Betta Suddenly Fell Into My Lap

I feel like I was "called" like some force just told me to go to petco. Yesterday at lunch I went to petco. Next thing I know i'm standing in front of the betta display, looking at all the types. Crowns, veils, double tail, butterflys, halfmoons, "Paradise", plakats, males, females and frys.

I stepped to the side display and knelt to look at the lower cups. At the angle I was at I couldn't see the bettas in the lower cups. I knelt a little further and that's when I saw him.

This little thing came swimming up to the front of the cup and I swear he was looking AT me. I'd move to get comfier and his head would follow me. All the other bettas were just swimming around in their tank but this one.... this one was staring at me.

I picked the cup up and he swam in a circle. I put my finger up against the cup and moved it and he followed it. I knew this was the one. He was the one to replace the empty spot in my heart that my petals left. Was it too soon? My petals was only put to rest the very same day. No, I knew this was right.

I would like to introduce Casper, my little halfmoon "mustard gas." I know he isn't a legit mustard gas as supposedly they are "extinct"??? I named him Casper because he is friendly as can be but the slightest bump or noise will make him run ans hide. and for some reason that reminded me of Casper the friendly ghost.

I took a tape measure to him and he is about 1.25 inches. I'm thinking he is about 3ish months old?



In the cup getting used to the tank, he flared at who knows what








These two s below
are without any light, just the light from the kitchen. Imagine when the light in the 20 gallon is on him






These last two pictures were taken at petco

 

He is absolutely stunning!

 

You got yourself a beauty right there ! He's gorgeous!

 

Thank you! he is a little skinny and doesn't know what to do with a mirror. He inched up slowly nosed it. He flared once then swam quickly to the bottom and hid under a leaf.

 

Mission accomplished I'd say. It's always hard to accept the whole "replacement" term. I prefer to just look at it a new addition. Makes it easier to me. He is a beauty though.

 

Thank you! he is a little skinny and doesn't know what to do with a mirror. He inched up slowly nosed it. He flared once then swam quickly to the bottom and hid under a leaf.

I wouldn't worry about his weight too much. It's not that odd for bettas that size.

 

I wouldn't worry about his weight too much. It's not that odd for bettas that size.

I do hope he does grow. He is very small, about the size of my fingers first part before the first knuckle. I'm going to feed him bug bites and the omega betta pellets they are both highish in protein. I would like his tail to grow but I feel he is perfect the way he is.

 

Here's mine. Pretty sure he's grown.




I think your guy will grow and fill out some.

 

What a beautiful betta!

 

So I was siphoning water out of his tank aaaannnnd the little turd swam UP the siphon. :|! I am in shock and worried that it hurt him. The fins are fine, his scales look unharmed and he is swimming. When he first came out he sat at the bottom almost in shock.

 

So I was siphoning water out of his tank aaaannnnd the little turd swam UP the siphon. :|! I am in shock and worried that it hurt him. The fins are fine, his scales look unharmed and he is swimming. When he first came out he sat at the bottom almost in shock.

The same thing happened to me months back with one of my GBRs. She was skittish for a while after, but she is fine. I still have her.

 

The same thing happened to me months back with one of my GBRs. She was skittish for a while after, but she is fine. I still have her.

Yeah he is a little skittish it seems. but he is eating so I think he will be fine.

EDIT: looks like he lost a few scales? Will they grow back?

 

So I was siphoning water out of his tank aaaannnnd the little turd swam UP the siphon. :|! I am in shock and worried that it hurt him. The fins are fine, his scales look unharmed and he is swimming. When he first came out he sat at the bottom almost in shock.

My betta in the photo below did this same thing but ended up folded quite literally in half, I had to remove him from the syphon hose. I was SURE he was a goner, no breathing stuck to the side of the half full tank upside down... I gently pushed him into the water and made myself leave the house to run errands, his tank still half full. I returned he was limply laying on the bottom on his side still half bent but breathing. After a couple days of nail biting he finally came around, suddenly back to his perky trouble making self again. This is him now, photo from a couple weeks back.

 

Gorgeous little guy you've brought home, P&P! I'm sure he'll be fine, bettas are tough little fellas

 

Congrats on your new betta! I have no doubt that he looked at you and followed you. Mine does that too.

 

great looking bettas...I had pretty much the same coloring on mine but I lost him unfortunatly due to my lack of knowledge...i'm hoping to get another one soon after I find out what to do in my 8.8 guppy fry tank....as far as the siphon thing goes..I always keep one hand on the gravel/sand siphon and one on the hose that way if a fish swims up it u can pinch the hose and itll stop the suction enough to help them get out without them fighting that suction feeling...just a suggestion...

 

My betta in the photo below did this same thing but ended up folded quite literally in half, I had to remove him from the syphon hose. I was SURE he was a goner, no breathing stuck to the side of the half full tank upside down... I gently pushed him into the water and made myself leave the house to run errands, his tank still half full. I returned he was limply laying on the bottom on his side still half bent but breathing. After a couple days of nail biting he finally came around, suddenly back to his perky trouble making self again. This is him now, photo from a couple weeks back. View attachment 346174

And they look identical too. They must be related. I'm glad your guy made it, yours sound way worse than what happened to Casper. Right now he is fighting his nemesis, his own reflection. Because ya' know... it's trying to take over his home. I just fed him and he ate the bug bites, he also swims up to the front of the tank when I approach so he doesn't hate me! LOL

Gorgeous little guy you've brought home, P&P! I'm sure he'll be fine, bettas are tough little fellas

Thank you! He seems fine now, I would say acting normal but I don't know his "Normal" yet.
And i'm going to have to change my name now since petals has passed.... and I have 3 bettas

Congrats on your new betta! I have no doubt that he looked at you and followed you. Mine does that too.

Thank you! He seems to still do it now. I placed my finer in front of his face on the tank and slide it over to food and he happily swam along then ate lol.

great looking bettas...I had pretty much the same coloring on mine but I lost him unfortunatly due to my lack of knowledge...i'm hoping to get another one soon after I find out what to do in my 8.8 guppy fry tank....as far as the siphon thing goes..I always keep one hand on the gravel/sand siphon and one on the hose that way if a fish swims up it u can pinch the hose and itll stop the suction enough to help them get out without them fighting that suction feeling...just a suggestion...

I usually won't use a siphon on this tank as its just a 3 gallon, i'd usually just use a cup to take a gallon out and use my small meshed net to net out crud. Lessoned learded- siphon only my 10g.

 

Awww he's beautiful! He looks just like my boy did when I first got him. If he's like mine, his tail will grow to twice it's current size!

Here's my boy the day I brought him home.

 

Beautiful!!!

 

Awww he's beautiful! He looks just like my boy did when I first got him. If he's like mine, his tail will grow to twice it's current size!

Here's my boy the day I brought him home.

View attachment 346414

Do you have a picture of him now?

 

Sure! Here he is before he started fin biting.

 

Oops. Sorry about all that extra stuff!

 

Sure! Here he is before he started fin biting.

View attachment 346419

WOW! I hope he grows like That! Beautiful! My half moon twintail has huge fins like that so I'm taking Casper gets them too!