I Have A New Betta. Is It Normal For Him To Sit On The Bottom?

[branjie]

O.K so he'd rather be alone. If I want to get him his own little tank or bowl, do I need a filter and heater for him? He was in a glass jar at the shop. My husband is a bit fed up with my aquarium spending, and I'm kind of on a ban from aquarium shop at the moment. What's the cheapest way I can keep him happy? I don't want him sick or miserable. I don't want him in a tiny glass box with nothing but water in it either. That's not living, that's existing.

As for the Black Ghost, I'm only keeping him until he gets a bit bigger, and then I'm going to trade him in at the aquarium shop. They said they'd be happy to have him as a trade in. He's only around as big as my Sword Tail now, so he's not causing trouble, and seems very happy. It's going to be hard to part with him when he's older, but I know I have to do it..... Just watched that video. Amazing fish, but I don't wand THAT in my tank LOL. He'll be heading to the fish shop when he needs to go.

 

[poopsydrew]

O.K so he'd rather be alone. If I want to get him his own little tank or bowl, do I need a filter and heater for him? He was in a glass jar at the shop. My husband is a bit fed up with my aquarium spending, and I'm kind of on a ban from aquarium shop at the moment. What's the cheapest way I can keep him happy? I don't want him sick or miserable. I don't want him in a tiny glass box with nothing but water in it either. That's not living, that's existing.

As for the Black Ghost, I'm only keeping him until he gets a bit bigger, and then I'm going to trade him in at the aquarium shop. They said they'd be happy to have him as a trade in. He's only around as big as my Sword Tail now, so he's not causing trouble, and seems very happy. It's going to be hard to part with him when he's older, but I know I have to do it..... Just watched that video. Amazing fish, but I don't wand THAT in my tank LOL. He'll be heading to the fish shop when he needs to go.

I understand your new to this hobby but in the future please dont buy a fish because you like it and then just plan on taking it back. Not only do you risk stunting and stressing it with the moves, but I dont think its very fair to the fish to buy it for as long as you want then just take it back. I can tell you we hate that at my lfs. We all have to learn somewhere but a little research goes a long way. I would seriously consider revising your stocking after doing research on all of your fish as you will see there are a lot of compatibility issues going on. Good luck with your fish.

Drew

Edit-Yes, seperating him is essential. Anything 1 gallon or over (the bigger the better). You can find small heaters and filters for next to nothing. And yes it needs to be heated. Some people choose not to filter their small betta tanks but unless your really into constant water changes better invest in a sponge filter.

 

[branjie]

I know people are going to have a go at me for saying this, but if you saw my tank, you would see that there are no agressive fish. I made a mistake with my initial tank set up, and did have problems with a few eg. Angels, so I have always asked about the character of fish before buying since then. I know that some breeds have tendencies towards certain behaviours, but they are all individuals. Some people have said that my dwarf gourami will cause problems, but he's the most layed back fish in my tank. I chose my particular betta because he didn't seem edgy like some others there. He has not once had a go at anyone. Still, I agree that I made a mistake with the black ghost, and would never intentionally buy a fish with a view to taking it back later. He is happy and well looked after at the moment, so I'm not going to disturb him. I can see my betta is a recluse, and will endevour to find him a tank for himself, or will take him back. Having said that, he seems much happier today, and has not spent any time on the bottom of the tank. He does have this perculiar habit of using his fins to hang onto a plant and have a rest for a while. I wonder if that's a betta thing.

 

[-germ-]

1 question that i don't think has been asked is how big is your tank?

 

[dixiedawn]

don't know where you are, but if you're on a bit of a ban, get him a big bowl or a small tank, try freecycle.org for freebe bits, sometimes you get lucky! yes he needs a little heater, unless you live where it's warm most of the time. I have my little man in a 3 gallon tank that cost me about 15 quid, and heater was given to me. I don't run the filter because he doesn't like the current, but keep it in there because he likes to rest on it sometimes . He has a castle which he hides in sometimes, and a few plants to lay on when he's feeling lazy, overall he's happy and he shows me so when he comes up to the side when i walk by...he sticks his head up outta the water for me to stroke him.........oh yeah and if you do manage to get a tank for him or bowl ..either make sure the water level is a couple of inches from the top or make sure he has a lid, as they can jump! I've seen a couple of my mom's bettas jump out before and it's not nice

 

[branjie]

Germ my tank is a 100 litre (24.4 gallon) octagon tank. All of my fish are quite small, with the biggest being the Dwarf Gourami. It's certainly not overpopulated, and I probably won't get many more fish.

Thanks Dixie.That's so cute how your fish comes up for a pat, and you keep the filter there for him to lay on. It's not a bad idea about freecycle, but with him looking sad, I don't think I have time to muck around. I'll see if I can get a small tank (with lid) and heater from my local fish shop tomorrow. I'd need a plant as well for him to hide in. I'll see how much it will all cost. If it's too much, I'll have to return the fish . If I get the tank I'll be stressing like crazy about this whole cycling thing, but I get the impression you can just do water changes and get by. I've spent hours researching Bettas today. I'll let you know how I go tomorrow.

 

[-germ-]

What ssp are the plecos....
As i'm sure you are aware your teetering on the brink with stocking, are you over filtered?

 

[branjie]

My filter is too powerful. What made you ask? I haven't worked out what type of plecos mine are. They are only small, maybe 3cm, but I saw another person's post today, who had a massive pleco. Mine haven't grown since I got them about 3 weeks ago, so I hope they're not going to. I'll see if I can find out at the fish shop tomorrow.

 

[-germ-]

Because you stocking is debatably too much, which over-filtering would help with, i know you plan on moving those fish that get too big but i'd be very careful....
You have IMHO bad stocking!
Then again IMHO i have bad stocking in my 2 communities but i'm way over filtered and water change 33%(ish) every 2-3 days...
Just be careful!
Can you get a pic of the pleco(s) for I.D?
Edit; must say the dwarf in your pic is a good looking fella, be careful with dwarves though, they are known to be highly vulnerable when it comes to various different illnesses....

 

[dixiedawn]

Germ my tank is a 100 litre (24.4 gallon) octagon tank. All of my fish are quite small, with the biggest being the Dwarf Gourami. It's certainly not overpopulated, and I probably won't get many more fish.

Thanks Dixie.That's so cute how your fish comes up for a pat, and you keep the filter there for him to lay on. It's not a bad idea about freecycle, but with him looking sad, I don't think I have time to muck around. I'll see if I can get a small tank (with lid) and heater from my local fish shop tomorrow. I'd need a plant as well for him to hide in. I'll see how much it will all cost. If it's too much, I'll have to return the fish . If I get the tank I'll be stressing like crazy about this whole cycling thing, but I get the impression you can just do water changes and get by. I've spent hours researching Bettas today. I'll let you know how I go tomorrow.

I don't know if you can get your hands on one but the little elite tanks are ok for a betta, not that expensive either.

He're an idea for you if you don'twant to put fresh treated water in his tank, obviously because the temp could be differnt from that of the tank he's already used to, how about syphon out some of the water from the larger tank into the smaller one. The temp would be about the same as what he's used to then you can top it up with treated tap water. Then ya can do a partial water change on the bigger tank! Two birds one stone! He'll be fine with an uncycled tank as long as the water is warm (but not too warm) and the water's treated. good luck
get some aquarium salt too!

 

[branjie]

germ, you're such a prophet of doom . Having said that, I've just seen some pics of massive Clown Loaches! Why don't the shops tell you that these things aren't full grown when you get them? I told the people at the shop how big my aquarium was, and they sold me these mega beasts. I'll try and take a pic of my Plecs for you.

Dixie I explained the whole Betta thing to my husband, and he said there was no way I was getting another aquarium. After I looked sad for a bit, he said I could get a new little aquarium for the Betta. Yes! I think I'll do what you said. Maybe I'll just fill his tank with the current tank water, and add new water to the big community aquarium to top it up?? Using water ager, and correcting the ph of course. Hey what's the story with this aquarium salt? I didn't know that you could/should put salt in with fresh water fish.

 

[Lynda B]

You should put aquarium salt in with your betta, not necessarily with your other fish. Bettas that have salt in their tanks almost never get ill. It's such a great preventative for them. 1 tspn per gallon or 1 rounded tblsp per 5 gallons.

 

[branjie]

Thanks Lynda

 

[-germ-]

germ, you're such a prophet of doom

I'm touched!
Actually now you mention it i do seem to be in a particularly cycnical mood, anyhow;
They do it because the more problems you suffer, if you don't go on a place like TFF you become reliant on their advice...
Once reliant on their advice you are basically an easy way to make money with meds (that'll fix it), new fish (should have been fine in that tank, i just don't understand it), snake oil bacteria boosters (they really work) etc, etc, etc....
If people aren't confident or informed in their fish keeping then IMHO bad LFS can manipulate money out of them without admitting to it (actually, we overstocked you and never told you about cycling because we just wanted as big a sale as possible).
Then there's also the fact that (in your example) when your ghost knife gets too big where will you return it to? In many cases the LFS that sold it to you in the first place, then they get paid twice for the same fish. Also the fish being returned has been cared for, your electricity, your food, your water and the space it didn't take up while in your tank will have allowed them to sell more fish via the space it would have occupied.
Also it could be bigger if its been cared for well so they can sell it at a higher price than you originally bought it for, so not only do they get the fish paid for twice they get it plus the profit based on the work (and money) you've put in.
Theres also the fact they take on unknowledgable staff who rather than being sneaky or good salesman are just blatanlty brain-dead and unwillng to learn....
Anyhow, weathers nice, rant over....
Sorry
Ps; not all LFS are bad, its just a matter of finding a decent one...

 

[Lynda B]

You're welcome!

What I did, when I knew I was going to be getting involved in fish, was to do lots of research on the various species, not only for compatability but to see what their requirements are, tank size, pH, whatever. It really helped us a lot and we've had no troubles since the start.