New Betta / Aquarium Owner

[Skittlesttr75]

1. I brought Lenny home last night and was told Lenny is a Platinum White. He has black on his tail fin, missing scales on dorsal line / around his face and a red spot on his forehead. I'm not a breeder or show them, so these "imperfections" just make him more special to me. However, does anyone have experience with this breed?
2. I have an 8 gallon that has a small round air stone. If I only have Lenny, is it okay to leave the stone in there? It definitely moves water around. Also, I found that with his pellet food, he has to "hunt" through the bubbles to find them (see #3).
3. I bought Hikari Betta Bio-Gold floating pellets and Hikari freeze-dried brine shrimp. What are your thoughts on this brand? I know frozen shrimp is better, and I have a sample so I will see which he likes better as well.
4. Lenny has blue eyes. Is that a common color for Bettas? I never knew they would have eyes other than just black!
5. I have the option to change colors in my tank. I currently have the blue LED light on so my decorations fluoresce, but do you know if any color is "good or bad?"

I know I will have more questions down the road (and I filled out my aquarium info in my profile), but these are the top ones right now.


Thanks!!
Kimberly

 

[FoldedCheese]

1. He's not missing scales. It actually looks like a color change to me. A lot of white bettas have the marble gene which means they will change colors over time. I've dealt with scrapped off scales and this ain't it.

2. It is fine if he isn't pushed around by the current.

3. My betta also likes to "hunt" his food so I have to drop it in one at a time. I also suggest adding bug bites and frozen foods as a treat.

4. His eyes are somewhat common. My marble betta has lighter eyes too.

5. You need to have the light off for 10-12 hours per day. Invest in a timer for your outlet.

Most importantly I suggest you research the nitrogen cycle and prepare for a lot of water changes if the tank is not cycled. We are always here for questions.

 

[Skittlesttr75]

He's not missing scale it actually looks like a color change to me. A lot of white bettas have the marble gene which means they will change colors over time.

I suggest you research the nitrogen cycle and prepare for a lot of water changes if the tank is not cycled. We are always here for questions.

Frozen shrimp is not better it provides little nutrients since it's mostly exoskeleton. I suggest feeding a staple pellet and feeding frozen foods as a treat.

Not sure how the blue will effect your betta but make sure lights are off for at least 12-16 hours. If you buy timer this can help regulate lighting.

Okay, stupid questions here, should I leave them off during the day or night? They are LED, so they don't give off heat. Why is that many hours what they need? He also has a cave he can go to into to get out of the light.

I prepared the aquarium for 7 days with bacteria starter, water conditioner, and Bio cleaner. It was 10 days from the start before I added Lenny. Is that considered cycled?

I ordered the API Fresh Water Testing Kit and I will get it on Sunday, since my strips don't measure ammonia. Also because someone on another thread said the strips lose potency after opening the bottle. I know now it is ammonia that can drastically change once a fish is introduced.

 

[FoldedCheese]

Okay, stupid questions here, should I leave them off during the day or night? They are LED, so they don't give off heat. Why is that many hours what they need? He also has a cave he can go to into to get out of the light.

I prepared the aquarium for 7 days with bacteria starter, water conditioner, and Bio cleaner. It was 10 days from the start before I added Lenny. Is that considered cycled?

I ordered the API Fresh Water Testing Kit and I will get it on Sunday, since my strips don't measure ammonia. Also because someone on another thread said the strips lose potency after opening the bottle. I know now it is ammonia that can drastically change once a fish is introduced.

No questions are stupid here! I would leave them off at night, 10-12 hours. It's not only about establishing a day/night cycle but also to help keep algae growth to a minimum.

Unfortunately the tank is not cycled. It usually takes 4-6 weeks to fully cycle a fish tank. A lot of those bottle bacteria either 1. don't contain the right type or 2. the bacteria are already dead in the bottle. I would suggest researching the nitrogen cycle and treating this as a fish-in cycle.

That's good! The master test kit is imo the most accurate. You'll want to be testing his water daily and doing WCs whenever ammonia and nitrite get to 0.50 ppm combined. Yes, when fish are added to uncycled tanks ammonia often spikes drastically because there are not enough or no bacteria present to process the ammonia the fish produces.

 

[NearMeBettas]

Welcome to the worlds greatest forum!!
As ValkyrieLips said, his coloration is normal. Cellophane and plakat tend to have blue eyes, I have some galaxy koi with partial blue eyes, even with red and black eyes. It is just part of the fishes coloring. Good luck with cycling your tank.