I was gifted a betta for Christmas, along with this .5 gallon cup and a plant to go on top of it. I bought an API 10 gallon start kit with a heater and filter. I’ve added API quick start and imagitarium water conditioner. I believe I need to either get ammonia pellets, add fish food, or add the fish to feed the bacteria.
So for my main question, I am wondering whether I should keep my fish in his .5g cup and cycle the 10g tank without him, or move him and do a fish-in cycle. He seems to be doing good, the first couple days he wasn’t eating and spitting up food but now after warming up in my room he’s been eating fine and acting very playful.
Right now I’m leaning towards getting more plants and possibly some snails to do a fish-in cycle so I can get him out of his small enclosure. Right now I’ve got one plant in the tank, and I might be able to rig the plant on the .5g tank to fit in the extra space next to the water filter on the lid. As well as a few bulb plant starts from petsmart.
Any other advice would be appreciated. Need some name ideas as well. Thanks!
https://www.reddit.com/gallery/1q2knp2
Posted by braeden2712
11 Comments
You only add quick start when you add the fish, otherwise it’s going to waste.
Do you have a heater on the tank? 80 degrees is their preferred temp.
Do you have experience with fish in cycling? Do you have filtered or RO water for the tank?
Definitely add as many plants as you can afford.
I had my Betta tank completely set up with a cleaning crew and companion fish before I got him.
Alrighty! Listen up :3
Fish Tank: Great that you have a 10 gallon- it means you will have more stable water parameters. You should move him into the 10 gallon (depending on what time it is for you go get some plants and put them in and then plop your dude in) because he’s not in good conditions right now- trust me (also you can put that cutting into your main tank the roots provide great places to hide)!
Snails: This depends. I don’t think you should get any RIGHT NOW because depending on what snail you get (don’t get a mystery snail YET too much poop and you have no good bacteria yet) and you also have nothing to clean (like algae/biofilm)
Live Plants I Recommend: -Anacharis (mine grew like CRAZY) -Rotalia (different types) -Anubias (EASY BEGINNER – should be tied/glued to something) -Java Fern (EASY BEGINNER – should be tied/glued to something) -Amazon Sword (requires root tabs and honestly not my favorite…) -Java Moss (SO EASY GROWS BY ITSELF better to be glued on)
Floating Plants I Recommend: -Salvinia Minima (Mine grows like crazy I wish I could give you some!) -Water Lettuce (I have dwarf) -Red Root Floater (never had these are pretty but people say they can be hard to care for)
Floor: I recommend covering those rocks with a layer of gravel (or aquarium soil) since it usually looks nicer and may benefit the plants.
Decor: Don’t recommend any fake ones (so you may want to remove that plastic one)- for hides you can get: -A floating betta log -Natural hides (my local Petco sells these hides which are covered with moss and growing leaves)
EXTRA ADD-ONS: -Driftwood (very useful, good to glue the plants onto this. Will tan your water if you don’t boil enough but that’s good [will explain later]!) -Plant Glue (sold at most pet stores, easier than tying the plants) -Sponge Filter (I like these more than the hang-on-back ones since you don’t have to replace the cartilage and they’re better anyways- you will need an air pump but definitely good switch!) -Fertilizer (good to help your plants grow) -Indian Almond Leaves [Tannins] (They tan your water [my aquarium is basically blackwater at this point- super dark!!] and that’s useful because it: keeps your betta’s fins healthier, protects against most diseases, reduces stress, etc.) -Rocks (also good to glue the plants onto you can take any rocks from outside and even glue them together to make natural hides. How to clean: you can simply boil or clean with hydrogen peroxide and then boil- better to do 2nd strategy.
What You Have: I recommend dosing the Water Conditioner every day/every other day (if this is safe). It can help establish the bacteria a bit faster.
Hope all this helped! Randomly getting a fish is HARD and you’re doing great! Feel free to ask me more questions if you have any! -Leo 💛
Yeah definitely get a lot more plants lol. I have some snails and they’re doing great! You should try and rig the plant to the lid or however you can it would be good. As for the plant bulbs from PetSmart I wouldn’t bet on those, I got them and they weren’t a great idea. Half of them never grew and the other half weren’t even the plants that were listed on the package. They are still alive in my tank but you never know what you’re going to get so it’s up to you. I wish you and your new fish luck!
Thank you for being responsible about this! You’re 100% on the right track. I think you can do a fish in cycle as you described, but make sure to test your water frequently to understand where you are in the cycle. If ammonia & nitrites are high, you’ll need to dose with seachem prime or something similar. Every LFS and major pet store will have prime. You’ll also want to stay on top of water changes after the bacteria can get established.
Does your new friend have a name yet?
100% do a fish in cycle in the 10G ASAP. That cup is also going through a fish in cycle, but it’s going to turn toxic very quickly. The Betta also can’t breathe very well in that cup. They like to take sips of air from the top for supplemental oxygen. Nice job getting your guy a nice big home! He should be able to handle the fish cycle ok as long as you keep up with water changes.
More plants!!! Always more plants!!!
Hey so I basically had the same situation as u and I moved him to the tank right away (prob shouldn’t have but wtvr). I just couldn’t stand seeing him in the tiny jar you know. 6months later hes fine (I think). Take this with a grain of salt bc I’m literally just a random 12 yr old trying not to commit animal abuse.
That cup ain’t 5 gallon
Free my guy!
Real talk that vase is probably not cycled either.
I love the way you handle this
Move him, do a fish in cycle, get either Fritz zyme (BIG bottle) or a couple bottles of dr. Tim’s one and only freshwater.
Also get some zeolite (marineland sells for cheap) and put it in a filter media bag. It will absorb ammonia and a little bit of nitites while the bacteria colonizes enough to eat it. Add to your HOB or canister. Leave it for the month it cycles.