Love At First Betta

Welcome to a typical impulsive beginner’s story.

I saw this beautifully coloured betta and got him. Now, this beautiful betta must live in an ugly cookie jar I bought temporarily while my 10 gallon cycles.

Now I’m here, to ask questions.

Please, welcome the beautiful betta and the impulsive owner!

 

Beautiful betta!

Why keep him in an uncycled, unheated jar when you have a 10 gallon set up? It's not cycled, but neither is the jar. He'd appreciate the extra space and the heat. Just stay on top of water changes, and he'll have no trouble getting through a cycle.

 

He is absolutely beautiful I can see why you fell in love That's great that you got a 10 gallon cycling for him, he'll love it. If you use prime and stability you can add him to the tank right away. Do you have a filter and a heater? Bettas like temps between 78-80 degrees. If you have any questions I'll be happy to help you out, I have 8 Bettas of my own and they are Addicting! Lol good luck with your new fish!

 

Beautiful betta!

Why keep him in an uncycled, unheated jar when you have a 10 gallon set up? It's not cycled, but neither is the jar. He'd appreciate the extra space and the heat. Just stay on top of water changes, and he'll have no trouble getting through a cycle.

He is absolutely beautiful I can see why you fell in love That's great that you got a 10 gallon cycling for him, he'll love it. If you use prime and stability you can add him to the tank right away. Do you have a filter and a heater? Bettas like temps between 78-80 degrees. If you have any questions I'll be happy to help you out, I have 8 Bettas of my own and they are Addicting! Lol good luck with your new fish!

I was scared to add him to an uncycled tank. Should I do daily water changes? I have prime but no stability. I have a heater, but it’s the one where I cannot set the temperature. It’s from GRRREAT CHOICE. (It was a poor choice)

I was hoping to go to my LFS this weekend and get some gravel to help with cycling. Should I wait then or should I just add him now? Will he be fine with the bacteria spike when I do add the substrate? (I don’t really know much) thank you!

 

In all reality, a betta in a 10 gallon won't produce enough waste to cause a huge ammonia spike as long as you don't overfeed. Feed 2-3 pellets, once a day, and do a water change every 4-5 days, or once ammonia hits around 1.0 PPM. Add prime every 24 hours. If I had to guess, you'd have no problem keeping those things in check, especially if you bought some fast growing live plants, like Anacharis or Hornwort.

As for your heater, I've used them before - they work, but not well, and not very long. I'd be looking into a replacement ASAP. A great choice is the 50W Aqueon adjustable heater. Keeps my 10 gallon at 82F without an issue.

I wouldn't bother with the gravel. Too much chance for a disease to be hiding in there that your betta hasn't been exposed to. I'd skip that step, and just ride out the cycle, if it were me.

I'd recommend going ahead and grabbing an API liquid test kit if you don't have one. It's really something that all fish owners should have, especially during a cycle.

 

Thank you everyone. I moved him in and he was terrified. My filter was at lowest setting. He looked like he was dying. He stayed at one corner breathing through the surface. I put him back in the bowl. I will try again tomorrow.

 

I was scared to add him to an uncycled tank. Should I do daily water changes? I have prime but no stability. I have a heater, but it’s the one where I cannot set the temperature. It’s from GRRREAT CHOICE. (It was a poor choice)

I was hoping to go to my LFS this weekend and get some gravel to help with cycling. Should I wait then or should I just add him now? Will he be fine with the bacteria spike when I do add the substrate? (I don’t really know much) thank you!

Definitely agree with the Grrrreat choice opinion...I just plain don't like ANY flat heaters....several adjustable and preset heaters out there that work far better!

And that is one pretty betta!!

 

Thank you everyone. I moved him in and he was terrified. My filter was at lowest setting. He looked like he was dying. He stayed at one corner breathing through the surface. I put him back in the bowl. I will try again tomorrow.

You may have to baffle the filter, which really wouldn't be that hard. If you look online, you can see various designs as for how to lessen the flow for your betta.

I highly doubt that he was dying. Probably just stressed from being thrown from a tiny, unheated container into a "huge" tank with heat and flow. I'd move him over ASAP, as being in that tiny container likely won't help his condition.

 

You may have to baffle the filter, which really wouldn't be that hard. If you look online, you can see various designs as for how to lessen the flow for your betta.

I highly doubt that he was dying. Probably just stressed from being thrown from a tiny, unheated container into a "huge" tank with heat and flow. I'd move him over ASAP, as being in that tiny container likely won't help his condition.

Lol I will definitely be making one. Thank you for this information. I turned off the filter and he explored. I guess the filter is too strong. Thank you!

 

hes stunning... want!!!

 

Very beautiful! I use one of these to cover the filter intake:


And then some of this and a pothos in the HOB to slow/disperse the flow:


Best of luck <3

 

He really is gorgeous! Sorry the first trial in the big tank didn't go well. He'll adapt, though

Not sure why you'd want to skip the substrate, though, as mentioned by another post. It can help build a beneficial bacterial colony by giving the bacteria more surface to cling to. Just boil any new gravel to kill off any bad bacteria that might be present.

 

He really is gorgeous! Sorry the first trial in the big tank didn't go well. He'll adapt, though

Not sure why you'd want to skip the substrate, though, as mentioned by another post. It can help build a beneficial bacterial colony by giving the bacteria more surface to cling to. Just boil any new gravel to kill off any bad bacteria that might be present.

I meant that OP shouldn't bother with the cycled gravel from the LFS. Too much chance of a disease living in it.

 

Wow! He is gorgeous! My mom bought a filter designed for a 5gal for her 10gal betta tank to help minimize flow. I've also read you can get a sponge filter. He will be doing great in your tank in no time!

 

I meant that OP shouldn't bother with the cycled gravel from the LFS. Too much chance of a disease living in it.

Oh. It wasn't clear to me that OP was saying to get already cycled gravel - "get some gravel to help with cycling." I think it can be read/interpreted as either way so I wanted to be clear about new gravel.