new betta questions

[drawnon]

I bought a male crown tail on Monday night and its now Saturday morning. This is my first betta, so I’m unfamiliar with their behavior, and I have a couple of questions and concerns. I included a couple of pics to see what you more seasoned betta owners think. Do I have too much current in the tank? It’s a 10 gallon, and I use a penguin 100. I put it to the far left, as far as it will go, of the tank. He seems to swim erratically for a couple of seconds ( like a weird, wiggly fast dart across the tank ) and then swims normally. He is sometimes on the bottom of the tank, hiding behind the big green plant. He seems to have a fetish with trying to wedge himself in places.
I read some posts saying maybe he needs to build some muscle strength from being stuck in a little glass jar. I bought the big green plant for him to rest in, but until just now while I was writing this he has never used it. I just saw him resting or hiding in it.
Is he just still getting used to things, or does he not like his home?
I have yet to see him eat or poop. I have only seen him nibble once on the floating betta pellets, and he ignores the freeze-dried blood worms. I read a post that some other persons betta would eat the bottom feeders algae tab before the bottom feeders could get it, so I put one in and he ignores that too. His color has come out more since he’s been here. When I bought him, I never seen the dark red he has now in his fins.
Maybe I spoke too soon. As I’m typing this I see that he is exploring the big green plant.
When should I expect to see him build a bubble nest?
Thanks for reading and responding to this.
James

[MeganL3985]

Is that green plant silk? If not I would get rid of it now and get one with round leaves. I had a small plant like that in my tank and it ripped some of my betta's fins off. Sharp, pokey leaves I guess aren't good for them b/c of their fins being so delicate. My betta loves to rest on plants, sometimes even the gravel. He tries to get himself into tight spaces and hides out in his coconut cave. Mine made a bubble nest in its bowl the first week I had him. Then again when I first put him in the heated, filtered tank, but other than then (which was last month I believe) I haven't seen any more nests, just some random bubbles on a occassion. I think he's fine. Just give him a chance to check out his surroundings and maybe replace that sharp looking plant.

[tropfish]

he'll be fine in the 10g, he'll be a very happy betta. When they're fins get caught in the current of the filter they act like a sale so he gets pusjed aorund and wggles like that, he'll learn to aviod that small part of the tank.

[drawnon]

yes that is a silk plant.
should i still get a round leaf plant?

[squirt_12]

yes and get rid of the silk one.

[SkarloeysMom]

Sounds like he's just getting used to his big beautiful new home. He will get used to the current or learn to avoid it. You might consider getting a few more plants. Bettas do love to rest on plants and like hideouts too. If you want to try a live plant that's easy to grow you might get a couple water sprites. They are so easy to grow in any light without a lot of fuss and bettas love them.

I've had bettas for a few years and I've rarely seen them poop. They have good appetites usually but yours may just be still getting adjusted. When you do feed him. Just drop in one pellet at a time and let him eat it before adding more. That way you don't pollute your water with uneaten food.

One question for you, did you cycle your tank?

[Lady Hobbs]

SkarloeysMom asked the question I was about to ask about having a cycled tank. If it was not cycled, you'll need to keep up with water changes and need to test your water for ammonia and nitrites.

It looks to me like you have an awful lot of gravel in your tank, as well. Much more than 3 inches is only places for waste and food to get trapped. All you need is enough to hold your plants in.

[drawnon]

yes the tank cycled. i used a nylon full of gravel from my established 30 gallon.
so you think i need to take out some gravel or just have to do a good job with the gravel vac?

[squirt_12]

well about how much gravel do you think you put in??? (pounds)

[gm72]

yes the tank cycled. i used a nylon full of gravel from my established 30 gallon.
so you think i need to take out some gravel or just have to do a good job with the gravel vac?

Doing that alone does not constitute a full cycle, although it will help speed the process.

[drawnon]

there is 20 pounds of gravel in there.

the tank fully cycled. it sat fishless for 2 weeks. it cycled after 4 days. i ran the penguin in my established 30 gallon for 2 weeks before the 10 gallon ran for 2 weeks. i also put some old filter media in the penguin. i tested and watched the water get cloudy and ammonia went up, then 4 days later crystal clear water with no ammonia. the tank cycled.

[SkarloeysMom]

That's great! It probably sounds like everyone's quizzing you but there are many who join AC and really don't know about cycling so we ask just to make sure. Sounds like you got it cycled perfectly and your betta is gonna be one happy little guy once he gets used to all that real estate!

I just reread some of your other posts so I see what you've been up to with the cycling now. Sorry missed your other posts. Its really hard to keep up with all the threads for me these days.

[drawnon]

my betta and i thank everyone for your thoughts and suggestions.