Meet Towel. He's beautiful, and very much a surprise. He was gifted to my son in a 5G tank, a filter, tank gravel, a blue spikey house, a couple moss balls, and food. His fist 24 hours had me worried, he stayed right up against the filter, but it didn't seem like he was stuck. After googling Bettas I figured he was huddled to the filter because it was probably giving off some sort of warmth.
We immediately went to get a aquarium heater because we keep the house at 70 so I know that water had to have been cold. After adding the heater Towel mostly rotated to hiding by the heater or hiding by the filter, always near the surface of the tank. I figured maybe he needs more places to hide.
Over the past week I've gotten him more plants, added smoother housing to protect his fins, as well has some test strips and other chemicals.
I'll be adding driftwood to his tank soon, it's boiling now.
Towel is now hanging near the front of the tank (so away from the filter and heater) but still staying at the surface.
QUESTION: Does everything look okay? Does he seem healthy? I wish the person that gifted it to my son had worked with me so I could've had the tank marinating for a few weeks. But I'm trying to make it up to Towel!
https://www.reddit.com/gallery/1kjcd4f
Posted by Afennekin
4 Comments
you’re doing a great job!! i love the name towel, it’s one of the best names i’ve ever heard someone give their betta. he’s probably doing this because his tank wasn’t fully cycled, which i know is out of your control since he was a surprise. this should change soon as the tank cycles and he will start exploring more. but it seems like you’re doing everything right! ☺️
Bettas have labrynth organs meaning they breathe air from the surface, which is why they hang out at the top. He looks very healthy, his fins are smooth and full. Youre doing great! Gifting animals is a very irresponsible thing to do especially without the consent of the parent, but i think youre doing great considering the circumstances. Fish-in cycling can be stressful for the fish, so just make sure you watch for any behavior such as darting, heavy breathing, stress stripes and color dulling, as well as ragged fins. These can all be signs of stress and ammonia poisoning. But he looks healthy and happy so far !
Looks like you’re doing everything right for the hand you were dealt. Bettas will naturally stay near the top unless they’re exploring something on the substrate like sinking food or a snail.
Also Towel is a top tier name.
1.) Make sure to keep the rhisome of the anubias plants above the gravel. Just the roots should be buried. I can’t really see the ones in the back, but just double-check.
2.) You can add a catapa leaf to his tank for add some tannins which are naturally antibiotic. They’ll turn the water a bit orange, but it’s beneficial.
3.) You might start to see an algae bloom or bacterial bloom in the next few weeks which are both pretty normal as the tank cycles. You might want to look up examples of both so you’re prepared.
I would recommend an API master test kit in place of the test strips. Strips are not very accurate and you need to test for ammonia, which most strips do not. Looks like you’re doing a fantastic job!