William H.
04-17-2007, 11:32 PM
Hello all, this is my first post and first fish ever so I hope you'll forgive my ignorance. I rescued a betta 2 weekends ago, it was being used as a decoration in a wedding reception. Anyhow, feeling bad I took it home and currently have it housed in a smallish bowl (about 1 gal. in size). I'm using carbon filtered water and treating it with prime using an eye dropper (1 drop). He seems happy and has been blowing small bubbles and yesterday managed to form them into a large 'nest' on one side of the bowl. He's active and responsive so I think he's happy and the conditions are good but I'm not testing the water (relying on prime and frequent water changes instead). I've got a 4 gal tank on the way for him and, given the larger tank, I'm considering adding another fish to keep the bottom clean. I've got a heater and sponge filter ready and waiting for the new tank to keep the conditions nice for the little guy.
As for the food, pretty much all he'll eat is freeze dried bloodworms. He absolutely refuses to eat any type of betta pellets. Today I managed to get him to eat a small piece of freeze dried (and presoaked) plankton - usually he just gobbles it up only to spit it out a few seconds later. Anyhow, I have no problem feeding him expensive freeze dried food but many websites say that this is not a complete diet, is there some other food I should try to supplement his diet with? Maybe brine shrimp? I don't know why he's so picky, I'm not overfeeding him - 2 or 3 worms a day at most spread out over 2 or 3 feedings (and fasting on Sunday).
As for the companions, I was considering 3 or 4 pygmy cories for their small size. Anyhow, I'm concerned that their presence will stress the betta or overload the smallish tank - thoughts? Would some sort of snail or ghost shrimp be a better choice? Or would it be best to keep the betta all alone?
I'd like to put a live plant in but am unsure what would be appropriate, any suggestions? I'm planning on a sand bottom for the new tank...
One last question, when I first got him his body was a pale-ish red with dark maroon fins and very slight blue highlights at the base of the fins (mostly the fin on his back). I *swear* the blue is spreading, and in the right light his back, esp. near that fin, has a blue-ish iridescence to it. Is it possible that he is changing colors? He also has about 3 or so scales on his body that are black but they aren't raised or swollen, and don't appear to be spreading. Should I be concerned? I did treat his bowl with a small dose of aquarium salt...
Thanks! I appreciate any input you can provide. I'd like to keep this fish happy, healthy, and well.. not dead.
As for the food, pretty much all he'll eat is freeze dried bloodworms. He absolutely refuses to eat any type of betta pellets. Today I managed to get him to eat a small piece of freeze dried (and presoaked) plankton - usually he just gobbles it up only to spit it out a few seconds later. Anyhow, I have no problem feeding him expensive freeze dried food but many websites say that this is not a complete diet, is there some other food I should try to supplement his diet with? Maybe brine shrimp? I don't know why he's so picky, I'm not overfeeding him - 2 or 3 worms a day at most spread out over 2 or 3 feedings (and fasting on Sunday).
As for the companions, I was considering 3 or 4 pygmy cories for their small size. Anyhow, I'm concerned that their presence will stress the betta or overload the smallish tank - thoughts? Would some sort of snail or ghost shrimp be a better choice? Or would it be best to keep the betta all alone?
I'd like to put a live plant in but am unsure what would be appropriate, any suggestions? I'm planning on a sand bottom for the new tank...
One last question, when I first got him his body was a pale-ish red with dark maroon fins and very slight blue highlights at the base of the fins (mostly the fin on his back). I *swear* the blue is spreading, and in the right light his back, esp. near that fin, has a blue-ish iridescence to it. Is it possible that he is changing colors? He also has about 3 or so scales on his body that are black but they aren't raised or swollen, and don't appear to be spreading. Should I be concerned? I did treat his bowl with a small dose of aquarium salt...
Thanks! I appreciate any input you can provide. I'd like to keep this fish happy, healthy, and well.. not dead.