The lady was wrong š You absolutely need a heater, Theres some pretty cheap ones on amazon for 5 gallon tanks and they work pretty well! (I use one) He could also benefit from some more plants. I’d also avoid using the colored gravel because it can leak toxins into the water, and avoid fake plants and/or sharp objects because that can tear his fins!! Aside from that hes a beautiful fish !! I hope you love him and take care of him well!!
mangosawce9k on
Love the tank! Needs a heater, I would add more than one hammock near the surface. They love to hide and chill.
StereotypicalCDN on
Thanks for seeking out advice, OP. Good start, now take a look at the care guide someone else linked. Good luck with your new friend!
umkay11 on
Weāve all been new before and reaching out is great! Rule 1) petsmart employees are people who need a job, not people who know about proper fish care. Thatās the one thing Iād really drive home to anyone. Even at my local fish shop, there are some people who I know not to ask advice of.
To start: yes absolutely get a heater! Amazon has many, ideally get one that has a temperature displayed on part of it. Look up the preferred temperature for bettas.
Look into live plants, and if you havenāt done a nitrogen cycle yet then look up a fish in cycle. Thatās super important because without it your fish will get sick.
Look up hides, bettas like them. Make sure itās nothing he could get stuck in though.
Try Indian almond leaves to help add beneficial material to the water.
rsp-zyphor on
have you cycled the tank? thatās more important than a heater, at least itās more time sensitive. mike will get very sick in only a few days if itās not cycled, but he will be okay for a few months without a heater.
hereās what id do:
step 1: order a heater on amazon. you can find them for as little as $5-$10. i prefer the ones that have the temp displayed on the outside of the tank.
step 2: provides you havenāt cycled the tank, go to the pet store and get some quick start or stress zyme+. put some in there. it will introduce the beneficial bacteria that is much needed so mike doesnāt get ammonia poisoning.
step 3: get a live, pre-potted plant. they also pretty cheap. getting a pre-potted one drastically increases the chances of the plant surviving, since most will die without good places for the roots.
step 4: get a small sponge filter and air pump. the filters are literally like $1-$2, and the are pump is only like $10-$15. super easy to hook up.
if you donāt cycle the tank, mike *may* be okay, but itās better safe than sorry. ammonia poisoning from unicycles tanks are the number 1 cause of betta deaths due to inexperienced owners.
the heater and filter arenāt crucial, as in immediately needed, but still get them done within a few weeks
SweetTart7231 on
How come itās not filled to the top? There seems to be a lid so jumping out may not be an issue.
Odd_Cantaloupe_7122 on
I would fill it up to the top. Nice setup tho! āļø
8 Comments
[Betta caresheet](https://redd.it/3ow6vz)
The lady was wrong š You absolutely need a heater, Theres some pretty cheap ones on amazon for 5 gallon tanks and they work pretty well! (I use one) He could also benefit from some more plants. I’d also avoid using the colored gravel because it can leak toxins into the water, and avoid fake plants and/or sharp objects because that can tear his fins!! Aside from that hes a beautiful fish !! I hope you love him and take care of him well!!
Love the tank! Needs a heater, I would add more than one hammock near the surface. They love to hide and chill.
Thanks for seeking out advice, OP. Good start, now take a look at the care guide someone else linked. Good luck with your new friend!
Weāve all been new before and reaching out is great! Rule 1) petsmart employees are people who need a job, not people who know about proper fish care. Thatās the one thing Iād really drive home to anyone. Even at my local fish shop, there are some people who I know not to ask advice of.
To start: yes absolutely get a heater! Amazon has many, ideally get one that has a temperature displayed on part of it. Look up the preferred temperature for bettas.
Look into live plants, and if you havenāt done a nitrogen cycle yet then look up a fish in cycle. Thatās super important because without it your fish will get sick.
Look up hides, bettas like them. Make sure itās nothing he could get stuck in though.
Try Indian almond leaves to help add beneficial material to the water.
have you cycled the tank? thatās more important than a heater, at least itās more time sensitive. mike will get very sick in only a few days if itās not cycled, but he will be okay for a few months without a heater.
hereās what id do:
step 1: order a heater on amazon. you can find them for as little as $5-$10. i prefer the ones that have the temp displayed on the outside of the tank.
step 2: provides you havenāt cycled the tank, go to the pet store and get some quick start or stress zyme+. put some in there. it will introduce the beneficial bacteria that is much needed so mike doesnāt get ammonia poisoning.
step 3: get a live, pre-potted plant. they also pretty cheap. getting a pre-potted one drastically increases the chances of the plant surviving, since most will die without good places for the roots.
step 4: get a small sponge filter and air pump. the filters are literally like $1-$2, and the are pump is only like $10-$15. super easy to hook up.
if you donāt cycle the tank, mike *may* be okay, but itās better safe than sorry. ammonia poisoning from unicycles tanks are the number 1 cause of betta deaths due to inexperienced owners.
the heater and filter arenāt crucial, as in immediately needed, but still get them done within a few weeks
How come itās not filled to the top? There seems to be a lid so jumping out may not be an issue.
I would fill it up to the top. Nice setup tho! āļø