Choosing New Betta Buddy

Well, with all my betta reading I've read about what to look for in a healthy betta but I'm having a hard time picking a new buddy. I had seen one about a week or so ago that really caught my eye. He was sort of green/turquoise. But yesterday I visited some pet stores and found it very hard to tell excatly what kind of shape they are in confined to those small containers. I got a real good look at a red betta at SuperPetz. They had theirs in a small plastic cup attached to the inside of a tropical fish tank. I tried to look at most of them but I got to one tank and found that the betta was swimming in the big tank and one of the small tropical fish was in the little container. It was actually the fist time I really got a chance to see a betta swim. He was in good shape fin wise and active in that big tank, but he just didn't grab at me. I stopped at the small pet shop close to home and they had their bettas in a little bigger container and wow, I saw some unusal colors. But most of these had very very ragged fins. There was a white or rosy colored one with red fins, very pretty however it was really red around the gills and I didn't know if that was because of the coloring or something was wrong. I was glad when I got home that I hadn't come home with anything because my tank water had dropped from 80 to 78 degrees. I am going out today to get a better heater. I had bought a 25 watt heater because it is a small 5 gallon tank. However, the only place I had for it on my counter is next to the french doors to our sunroom. Most of the time it's no problem but in the winter months the dogs like to lay out there before it really heats up so when they push the door open the cold air must have dropped the temp in the fish tank. So I am assuming the heater is just too small to do the job. I'll shop for a heater today and look around at some more bettas.

Lisa

 

Most of us find that the betta chooses us and not the other way around. They give you this "PRETTY PLEASE take me home" look and your heart is won over. This is how I have understood it to be anyway. I buy my little friends online and have to go by a picture. The store that keeps them in a cup inside the tank is most likely to have healthy and well adjusted bettas as they are used to seeing other fish. Not many get that opportunity and can be real stinkers if you try to add other fish.

Good hunting!

Rose

 

I buy the ones that say "PLEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAASE take me home with you... I'm to pretty/handsome to be in this cup!" but I also have a soft spot for those who are cynical and **** off at the world: "What are you looking at, lady, I didn't ask to be in this cup. Now either buy me or don't waste my time." If you find a betta who steals your heart, buy him or her. If you provide them with plenty of clean, warm water, and acclimate them slowly, and buy one who isn't obviously on his last leg, chances are he'll (or she'll) survive to become a wonderful companion. The one in the big tank is probably healthier, but if he didn't grab your heart, he probably isn't the betta for you (not that you'd be unhappy with him, their personalities are addictive).

Good luck and post pics when you make your decision!

 

You know, years ago when I got my first fish, I saw Bettas in a separate container but in the main tank all the time. (At least at this store, anyway.) They were always in those containers that some pet stores use to put the fish in when they're scooping them out for you.

I don't usually have too much trouble picking out the Bettas. I don't like those pale ones with very little coloring. They just look like something's wrong with them. I like the bold, dark colors, and of course fin condition.

I really don't like the Crown tails. They look like they have fin and tail rot. I know they don't really, but, how would you ever tell if a Crown tail did develop it? They're my least favorite type. I hope, if I ever need to get a new Betta, my choices won't be limited to CT. That was all one Petsmart had.

 

Slightly off topic, and not to force you to love Crowntails, but you can tell if they have fin and tail rot pretty easily, as long as you are paying attention. The most obvious red light is if you bought a crowntail and one day notice that its tail is short and doesn't have any rays anymore. Also, you can tell the difference between a healthy fin where the rays are all strong and flowing, and an unhealthy one where they look kind of shriveldy (yes, I did just use the word shriveldy) and nasty.

I actually had a harder time telling whether my veils had tail rot a few weeks ago when several of them got it.

Lisa how did your shopping trip turn out today!?

 

I purchased a new heater, a 50 watt this time. I figured I'd better get it in the tank and make sure everything is working okay again before putting anything in the tank. When I'm shopping for supplies I always shop at "That Pet Place" in Lancaster PA. They have the best prices around and a huge selection. Other times when I walked thru the fish area they had a huge selection of betta but the last few times I've been there they have a much smaller selection. However, most look pretty good. Their betta are in small cups but I did notice a few were very active in that little cup. I usually try to buy my fish a little closer to home and tomorrow I'm going back to the store I saw the beautiful green boy at.

Rose I did look around on the internet for online sellers and found a handful of sites and even auctions. Do you have any place online in particular that you trust buying from? I did think about that because I really like the double tails and half moons.

I'm hopeful that tomorrow I'll be able to get to the closer shops and I'm sure some little betta buddy will call out to me.

Thanks for everyones help
Lisa

 

I love the Bettas from . Two of the 4 that I have right now are from them through eBay. I bought direct from them for #5 and he is going to be a darling. Their fish are not cheap and the cost of shipping is not cheap but they are healthy and happy and young. They are all halfmoons and they also stock Crowntails. The fish they have are great and they care about them as much as I do.

They recently had a disaster there and a lot of their fish were killed when the ceiling fell in on them. They are just now getting new stock in and I can hardly wait!

Rose

 

Thanks Rose, I followed the link to their website and I like!!!!! I really don't think the prices and shipping fees are all that bad. I am going to get my first guy from the pet store since I wanted to spare one a life of living in a cup or vase. But if they are as entertaining as it sounds I know there will be many more in my future. Than I am going to try getting one from a breeder and I bookmarked their site.

Twice a day as I go out the door to walk my dogs I look at my goldfish tank and thank my stars that they don't need to be walked. The older I get the small my pets are becoming. Yikes, I sure don't like this getting older.

Well, I better get moving this morning, I have some betta buddy shopping to do. The new heater is working great.

Lisa

Well,

 

We are back.....and Gizmo is in his cup floating in the tank. I want to take my time acclimating him to the tank. I am getting ready to add a little more of his tank water to the cup. They didn't have a lot to choose from mostly blues and reds but he seemed pretty active in his cup. They had the crown tail variety so I am trusting that by seeing him everyday I'll be able to tell if anything happens to those fins. By the way, he's a blue.

I heard they can take a little while to settle down and start to eat but while he is floating in the cup I dropped one freeze dried bloodworm in and when he finally saw it, he gobbled it up. I'm thinking this is a good sign and he'll do well. I did buy the bio gold baby sized pellets for him and I know I read somewhere bloodworms were on the list of foods. But are the bloodworms only a treat or they consider a food I can feed?

Thanks all for your help, I'm anxious to see him swimming in the tank. More later.

Lisa

 

congrats on your new boy - be sure to post a picture!!! Welcome, Gizmo!

I have heard of people feeding primarily bloodworms, but I have also heard that feeding only bloodworms does not provide a healthy diet. I personally rotate two types of pellets, a few fd brine shrimp, and a few bloodworms. And peas when I have them.

 

Alexander, Blaze, JT and Nate are wildly waving fins and sending their welcome along with mine to Gizmo. What a precious name! I like blues and he sounds feisty a little.

I am sure that feeding him bloodworms will not hurt him as that is the majority of my little guys diet. They eat pellets too but prefer the bloodworms. I do use a vitamin supplement a couple or three times a week. The pellets are complete nutritionally if you get a good brand. The only thing I caution everyone about is the size of the pellets....so far the only ones that I have found that my bettas will eat and can get into their mouths easily are HikarI Betta Bio-gold pellets, Ocean Nutrition Atison's Betta Formula, and Ocean Nutrition Atison's Betta Pro (for baby bettas up to 6 months). There is a new product by HikarI called Micro Pellets that are supposed to be great but I have not tried them. (they are supposed to have the vitamins and all included ... pellets are color coded, one color is vitamins, one is protein based and the third is supposed to be another formula..cannot remember right now but I read about them in my Tropical Fish Magazine this month.)

The important thing to remember when feeding is to watch the amount and make Gizmo chew up each bite before giving another one. That and peas will keep his little digestive system happy. (2 or 3 pellets OR 5 or 6 bloodworms make a full meal ... not both) If he is a baby betta (1 1/2" or smaller) the meals need to be smaller and perhaps 3 a day instead of 2.

I am so happy for you. Remember that we love baby pictures!

Rose

 

Gizmo now has the freedom of his tank. Wow, for years I saw these fish in little cups and just never imagined how beautiful they would be swimming in a tank. He doesn't dart around like the goldfish, just glides smoothly around the water. And a few times I looked in and couldn't find him, yikes. But I found him lying in the tall silk plant I added today and once he was draped across the suction cup of the thermometer.

I'm so pleased that he has eaten the pellet food I put in. I've attached a photo and I hope it comes thru okay. Hummmm, I'm already thinking.......where can I fit another 5 gallon tank. I want one of those Half Moons.

Lisa

 

VERY nice tank and handsome Gizmo! He is gorgeous, but don't tell him I said he was gorgeous, just handsome. I love the gravel and the flower pots. It will be a lovely home for him.

Suction cups and heaters and plants are their favorite things so enjoy his antics. He may just be so surprised to be warm and comfy that he will spend a bit of time by the heater until he gets used to it. I bet he is so happy tonight. I am happy for you both.

Sounds like a case of MTS starting with you. (Multiple Tank Syndrome..... )

Have fun with your baby. The best days are the days when we have new babies here. Welcome, welcome GIZMO. Congratulations on the lovely tank and wonderful little Gizmo, Lisa.

Rose

 

What a gorgeous Betta!! Welcome Gizmo!!

I know what you mean, they sure do perk up once they're out of their cup torture chambers and into a tank.

Hehehe the Betta bug infects yet another person....... ;D

 

8) Awwwwww. Gizmo is absolutely adorable! Barney, Belle, Benji, and Bambie are all extending a warm welcome, as am I. May Gizmo live long and prosper.

CherryRose

 

He's beautiful! His tail is the same coloring as peacock feathers!

 

Gizmo says...."Thanks" for the compliments. He is still swimming happily around his tank. The cat was sitting on the couch with me when he caught sight of the fish in the tank. Wow bee line to the counter. The cat, Gringo, is use to looking in an empty tank. He was surprised to see something swimming in it.

I find that the food pellets are so small that they float over to the rI'm of the tank and just stick there. Gizmo seems to like to catch his food on the run. If I can get it in the water current and is floats around than he seems to get to it a little more quickly. Oh well we'll get this figured out.

Rose I went to the website for Ocean Nutrition and saw a product called Betta Spa. Something you add to the water. I'm wondering if you've seen or used it and any thoughts you might have. I am also curious about the vitamins you give two or three times a week. What do you give. I give my dogs and cat supplements so why not my betta.

Lisa

 

There are the Vitamins I use and when they are sick I boost the dose up to daily 1 drop per gallon of tank size. I have used them for a while now and I do believe they help. The fish who have been on them since I started them are amazingly healthy. (let me look for some wood to knock on ... EEK)

I have and have used the Betta Spa product. My bettas hated it but I see nothing wrong with it. It makes the water darker colored but it does contain Almond Leaf which will help with their immune system. When I use it I put 1 teaspoon in the 5 gallon sized tank so it is not as strong as recommended. I wish my little darlings would have let me use it as I think they would like it if they would give it a chance, but they freaked out with the darker water.

Hope this helps.

Rose

 

Welcome Gizmo! Enjoy him! They are so much fun. Please keep a close eye on him for the next few weeks. Even though they appear healthy they could have something and it won't show up until later. I learned that the hard way wuth Royell. Don't mean to scare you , just advising. Natalie

 

I'm glad you are enjoying your new fish. Bettas in the wild feed on stuff like insect larvae wriggling in the water, so probably he is instictively chasing his food when the current catches it.

 

Thanks Rose, I order all the time from Drs. Foster and Smith but I didn't know they had an aquatic section. All I had ever seen in my catalog was a list of antibotics for fish. I'm going to have to order the Vitamins and than I'm sure I'll get the aquatic catalog also. I've always spent big bucks spoiling the dogs and wow, now I can do the same for all my fish. Look Out Wallet......Here I come!

Lisa

 

Thanks Natalie.....You didn't scare me, I appreciate the advice and it will be no problem because I can't stop looking at Gizmo. I am still just amazed how beautiful these guys are when you put them in a tank and give them some space.

I am going to do some web surfing and try to get a handle on good fish medications to have on hand just in case, than make another stop at "That Pet Place" I do know about the Melafix and Primafix so I'll stay away from them.

Lisa

 

Gizmo is very very handsome! My boys say hi. And the guppies too. !