I found an Abandoned betta, now what?? (longish, sorry)

[ralpf]

Very handsome Betta, try not to overfeed him, they are little pigs and will eat everything you give him. He will have his own personality and will be forever gratefull to you for saving his life. If you ever feel like addiding other fish for company please check and see if they , 1) Need the same water requirements and temperature, 2) Will not nibble his fins and 3) are not overly territorial. My Betta did not get along with Swordtails for example and it took a while for him to accept the two Otos I put in his tank. Other than that My Fritzi sure is a feisty little guy.

Good Luck with him and your tank!!!

 

[dorkfish]

Note the 24 hour aclimation... should be fine.

 

[SmallFishi]

Wow he's really pretty how perfect you found him with that nice big tank for him.. :dance2: I hope he makes it and has a long happy life with you.
Do you have the betta food? I don't think they eat regular flake food.

 

[TKOS]

I would suggest getting some betta pellets.

As for fishy friends? Perhaps a trio of cory catfish would be good. If pygmies are available then 5 (they are harder to find).

The filter is fine. I agree there is little reason to worry about the pH. Just acclimate any new fish the same way you did with the betta.

With just the single fish in such a large tank (large for him) I doubt you will see much of an ammonia spike and if you add live plants may never see the accumulation of nitrtaes. Still for the first whiel I suggest doing the checks on water conditions and at a minimum doing water changes weekly regardless of how things look. At least 25-50% of the water changed out will make for a healthy fish.

 

[DebbyS]

I think if this site offered "Fishkeeper of the Day (or Week or Month)" awards, you should win one.

 

[H3D]

just keep checking water daily, and change if necessary. he has a much better chance with you. I know in college $$ is short, but bio-spira will help speed up process of cycling if necessary. nice fish though.

Definitely get some Bio-Spira and add it to the tank ASAP.

 

[wataugachicken]

i think a 50% water change every other day will be enough to ensure the safety of the fish during the cycle. one betta in 10g means lots of dilution for the minimal waste he puts out. toxins really shouldn't build up, just make sure that all the food is eaten, and don't overfeed. uneaten food falls down into the gravel and just rots. since the tank isn't cycled, it might get fungus on it as well. not good.

 

[Kittenfish]

I think if this site offered "Fishkeeper of the Day (or Week or Month)" awards, you should win one.

Thank you so much!! Its sad to think that anyone could abandon ANY creature like a piece of trash, even if this one is scaly instead of furry. I'm just glad I was there at the right place in the right time. Unfortunately, something like this happened last year too, where my roommate and I found a cup (like, one of those typical red plastic party cups) with two goldfish and a baby koi -fish inside of it :mad2:. Some student was going home for winter break and just left it out by the dumpsters, so my roomie and I drove for three hours all over the nearest town looking for a fishstore to take them, we finally found one that would, and when we checked back this year, the goldfish handnt made it, but the koi-fish was in a smallish indoor growout pond and was beautiful and healthy

Thank you all so much for the advice! I picked up betta pellets, and I will be sure to only feed him what him can consume in a few minutes or less. I will monitor the water closely, and I think it will be a tank just for him, as I dont want to risk getting an incompatible species (I live in an 10x10 cubby hole with another person, I have no room for another tank if the tankmates didn't get along Also I hope that one betta in that size tank might make the water conditions a little easier for a beginner like me to maintain.
Thank you all for the kind help, I've been trying to do my studying to keep him a healty, happy little thing. As a plus, watching the tank while I study, and hearing the sound of the bubbles and filter has dropped my stress levels from college down a lot! He's helping me as much as I helped him.

 

[TKOS]

Agreed. A single betta in a 10 gallon will make taking care of him a breeze. Adding some live plants like java Fern or crypts will make it even better as they will consume some of the waste product in the tank. Also if you have to leave for a week you don't have to worry about teaching others to do water changes etc....

 

[DaisyTattoo]

I have a single betta in a 10G all by his lil lonesome and he loves it that way. It does make taking care of the tank a breeze. Much easier than the other tanks, thats for sure.