this me and my sons betta. Alphabet is his name. we got him in september and he was nearly completely white/opal and so small. he has totally flourished into this large red, pink and opal boy. i had no idea how beautiful he'd become as i actually picked him because he was the only white "freaky" looking one. and i love an underdog. 😅
I've really fallen in love with betta keeping. I'm learning more all the time. Due to limited space and budget i only have him in a 3gal half moon tank. with a filter and heater. i test the water every three days and am adamant with my water changes. I've since learned how to cycle my tank and have successfully established a healthy tank (by the grace of God). He also had damaged fins and possibly some fin rot (i think from my bad decor originally) and he has healed up and his fins have grown so much.
Yes, i do now know that the colorful gravel isn't a great option. don't yell at me please😂 i also started out with not so betta friendly decor, and since changed out everything for silk and soft decor. i didn't know anything when i bought everything, we just decided to get one (my son is 2) and i immediately fell in love and have since learned so so much. i do plan to get a different substrate and a larger tank soon for his comfort and i'd like to experiment with snails and/or shrimp soon too.
i really love seeing everyone's beautiful tanks and i aspire to someday possibly have a very healthy and lively tank with real plants and more variety. I'd love to have a sorority but i love my alphabet and do not have the time and money right now for the females. 😆
i am open to advice especially if you notice any concerning health signs. The first pic is his this morning, and the second you can see is when i got him, all white nearly. His fins look very different, so i am concerned always about his health, but i think he's okay? but im open to anything needed to help him. but pls dont rip me apart for my tank because-i know, and im working on it. not ignorant at all just poor
https://www.reddit.com/gallery/1otnxk2
Posted by barbie_Beee
3 Comments
wanted to add that he is very active and alert. he likes to build bubble nests. he eats right away everytime. he *seems* happy to me. i just always worry it could be better for him🩵
As you mentioned, live plants and better substrate would be my initial recommendations. A low cost easy maintenance “plant” you could consider while still having this set up is a marimo moss ball. They can help with water quality like any live plants. If you make them really small, some bettas enjoy bopping them around in the tank. Larger ones can provide a cozy resting place for your betta to relax.
Or frogbit, a low effort floating plant that bettas love! It also reproduces really fast, so even buying a small amount can result in your tank being covered within a few months!
You gotta start somewhere, and you are willing to learn. I hope you don’t get a lot of nasty comments. When you do upgrade him to a bigger tank, go ahead and try some easy live plants. They are very fun to experiment with, and the shrimp will love them too. Just be sure they have a lot of hiding places in case Betta wants a snack. Bettas will try to squeeze into holes they can’t possibly fit into, so keep that in mind. And Aquarium Co Op sells their Easy Shrimp and Snail Shells which have been a huge help with my neocaridina shrimp. Best of luck and be sure to enjoy yourselves in your new adventure together.