New betta

[BirdOfPray]

Hooray -- just got a betta for my new 5-gallon Eclipse! Went to four different pet stores before finding one I really liked. Seems very healthy and reasonably active for being in his little cup. Very curious, especially once I started floating his cup in the tank to acclimate him. He's nothing fancy -- just the standard $4 male betta, but very nice coloring IMO.

I decided to do a fish-in cycle with this tank, and hopefully won't regret it. I can easily do water changes morning and night or more often if need be, and I figured if this little guy has done ok in his cup with no filtration, he ought to be much happier in a larger, filtered aquarium where the water will be changed more often than it was in his cup (until cycled, anyhow). I hope that's not a big mistake.

For now he has one large artificial plant and three very small live ones, and a hollow rock decoration. Eventually I want to get a nice piece of wood to replace the fake rock and turn it into as much of a heavily planted aquarium as I can with 3wpg and no co2.

Just had to share -- I'm very excited about getting him. A few more minutes of acclimation and I'll let him into his new tank to explore!

[Z Fish Man]

Congrats on the new betta! Yeah just watch the water param's and you should be fine. Post a pic if you can I wanna see the guy.

[BirdOfPray]

First time posting pictures... we'll see if it works. :)

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_cn9q2ZKsp_Q/Sm3eXvbPM8I/AAAAAAAAB7w/yWuM7qUqKyo/betta1.jpg

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_cn9q2ZKsp_Q/Sm3eX8q9fII/AAAAAAAAB70/SAYbKOd9adY/betta2.jpg

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_cn9q2ZKsp_Q/Sm3eX57hFtI/AAAAAAAAB74/yAoDcJfrFAk/betta3.jpg

Edit: Well, I can see them, so hopefully that worked!

[Northernguy]

Congrats on the betta!
I wish your pics worked better! lol

[BirdOfPray]

Ok, trying again... Picassa seems to have issues with posting photos on message boards. We'll see if this works!

http://austinrhineharts.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/betta1.jpg

http://austinrhineharts.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/betta2.jpg

http://austinrhineharts.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/betta3.jpg

[rich311k]

That worked! Very handsome fish!

[BirdOfPray]

Thanks! Those were taken in his first few minutes in the aquarium. He seems to be settling in nicely, and has already found the best spots to hide so I can't see him. He doesn't stay hidden long, just enough to make me think, "Wait... I did buy a fish today, didn't I?" I could just be imagining it, but it seems like his coloring has brightened up a bit too -- not as dark a blue, and more of the red and purple hues showing up. I figure I'll offer him a couple of pellets this evening, see if he's comfortable enough to be interested in eating.

[-Lp]

Nice looking guy. thumbs2: I just set up a 10 betta tank myself, and I swear I have his twin brother! I'll put up some pics when I get home.

[Sarkazmo]

BTW, Betta LOVE Java Moss and Hornwort.... They wiggle through it and lay on it. Both are really easy to grow too. :) Floating plants like Duck weed, Frogbit, Water Lettuce, Red Roof Floaters, Betta love these as well because they can use them as an anchor for their bubble nests.

Sark

[BirdOfPray]

Legend -- Would love to see photos! This guy seems to be showing a lot more red coloring around his body and the base of his fins now, and the blue is even brighter. Guess he must be doing well!

Sark -- Thanks for the suggestions! I was kind of thinking along those lines, but I get easily confused on plants still. Will write those down for when I go looking! I can't grow houseplants because I always over or under water them, but I figure a planted fish tank on my desk is better than a potted plant anyway!

[s72450]

Very nice looking. Your little guy looks just like the betta that we had at work for nearly two years, the coloring is almost exactly like George. He lived a good two years with us before passing on a month ago.

Congrats on the new addition, he's a beauty!

[-Lp]

Okay, maybe a twin brother from another mother..damn they all look the same(blush) Not sure why he's showing up greenish.

http://img.geocaching.com/cache/6e22b904-d605-4460-b9d2-35758cdc0b18.jpg

[BirdOfPray]

Very pretty! He has the same red ventral fins as my little guy -- they actually scared me at first because there was something bright red trailing underneath him. Then he moved a little and I could tell it was his fins. Mine now looks a much brighter blue than original, and has a slight hint of that greenish color in his tail. Mostly blue and red, though. Sure has colored up nicely!

He seems very happy and keeps making his rounds of the tank. His artificial plant is too tall for the tank and so the top few inches of it are floating just below the surface. He seems to like swimming up and lounging on the plant at the very top. Also likes swimming through his hollow rock thing. He seems to be a little friendlier now that he's had a few hours to acclimate -- at first he preferred the back of the tank, but now he keeps swimming up to the front to see what I'm up to.