There isn't much risk feeding frozen food disease wise, as far as I know. Most food-borne illnesses come from improperly raised live foods.

Should I be doing 50% mid-week and 100% at the end? Or just dump all the water once a week?

 

[FallenMessiah]

That tank looks really awesome

 

[Olympia]

Should I be doing 50% mid-week and 100% at the end? Or just dump all the water once a week?

Doesn't matter at what point in the week. You can get away with just dumping it once a week every now and then, but you should do 50% in the middle of the week. Like a water change Wednesday and Saturday for example.

 

[aaamborghini]

Great! Thanks for the tips!

Could you tell me how I'm supposed to feed him the frozen shrimp blocks? Do I just chip a piece off and let it thaw then give it to him? Or should I just buy the freeze-dried shrimp/bloodworms?

 

[Olympia]

Frozen is much better than freeze dried. And that's what I do!

 

[BettasRpeople2]

I usually just chip off a piece and feed it. It's usually thawed on my finger by the time it hits the water. My little ones love it so much they sometimes grab it off my finger.:-D

 

[Olympia]

Yea, it really does thaw fast. I wouldn't worry about it that much!