This is Cyanide. These are the best photos I could get. He does move around a decent bit, but I swear he does it more when I want a picture lol. I had told my mom I wanted a betta fish for my birthday, but wanted to get the tank and everything else so I could make sure everything was right for him and that I had a good decent bit of decor. My mom couldn't afford to get him on my birthday, but she got him 11 days afterward. Instead of doing what I had asked, though, she hot the fish the same day as the tank. So now I only have a 3 gallon tank, one little log (which he really seems to enjoy) and the betta leaf that came with the starter kit she bought (top fin, I believe.) I know I need to get him more decor, but I'm unable to as I don't currently have a job. He does seem decently happy, as he made a bubble nest the other day which I accidentally destroyed when cleaning out the extra food from his tank. I want to take good care of him, but I worry I'm not doing enough. I think he may have some minor fin rot (it's somewhat visible in the pictures.) I'm also extra paranoid today because I usually feed him what he'll eat of his fish flakes in the morning (ik it's bad for him, but I only rlly have 2 food options rn and that seems to be his favorite) which is a very very small pinch. Then I give him what he'll eat of the mysis shrimp I have in the afternoon when I get home. It's from the dial-a-treat thing for bettas that I bought from the pet store near me, but he refuses to eat the blood worms and daphnia that came with it. Anyway, he didn't eat anything when I tried to give him food after school today, and he's usually very eager to eat. Also, I cannot check anything other than the temperature because my mom thinks it's a waste of time to go to the pet store just to get the water tested (it's a town over from us) and that I should only cycle out some of the water when it looks dirty instead of once a week/month like what most betta owners I see say. She also keeps telling me "it's a $15 fish, if it dies you can get a new one." Which I think is stupid, because he deserves to live a decent life at the least. Just because he's a fish doesn't mean he doesn't deserve to be treated just as well as our other pets. He also keeps lying flat under the filter intake, which I will show if I get a picture.
Sorry for making this so long, I just thought it would be good to give as much info as I can. Does anyone have any tips for the situation I'm now stuck in? Aside from needing to get him more decorations, am I just overreacting and being paranoid? I've also done a good bit of research, but anything helps!
https://www.reddit.com/gallery/1rfqa7c
Posted by Reidlemethis_10
3 Comments
if his bubble nest was destroyed by you moving things around i wouldn’t worry too much about that, they easily make new ones. i would make sure you’re not overfeeding also, when you first start a tank a little bit of cloudiness is normal, it should be left alone. a lot of the time when you’re new at keeping fish you get really worried (i know from experience) and tend to overdo a lot of things which actually does more harm than good. i think as long as you keep monitoring him, and try feeding a bit less than normal he should be okay… im sorry you can’t afford to get the proper things for him but you are trying your best. bloodworms and shrimp should be fed as a treat maybe once a week? also keeping the lights off more should lower his stress levels
He is very handsome!
Do you have a heater in his tank?
My advice is usually on the “harsher” side but its always with the welfare of the fish in mind. If you’re not able to provide proper care because of financial reasons then it’s best to just return everything or rehome your betta. It seems like in your situation you’re still a minor and the adult(s) that can help you out aren’t able to or don’t want to. You would need to upgrade to a 5 gallon tank, add some live plants, get a water testing kit, and other essentials that are absolutely needed for the health of your betta, which can get pricey. If you’re not in a situation where all of that can be provided then it would probably be best to return or rehome, that would be the most responsible thing you could do.