First Time Owner.

[zb120]

I bought my Betta Fish about three days ago. I bought him a 2.5 gallon tank, and he seems to be swimming and not just standing in one place. One thing, he is making these bubbles almost all the time during the time/night. I heard this means he's happy etc? I don't know can someone fill me in? Also, the store reccomended Tetramin Tropical Granules, The Rich Mix (Good for Bettas) it says. How much of the amount do I feed/sprinkle in his tank, how many times a day (every two days?), and what's the best time period? Thank you!

-ZB

*Whoops sorry wrong forum I had the Betta forum, and Household pets open in tabs and got confused!* =p

 

[Betta5]

Right a mod will move it to the betta place soon. Its good that hes swimming mine are all lazy and just lay about lol, hes building bubble nests, mine all do it. Its what they put their eggs in when they spawn. About feeding give a tiny pinch to him every day. Do you have a small fiter? heater? How often do you plan to water change? Did you use dechlorinator on the water?

 

[zb120]

I dont have a filter, nore a small filter. I do a 100% water change every 2 days. No I dont have a dechlorinator. I heard 78 degrees F is a good temperature for the tank, so I try to keep it there.

 

[Betta5]

First thing get some dechlorinator, without it the chlorine in the water will kill your fish, very cheap at you LFS, 78 is good if you can keep it there. I would do 2 50% water changes a week.

 

[Dark Wolf]

oh dear, i sense many problems are to come.

Definitely get a de-chlorinater e.g. tapsafe, straight away. Chlorine in the water is extremely harmful to fish.

A filter isn't crucial for a 2.5 gallon, just keep up with your water changes.

And now the really bad news, i'm guessing you haven't cycled your tank (Built up enough friendly bacteria to convert the ammonia quickly).

This is gonna be very stressful for the betta, they are not very hardy fish, and so are not a good choice for doing a fish in cycle. The beautiful fins that he has, are going to be very susceptible to fin rot, unless you do daily water changes to keep ammonia and nitrite levels down.

A very wise buy would also be a liquid test kit, that tests for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and ph.

 

[zb120]

I have to go down to our local Breeder shop anyways for my Cockatiels, so I'll see if they have a dechlorinator! What should I do if I haven't cycled my tank? The guy in the petshop just told me fill it up with tap water, make sure its warm but not too warm, and put him in. =[[ Damn pet shops!

 

[Betta5]

thats pets shops for you, Keep up with a good water change everyday. and Make sure you get dechlorinator. I use aqua safe which is good and not expensive.

 

[Dark Wolf]

And you've learnty the first golden rule of fish keeping. Don't trust anything that pet shop owners tell you about fish. Unless you are very lucky, they tend to be ill informed on the subject, and will tell you almost anyhting to get a quick sale.This is going to be a stressful few weeks ahead of you if you don't want a dead betta on your hands. First thing's first, when you go down to the shop tomorrow, get de-chlorinater, and a liquid test kit, that test for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrates (liquid, not test strips). Your aim is to keep ammonia and nitrite levels down. To do this you will more than likely have to do 40% water changes at least once a day.Also if you have any live plants in your tank, they will help keep the ammonia levels down slightly.Don't be suckered in to buying products that get rid of ammonia and nitrite from the water, if you do this, you will forever more be buying these product, and it will eventually lead to be quite pricey.

 

[zb120]

If he stressed, why is he making bubble nests? He's ready to mate/he's happy and healthy right? If he was stressed he wouldnt be making bubbles then right?

 

[Betta5]

If he stressed, why is he making bubble nests? He's ready to mate/he's happy and healthy right? If he was stressed he wouldnt be making bubbles then right?

Not sure, they make them any time, sometimes when they are ill so not really a sign of good health

 

[zb120]

But I heard it's a sign of being happy/healthy + ready to mate with a female? What are the signs of being ill with a Betta?

 

[Dark Wolf]

Sometimes that is the case, but not always, no one betta is a like, so you shouldn't assume just because he's making a bubble nest he is healthy.

As you have only had it 3 days, there may not be any signs, as it takes a while for the ammonia to build up.

What you should look out for, is him not really moving around much, staying in one place. Also any redness of the gills. Try and have a good look at the betta now, so you can get a good idea what he looks like, and where his variations of colour are. That way if something has changed you will know.

Make sure you look at his fins, regularly as well.

 

[Betta5]

Depends what you are looking for, brown fins, white spots, lumps on them, large eye etc

edit : dark wolf got their b4 me

 

[zb120]

Minor redness on the gills. That's it. Serious? He swims, and swims, and makes bubbles. No standing in one place!~

 

[Dark Wolf]

Are you saying he has redness on the gills? or are you trying to ask if that's all i can give you as symptoms.

If the second one is the case, then no, that's not all i've told you, like i say stare at him for at least 5 minutes, learn all you can about how he looks, then you will know if something is amiss later on