Getting my first betta today!

by **Mutsu** Sat 11 Sep 2010 - 13:02

Today is the only day I can take back my cycling fish (who are looking very healthy and are now very nosy when I take water for tests!) for the next few weeks, rung the LFS and they have some lovely sounding HMs in stock so I'm going up there today to grab one :D Levels are as follows, would like to make sure it all sounds fine:
Ammonia 0
Nitrite approx 0.02 (very very VERY slightly tinted purple, basically clear)
Nitrate 5 (can WC right now if you think it's needed, let me know - but my leaflet says to WC when it's at 50! :/ )
pH 7.5

Love

by **silverrabbit** Sat 11 Sep 2010 - 13:30

Just keep an eye on the nitrite level when you add the betta and feed minimally until the water stats are at 0,0,low nitrate.

5 nitrates is fine - my tap water is at 25 before it's in the tank!

by **Mutsu** Sat 11 Sep 2010 - 13:32

Sounds good! Can't wait to get him in there, I'll be doing water tests once or twice a day for the next week or two to make sure it's all stable and safe for him, then probably switching to once every other day Smile

How high can bettas jump? I'm fed up of having a textbook on top of my tank to cover the gaps in the lid xD

by **silverrabbit** Sat 11 Sep 2010 - 13:48

They can be good jumpers - I have lost a couple to jumping through TINY gaps a couple inches from the water surface.

Get some craft mesh from Hobbycraft - will make the top secure Smile

by **Mutsu** Sat 11 Sep 2010 - 14:04

I think I have some of it already, which is handy :D Can I cut it to shape and use it as a tank lid?

by **KalandraJane** Sat 11 Sep 2010 - 14:04

Woo

hope you find a nice one!

50 nitrates sounds too high for even general community tropical fish to me, I would say 20 would be the highest safe level, so you've nothing to worry about if it's only at 5. My tanks are all at zero nitrate because it's all taken up by plants, so consider getting some if you haven't already! Moss balls are especially good at sucking up nitrate.

by **2tall** Sat 11 Sep 2010 - 14:06

Happy hunting Mutsu. May you find your stunner!

by **Mesatalia** Sat 11 Sep 2010 - 14:08

Neither of my bettas jump. I hear it's the ones who are most closely related to the wild Bettas that have higher tendency to jump. I just put a breathable towel over the top and secure it with a big rubber band. It does the trick and also catches anything wanting to fall in.....except for my son over-feeding them without my permission, lol.

WE WANT PICTURES WHEN YOU GET HIM!!!

by **Mutsu** Sat 11 Sep 2010 - 14:28

I have 2 moss balls and 2 anubias nana in there :D Might get another live plant today, I want something floating so considering getting one of these online: [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
Has anyone had luck with them? Would be nice to have something for him to bubblenest against Smile

Will be taking a ton of pictures of him once he's calm and happy, they always have stunning fish at my LFS so I can't wait to see their new stock!

by **Nataliey** Sat 11 Sep 2010 - 14:34

sounds good for you getting new fish is so exciting...cant wait to see the pics too. Iv only ever had frogbit (which died on me!) and floating mini water lettuce which i thought was fab as i could actully keep it alive, never tried that floating plant but it does look very nice.

by **silverrabbit** Sat 11 Sep 2010 - 15:03

Mesatalia wrote:Neither of my bettas jump. I hear it's the ones who are most closely related to the wild Bettas that have higher tendency to jump.

That's not true - my jumpers have been crowntail and halfmoon x2. Plakats and females are more able to jump because of their shorter fins, but it doesn't stop other fancier types.

But yes deffo want pics Smile

by **Nataliey** Sat 11 Sep 2010 - 15:08

silverrabbit wrote:
Mesatalia wrote:Neither of my bettas jump. I hear it's the ones who are most closely related to the wild Bettas that have higher tendency to jump.

That's not true - my jumpers have been crowntail and halfmoon x2. Plakats and females are more able to jump because of their shorter fins, but it doesn't stop other fancier types.

But yes deffo want pics

Oh yes all mine jump especially at meal times even sometimes when i look in frightens me sometimes but none of mine have had chance to actually jump out although Sen one of my females have been very close to it, lol!

by **Mutsu** Sat 11 Sep 2010 - 15:34

He's heeeere! Just floating him in his baggie in the tank to get used to temp etc.
He's a gorgeous HM/delta/superdelta (advertised as a HM, hard to tell at the moment) With an iridescent blue and red body and red fins with a black border :D Bit like Mesa's colour but more red :D

by **silverrabbit** Sat 11 Sep 2010 - 16:13

Can't wait to see, you must be so excited Smile

by **Mutsu** Sat 11 Sep 2010 - 16:17

Hmm. I was just having a good look at the tank and my new fishy, and there's a load of white fluffy-looking stuff on the suction caps on the heater. Anyone know what it is? Hope it's not bad bacteria or something :/
He's having a good nose around the tank and is now having a little rest on the bottom by the filter Smile

by **2tall** Sat 11 Sep 2010 - 16:18

Congrats! I hope he settles in quickly. Waiting to see the pics!

by **Irish_Lass** Sat 11 Sep 2010 - 16:49

Looking forward to photos!! Smile

by **Mesatalia** Sat 11 Sep 2010 - 21:43

Dunno what the white floating stuff is, but I'm glad he's home and safe. We'll help you determine fin type once we get a pic of him.

^_^ Know of any names for him yet? Glad his tail looks like Alpha's :D

by **Nataliey** Sat 11 Sep 2010 - 23:05

I get the white fluffy stuff on my filter suckers looks like floaty webs! I dont know what it is either! confused

by **Mutsu** Sun 12 Sep 2010 - 8:40

Oh good, glad I'm not the only one!

Just attempted to give him breakfast, he's very timid at the moment! When I dropped a piece in, he didn't make much of an attempt to grab it as it slowly went round in the current, but he got a couple of mouthfuls xD

Anyone else's bettas really timid at first?

by **Nataliey** Sun 12 Sep 2010 - 14:09

Yes when i got my HMPK he was very timid and wouldnt come out to eat for a few days...eventually he did come out and ate a few pellets. Even now he's still a little skittish but does come out to feed when he sees the lid lift up im just not allowed to put my fingers in else he will dash away.

Dont worry he'll get used to you. Smile

by **2tall** Sun 12 Sep 2010 - 14:13

Yes! He could be sulking and just needs to adjust to his new surroundings. I had one that I was positive I was going to loose as it showed no interest in food and was very shy. He laid on the bottom and hid constantly. It lasted over a week and I was pulling hair.

I finally moved him to a smaller tank because I thought it was the water as I didn't have a test kit at the time. I took a sample of each tank to the lfs and both tested fine. Within a day he was eating and acting as if everything was hunky dory!

Maybe test the water just for your peace of mind and to eliminate that possibility!

by **silverrabbit** Sun 12 Sep 2010 - 16:16

Sometimes they take a few days to settle in - i'm sure he'll be right as rain soon Smile

they're too greedy to ignore food for too long lol

by **Mutsu** Sun 12 Sep 2010 - 22:18

He's getting a little less timid as time passes ^_^ Hopefully he'll be out of his shell in no time, he's so tiny I keep losing him within his tank though! Especially since he has a tendency to hide between the heater and filter bottoms!

by **silverrabbit** Sun 12 Sep 2010 - 22:54

lol, maybe get him a little coconut cave to play in?

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