Sunshine State

Just call me a crazy woman. I was in a local pet store buying fish food for my community tank fish and saw all these beautiful fish in TINY plastic cups. I knew they were bettas, but not much else. This one poor fish in particular caught my eye. He was in a cup smaller than he was so he had to bend (sort of like the letter "C") in order to fit. Also his little fish lips were smashed up against the cup. Well, I kept walking away and then walking back to this fish. The young man working in the department asked if I needed help and I said no, but that I thought the poor fish needed help. Anyway, I kept asking him about these fish. He finally said the one I was worried about would probably get "flushed" because he was not eating and "seemed" sick. I kept worrying over the fish, so finally the young man handed me the cup/fish and said "here take the fish", but I doubt he will live. So, here I am a week later with this betta trying to learn all about this beautiful creature who seems to be doing fine--eating and swimming around normally (I think). I have read a lot of information on the forum, and there's a lot know. Anyway, I still feel clueless about the condition of the fish, although he looks healthy I guess. I would greatly appreciate all the input you can give to me. He's in a 10 gallon aquarium with 3 small danios (about 3/4 each) and 3 small rainbows. I've read that it's best to keep bettas alone, so I'm willing to move the danios and rainbows to the 75 gallon if best. I've attached a photo of the little fellow.

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coffeebean

hello! he is a beautiful betta! IMO if the fish are getting along its ok to leave them be. i have kept my bettas in community tanks quite happily. just keep an eye on him. if you see his fins in bad shape or him being aggressive to the other fish then you have a problem.
his fins look good. im glad you saved him

Lucy

Aww, cute boy. Keep an eye on his gills, see if thats naturaul for him.
Personally, I wouldn't keep him with the danios, they're pretty quick and can get nippy with a bettas flowing fins. Or the betta might get aggressive.
Don't know enough about rainbows to comment but I prefer to recommend they be kept alone or you can try cories, otos pt maybe a snail.
Have you seen this:
Welcome and Betta Care Guide - Please Read First!!!

Sunshine State

Hello, thanks for the quick replies. Yes, I did read that great info on keeping bettas. I have a heater which keeps the tank at 79-80 constant. Also have a nice Eheim HOB filter which works great. I do have some artificial plants in the tank with one full plant that is tall enough that part of it floats on the top of the water. I also have a very small bubbler (should this be in the tank) Lucy, what about the gills? I don't know what to look for. I've been watching his behavior and it seems to me he sort of "hangs" around much of the time. Seems to totally ignore the other fish and keep to themselves. He certainly does swim around at times and does the bump the top of the water thing, but he rarely flares. Only seen him do it a couple of times. Should he be flaring? He is starting to come to the front of the tank when I approach, so that's some progress.

Lucy

The bubbler is fine, many bettas love to play in bubbles.
It's ok if he doesn't flare, not all of them do especially if he's got a mellow personality.

I'm sorry, I hope I didn't worry you. Just the and the redness and coloration near his gill, which may be part of his natural coloring.
Cami had red gills when I got her, turns out, it's just her coloring.
Being in your good care, if it's not his normal coloring, he'll come around.

He may need build up his strength to get used to the current of the filter (considering how cramped he was)

MeGustaUnaPez926

Congratulations, he is a lovely find! Like Lucy said, make sure you check his gills and fins daily to see if the coloration changes or if the danios are getting a bit nippy. He is very pretty though, does he have a name?

Amanda

Congrats on the new boy!! Just so you know....you can't stop at just one.
I'm up to 10.

Sunshine State

Thanks, I will watch his gills and fins. It seems like the gills are just a funky color and not damaged or red stress/poor health. Although I'm only guessing. From the photo, you can see his "fish lips", are they supposed to be that way--kind of pouty and pointing up They don't look damaged...maybe I'm just being too overly concerned.

Wow, that's a lot of bettas. Beautiful. Are they all in separate tanks? I can see how these fish can become addictive. They are just so beautiful.

No name yet, but I have been thinking and thinking and thinking for the perfect name. I thought about Liberache since this fish has all the pinkish, flowing, frilly "clothes" just like the great entertainer and musician. But then that's a lot of sylables to use when talking to the betta. Then I thought about Louie for Louie (the lip) Armstrong--one of my all time favorite musicians. Then, I got to thinking that maybe he needs a bit of a macho build up since he's so pretty; and Bubba came to mind. So much to consider.....

MissMTS

He's a very pretty boy His lips look fine to me Congrats on your first betta!

ara

I am so glad you rescued this beautiful boy. He was so lucky to meet you just in time!

Sunshine State

Thank you all for making me feel welcome and supported. I wasn't sure about the poor boy, but I just couldn't leave the store without him. Then I got home and realized that I knew ZERO about these fish. So all your help and encouragement really made me feel like I wasn't just being a goof about the situation. Anyway, tonight he is swimming around a bit more. I removed the danios and rainbows from the aquarium and put them in the 75 gallon community tank. I then added two albino cory catfish (tiny little ones about 3/4") to help with bottom clean up. The betta seems much happier with just his bottom mates. He greeted me when I walked up to the aquarium and actually looked like he was waiting for food. So, maybe he will be ok and thrive in his new home. No name yet.... still pondering...

Je55*e

I think you're doing very well with him! He is in paradise now, especially compared to his former prison. It's appalling how unfeeling people are; of course he's not wanting to eat if he can't even move! Would anyone? It sickens me, but I'm so thankful that you rescued him. You seem to know and care a lot about fish in general, so I think he'll do wonderfully with you.
He's gorgeous, by the way; what is his name?

agabr123

congrats on your new boy!

Bad Wolf

he's beautiful! i'm glad you took him in, so many bettas in the world suffer and it's great that you could help this one.

Fishstick

I am so glad you saved him! did you come up with a name yet?

Sunshine State

Thanks so much for all your kind comments and encouragement. I am struggling with a name--I think mainly because I really thought he would not make it. Sort of felt like I needed to help him get better and then name him. Well, he's finally come around and is doing great. He swims to the front of the tank every time I walk by and is starting to show off to get fed. Now, I ready to give him a deserving and appropriate name. Still thinking..... I love this little fish!!!

Phinny12

Awww.. That's great Sunshine..He is a beauty! I would be carful of the Rainbows..My sister has them and they can be a bit agressive eventhough they are classified as community fish. Good Luck..He's a great looking fish!

Sunshine State

I took out the rainbows and danios. So the betta now shares the tank with 3 tiny little albino corey cats. Betta seems much happier without rainbows and danios. He seems to be just fine with the coreys... I'll watch to make sure he continues to be comfortable with his tank mates. He is such a nice boy and really becoming more social. Name to come soon....

Sunshine State

Hello all, wanted to let you know that my betta is doing great. He is now coming to the surface to take food from my hand. What a begger. He seems very healthy and happy. I have finally picked a name for him: Sir Elton John (the second). Somehow it just seems to fit. Good night from Judith and Elton.

Je55*e

What a great name! I love it =) more pics of Elton?

Sunshine State

Sir Elton John has come a long way from the horrible cup to his nice 10 gallon aquarium--all coordinated to show off his beautiful colors. We have become best of friends and he is just about the happiest fellow I ever saw. Funny guy is starting to do little things to get my attention.

Anyway, I'm attaching a couple of photos. Two of Elton and one of the tiny cup he came in. Since the cup is clear, I filled it with juice so you can see better. Cup is 2 1/4" wide and Elton is 2 3/4" long--so he was forced into a curled position the whole time he was in the cup. Makes me sick to know how some of these poor fish are housed.

P.S. Been watching the gills, the color is just his coloration--sort of a dark plumb/purple color.

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Fishstick

wow he looks great I am so glad you saved him from that cup!

ara

He is beautiful! Great job!

midnightwolf

he looks real great, good luck with Elton and tell him i say hi

Je55*e

He looks so happy! He must be in heaven, compared to the **** of that abusive cup. >( People make me sick. Um, if you get a chance, full tank shot? Sorry to be so greedy, but I am liking what I see of the decor.

catfishlover123

Poor little guy. I cant believe they crammed him into a bowl too small for him! They could at least have given him a cup big enough for him to swim around a little more comfortably!

Sunshine State

Since I'm totally new to bettas, I never saw (or at least noticed) the poor things in the small containers. I was horrified when I saw these sad creatures in these tiny little cups. I can't understand how people can be so oblivious to such a terrible thing as cramming these fish in these cups!!! Don't let me get started. Anyway, Elton and I are best friends and that counts for something. I've attached a photo of Elton's new home.
Also, you might notice the little albino cory cats on the bottom. Another "rescue" for me. When I was getting food for Elton I saw these cute little babies in a tank thinking they might be a good addition to clean up the bottom for Elton. When I looked closely, I noticed that all of them had badly damaged fins--missing most of their tails and dorsal fins. The fellow in the store said "oops, they shouldn't have been put in the the "bala (sp?) sharks; they have nipped off their fins". So, I bought the five corey cats, some medicine and brought them home. That was four days ago and they are going very well. I named them the Finnegan Brothers (get it: fin-again).
Thanks for all your support. Judith

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fishheadNJ

It's the "curse" of being able to breathe air directly, the difficulty of finding decent tankmates, and not being the most active fish. They can survive in those little prisons.

What's even worse, to me, is the little tanks they sell as "perfect" for bettas that aren't much better than the cups they're in.

Yours is in absolute betta paradise!!

Je55*e

I love the whole tank shot! And the Finnegan brothers (very clever, I love that XD) are adorable. So kind of you to rescue them, and so stupid of the people at the store not to know that Bala Sharks would bother them! Ugh!!!