Got a baby Betta at Petco

I couldn't help it. There was a lovely double tail that caught my eye and I was trying to figure out what the weird lump was when I looked over to see baby bettas. There were 4 cups 3 dead. Brought the live one home. Made a mad dash to get a gallon bowl. When I got him I also got hikarI micro pellets looked like they were small enough for it's mouth. Think I may move a plastic plant from my RCS tank to it's bowl. I know a gallon isn't a long term The micro pellets are tiny but to see if I did anything wrong I took pics. Wine glass was the thing on hand. My question is how much gravel should I put in the bottom of the bowl, should I keep the water level low a while to make it easier to find food, air? Pretty much have I messed up? What else should I do now? Other than that, when will I be able to sex it?

 

well the betta is no worse off than in the store. I won't bring them home if I don't have a heater at least. I have a 2 1/2 gallon I keep around just in case I can't help myself I would get a heater asap I don't think you could fit a heater in there. so I would get a plastic tube ect... anything will work for now as long as you can fit a heater. if you keep her/he in there I would fill it up as high as possible to where it won't jump out.

I also bought a betta baby form petco.

 

Well it's in a 78 degree room and I think I can get a flat heater that will fit in the bottom. I don't mind wires. Do bettas need lights? Any ideas on it's age? How has yours been doing. Did it take to eating well? That's my biggest concern that it will have trouble figuring out to eat It was picking at green stuff in the bottom of the cup. Not sure what you mean by tube, for hiding? I have a piece of pvc about 2 inches long I could use. Sorry for the many many questions!

 

sorry not tube, tub. like a 5 gallon tub to put her in tell you get your tank so you could add a heater. you could try one of those flat heater but idk how well they work. even though the temp is fine now so many things can happen to make it drop very fast. that can lead to all kinds of infections ect...

iv never had a betta that didnt figure out how to eat. so I think you will be fine there. try frozen blood worms just make sure to only feed one or two small worms. bettas have small stomachs especially a baby don't want to overfeed.

he/she will do fine with the light from the room. if you keep her in that glass add a small amount of gravel and something for it to hide in, a fake plant would work just make sure it won't rip its fins. I do recommend moving her to a bigger container, in something that small you would need to change the water every day.

 

You should go out and get a 5 gallon tank kit. Search "pet supermarket $4 off $20 coupon" to help out with the cost. You can use one for every $20 spent.

Anyways, the more heated, filtered space the little guy has, the heathier it will be One pound of gravel per gallon of water is about how most people do it. Don't put any in the bowl, or just put a small a mount, to cover the bottom. You'll need all the water you can get in there. Until you get a tank, do 100% water changes with Prime every day.

 

Raise room temp to 85 or so if you can, slowly. Baby bettas NEED special care. That guy is skinny and stressed, very very poor condition. It needs live food. Baby brine shrimp, daphina, vinegar eels and such. ASAP. HikarI bio-gold is for bettas imo. And, as a baby, it needs live imo. A bigger tank, much bigger. Like 5gals would do him good. Any kind of plastic,glass or such will work. And a heater on the asap. get a sponge filter, add media from another tank to it so its insta cycled and run it in the baby tank. Baby bettas are MUCH harder to care for then most people think.

 

thank you all. It isn't in the glass but a gallon bowl at the moment. I did see it eat a micro pellet. Just read that the green is veg, red protein, yellow mineral. I'm sifting through tiny pellets with a flash light and tooth pick. Didn't think it would be easy but I felt sorry for it. Then again didn't think it would be a whole lot harder than the baby mollies. I may just move it to a breeder box in molly tank. It's moving more too. What I really need to do is get another 10 gallon and divide it.


Edit:
Would it be better to smash my betta pellets for it than feed it the red and yellow out of the micro pellets?
The glass was just for an easier picture if it would help.

 

I feed mine live brine,vinger eels, and mirco worms. Dry food does not have the fat and protien that babies need. I would also keep it a bear bottom tank much easier to clean up. Also a heater and DIY sponge filter or small sponge filter also can help it stay healthy. He/ She looks about 4 to 5 Weeks old and very stress I would make or get a cave and a lot of silk or live plants so he/she can hide to feel safe. Good luck

 

Are the stripe and spots stress? I wasn't sure if it was that or camouflage? Right now it's got a stripe still on the head body is solid silver with a blue tinge.

 

If it's horizontal, which it likely is, then yes, they are stress stripes.

 

Ok I wanted to ask it made sense as camouflage too. But I guess it's good it's going away. Would egg yolk be a good food?

 

I believe it is, but I would shoot soltarianknight a PM asking. He's had baby bettas before and I have not, but I know you can feed egg yolk to some types of fry.

 

That's what I thought too. I just wanted an emergency. I knew when I bought it I wasn't sure what to do but would be able to figure it out and do it. At least give it odds of surviving.

 

I'm sure he/she is in a better environment than a cup at a pet store. And it seems like you're trying to do what you can to make him healthy and happy. As stated, unfortunately raising betta fry is nothing like livebearer fry. They're very high-maintenance

 

Ya but not impossible. I think it's in my abilities to do it. As long as it hasn't gone hungry too long, I know with some catfish that's a concern..

 

The stripes are camo to some extent, the fading of the colors is stress, its a tad different with baby bettas. Youll see the same stripes in many if not most young fry. As for foods, I shot ya back a PM on it.

 

Are the stripe and spots stress? I wasn't sure if it was that or camouflage? Right now it's got a stripe still on the head body is solid silver with a blue tinge.

Stripe is a stress line spots can be stress or coloring but the stripe is stress lines.

 

Thank you for that and clarification on the stripe I know what to look for now. I got some brine shrimp eggs and waiting for them to hatch, heater too. It has been moving well and swimming. So right now we are good. I really appreciate all of this though.

 

So if anyone is curious I have an update. Got a 10 gallon and divided it so Draco has a new home too (he's my crowntail) Baby is eating micro pellets and bbs, swimming and exploring. Moved everything into the 10 gallon from the 2.5 betta and the fake plants from my shrimp tank. Everyone's help here has been wonderful thank you!

 

I'm so happy hes doing ok. And very proud of you for taking the needed steps in his/her care. Colors will start to develop in about 2-4 months.