Impromptu New Betta Owner!

Hi! Well, we are new betta owners! I went to my local Walmart today for random things and we always have to visit the "fishes" per my three year old. We walked down the aisle and saw a lot of Bettas in tiny bowls. My two older children noticed one of the plastic bowls had a crack in it and the poor little guy was almost completely out of water. So we ran to the water aisle and got some spring water (unchlorinated) and ran back and we poured the little guy into a new bowl with the water. They begged to take him home and also wanted to file a report against Walmart. So, we currently have our new guy in a Pyrex fruit pitcher. I ordered a marine land 3 gallon aquarium on Amazon and it's scheduled to arrive tomorrow. I bought hikarI betta bio gold food. Does anyone know what type he is and the color? Any tips or helpful hints? So far, I bought a minI heater, gravel to go in his aquarium and a thermometer. ‍♀️

 

Crowntail, he's a beautiful fish. How big is the fruit pitcher? I would try to put him in something fairly big until his tank arrives, at least two gallons. A bucket would do.
Don't forget the dechlorinator.

 

Thank you! It's 2 liters. I bought several gallons of the spring water. I read articles saying distilled wasn't good. Do you have to dechlorinate with spring water? I will see if I can find a clean bucket to use!

 

Welcome to Fishlore!
Do you know about the nitrogen cycle? If not, click on the blue words and read the page. Since you already have the fish, once you get the aquarium, you're going to have a to do a fish-in cycle. Try to get a bottle of Seachem Prime. It detoxifies ammonia and nitrites (harmful substances) for 24 hours, and will keep your fish safe for the cycling process. It's a dechlorinator as well- you can use tap water as long as you dechlorinate it. It also saves you money in the long term.
You seem to have done a good bit of research for one day! Good luck!

 

I was in the same spot thanks to a grandgirl! She had fishies so GrammI had to have fishies too. Now I am up to 5 tanks lol.

Make sure to rinse and dry the tank when you get it. Don't use any kind of soap. Use silk plants from wallyworld as decoration, get him some kind of cave to hang out in, they even like small cups turned on it's side.

The food is good, and glad you got a heater. Only feed a few pellets a day and it is best to soak them in dechlorinated water first.

He is a crowntail, they are so funny because they are strictly lone fish. But, he will learn to follow a finger, will like to explore his tank. When you do a water change, move things around so it is different for him.

You are going to be doing a fish in cycle. Because it is 1 betta in a three gallon, I'd suggest using prime/stability. Do a 50% water change each day adding prime and stability as directed. Eventually the filter will mature and you won't have to do it every day.

 

Okay I am up to date on the nitrogen cycle and will definitely get some prime. He is pretty cute, for a fish. He's right beside our couch so when I look his way, he fans out and is slowly starting to get interested in my finger! Thank you!

 

ping pong balls and floating mirrors make good toys for him. I have coffee and play follow the finger with King Henry every morning lol.

 

Hi! Well, we are new betta owners! I went to my local Walmart today for random things and we always have to visit the "fishes" per my three year old. We walked down the aisle and saw a lot of Bettas in tiny bowls. My two older children noticed one of the plastic bowls had a crack in it and the poor little guy was almost completely out of water. So we ran to the water aisle and got some spring water (unchlorinated) and ran back and we poured the little guy into a new bowl with the water. They begged to take him home and also wanted to file a report against Walmart. So, we currently have our new guy in a Pyrex fruit pitcher. I ordered a marine land 3 gallon aquarium on Amazon and it's scheduled to arrive tomorrow. I bought hikarI betta bio gold food. Does anyone know what type he is and the color? Any tips or helpful hints? So far, I bought a minI heater, gravel to go in his aquarium and a thermometer. ‍♀️

Good for you! If I had found him like that in the store, I would have done the same thing! He is really beautiful!

Welcome to Fishlore!
Do you know about the nitrogen cycle? If not, click on the blue words and read the page. Since you already have the fish, once you get the aquarium, you're going to have a to do a fish-in cycle. Try to get a bottle of Seachem Prime. It detoxifies ammonia and nitrites (harmful substances) for 24 hours, and will keep your fish safe for the cycling process. It's a dechlorinator as well- you can use tap water as long as you dechlorinate it. It also saves you money in the long term.
You seem to have done a good bit of research for one day! Good luck!

Forgive me please but if we can use Sea Chem why wait 2 to 6 weeks for a regular cycle?

 

Welcome to fishlore!

 

Welcome! He's a cutie! Reminds me of my sister's betta. He's got a lot of spunk. I'm sure yours will too. The crowntails I've found usually do.

 

Forgive me please but if we can use Sea Chem why wait 2 to 6 weeks for a regular cycle?

It only works it's magic for ammonia for up to 1ppm. It's a good safety net between frequent water changes when getting a new tank set up and for emergencies like long power outages, but it's not good plan for the long term. On top of that, it's way more cost effective to get a cycle going so you don't have to dose the whole tank with prime every day, only for new water during water changes.

 

Ooohh ok. Thank you!