Hi everyone, I recently got my first betta (about 4 days ago, still unnamed), and I had a couple of questions I was hoping you could help with:
I was sold the fish as a male, but I’m starting to have doubts. It appears to have an egg spot and doesn’t show many of the typical male characteristics I’ve seen (gill beard, bubble-nest behavior, exaggerated fins – pic in comments). I've seen online that sometimes younger males can show a false egg spot as a defense mechanism, but without other identifying characteristics I am a little bit lost. Happy to try and get close-up pics of certain areas as needed!
My second question is about temperature stability. The tank itself is fully cycled and has been running for months, but I’ve noticed the temperature drops about 3°C overnight. During the day it’s stable again at 26ºC (~79ºC). Is that kind of fluctuation safe for a betta, or should I be looking at improving temperature consistency?
Thanks in advance for any advice!
https://v.redd.it/fruii36knrwg1
Posted by Positive_Building_80
6 Comments
https://preview.redd.it/opflu3cusrwg1.jpeg?width=1125&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=371807a8995ae6eb887ef148deff3c01a067df68
* **Tank size**:
* 5 gallon / 20 liter
* **Heater and filter?**
* yes
* **Tank temperature**:
* 26ºC
* **Amount of ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, and pH.**:
* 0 ammonia/nitrite/nitrate, pH ~7.3 (API test kit)
* **How long have you had the tank? How long have you had your fish?**:
* Tank ~3 months, fish ~ 4 days
* **How often are water changes? How much do you take out per change? What is your process?**:
* top up with distilled water, 20% water change every few weeks
* **Any tankmates? If so, please list with how many of each**:
* 2 nerite snails
* **What do you feed and how much**:
* pellets, flakes, live daphnia (on rotation), 1 feeding a day
the temperature fluctuation is safe for a betta BUT not ideal. I would suggest investing in a heater with a thermostat. That way, you have more control over what temperature you want your tank to be and less risk of overheating and killing your fish.
if the 3C difference happens over hours then it’s fine, but if it happens in a short time by ac or an automation system then give it up, i would still reccomend getting a heater to keep it stable but this can work fine for now
a few close up pics of him (right and left) and a pic of him flaring would help
The drop in temp is bc your light heats up the water a bit. You can avoid that but it should be fine
Your water surface seems a little stagnated, double check you filter doesnt need a clean out [or it might just be video]
Or have it so filter output is just above the water line. [If you have a sponge filter or airstone you can just turn up the pump a little bit too]
While flow needs to be low for most bettas you do need to break the water tension on the surface to make sure oxygen is going into the tank and unused nutrients from plant fertilisers ect… are given a good mixing in
[It also helps prevent a lot of surface algae and cyanobacteria which could wipe out all your floaters as they love a nutrient rich biofilm that happens on the still water of tanks]