Baby Betta

[MJMac]

Hello,
I recently purchased a baby betta at Petsmart. I know...but when I saw her, I knew I had to save her. I just lost my @2 year old male betta who was so over bred that his finnage was so heavy he could not keep himself afloat. I had to build him a "hill" in his tank so that he would be near the top of the water. It was sad watching him struggle that last days of his life.

Anyway...my new betta, Ruby, is a baby - probably a veil tail from what I can tell. We have had her about a week now and she seems to be doing well. She is in our 10 gal, cycled and heated tank. Keeping the temp at around 82 degrees. Water values are good - ammonia @ 0, nitrites @ 0 & nitrates </= 10. I am feeding her frozen brine shrimp, frozen bloodworms & hikari mini pellets (crushed up). My best guess is Ruby is now about 7 weeks old based on size charting I can find on the internet.

Tank is lightly planted with water wisteria (about 6 plants), anbuis (one large & one mini), 3 wentis and I java fern.

I have a couple of questions:

How often should I feed Ruby. I can't really find any definitive information on when to change feeding habits from several times a day to 2 times per day.

Also...my water wisteria seems to be rotting at the bottom. Due I need more light? I currently have one Fluval nano 9000K 6.5 watts light. The light says it puts out 290 lumens.

Her is a picture of Ruby when we got her at week ago. She is very busy in her new environment and it is hard for me to get a good pic of her.

Thank you for any advice you might have!

 

[FreshyFresh]

It's not uncommon to feed fry and very young fish several times per day, but I wouldn't feed your betta more than once per day.

I love female bettas. You can keep them in "sororities". I had 4 of them in my community 55g tank. They do squabble and shove each other around, but with enough room and decor, they're good to go.

 

[MJMac]

It's not uncommon to feed fry and very young fish several times per day, but I wouldn't feed your betta more than once per day.

I love female bettas. You can keep them in "sororities". I had 4 of them in my community 55g tank. They do squabble and shove each other around, but with enough room and decor, they're good to go.

Wow...guess I have been overfeeding this little girl. No wonder she comes up to the glass every time I am near. I have been feeding her 3x per day. typically, I feed 1 pellet crushed 2x day and 2 frozen brine shrimp 1x day. I alternate one feeding w/ frozen bloodworms about every 3 day (2 worms).

And thank you about the note on the sorority. I have read that. Not sure I am up for that right now. She is in our living room and very much a part of life there.

How much should I feed her and is once a day better than smaller meals twice a day?

Thanks for your help.

 

[OrionGirl]

For fry and juveniles, small feedings a couple times a day are ok so long as all the food is eaten. Once she's about half adult size, I'd reduce the to once a day.

 

[MJMac]

Okay. Thanks...no problem there. I only give her a little and she consumes it all, eagerly taking it right out of my hand!

 

[fishorama]

Pretty girl! How much & how often do you change water in her tank? Young fish thrive on lots of clean water even if your parameters are good. Twice a day feedings are good for now too, but gradually cut back as she grows: 1 bloodworm, not 2 (as a treat); 1 or 2 bits of a of pellet, etc. You don't want her to get fat, bettas can be prone to that.

 

[MJMac]

I am doing a PWC @ 25% every 3 - 4 days. I have already cut back to 2x day feedings and she seems to be adjusting. She is very active, rarely still and I don't think she is chunky, but I will certainly heed the warning.

Thank you!

 

[fishorama]

Good luck!, & keep posting pics, we want your girl to do well! So cute!

 

[MJMac]

Thanks, fishorama!