lojack
Edit: I just realized I was in the “journal” forum instead of the “build” one. Mods please feel free to move whenever you see fit.
We were at a local chain pet store and my youngest was checking out the bettas. He had been wanting one for over a year, but he didn’t think he was ready for the responsibility (he’s 6).
My son immediately bonded with this sickly and boring looking betta and decided he was ready. We went home, talked about it and he wanted to pay with his own money (his first real purchase). He brought his wallet with him and proudly took this guy home and named him “Ketchup.”
Turns out that Ketchup only needed a little TLC from my kid. What a difference a couple of days make. My wife and I think he’s the luckiest betta because I don’t think anyone would have taken him home based on his looks at the store. Definitely and ugly duckling scenario.
Luckily a rival chain store is having their $1 a gallon sale and we were able to get a 10 gallon and glass lid for relatively cheap. My kid picked out his own decorations and we took some crypts, an anubias and a small piece of driftwood from our main tank. Had to buy a new heater (Fluval M100?) since I didn’t trust my 15 year old unused ones in my “fish storage box”… especially with my kid’s first betta on the line lol. Bought an inexpensive (relatively) light online. Tossed in a spare sponge filter with some bacteria in a bottle and good to go!
Some more glamour shots.
We also got a bag of the Petco sand. Holy cow! I’ve had coarse sand before but this was my first time dealing with fine sand. Even with washing, that stuff was floating and stuck to bubbles for days! I would have gotten something different but getting the betta was unexpected and of course at the end of the day.
Tomorrow we should have some leaves to toss into the tank. My kid is really excited for the leaves (which somehow seems normal for a kid…). Anything to “make a better mansion for Ketchup” he says.
We’re also considering tossing in some MTS to help keep things clean. I haven’t had snails other than nerites in over a decade. I used to love pond/bladder snails until one jammed up the impeller in my HOB. I feel like I’m doing something naughty by adding MTS lol.
It’s been a long time since we’ve had a betta. I forgot how much personality they have.
We were at a local chain pet store and my youngest was checking out the bettas. He had been wanting one for over a year, but he didn’t think he was ready for the responsibility (he’s 6).
My son immediately bonded with this sickly and boring looking betta and decided he was ready. We went home, talked about it and he wanted to pay with his own money (his first real purchase). He brought his wallet with him and proudly took this guy home and named him “Ketchup.”
Turns out that Ketchup only needed a little TLC from my kid. What a difference a couple of days make. My wife and I think he’s the luckiest betta because I don’t think anyone would have taken him home based on his looks at the store. Definitely and ugly duckling scenario.
Luckily a rival chain store is having their $1 a gallon sale and we were able to get a 10 gallon and glass lid for relatively cheap. My kid picked out his own decorations and we took some crypts, an anubias and a small piece of driftwood from our main tank. Had to buy a new heater (Fluval M100?) since I didn’t trust my 15 year old unused ones in my “fish storage box”… especially with my kid’s first betta on the line lol. Bought an inexpensive (relatively) light online. Tossed in a spare sponge filter with some bacteria in a bottle and good to go!
Some more glamour shots.
We also got a bag of the Petco sand. Holy cow! I’ve had coarse sand before but this was my first time dealing with fine sand. Even with washing, that stuff was floating and stuck to bubbles for days! I would have gotten something different but getting the betta was unexpected and of course at the end of the day.
Tomorrow we should have some leaves to toss into the tank. My kid is really excited for the leaves (which somehow seems normal for a kid…). Anything to “make a better mansion for Ketchup” he says.
We’re also considering tossing in some MTS to help keep things clean. I haven’t had snails other than nerites in over a decade. I used to love pond/bladder snails until one jammed up the impeller in my HOB. I feel like I’m doing something naughty by adding MTS lol.
It’s been a long time since we’ve had a betta. I forgot how much personality they have.
