Elise,k

Hi all.
I just bought my first fish yesterday, a gorgeous red and pink male betta. I have never owned a fish before and I am excited to get started. He seems a little sluggish and is constantly down the bottom of his tank. I gave him some food and he seemed very disinterested. Anyone who has advice on caring for a new Betta, I would greatly appreciate it!

Best, E.

Lucy

Hi Elise welcome to Fish Lore

We have a bunch of crazy betta people here. lol Not me, I only have 2.

Here's some great info to get you started:
Welcome and Betta Care Guide - Please Read First!!!

Give him some time to get used to his new home, he should perk up and want some food.

Since this is your first fish, here's a great link to start to do some research. It should contain most everything you should know.
Pay careful attention to the link about the nitrogen cycle.
Beginners

Good luck, we'd love to see some pics when you get a chance.

CHoffman

Welcome to Fishlore!!
Lucy gave you some great info and links. Betta's are such cute little fish..I have two also. They have such personalities..I hope your little guy starts to come around. Good luck with him and keep us posted.

Leigh

Welcome!! I'm a newbie too. I got my second betta on saturday and she just today started swimming around. He's probably stressed and just needs time to adjust.

Everyone here is wonderful and very helpful! Oh, and you will be asked for pictures so you might as well get them going. lol!!

agabr123

welcome and congrats on your new betta! they're really wonderful fish, i have 11 myself any pictures of the little guy?

Elise,k

Hi guys,

Thanks so much for your messages and advice.
He really is perking up already, swimming around a lot and happy to see me when I get home.
No pics as yet, but I will get on that
What do you all think about feeding? I have read so many different websites all saying different things.

I will read those links you gave me Lucy, many many thanks all.

Best,
E

Phinny12

Good Luck with your new Betta! He sounds really pretty! Be sure to read up on Bettas care!

AquarAdvent

I use Hikari Betta Bio Gold, but a lot of people swear by Attison's, so I suppose it depends on what your LFS has or what your betta seems to like. Of the pellets, my boy is pretty much full grown, and I give him four pellets in the morning, five at night, and one day where half is fasting and the other half he gets some thawed, deshelled frozen pea. He seems to like it!

Oh, and congratulations on your new betta! I'm glad he's doing well.

midnightwolf

good luck with your new boy.

agabr123

as far as food, i give either 4 hikari or 6 attisons pellets to the adults twice a day, and 4 atisons pellets to the babies. once a week i give them frozen bloodworms, i give them frozen daphnia once ever two weeks or so, and i fast them one day a week as well.

Je55*e

He sounds beautiful, I'd love to see a picture when he feels better. Best of luck!

Elise,k

So you'd say feed him twice a day? A lot of websites are saying three times a week?

haedra

I've seen all sorts of different recommendations on feeding. It makes things even more difficult, but the best thing in my own opinion is to feed based on your individual betta's activity level, environment, size, etc., as these things can vary between fish. What is good for one, might not be good for another, be it amount or type of food given. I have five; and I feel better feeding the larger more active ones more food, whereas the smaller ones get less. I do however, concur with the fast day once a week. It gives their digestive system a break, and can help to keep them clear.

I know it can all be very confusing; just go with your gut, and keep a watchful eye on his behavior and appearance, and I'm sure everything will work out fine.

agabr123

i generally feed twice a day, but you can gauge it based on the size of your betta's belly. if their belly looks flat (not necessarily flat but it doesn't look rounded) then you can feed him whichever meal (either AM or PM) that you normally would. if you notice that your betta's belly is still rounded, then you can skip the meal that you would have given him.

these pics are a little exaggerated because my female betta was bloated and ate WAY too much food (she was in a community at the time), but here is a picture of her belly rounded (post number 6)
http://www.fishlore.com/fishforum/be...fat-betta.html
and here is her again with her belly looking the way your betta's should right before you feed him (post number 7)
Pics of my tanks and fish!

Elise,k

Ok thanks guys on the feeding info! He seems to doing well, active and nice color, Im going to try to put some pics up!
Question: any good advice on heaters? I know that it is best for them to be in consistent temperature.
And is bamboo safe to put in the tank? Some people say its nice for them, but I don't know?

E

uprightandlocked

Real bamboo can rot over time ... However, I have found very realistic looking fake bamboo that appears to be betta safe. The leaves are silk and the stalk is plastic but no rough edges are present.

agabr123

you'll want your tank to be kept around 78-80 degrees for your betta. assuming that your betta is in the 2 gallon tank in your aquarium info, i'd suggest the hydor mini heater, it's 7.5 watts and keeps my 2.5 gallon tanks consistently at 80 degrees

Elise,k

Thanks for the info, I got a little hydor heater, he seems to like it, althought today was so warm that the temp went up to 85, and now Im worried it's too hot!
He is floating near the surface a lot, should I unplug it?

E

Je55*e

I would unplug it, yes. I have a similar heater in a 3 gallon, and if it gets to 80, I unplug it just in case. If it gets 76 and lower, I plug it back in.

Tony G.

be careful with the heaters, you have to constantly check it if it isn't a dial heater. My betta moushu died because of a heater malfunction...