As stated just got this fish for white elephant and have no idea how to take care of him
Posted by RicoGelo
10 Comments
May-p0p-80085 on
Looks so sad đ
May-p0p-80085 on
Google is your friend.
michelle-420 on
Make them buy you a tank too smh. But seriously, find a 10 gallon tank, and get a bubbler and sponge filter asap. Then you can worry about sand/plants/decore but first things first he needs a tank and filtration
this_wug_life on
It’s a Siamese Fighting Fish / Siamese Fighter, also called a Betta, if that helps. Tropical. Will kill other males of their own kind. People say they only need a tank about that size but that is cruel (yes I do realise that will be the container you got it in, not what you intend to keep it in). Good luck to you and the little guy – please post pics once he’s in a happier state and thanks for looking after him đ
But to get you going quickly, grab a five gallon tank, a sponge filter, a size appropriate heater, water conditioner if you arenât on a septic system, and some sort of hidey hole (honestly, a mug will do). You will need some sort of lid – cardboard from the tank box will do in a pinch. Oh, and food. Betta pellets will likely do for now. Though your fish might not be interested in eating for a day or so if theyâre stressed out.
Honestly, everything can come after that. Read up on the nitrogen cycle and research doing a âfish in cycleâ. In a few days youâre going to need a water testing kit – the strips suck and usually donât test for ammonia. Get the big kit. Itâs pricey but lasts a long time. If you have a good local fish store, they might water test for you if you bring in samples but since youâre doing a fish in cycle testing at home will be easier.
Live plants are the best for long term tank health usually but for now a couple of silk plants will be fine. Donât do plastic – they have sharp bits that can tear fins.
Go to r/bettafish and do a lot of reading. Watch some youtube videos. Bettas are sensitive and also hardy at the same time, so the tank doesnât need to be perfect right off the bat, but it does need to be safe, and thatâs your focus for now. Good luck!
rebornfenix on
OP, join us over at /r/betta if you want to keep it. They are an amazing fish to keep and have great personalities.
However, that white elephant gift is a cost burden of around $50-$75 minimum to get into the fish keeping hobby.
A quick list:
5 gallon tank: $35 from PetSmart with their sale right now
Water conditioner: SeaChem prime is what I use. $5-$10
Beneficial bacteria: SeaChem Stability or Tetra Safe Start $10 ish
Substrate for the tank: $5 – $10 for a 5lb bag
Tank Decoration: $10-$infinite get something the betta can hide under and either some silk plants or live plants.
Food: $5-$10. Any Betta food will work but I found my Neptune likes the smaller sized pellets and really doesnât like freeze dried bloodworms
Test kit of some kind: if cash is a problem, Ammonia and the 5 or 6 in one strips will work though the API master test kit is better. $10 or $40. Fish in cycling is possible but takes close monitoring. I had the best luck with Tetra Safe Start to kick start the cycle so it doesnât take weeks.
I wish people wouldnât do fish at a white elephant party, itâs not a gift IMHO itâs a 2-3 year burden or the effort to find someone who knows what they are doing and can take a new betta fish.
Hell, I keep a betta and have a spare tank and it would still take me $30 ish to kit it out and cycle the tank. I would take it and give it a good home but the person who brought it would go on a shit list forever.
SanchoPliskin on
A fish is 100% fitting for the original meaning of a white elephant gift. Totally unacceptable for the modern version which is usually a silly useless gift though.
Strict-Seesaw-8954 on
Ask for the receipt and return it.Â
Superb-Parrot on
omg giving a live animal in white elephant is so cruel and inappropriate đ pls take good care of him đ lots of great advice from people here and in r/bettafish
10 Comments
Looks so sad đ
Google is your friend.
Make them buy you a tank too smh. But seriously, find a 10 gallon tank, and get a bubbler and sponge filter asap. Then you can worry about sand/plants/decore but first things first he needs a tank and filtration
It’s a Siamese Fighting Fish / Siamese Fighter, also called a Betta, if that helps. Tropical. Will kill other males of their own kind. People say they only need a tank about that size but that is cruel (yes I do realise that will be the container you got it in, not what you intend to keep it in). Good luck to you and the little guy – please post pics once he’s in a happier state and thanks for looking after him đ
https://preview.redd.it/cpudzu7qxn8g1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4194f5cf9f23db30ecf62447a54ae79bce521ad9
I can answer any more specific questions if you have them
https://preview.redd.it/tlwj43i5wn8g1.jpeg?width=3193&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=396707048ea8e271469d77e9a96451b60c9a729a
Hereâs the basic basics of Bettas.
But to get you going quickly, grab a five gallon tank, a sponge filter, a size appropriate heater, water conditioner if you arenât on a septic system, and some sort of hidey hole (honestly, a mug will do). You will need some sort of lid – cardboard from the tank box will do in a pinch. Oh, and food. Betta pellets will likely do for now. Though your fish might not be interested in eating for a day or so if theyâre stressed out.
Honestly, everything can come after that. Read up on the nitrogen cycle and research doing a âfish in cycleâ. In a few days youâre going to need a water testing kit – the strips suck and usually donât test for ammonia. Get the big kit. Itâs pricey but lasts a long time. If you have a good local fish store, they might water test for you if you bring in samples but since youâre doing a fish in cycle testing at home will be easier.
Live plants are the best for long term tank health usually but for now a couple of silk plants will be fine. Donât do plastic – they have sharp bits that can tear fins.
Go to r/bettafish and do a lot of reading. Watch some youtube videos. Bettas are sensitive and also hardy at the same time, so the tank doesnât need to be perfect right off the bat, but it does need to be safe, and thatâs your focus for now. Good luck!
OP, join us over at /r/betta if you want to keep it. They are an amazing fish to keep and have great personalities.
However, that white elephant gift is a cost burden of around $50-$75 minimum to get into the fish keeping hobby.
A quick list:
5 gallon tank: $35 from PetSmart with their sale right now
Water conditioner: SeaChem prime is what I use. $5-$10
Beneficial bacteria: SeaChem Stability or Tetra Safe Start $10 ish
Substrate for the tank: $5 – $10 for a 5lb bag
Tank Decoration: $10-$infinite get something the betta can hide under and either some silk plants or live plants.
Food: $5-$10. Any Betta food will work but I found my Neptune likes the smaller sized pellets and really doesnât like freeze dried bloodworms
Test kit of some kind: if cash is a problem, Ammonia and the 5 or 6 in one strips will work though the API master test kit is better. $10 or $40. Fish in cycling is possible but takes close monitoring. I had the best luck with Tetra Safe Start to kick start the cycle so it doesnât take weeks.
I wish people wouldnât do fish at a white elephant party, itâs not a gift IMHO itâs a 2-3 year burden or the effort to find someone who knows what they are doing and can take a new betta fish.
Hell, I keep a betta and have a spare tank and it would still take me $30 ish to kit it out and cycle the tank. I would take it and give it a good home but the person who brought it would go on a shit list forever.
A fish is 100% fitting for the original meaning of a white elephant gift. Totally unacceptable for the modern version which is usually a silly useless gift though.
Ask for the receipt and return it.Â
omg giving a live animal in white elephant is so cruel and inappropriate đ pls take good care of him đ lots of great advice from people here and in r/bettafish