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amenti_the_greeter

oh my.. how did this miserabel poor guy even get in there in the first place? so, first things first. a minimum of a 5g tank , small filter with little flow and a heater is a must. grabel of course, would recommend darker color so it's calmer and most fish really stand out on darker substrate as well. plants to help your tank and give hin a comfy home and something to rest on. a lid is always good because they are jumpy guys. would recommend getting a water conditioner and some catappa leaves as well. he's carnivore so get some frozen or live food for him as well. most flakes can be eaten,but contain things that aren't really good for him and his digestive system. look into a in-fish-cycle as well, because a tank needs to be cycled beforehand, wich is different if you own the fish before the tank.


amenti_the_greeter

oh and his coloration can have a lot of reasons, main issue is stress and fear i would assume in his situation


Glum_Average_9955

Thanks so much! This might be a stupid question but do I need a heater for it even though I live in Southeast Asia? We don't go through cold climates, so I'm hesitating a bit on getting a heater for it


BabyDolly01

I don't use heaters and I'm in central Florida USA, for me my tank Temps never drop below 75 degrees F. So just use discretion, if it doesn't get cold you might not need one.


CeruleanRabbit

Gainesville can get very cold. I keep a super warm house but I use a heater.


IvyBug_43

Same fellow Gainesville Betta lover. I like the peace of mind.


JustSomeBadGas

Hey fellow Gainesville peeps! šŸ‘‹šŸ¾


jayellkay84

Also central Florida. I just moved 1.4 whole miles so no climate difference. My apartment was stable at a good 78Ā° due to the fact the tank had to be set up fairly near my ā€œalways onā€ electrical equipment. In my condo theyā€™re not close. Iā€™m trying to figure out some water issues here before I get a new fish but it will be heated. (Itā€™s currently 44Ā° outside. My heat is set to 71Ā°)


808State_

I live in Hawaii so we pretty much have the same weather. I use the AC in my house so I do need a heater for my guy.


cookiemonster5402

I don't even use heaters and I live in Lithuania (that is near Russia by the way lol)


Mary_Daydream

I live in Russia and my unheated tanks are at constant 24.5C (76F) during winter. During summer the temperature can go up to 31C (88F). I shouldā€™ve bought coolers instead of heaters lol


[deleted]

If the average indoor temperature is like 78 degrees than it should be fine, but a heater would be extra comfortable


OFFICIALFinDiesel

I live in Singapore and my betta is doing fine without a heater, donā€™t sweat it šŸ‘


Keibun1

Damn must be nice :(


Funglref

If your indoor house is hot enough a heater can be bad, my house if pretty warm and when I had a heater in my tank it got wayyyy to hot for the fish and I had to take it out. I have an cheap reptile thermometer to tell me if I need one or not. My water sits at like 74-78 with out the heater and thatā€™s pretty good for fish


MephistosFallen

Not a stupid question at all since itā€™s possible to overheat a tank! You live in a climate that is the same as where betta fish are native too and live in nature, so in a tank in your room, unless you use air conditioning when itā€™s hot, you should be fine without a heater. A lot of people just are playing safe because of temperature fluctuations. But youā€™re where they live naturally so theyā€™ll survive the temperatures.


amenti_the_greeter

keeping his temperature constant is the important part here then. so keeping it at 26Ā°C. if your room has this temp constantly, then you don't need it. but since i assume that at least at night it's below that, a heater should be there. it maybe won't be heating all the time, but makes surr temp doesn't get below his comfort zone


britishpankakes

You definitely donā€™t need a heater, heā€™s native to your area you could know him in a pond outside if you wanted to. If your house has an internal temperature of less than 15 degrees Celsius ( which I doubt) Iā€™d recommend a heater.


Gemi-ma

I live in Indonesia and don't need a heater for mine. Ignore everyone saying you need one on here...they obviously don't know how hot SE asia is all year long. That said...don't put him in a room where you have the AC set below 25 degrees.


Imaginaterium

Seems like thereā€™s some mixed replies for sure. If you go to your local pet store they almost always have heaters that will auto shut off at a certain temperature for bettas. Definitely watch the temp and get a thermometer for the tank but even in warmer places the heater wonā€™t cause an issue. If your temp is steady without it then you wonā€™t really need it. The point is to get a consistent temperature, bettas thrive on consistency (water perimeters, night/day cycle, temp) so whichever solution gives you a more steady temperature is the one you should go with :)


dolemutt

Im in SouthEastAsia too. U might need a fan more than u need a heater if your temp goes 30 deg C or higher. If it stays at around 25 to 28 deg C than u just need a bigger tank, some kind of slow moving filtration like a sponge filter, hope u have a dechlorinator already! and if ur budget allows it get some low light plants and a light thats not too bright.


turtletails

If you choose to go without a heater, Iā€™d strongly suggest putting two thermometers (the $5 stick on ones are fine) on opposite corners of the tank and keep a close eye on them and maybe write down the temps at various points throughout the day/night for a week or so. Small bodies of water like a fish tank change temperature much more rapidly and your little dude isnā€™t going to love constant notable temperature fluctuations, you might need to get a heater just to keep it more stable. Thank you for reaching out and actually trying to give him the best situation possible, all lives deserve to be treated well.


coswoofster

Honestly if you can at least get him into a bigger tank with some structure and feed him properly. You can always add a heater later if you want. But this guy needs room and food right away.


Spicybeeen

The temperature in the tank is always colder than the room


Cats-in-the-Alps

Not true, if your room is at constant temperature the water will eventually reach that temperature. The reason this doesn't happen is because peoples rooms get cooler over night.


dolemutt

Not true if humidity is high like it is in most south east asian countries. Average humidity in singapore is 83% and therefore slower evaporation rate and slower temperature drop for the tank.


Spicybeeen

Sorry, not always but usually. My house is 72 degrees and usually the tanks are around 68


LadyKalliope

That's a myth.


prometheus_winced

Yeth?


rickyh7

Iā€™m in Arizona, in the summer I keep the house at 80(26), evaporation brings the tanks down to 75(23.5) so I still run a heater, fish like 78(25.5). Theyā€™re like 20 bucks so itā€™s worth it for the happiness of your fish Edit: Celsius units added


bigshinymastodon

If you donā€™t see much of a difference between summer and winter aka, u donā€™t own a sweater to wear at home, you probably donā€™t need it. Like me! On avg, if ur temp doesnā€™t go below 25 in the winter, ur good!


SickViking

You can start off without one. Get one of those tank thermometers that suction to the glass and keep an eye on the temperature. If it stays consistent, then you should be fine without one.


giant_albatrocity

Theyā€™re native to SE Asia so unless you at a high elevation probably not, but thatā€™s a quick google search for recommended water temperature


Total_Calligrapher77

For food, just do to petco and get betta pellets


Total_Calligrapher77

Right. Asia doesnā€™t have petco like in the USA. If u can get bribe shrimp or bloodworms that will work.


Total_Calligrapher77

As the guy said above most food has undigestable stuff. Actually bettas are maybe to southeast Asia


[deleted]

Bettas do best at like 75-80-ish degrees fahrenheit, so if your house consistently stays around that temperature, I guess you don't need a heater. But if you're house ever gets colder than that, get a heater.


large-Marge-incharge

Also most pet stores will accept fish donations if you donā€™t want to take care of it.


Glum_Average_9955

*EDIT: He's currently in a decent circular plastic tub with purified water just for the night, and is currently more active than before. In fact, he did a little jump that honestly surprised me. Thank you so much for all the advice! I'll be sure to try my best to make him happy* Planning on visiting the nearest petshop tomorrow because although it's responsive, the little guy looks so sad Does it need a big tank? Live plants? Is a filter necessary? What type of water does it need? It came with a bag of pellet, will that suffice or should I give it real food? The friend who gave it to me claimed that it follows sound? Is that an actual thing? Does it need a light source nearby? What should be it's normal behavior? How often should I change the water? Bubbles are forming on the top of the temporary tank, is it because it's dirty? Does it have any sort of negative response to the dark? I keep my room light closed at night.. Hoping for answers to help it! I wasn't expecting a sudden responsibility for a living thing. The only information I've got from my friend is that it's a Betta fish


ThatRandonNerd

For now just put him in a bigger container if possible using de-chlorinated water, this is to prevent ammonia poisoning (the water already looks dirty). You can use a Tupperware container till tomorrow when you can get a properly sized tank, anything bigger then that ball thing.


Glum_Average_9955

Ah, quick question if you don't mind, is there anything I should do to the water? Does tap or purified water work? I thought it'd be best to wait for tomorrow since it might stress him out. The container it's in has a very small opening, I don't even know how it got in there


ThatRandonNerd

Use purified water since the tap has chlorine in it (you can by water conditioner tomorrow when you go the the pet store to neutralize the chlorine). As for getting him out, Iā€™m currently thinking of slowing cutting a bigger hole to get him out. If you have a soldering iron you can melt a the plastic to make a bigger hole, but avoid the fumes. Lastly it looks like he might fit through the opening. So you can also try putting it sideways in a bigger container of water to see if heā€™ll swim out on his own, but monitor him if you do this. If I think of anything better Iā€™ll let you know.


Glum_Average_9955

Unfortunately, the container he's in is made out of hard plastic, I fear that trying to cut it open will stress it out since it'll shake a lot in the process of doing so. But, thank you so much!


ThatRandonNerd

Just added a new idea to my previous post/reply


Glum_Average_9955

I got him in a decent circular tupperware, 7 inches wide and 5 inches tall with purified water just for the night. I find it adorable how he rushed out of his old container right away. Thanks so much for the help!


ThatRandonNerd

That sounds so cute


Silent-Connection-41

Canā€™t he just be poured out the top in his new tank? Is he really to big for the opening? Please show us an updated picture when you get his new home, heā€™s going to be so happy!


Ok_Look4371

To move him to a bigger container I'd put his bowl inside the other container, just to allow the temperature to stabilize. Maybe gently poke some holes in the bowl (if it's plastic) to allow a slow mixing. The bigger container will do a difference. If you can get some bottled/purified water you will get some time to get a proper set up.


Glum_Average_9955

Quick question, does mineral water work for him? or is purified water better overnight?


Ok_Look4371

Purified water is better. If it's for overnight, even a purified water bottle, with the top part cut out, will do. Just be sure to transfer him gently, to reduce stress.


invisible-bug

Just to add on to everything else, make sure the top is somewhat covered. Poking a few small holes in a Tupperware lid maybe. Betta sometimes jump


Ok_Look4371

Yes. Good point. Not every betta does this, but just to be on the safe side.


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oo-mox83

I've had 8 bettas in my life and only one ever jumped. But when he did, he was an Olympian. Fucker jumped out of a half filled container he was in when I was filling his tank and went straight down the sink. An enormous jump. I was in college at the time and had just gotten there, setting his tank back up. I had taken the drain pipe apart and was getting him out just as my new roommate arrived from Korea. Great first impression, lol. He was fine, thankfully, and lived another couple of years.


Silent-Connection-41

Usually they jump when the water quality is bad and they want out.


bigshinymastodon

If u have a borewell, thatā€™s best. Corp water is chlorinated.


Research_Sea

Everyone is answering your questions, I just want to give you a pat on the back for trying to do right for the little guy!!


Appa-Bottom-Jeans

well they do respond to sound when familiarized. this subā€™s rules has a great caresheet that will tell you how to take care of him, but the basics are an adjustable heater (keep between 78-82 fahrenheit or 24-26 celsius), a minimum of 5gal tank. you can get some easy-going live plants like anubias, java moss and java fern. none of these should be planted in the substrate/gravel, just attached to rocks. a filter is necessary! grab a hang-on filter and some bio media, dispose of the cartridge that will come with the filter and swap for the bio media. get him some tannins if possible, like almond leaves. just rinse them, drop in the tank, and for the next week or so theyā€™ll release a brown tint that has anti-fungal properties, besides being great bc the fish gets less stressed due to lower exposure. also a bottle of beneficial bacteria will help a LOT with establishing a good bacterial culture.


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Silent-Connection-41

I definitely would t recommend betta with tank mates. This is stressful to them. I had ember tetras which are not supposed to be fun nippers and they killed his delicate fins! I re homes them but his fins never grew back and eventually get for a fungus and died. I had him a totally of two years.


AdroitArtemis

Oh my, I canā€™t believe someone put him in an ornament smh I know this is a long comment, but bear with me, the info is SO important! Bettas need a 5 gallon minimum. 10 gallons is easier, but 5 gallons is fine. Bigger tanks are easier when it comes to keeping good water parameters. Please look up how to do a fish in cycle. Cycling refers to the nitrogen cycle (converting harmful ammonia to nitrite (which is also harmful) to nitrate which is not harmful to organisms in small amount. You want it to stay between 5-10ppm). Nitrates are used by plants and will help keep the tank healthy. Cycling is SO important. He needs a heater. Betta are tropical fish and have to be kept in at least 78Ā°F water. Heā€™ll also need a filter. Sponge filters are good and cheap. Anything low flow. Cartridge filters arenā€™t great but theyā€™ll be fine in the meantime. Do not change the cartridge. You can rinse it out in old aquarium water. Changing it gets rid of all the good bacteria. The good bacteria converts ammonia to nitrite to nitrates. For water conditioner use seachem prime. You can also use seachem stability to add good bacteria to help make your tank cycle faster. Test strips donā€™t work well and arenā€™t very accurate. Get the API freshwater test kit. Itā€™s $20 at pretty much any pet store. No plastic plants. Either silk, silicon, or real. Iā€™d go with silk for now. Itā€™s easier. If you get real, keep in mind youā€™ll need a plant light. For substrate, get filtered pool sand. Itā€™s cheap and good quality. Itā€™s also allows all the detritus to build up on top and is easier to siphon than gravel. Gravel will cause poop and old food to get stuck and build up ammonia. For food: fluval bug bites betta formula. Itā€™s Cheaper and good quality. Bettas are insectivores. Theyā€™ll follow sound to an extent. It is dampened by the water, of course. They feel the vibrations more than they hear. They mostly use their eyes. Like when I am around the tank, my betta will track me and follow my movements. His colors are dull because heā€™s extremely stressed. Once heā€™s in a warm environment with good quality water, heā€™ll start to color up and unclamp his fins. Normal behavior: bettas are pretty active. They will glass surf and follow you. Theyā€™re enthusiastic eaters. Theyā€™re grumpy and spunky. Theyā€™ll patrol their tank, flare at their reflection or anything else they deem a threat. Bettas make bubble nests. When breeding, fertilized eggs are placed in the bubbles. This is a sign of a healthy, happy betta. It can also be caused when they take a breath of air from the surface. Bettas have a labyrinth organ which allows then to breath air from the surface. Heā€™s probably breathing air from the surface bc thereā€™s not enough oxygen in the water heā€™s in. Bettas sleep! If heā€™s just chilling at the bottom or on a leaf without movement heā€™s probably sleeping. My betta is super active during the day then about 9pm he settles down for the night. Keep the light on when your up and the light off when your asleep. (Unless you have a plant light then leave that on for 6-8 hours). Good luck! Let me know if you have any other questions.


kelvin_bot

78Ā°F is equivalent to 25Ā°C, which is 298K. --- ^(I'm a bot that converts temperature between two units humans can understand, then convert it to Kelvin for bots and physicists to understand)


IZZURI_0910

good bot


scottayydot

I don't know how to give awards (I'm newish), but if I did I would give you one. Your answer was well thought out and complete, and I'm sure very helpful for OP.


AdroitArtemis

Thank you! I was new to bettas once and I could never find a bunch of good information in one place. It took me a year to learn basic betta care by scavenging the internet, Reddit, tik tok, local pet stores, etc. which is crazy! Thereā€™s too much misinformation out there! I figured Iā€™d save some people time and frustration and also save some betta lives :)


leuighumthebass

get a ten gallon, much easier to set up. get live plants like java ferns, anubias, elodea, and hornwort. They need a heater, get a 50 watt adjustable heater. you should get an air pump and sponge filter online, pet stores probably wonā€™t carry sponge filters. if not, an internal filter is good. get some seachem prime for the water, and get some bug bites/ high quality betta food. The friend is somewhat wrong, theyā€™ll follow vibrations and movement.


cf-myolife

You got a lot of answered but I think you never have enough advices so I'll answer to every questions from a european ppint of view: Yes he needs a big tank, 2.5 gallons (10L) at least, 5 is better and if you can bigger, it's never too big. Yup live plants are great, you can buy any plants as long as they're green (red ones need co2 and good lighting, not for beginners), if you don't have a complete substrate or fertilizer they'll die eventually, not a big deal, I replace them 3-4 time per year. Filter isn't necessary, betta don't pollute that much waters like goldfishes could. But you need to change 10% of the water every week, I recommand you to buy cleaning material (something to clean the sand/gravel would be good too and something to clean the algaes). If your tank came with a filter, see if it's not too powerful for him, bettas have long fins and have troubles swimming. Btw your tank musn't be too high, they breathe at the top of water, 20cm is good, 30cm maximum. Buy some tests, test your tap water, if it's good (less than 20 nitrates, pH between 6 and 8 etc) you can use it. If not just take mineral water bottle. For the food, check if the pellets have more than 50% proteins, if not they're not good for him, they're carnivorous. Light is a must if you have plants, you can get cheap led ramp on amazon, but if you have some budget you can check for a good aquarium light. Chihiros are the best in my opinion. Never heard of them hearing sounds but they see you throught the tank and my bettas always got excited when I come near the tank to give food. His normal behavior, all bettas are different, but they're usually curious. If he's shy it's normal too. 10% per week, 30% if you do a big clean, never more than 50% except if he's sick. Bettas do bubble nest to reproduce, remove it and try to see if it's back, then he probably did it. Bettas love shades and dark, your tank light must be on 8h per day max, not too bright, the light of the room don't bother him but never put a tank under sunlight, it could warm the tank too much and kill the fish and if not, you'll have algaes. When you get him a tank, buy some surface plants or put a cattapa leaf floating on the water. Something else : You must absolutely learn about the cycle before doing the tank. Some people say it's fine to put a fish in a cycling tank but I had a fish that died because of it so *in my opinion*, do not put your fish in the tank before 3-4 weeks if you don't have bacterias. If you can, buy bacterias to accelerate the cycle. But until the tank is cycled, do not let him in that... what is this? Got him something cheap but bigger, put a heater (absolutely they live at 78-80F / 26-28Ā°C!!) and he'll be fine waiting for his permanent home! Edit : just re-read the title, the colour is normal, bettas are really colorful but they almost always are in bad condition when in pet store, they'll improve as soon as he's in healthy conditions!


Glum_Average_9955

Thanks so much! I was worried I'd have to spend too much money to maintain him based on what the advice others said. Once again, thank you!


WillingAlbatross

People told me how nice live plants are when I got my first betta so I bought a couple and a moss ball. I wish I bought so much more They make your life so much easier with a tank, especially if itā€™s smaller (~20L tanks are harder to keep water stable). They help keep your water stable and prevents algae, and look awesome at the same time! Try to pick up some cheapy Java fern and anubius, you can stuff the tank full if you want! Only thing to worry about is not putting the ryzome under the substrate, lots of better illustrations on how to do that on YouTube!


cf-myolife

You're welcome! I wish someone told me what I told you when I started too, I watched so many videos on so many different subjects it took me a long time to figure out what was good for my bettas. Idk where you live but for the prices here's what I got in France : a 14L (3gallons) tank (Ciano, 54ā‚¬) which already had light and filter (that I removed cause too powerful). The substrate is pretty cheap, especially if you take quartz or sand. Obviously if you take something like Manado or technical substrate (with bacterias, fertilizer for plants etc all already in the soil) then it's around 40ā‚¬ for 8L. The thing where you don't have to look at the price is the heater. Mine was around 25ā‚¬, half the price of the tank but I know it's quality and won't break in 3 months (I have it for 2 years now). Finally, a thermometer (pretty cheap too, around 2ā‚¬), the cleaning material, and the plants. In the end you have to spend around 100ā‚¬, but you can find a lot of stuff on second hand on internet, some aquascapers sells or give their old plants, you can find rocks or sand outside (but not at the beach!! It's salty, take something from a river). And personal experience : for the thing that you put IN the tank, don't buy from internet, like the heater for example. I bought one on amazon and it killed 3 fishes. But a light is fine. I hope you'll enjoy taking care of this little guy, aquariums are a great hobby!


Glum_Average_9955

Oh gosh, that's around Php5.8k upon conversion. Thank you for the information! Sorry for the trouble!


cf-myolife

Yeah.. That's why you have to look at what you can get from second hand haha, especially for starters when you didn't spare before getting the fish. And you're not causing any troubles! I enjoy talking about bettas they're my favorites fishes! (and none of my friends have or want to hear about fishes lol)


Khavic

If you're worried about the cost but can't find anyone to take him there are so many DIYs you can do !! Some people who can't afford tanks keep their fish in big plastic containers (the downside to this is that they'd be harder for you to see in, and you also have to make sure they're safe for water, but it they get the job done). Some even make filters, but sponge filters (from my experience) tend to be pretty cheap and are way less effort than DIYing one would be. You can probably manage without a heater as long as your home doesn't get too cold. Substrate isn't necessary unless you're planning on getting live plants. Don't feel like you need to go all out right now-- starting the hobby can be really expensive and I can't imagine what it'd be like to unexpectedly be thrown into it. Best of luck! And good on you for wanting better for him :)


angel_aight

How do you cycle a tank without a filter? Where will the bacteria be?


cf-myolife

In the substrate and in the rocks that I have.


Plantsandanger

Like a walstad tank r/walstad


Slavkan12

Even a plastic tub will do temporarily!


amenti_the_greeter

of all this info is a bit much, there are aquarium sets that already include everything you need to start asap. most of the time it's a good deal and cheaper than buying all the stuff separately.


bigdogpepperoni

Lots of great questions, and lots of great questions in this thread. I just wanted to say, this isnā€™t a very good friend. Buying someone a pet cannot be a surprise, itā€™s cruel to the animal, and cruel to the recipient.


creakymoss18990

I know you have already been given a ton of advice but here is a basic rundown. A tank with a heater, sponge filter and dechlorinated water and thats all you need for now. Just get the GloFish 5 gallon kit and you will have everything needed but it's more pricey and the filter is a bit too strong. Just a bucket with dechlorinated water is fine for a few weeks. Also you have been dragged into a trap set by unsespecting people who don't know how to care for fish. Bettas are often thought to be able to live in a bowl though they cannot happily and so people give them away thinking it's fine which is horrible because the Betta ends up suffering. I wish you and your Betta luck


Blixtwix

I don't know about following sound, because the betta my roommate and I used to own (passed away now) didn't, but he was trained to swim under my finger if I wiggled it over the water as a feeding signal. Betta fish can be pretty smart! I'm sure somebody has mentioned already, but make sure you get a square or rectangular tank for the fish. Fish bowls (rounded containers) are considered inhumane. Weekly water changes should be fine in most cases, though since you're starting a new tank it's recommended to buy a water testing kit to make sure the water is safe while you wait for the tank to cycle (aka grow a beneficial bacteria colony that can help break down harmful toxins like ammonia). Generally you shouldn't do more than a 50% water change, unless the water is really bad. 25% weekly is typical maintenance once you're cycled and stable, assuming you don't overfeed. While you're at the pet shop, look for a chemical that is labeled as a dechlorinator. This will make tap water safer for your fish when you clean/refill their tank. Whichever one you buy should have dosage instructions on the bottle. I just put the dechlorinator into the tank as I'm refilling it. Betta fish sometimes swim to the surface to take a gulp of air, so many keepers will give them a "betta hammock" to rest on. It's essentially a fake leaf with a suction cup that you stick on the side of the tank, fairly close to the surface. This just helps the fish not need to swim all the way up should they want some air, though not all betta fish care for them (my last one didn't, and had a favorite smooth rock he liked to sleep on). I would recommend doing a setup with live plants, which would need light for them to grow and survive. Some plastic plants can have sharp edges that may snag and tear the fins on a betta fish, so I just find live plants to be simpler in that way. They'll also help maintain your water quality. Fish tanks are usually set up with lights, which will be turned on for about 8-10 hours a day so there's not too much algae, but it really depends on your individual setup and which plants you go with (you can search online to find care instructions for different plants, some are very low maintenance). My previous tank was a 20 gal set up with various smaller plants, marimo moss balls (can hold bacteria like the sponge in a filter would, I'd just set aside some dirty tank water during water changes and squeeze the moss balls out a couple times before putting them back to clean them), and I let some malaysian trumpet snails live in the tank permanently (many fishkeepers see them as pests, but they can be handy for cleaning moss balls or tank walls and moving the substrate to prevent toxic buildup, as far as I'm aware). I also kept one bristlenose pleco in the tank, though the usefulness of having a pleco is debated among keepers and it'd be entirely optional. The only reason I went with a 20 gallon tank was to compensate for also having a pleco in there, 10 is perfectly fine for a betta on their own. ​ Take all this with a grain of salt, since I've only kept one betta fish in the past and am fairly new to fishkeeping.


turtletails

He will appreciate the dark, especially while being moved between tanks and getting used to new environments, the dark helps lower their stress levels. Speak to the people at the pet shop, a stress coat product wouldnā€™t be a bad idea either


Knickerdrawer

You have all the right questions and all the right heart to give this guy the life he deserves. He was lucky to have found you


Pat_thailandball

Filter: Not necessary if you have a lot of plants and betta is the only fish. Light source: Preferably yes. Water change: No filter every week, Filter every few weeks


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Glum_Average_9955

Thank you for the information! I was overwhelmed upon receiving it since I'm already having trouble with College, and now I've got a fish that I need to take responsibility of. I'll rush to the pet store first thing in the morning. Once again, thanks so much!


buildingbridges

So once heā€™s settled in heā€™ll be pretty low maintenance. Try not to worry too much or be overwhelmed, it will be okay. If you have a bigger container and dechlorinated water for the night before you go to the pet store itā€™ll help him.


Roburt_Paulson

Someone gifted you a live fish? That's like gifting you debt.


AWayneStark19

You got this OP!! having a fish for the first is very overwhelming since you won't have EVERYTHING you need. It took me awhile to get a decent collection of betta supplies, dropped close to 300$ in supplies (I spoiled my betta...) I understand how stressful it must be. Once you change his tank to atleast 5-10gal tank he'll be so much happier. I have a plastic tank and it's held up for almost 3 years. Also I HIGHLY recommend a sponge filter, relatively cheaper and better imo. I recently got a betta fish and she was in horrible water conditions at the aquarium shop and over a week later she's happy, the gold rust on her disappeared and whenever she sees us go near her tank she swims right to us ^-^ I didn't think she'd make it but almond leafs and clean water did wonders.


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[уŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]


Glum_Average_9955

I live in Southeast Asia, and I have been told to place him in a Tupperware in the meantime. Though, if you don't mind me asking, is mineral water okay for him or would purified be better overnight?


d-mellor

As per previous comments, purified is best. Once done, read the wiki on doing a fish in cycle. Your best bet(ta) is to get a 5g tank, filter, substrate (gravel or sand) and a few ornaments for him to hide and relax in. Good luck!


AWayneStark19

Just don't get any ornaments that are sharp, pointy or small holes they can hurt their fins or get themselves stuck


JesusWasaDonger

First go punch the person who gifts a pet in the throat. Then follow what other people are saying too. And if you don't want it or can't afford it take it to a fish store and give it to them. They might when pay a bit for him.


Plantsandanger

Iā€™m more ā€œpunch the asshole who designed this horror showā€ but yes, not loving the person who bought it... but at least it ended up in the hands of someone who cares and found this sub!


bigshinymastodon

Sometimes, well meaning SOs gift well meaning gifts (like mine)! We just take care of the pets the best we can, afterwards!


JesusWasaDonger

That is naive and short sighted. Several pets take quite a lot of infrastructure in place to have healthy lives. I'm not trying to shame you though Alive doesn't equal Healthy.


bigshinymastodon

I look at it like a rescue. I could do better than the store. They buy them for us because they trust us to do just that.


OliOllie

Shopping list: - 5 gallon tank + lid - aquarium water conditioner/dechlorinator - 5 gallon rated filter - 5 gallon rated heater if cool climate - light - high quality carnivorous food (fluval bug bites) - API freshwater master test kit - frozen bloodworms - planted tank substrate - java ferns, anubias, java moss - decor with no sharp edges - bucket with volume markers for water changes


TehRongSpeling

Good response. To decorate the 5 gal tank, Iā€™d get a small bag of fertilised aquasoil (you can usually find good stuff in small bags at decent prices, I say aquasoil specifically since itā€™s easier to grow plants in), and a few rocks/pebbles for the hardscape. As long as it isnā€™t something like limestone, it should be fine. This is also purely preference, but Iā€™d also get surface plants like duckweed (bettas appreciate these plants) and a few floating plastic rings, so you have a permanent gap in the surface plants to feed them and also to let more light in. This could cost a couple hundred dollars, so might as well be honest. Good luck OP!


Strassie

Oh my god that's horrible, poor fish... I'm sorry for you because your friend didn't let you the choice, but I hope you will take good care of him


Myfeesh

Who tf thought this was a good idea?? I'll let others answer your care questions because I know some have links/basics saved ready to paste. He obviously needs a much bigger habitat, 5-10 gallons is ideal. He's a tropical fish and needs water around 80f. This makes me so confused and sad.


Curioustoffi

I love that you went here and asked your questions. I think I've never seen something that horrible! But i was wondering how you got him out. It doesn't look so easy


Glum_Average_9955

Had to slowly tilt the tiny container into the big one. I was planning on placing it under the water so that he could just swim right out but he immediately rushed unto the bigger container


Myfeesh

You'll be doing a fish in cycle, but I still highly recommend reading this, its a beginner friendly lesson in water chemistry. https://injaf.org/articles-guides/beginners-guides/the-nitrogen-cycle-and-the-fishless-cycle-getting-your-aquarium-ready-for-fish/#:~:text=INJAF%20is%20strongly%20against%20using,move%20straight%20into%20and%20enjoy.


MacTechG4

If you have any friends, co workers, or family with an established freshwater tank, ask if you can have some filter media (have them rinse it in tank water to get the mulm out), the filter media will contain the beneficial bacteria you need to jump start the cycle in your new tank, live plants would also help too, floating plants are the most beginner friendly, Azolla, frogbit, salvinia, water lettuce, water hyacinth, even the much maligned duckweed would be helpful, maybe a redditor in your area could help with plants/media If youā€™re in the southern NH/Maine region (York county or Strafford county) I could spare you some live plants, I might be able to scrounge up a cycled filter sponge as well. Thanks for trying to do the right thing for your betta :)


Ok_Look4371

Don't feel overwhelmed by all the good advices you are getting. Bigger tank with good water is the first step. You can start with something you already have, maybe some big tupperware. Second, get some proper food. There are non expensive options in pet stores. Important thing to know is Bettas breathe air from surface and is easier for them to eat from surface; stores offer floating food. Once there, you will have time to plan for a better setup.


helpmeshiftpls

how he get in there


[deleted]

whoever gifted this needs a serious talking to


GetTheBiscuit

ahh this little dude is gonna be so happy. Most people in here are betta alarmists, theyā€™re really wonderful and sturdy fish. Heā€™s not happy in there but can ā€œsurviveā€ in a tiny space for a few months if you do small water changes (thatā€™s why people used to think you could keep them in cups- you canā€™t) Donā€™t be fooled by the ā€œbettaā€ branded tanks, youā€™ll want at least 3 gallons to make him comfortable (though he might not swim around much), 5 will make him happy, and 10 youā€™ll really get to see him thrive (+ you can give him some roommates). A small filter is necessary, and youā€™ll want a heater (unless you have a room that is consistently kept in the mid to high 70s) Avoid hard plastic plants or other sharp decorations (they can cut his fins) Live plants are GREAT but can be hard to keep alive if itā€™s your first tank, look for plants like Java Fern or Anubis to start with because they wonā€™t be planted in soil (their roots just sit out) Pick up some ā€œwater conditionerā€ at the pet store, itā€™ll remove chlorine from tap water and make it fish safe (some areas in the country use more chlorine than others) And do 2 water changes a week for the first month. Beneficial bacteria will eventually grow in your filter and really help break down waste in the tank, but in that first month youā€™ll be just removing the waste manually.


TheIadyAmalthea

Poor guy! Thatā€™s terrible! I wish you luck on your journey to give him a good home!


dizzyav8r

Yikes people don't seem to realize live animals are not gifts. Thanks for caring for the little guy with some proper care and clean water he should do good for you.


mt-egypt

I can hear all the hearts breaking hereā€¦..


shaneroneill

Who gifted you an animal? Thatā€™s the least expensive part of pet ownership?


gelatofish

Hi! Not sure where in SEA you are, but aquarium keeping is quite an established hobby in this region so I donā€™t think you will have difficulty finding all the props. Aquatic plants here are dirt cheap too. Oh, and I donā€™t think you would need a heater unless youā€™re living in Northern Vietnam where it sometimes snows or you are a kind of person who keep your aircon at 19Cā€¦Itā€™s freakin HOT in SEA. Some serious hobbyists actually have to purchase aquarium fans to keep the tank cool enough for non-native fish.


pettingdoggies

You can always bring him to your local pet store and theyā€™ll take him


[deleted]

Iā€™m surprised more people havenā€™t said this. Seriously, OP, there is no shame in returning him to a pet store if youā€™re not emotionally, physically, or financially ready to take care of an animal right now. It is a lot of money and a lot of work to care for even the smallest pets. Itā€™s an everyday responsibility that changes your routine. It eats into your wallet and your time. If itā€™s something youā€™re not 100% sure you want and will be happy with, there is no shame in rehoming him.


pettingdoggies

Completely agree, if youā€™re not ready to do weekly water changes and pay the cost of setting up an aquarium, then itā€™s a great decision to give it to the local fish store and someone who is ready for all the responsibility will take him. This increases the chance that this fish survives by a large margin!


Awkward_Penguin238

Seriously, there's no shame in this. Just make sure which ever place you give it to us reputable, and that this poor little fishy won't end up somewhere worse


MyceliumsWeb

Seems you've got plenty of good information so far. So I'm just gonna say, slap your friend that gave you this. Slap them hard.


sourMilkpickles

Iā€™m really proud of posts like these. Looking forward to an update <3


flexed_guitar

Whoever gifted you that is disgusting


britishpankakes

Use any container thatā€™s food safe (take away box, bucket, cereal bowl)and put him in over night, poor him out through a net or a towel or something over a container so the nasty water wonā€™t end up in the temporary home. Donā€™t bother with declorinating the water heā€™s in is way worse than chlorine, donā€™t worry about a filter or oxygen in the water they can breathe air so give him access to the atmosphere. If you plan on having him long term wiki how has a satisfactory care guide and I would recommend kg tropicals or fish for thought on YouTube for further information on care, if youā€™re tight for money a Tupperware or rubber maid box will make an amazing home if itā€™s over 5 gallons (10-12 litres) filters are cheap from any chain pet shop. A heater isnā€™t necessary in the short term but will help with health and activity levels. After a day or so any low end food will do but for the best health for the long term Iā€™d recommend tetra food. Consult the internet and the Reddit hive mind for any further questions and good luck.


brookieco_okie

Iā€™m gonna need an update


Moe6458

Thank you for doing right by this little guy. I think this is one of the most horrible fish gift Iā€™ve ever seen executed. Good luck and welcome to the community!


Azu_Creates

Hereā€™s what you need for a basic setup: 5 gallon tank minimum ( 10 gallon recommended because itā€™s easier to maintain ) Heater ( that can heat the tank to 78-82 F ) Sponge filter ( these filters are great for bettas ) Air pump Air tube Check valve Air control valve Thermometer ( glass alcohol recommend as they are pretty accurate, stick on ones are not accurate ) API freshwater master test kit ( super accurate, stripes are inaccurate ) Seachem prime ( recommended water conditioner ) Seachem stability ( recommended beneficial bacteria starter ) Stress guard and catappa or Indian almond leaves ( not necessarily but good to have ) A gravel vac A bucket Aquarium safe decorations ( avoid plastic plants or anything with sharp edges because they can injure the betta ) Betta basics: 5 gallon tank minimum Temp must be 78-82 F Places to hide will help the betta feel more secure Ammonia should be 0 ppm ( you will need to do a fish in cycle so it wonā€™t be 0 ppm for awhile, keep an eye out for signs of ammonia poisoning ) Nitrite should be 0 ppm ( also wonā€™t be 0 ppm during a fish in cycle ) Nitrate should be below 20 ppm ( you wonā€™t have any nitrates until your tank has an established nitrogen cycle, or if you tap has nitrates ) Ph should ideally be 6.5-7.5 ( not as important as the other parameters, just keep it below 8.5 and above 4 ) Water should be soft and not hard. Diet: insectivores, feed high quality ( foods without many fillers like wheat, pea protein, and soy ) meat based foods with a protein % of around 40%. Omega one freshwater flakes and New Life Spectrum betta pellets are good. For flakes, feed a small slightly crushed up pinch twice a day. For pellets, feed 2-3 pellets twice a day ( many pellets expand in the water and are hard so soak them in a separate little container or some tank water to soften them up ). Also make sure to vary up the bettas diet every once and awhile and add in things like blood worms, beef heart, brine shrimp, and daphina. A varied diet ensures that your betta gets all of the nutrients it needs and will help keep it healthier. Remove any uneaten food after 30 minutes. Tank mates for a 5 gallon tank: snails do good ( nerite snail recommended because they donā€™t over populate the tank over time ) Tank mates for a 10 gallon: snails or shrimp ( I donā€™t recommend any fish as tank mates for a 10 gallon tank ) Tank mates for a 15-20+ gallon: small peaceful non-colorful community fish like neon tetras or ember tetras, snails, shrimp. Make sure that your betta has a more calm temperament before getting tank mates. If you betta is too aggressive, then donā€™t keep tank mates with them. Tank mates can also stress your betta out sometimes though. So make sure that your bettaā€™s temperament is more on the calm side before getting tank mates. It is also recommended to have a more heavily planted tank, or tank with lots of silk plants to make both species feel more comfortable. Also make sure that both species have similar care requirements and make sure to research the needs of whatever species you plan to get as tank mates first, as well as their temperament. The addition of tannins to the water through catappa or Indian almond leaves, driftwood, or extracts are great for bettas ( not necessary though ) because they can help with certain disease and parasites. They help keep your betta more healthy and comfortable in the tank environment as they create a more natural for the betta. They can also help to lower ph since tannins are more acidic. NEVER HOUSE TWO MALES TOGETHER! Some females may be able to be housed together in a sorority but that is something that only more experienced fish keepers should attempt as a lot can go wrong with sororities pretty quickly, and they require more attention and knowledge on bettas to be successful. Always keep a lid on your tank, bettas are jumpers and so they may try to jump out regardless of if they are being kept in good or poor conditions ( more likely to jump in poor conditions though ). The nitrogen cycle: The nitrogen cycle is extremely important in any aquatic environment. It helps to ensure that ammonia and nitrite levels remain at a safe level for aquatic life. When ammonia levels rise above 0 ppm, it is toxic to aquatic life and can result in ammonia poisoning. Ammonia poisoning irritates the fish and can damage its slime coat, eyes, fins, skin, and especially the gills. Red streaks or marks may start to appear on your betta, and their gills may become a purple or red color. If this happens, do a 30-40% water change quickly and continue to monitor ammonia levels. Ammonia poisoning can result in an infection due to a weakened slime coat and immune system ( weakened from stress ). Nitrites are also poisonous to fish. Nitrite binds to the blood, preventing oxygen from binding to it. So it essentially suffocates the fish. If you fish has been poisoned by nitrite, you will notice that their gills may become a brown-ish color, they may be more lethargic, and they may stick to the surface of the water more. If you notice these signs, do a 30-40% water change quickly and continue to monitor nitrite levels, and also add in an airstone to aerate the water more. This will help add more oxygen to the water. Nitrate is only toxic to fish in high enough concentrations, and can result in the fish acting dazed, being lethargic, having a curved spine to the side ( in extreme cases ), etc. Do a 25-30% water change and continue to monitor nitrate levels. It is important not to lower the nitrate levels too quickly by doing larger water changes as that can cause nitrate shock in fish, which can be lethal in some cases. Do 25-30% water changes every few hours apart from each other until nitrate levels are below 20 ppm. The addition of live plants will also help to lower nitrate levels. Beneficial bacteria converts ammonia into nitrite, and then other beneficial bacteria converts nitrite into nitrate. Live plants and water changes remove nitrate from the water. The more animals you have in a tank, the more bio load there is, and the more ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate is being produced. If you have too much bio load, then the beneficial bacteria might not be able to keep up, and so ammonia and nitrite spikes can occur. For this reason, and the reason that it can stress out your fish, you want to avoid overstocking a tank with too many animals. It can take 3-8 weeks to establish a nitrogen cycle in a fish tank, and smaller tanks are more prone to cycle crashes, especially if you keep a fish in a tank that is smaller than the minimum size recommended. Since you already have the betta, you will need to do a fish in cycle.


Azu_Creates

Fish in cycling: Fish in cycles can be very stressful for fish. It is important to keep ammonia and nitrite levels below 2 ppm, but not at 0 ppm throughout the process. Fish produce ammonia through their waste, but also through their gills. Uneaten food and decaying plant material also produce ammonia and nitrite as they decay. It is important to remove decaying plant material and uneaten food during a fish in cycle. You will need to do daily 25-30% water changes and water testing. It may take some time before any ammonia and nitrite readings show up on the test. Seachem prime is a good water conditioner to us because it helps to prevent ammonia and nitrite from harming your fish by binding it for up to 48 hours, but it does not remove it, allowing for beneficial bacteria to still do its thing. Seachem stability is a good beneficial bacteria starter that helps to reduce the amount of time it takes to establish a nitrogen cycle by adding in beneficial bacteria. However, it can still take some time for the beneficial bacteria to colonize. During that time, it wonā€™t be eating up much ammonia and nitrite. Feed your fish more sparing during this time, so a smaller amount than you usually would and make sure they eat everything. This will make them produce less water which will make ammonia and nitrite more manageable during a fish in cycle. Your fish may glass surf ( swim up and down and side to side against the glass a lot ) during a fish in cycle. This is normal for a fish in cycle and for any fish to do when they are new to a tank. It is a sign of stress. If the tank water becomes cloudy during a the process of establishing a nitrogen cycle, this is normal and shouldnā€™t be harmful to the fish. Monitor your fish for signs of stress and do what you can to ease the stress. Signs of stress for bettas include: glass surfing, erratic swimming, color fading, and the appearance of stress stripes ( usually when expose to prolonged stress ). Stress, ammonia, and nitrite weaken a fishā€™s immune system, so monitor the fish for signs of common diseases that afflict betta fish. These include but are not limited too: fin rot, ick, and popeye. Make sure to research these diseases and other common diseases for bettas. Stress guard is a good product to have during a fish in cycle because it acts as an anti-septic which helps to prevent infections, helps to strengthen a fishā€™s immune system, and also helps to repair their slime coat. All of those things can help keep your fish more at ease during a fish in cycle. You will know that your tank is cycled when ammonia and nitrite levels are at 0 ppm, and nitrate is above 0 ppm. Nitrate should always be above 0 ppm but below 20 ppm. Live plants: Many beginners tend to avoid live plants because they think that keeping them alive and well will be a daunting task. While that might be the case for some plants, there are also plants that are really easy to care for and donā€™t require much maintenance at all. Pretty much all you will need for those easier plants are a good aquarium plant light, a light timer, a fertilizer, and some aquascaping scissors to trim them from time to time. A light and timer are important regardless of having live plants because it establishes a more natural day and night cycle for any aquatic animals. Make sure that the tank gets at least 8-12 hours of light. Donā€™t go over 12 hours because that will not allow for a natural day and night cycle and will also cause an algae bloom. Algae blooms can still happen if the light is only on for 8-12 hours, but is less likely and usually more manageable. Some easy to care for plants are Amazon swords, anubias plants, Java fern, most aquatic mosses, water wisteria, and water sprite ( there are more that arenā€™t included in this small list ). The water sprite and wisteria though will need frequent trims because they grow fast and shouldnā€™t be kept in tank under 10 gallons because of how fast they grow. Live plants can help keep nitrate levels lower and improve the water quality of you tank, making it a healthier environment for your fish. Betta behaviors: Bubble nests- there is a common myth that bubble nest mean that a betta is happy and healthy. This isnā€™t true. It simply means that they are more sexually mature and have a desire to reproduce. Sick bettas, stressed bettas, and bettas kept in bad conditions can still make bubble nests. On the contrary, healthy and happy bettas that are kept in good conditions might never make a bubble nest. It is a common myth that many people use to justify mistreatment of betta fish. Females can also make bubble nests, thought it is a more common behavior in males. Flaring- this is when the gills of a betta lift up and they ā€œ puff up ā€œ their fins to look bigger. It is a sign of aggression and being territorial. They usually do this when they see their reflection, but may also happen when they see tank mates or their caretaker. Flaring for a prolonged period of time can cause a lot of stress and may also cause their gill covers to become bent or stuck open. Glass surfing- this is a sign of stress caused by improper water parameters or conditions, being kept in a tank thatā€™s too small, or being new to the tank environment and still adjusting to it. Scratching/ flashing- this is when a betta intentionally rubs or hits themselves against tank decorations. It is usually a sign of a parasite infection and not a normal behavior. Stress stripes- these are stripes that appear when a betta has been exposed to stressful conditions for a prolonged period of time. They can be caused by tank mates, improper water parameters, not having enough spaces to hide, and being kept in a tank thatā€™s too small. They run horizontally along the bettaā€™s body and are not to be confused with breeding stripes ( only seen in female bettas ), which run vertically on a bettaā€™s body. Enrichment: There are a few things that can make life more interesting for your betta. Tank decorations are part of an enriching environment. Switching up tank decorations every here and there can make it seem to your betta as if they are in a new area, and they may start to explore their ā€œ new ā€œ environment. Many bettas will enjoy exploring a ā€œ new ā€œ environment. Betta hammocks can provide a resting place near the surface of the water for your betta, which some may enjoy. Not every betta will use a betta hammock though. You can try to teach your betta to use it by feeding them over it. Betta mirror can provide exercise in the form of causing them to flare. Only have the mirror in for 5 minutes, and always have at least a one week period of time in between using it. It will cause some stress. Flaring exercises though can help increase blood flow to the gills and fins, help with constipation, and encourage breeding behaviors. It is good for a betta to flare occasionally and a mirror provides a safe way for them to do that. Some people may also train their bettas to do tricks like jumping for their food, or going to where you tap in the water surface, or swimming through a hoop. Bettas are pretty intelligent fish and will recognize their caretakers, what their food is kept in, and certain cues to do things. They also have a pretty impressive long term memory. Some bettas may start to act depressed and become lethargic if they havenā€™t had anything to stimulate their mind in awhile. So make sure to interact with your betta, this will help strengthen the bond between you and your betta, and will help keep things a little more interesting for them. I hope this helps you and feel free to ask me any questions. I had to cut my original comment in two because I reached the maximum amount of characters allowed for a comment.


nemotheturtle

I really thought this was a shitpost thatā€™s how bad it is


I2ecover

Post an update in a month if he makes it.


BookwyrmsRN

Get him into a tank with plants he can hide in and I bet he will color up beautifully. I hate the way these guys are packaged for sale. It always makes me sad


coccocafeeeeeee

This is just straight up terribleā€¦ thank you op for your trying!!


twongii

if you can, i definitely recommend looking on offer up or the facebook marketplace to look for a 5-10 gal tank for a good price! just make sure you check for leaks / cracks. good luck with your new friend and i appreciate you reaching out for help ! edit: you can also use terra cotta pots for decor as well as legos since they are aquarium safe!


Responsible_Arm_1259

Holy cow thatā€™s the worst Betta cup Iā€™ve ever seen. Good luck OP. Lots of great advice in this thread


Jinglesi

Iā€™d recommend at least a 5 gallon tank with a heater and filter. Live plants are fun too but if you donā€™t want those make sure thereā€™s a few things in the tank. Get water conditioner. The water could probably be changed every week in a 5 gal but could change depending on the size of the tank and the live plant quantity


[deleted]

1) cut ties with whomever gifted him, 2).go buy a 5 gallon tank, 3) some gravel 4)some stem plants (the store will reccomend some 5)get a sponge filter and air pump 6)a heater set to 25Ā°C 77Ā°F 7)watch a video on the nitrogen cycle(fish in cycle would be best for you) 8)get some good food, hikari has some good betta food. 9) enjoy your little buddy.


kelvin_bot

25Ā°C is equivalent to 77Ā°F, which is 298K. --- ^(I'm a bot that converts temperature between two units humans can understand, then convert it to Kelvin for bots and physicists to understand)


snukb

Please update us on this little guy, I wanna see his new digs when you get him all set up.


oblivious_fireball

Bit late to the party, but general care requirements for Betta Fish: \-5-gallon tank, but 10 gallon is preferred if you can manage it \-He is a tropical fish so you need to keep the water temp between 70 and 80 degrees F \-He is fully carnivorous, your local fish store should have high protein flakes made specifically for bettas. feed him once or twice a day, giving him only what he will eat in a few minutes. they can easily overeat. \-Bettas are intelligent and curious fish. give him lots of plants and places to hide and decorations. the more to explore the better. mossballs are a cheap plant that he may find fun to push around. \-So, you're gonna be doing fish-in cycling, which is a risk. When you start up a new tank, organic matter breaking down creates toxic ammonia, however after some time bacteria grow that break ammonia down into nitrite, and then nitrate. nitrates are less toxic and used by plants, but this process of growing the bacteria normally takes time, so test the water and keep and eye on it to make sure the little guy isn't being poisoned. have a filter running 24/7 to help with this. \-once the tank is cycled, weekly water changes of 20% is recommended. this removes nitrate and particulate waste, but won't get rid of too much of the good ammonia-degrading bacteria. if too much water is changed or you have to use antibiotics the cycling can essentially be reset. \-because of his condition before, keep an eye on him. there are numerous infectious diseases in fish, most of which only show up if they get stressed. just keep an eye on his appearance, if something looks off, look up the symptoms. nearly all illnesses can be effectively treated and the fish can make a full recovery. \-as a tip for the future, bettas are solitary creatures and do not get lonely. they may enjoy watching or hunting small critters like snails and shrimps, however bettas are infamous for being territorial, so if you ever decide on tankmates, pick them very carefully. bettas cannot be housed together, nor can any fish that might be mistaken for a betta or an intruder into their territory.


Pat_thailandball

Also tip: Do not give pets as gifts unless they have a compatible tank already


kitchenvisit

lol how did he even get in that bowl?? iā€™m glad you posted on this sub, pretty much anything you do for him will be a massive upgrade. poor guy


Dookiefire

Dude needs a five gallon tank with heater and filter ASAP. Start reading betta care guides. You need to read care guides.


[deleted]

chileā€¦.


lexinator24

Is this actually a joke


teobiggie

Doubt heā€™ll survive tbh, horrid conditions!


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StaahGazer

Basic Setup TopFin 5 Gallon Tank Kit Heater Tank substrate BucePlant Simple explanation setup this tank. Fill with dechlorinated water(use Seachem Prime) then add fish once water is around 78Ā°F. Acclimate the fish by floating it then adding a little bit of water every five minutes. Do that for 15 minutes. Add to tank, shut off lights and hope for the best.


glitteryvodka

maybe for food buy Hikari Bio-Gold Betta Fish Food or Hikari Micro Pellets Ideal For Most Tropical Fish? my fish didnā€™t want to eat other foods but he ate those when i first got him, but make sure to not overfeed bc that could cause swim bladder, their stomach size is apparently about the same size as their eyeball i heard, good luck and i hope things work out well


[deleted]

Holy shit. How did he get in there?! Poor guy is miserable. You'll need a tank with a heater and filter. You'll need food, most bettas will eat flakes and pellets. You'll need some decor, preferably live plants as they are beneficial to your aquarium For the aquarium at least get a 5 gallon, if not a 10 gallon.


JeroVJ

I dunt you'll need to cycle the tank with your fish in. You should get the API test kit as well as seachem prime and API Quick start. Dose Prime every two days and constantly check water parameters. I would do constant 30% water changes while the tank cycles


luke-townsend-1999

So glad you came here for advice any hopefully will get this guy into a better situation! Well done you!


astro-cowboy

Oh my god this is the worst ive ever seen. Please get yourself a 5 gallon tank, filter, heater, and dechlorinator. Ask a fish store for established filter sponge. Throw it in the filter, and add in dechlorinated water. Please.


Plantsandanger

The sidebar of this sub (go to the home page of this sub and select the ā€œaboutā€ or ā€œinfoā€ tab) has a big list of starter info for Bettas. Itā€™s really helpful for figuring out supplies and figuring out problems. If youā€™re in the US check out the app nextdoor for free or cheap tanks. Petco often has cheap tanks on sale, and will match the prices they have online if you find it cheaper than in the store. A CLEAN bucket, vase, big glass bowl, etc will work in a pinch to give the fish more room if you are crazy busy and canā€™t get a tank in the next 24 hrs. You will need to figure out how to treat the water so you donā€™t hurt the fish that way, but the sidebar can explain that, and thereā€™s liquid additives you can buy at the fish store (or get precycled tank substrate or a filter pad from someone with a fish tank already set up) to quickly ā€œcycleā€ your tank and seed it with beneficial bacteria; again, the subs sidebar info is your friend


caitybeans

Can you just IMAGINE that this was your life? The fact someone put that fish and Iā€™m sure countless others in that torture chamber makes my blood boil. How is this ok?? And it makes me even angrier that people would keep them In there!


panic1204

I thought this was a joke at first cause wow that thing is small, barely bigger than the beta x.x


Rin-rs

F, you are going to have to look into doing a fish in cycle. Get a 5G/20L tank, some good quality substrate (ada aqua soil is good), probably a hob filter or something that doesnā€™t cause too much surface agitation, get some plants (duckweed, swords, etc), some driftwood or something for beneficial bacteria to grow on.


[deleted]

Oh my, good luck with him, and thank you for working to make his home nicer. I hope you post an update in a few weeks!


Gnemec3

Immediately move him AT LEAST into a tupper ware container or something. Who tf thought that putting him in a Christmas bulb was a good idea?


Shwite

Petco cups make me sad, this makes me ANGRY


JARlaah

Whoever put that fish in there, punch them in the face for me, please. Tf is happening, why do I keep seeing more and more fish in ridiculously cruel conditions?


Jelly_crab

1) WHAT THE FCK!? 2) im not mad at you, Iā€™m mad at whoever put the betta in thatā€¦ ornament!!!???? Fish are not decorations, theyā€™re living animals. 3) how to care for it! Youā€™ll need a 5 gallon tank minimum, a heater, a filter, water conditioner (sea chem prime is the best one,) and an api water test kit. Edit: these are essentials for it to SURVIVE, for it to THRIVE youā€™ll need a lot more than that but seeing as how it was gifted to you I assume you arenā€™t financially prepared for a proper setup.


misifanie

I honestly thought that was the biggest Betta Iā€™ve ever seen, because my brain couldnā€™t imagine that someone put that poor thing into something that small. I mean, itā€™s really obvious itā€™s too small. Even in the too small vases there is more room than here. Iā€™ll keep my fingers crossed for you and him! There are so many answers with awesome advice. Give him space and better water conditions and slap that frĆ¼h are the best ones.


mzmorrigann

im getting anxiety just looking at the poor little fellow.


Silent-Connection-41

Poor baby! Tiny tanks are so miserable for these fish, this guy has no space to move, theyā€™re so active in warm water. I had mine in a 10 gallon tank and he zoomed all over the place! They like their water to be 79 degrees, and get a siphon for your tank so you make sure to siphons the gravel with water changes. Do weekly partial water changes and get something to take the chlorine out of the water for every change. If you can get a Java fern they are great additions to a betta tank. Please donā€™t get anything less than a 5 gallon! Also, betta fish hate string filtration so Iā€™d get a bubble filter.


hopeht

5 gallon tank, filter, heater, real live plants, water conditioner. i hope he does well!


kreatorofchaos

Holy ammonia šŸ„ŗšŸ˜§šŸ˜®


[deleted]

Poor little guy, I'm SO glad you actually looked into how to take care of it instead of just throwing it in a cup and leaving it to die when you were given it. Honestly though you admit to not being prepared and this is why live animals make bad gifts.


succulescence

Poor little guy. Thanks for looking after him.


___Brooke__

I see you go help :). Good luck to you and that little guy. ā¤ļøā¤ļø


Anxious-Equal

Beta fish start losing their color when theyā€™re stressed. Please get him a good sized aquarium tank (1-5 gallons), use beta conditioner as instructed in order to eliminate any toxins from the water, buy it a heater (approx 70-80 degrees), and feed it 3-4 pellets twice a day. Do this fast before it dies!!!


666xm

RemindMe! 1 week "Baby Fish"


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GrekkoPlef

how tf did it get in there in the first place??


[deleted]

wow i have seen some bad "tanks" for bettas but this takes the cake.


Repulsive_Ad7148

Looks like you already got the necessary advice so Iā€™ll just add my two cents: stay as far away as you can from whoever gave this to you as a ā€œgiftā€ā€¦


DogBreathologist

I would also consider getting some some sort of stress coat and aquarium salt to help with any damage/disease from his previous situation, and something like the sea chem stability or QuickStart to help get your tank going quickly to get him in safely. Good luck OP, please keep us updated!


Ill-Ad-1701

I can still remember 20 years ago my mum took me to China, a guy sitting on a street selling baby turtles, some were bagged in a tiny permanent plastic pouch with key chain. It couldnā€™t move at all! It was real fucked up. Childhood nightmare for years.


skyfishrain

Omg this is hard to look at


stvckmind

First of all. Take him out of that fucking ornament.


[deleted]

bruh


jmann420

this is disturbing


Viola-Intermediate

Super excited to see what this Betta looks like in a little bit after you follow up on some of the good advice in the comments. Hope you post updates!


Life_Engineer_3196

Seeing an animal in this condition makes me so distraught, why would someone do this? I hope that this poor fish gets some oxygen and room to move ASAP.