Betta advice, please

(Flash Wilson) wrote:

I have a Betta above my desk in a 2g tank.
I've had him for about three months, and change
half the water every week. But even just before
a water change the ammonia readings are only small.

I really wouldn't expect any ammonia readings with regular water
changes in an established tank, especially since you used gravel from
a mature tank.

He's kept at about 26C, although this is not heated.
I'm trying to find a heater small enough that I can
use.

26C is a real good temperature for a betta. You should be fine with
that. If you want to get a heater just in case, though, ThatFishPlace
has a submersible Visi-Therm Deluxe 25W 6.75" for under $15. I've got
one in my 3-gallon Eclipse and it's working fine.

Recently he has taken to spending lots of time
resting, and although he comes when I summon him
for food (either calling, or a tap on the side)
he just doesn't swim around that much. I'm guessing
he is lazy but also perhaps a bit too cold, or
too fed up?

He could simply be bored (do fish get bored?) or getting old. You
might consider getting a matching tank with another betta, so that
they can make faces at each other. That seems to keep them lively. And
you can always use an excuse for another tank, right?

I feed him tetra prima, a few granules a day.

Try varying his diet some. Freeze dried bloodworms, brine shrimp,
pellets and flakes - pretty much anything he can get in his mouth.
That way you ensure he has a better chance of getting the nutrients he
needs.

I thought a full water change might help?

Your current water change schedule should be plenty, though maybe you
want to try it twice a week to see if that helps any. Doing the whole
thing at once might shock him too much.


--
www.ericschreiber.com

On Thu, 31 Jul 2003 04:20:46 -0500, Eric Schreiber
wrote:
26C is a real good temperature for a betta. You should be fine with
that. If you want to get a heater just in case, though, ThatFishPlace
has a submersible Visi-Therm Deluxe 25W 6.75" for under $15. I've got
one in my 3-gallon Eclipse and it's working fine.

Thanks. Ok, glad the temperature is fine. I should
have added that I'm in the UK, when hunting a heater,
but I'll have a websearch on the one you suggested
just in case I can find it.

He could simply be bored (do fish get bored?) or getting old. You

Aye, he was an adult when I bought him. The shop doesn't seem to
get anything younger.

might consider getting a matching tank with another betta, so that
they can make faces at each other. That seems to keep them lively. And
you can always use an excuse for another tank, right?

Well, considering it's an acryllic tank, the setup including the
fish only cost me 10 UK pounds, which was a bargain considering how
nice it is to have him there while I'm typing away all day. So another
wouldn't break the bank

I feed him tetra prima, a few granules a day.

Try varying his diet some. Freeze dried bloodworms, brine shrimp,
pellets and flakes - pretty much anything he can get in his mouth.
That way you ensure he has a better chance of getting the nutrients he
needs.

Tried all of those. He will eat a little of the Tetra Delica brine
shrimp from a sachet (and my other fish will happily finish the
sachet) so he gets that very occasionally. No interest in flake,
pellet, frozen or freeze dried bloodworm. I tried him on everything
I've got, before I went out and bought the tetra prima specially

Your current water change schedule should be plenty, though maybe you
want to try it twice a week to see if that helps any. Doing the whole
thing at once might shock him too much.

Ah, ok. My only thinking (which I didn't really explain) is
that there might be something on the surface of the water which
stops his nests from forming, or something. I had a small grease
patch showing on the surface a while ago (not sure why) and removed
it by laying kitchen towel on the surface, but he hasn't laid any
more nests since. But it probably is just laziness.

Thanks very much for the pointers. You know, I think the idea
of another one might JUST be what I go for... the bf won't be
happy, but it's my study that he's in

Cheers,



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