All about beta fishes--->?

Question

Okay, I just bought a nice orange (with a little sea blue) beta one hour ago. I put him in a one and a half gallon tank. He seems to be getting used to his new home (I bet he hated his squishy little bowl I bought him in). Anyway, I just want to know all about taking care of him. Please serious info (I would like it if you could provide some useful links.)

1)I would like to know about the water temperature. I heard that you're supposed to put the water temperature around 80. I don't have a thermometer right now. How do I know if it is right with my hands? It's currently a cross between cold and warm.
2)How much to feed? I suppose that since he came from the store, he's not hungry?
3)I see small little tiny bubbles surrounding the tank. What is it?
4)Is he supposed to move around a lot or only once in a few minutes?
5)How do I know if he's happy?
6)Will he begin to recodnize me? Or do fish have low memory?
7) And if the water is pretty cold, what will happen?

Thanks to all.

Oh, I didn't mean to put tank. I'm going to get one next month when I have money. Right now, he's in a pretty big bowl.

Answer 1

I had a Beta, he died after I had him for 28 months.

1) 80 is too hot, around 70 to 75 is perfect. What you have to do is prepare his water weekly. Use 2 gallons, and fill them with water, put in the chlorine treatment in it (I used stress coat), and little bit of salt (not the salt you eat, but aquarium salt). During the summer, I use to let the water sit for a week under the sink, during the winters; I use to put the water in the laundry closet so it can get to room temp.
Please change his water weekly. Once you use the water, refill and wait for the next week (I use to change his water every Sat or Sun).
2)How much to feed? I suppose that since he came from the store, he's not hungry?
No more then 4 pellets (they have tiny stomach); 2 in the morning, 2 in the evening
3)The bubbles are his or her mating nest
4)They can be very lazy. It's good to stimulate him a couple of times a week for about an hour (prop a mirrow on his tank and he thinks there's another Betta there and watch him flare).
5)The bubble nest are a signed of happiness
6)He will recognize you. Some people are able to get them to eat the pellets from their hands.
7) He will be stressed and can pick up any number of bacteria

Here a website that really helped me to take care of my Betta. It has all the information to the questions you asked and more! http://www.bettatalk.com/

Answer 2

Yes betas should have a heater in thier tank. Water temp is the same as the air temp around it, so bump the heat up in your house for now. Try feeding him, however much he will eat in a few wminutes. If he doesnt eat, hes still getting used to his new enviornment. The bubbles may be a bubblenest, which is a very good thing that healthy males do. Some fish learn to reconize thier owners, others dont. Sounds like your doing pretty good, execpt one thing. No fihs deserves to be in a bowl. I would recomend buying a small tank with a filter and heater asap. A ten gallon tank kit at walmart is only 30 buck(whcih I guess is expensive if you are still living off allowence depending on how old you are) Ask for a tank as a present for your birthday or see if you can earn one if you do not have a job

I see that it now says you are buying a tank, your making ht right desition. You can add a few cories if you get a big enough tnak with a heater!

Answer 3

I am not sure about the water temperature as I have only kept them in a regular bowl not a tank. I had a pellet type food and was told to give one small pellet per day for feeding. It will take him a bit but he will begin to recognize you when you approach his tank. Good Luck they are a fun fish to have.

Answer 4

The amazing thing about beta fish is they dont need heaters or alot of care~ i kept mine for 2 years and he even fell in a drain and we fished him out and he lived for one more year lol temperature dont let it get over 76 degrees thats general for most fish it should feel cool to the touch~ get the beta pelets~ and four pelets works~ if you see he isnt eating 4 reduce it until he eats all of it. give him one or two at first~ air bubbles dont worry but if it looks foamy check your water and make sure the water is clear! if you notice he is being unusually still for long period of time that isnt unusuall especially considering hes in a new environment! fish dont have feelings just take care of them lol fish dont have memories~ sorry~ if the water is too cold he will get really sluggish trying to conserve heat! hope you have fun with ur new fish! and i hope i helped

Answer 5

he is fine in a large bowl. you can warm him up by rigging a lightbulb over the bowl. the water should be about he same temperature as your room. do you know what the thermostat in your home is set on? that should be about what the water temperature is. you can also put him in a box with a lightbulb to warm him up faster. don't put hot water in the bowl. that would warm him up too fast. 80 is optimal but usually anywhere in the 70s is fine.

i feed hikari pellets -- it makes it a lot easier to feed. my bettas get 3 pellets twice a day. once a week i try to remember to feed him chopped up peas. it keeps his poop regular.

bettas blow bubbles when they are happy. its part of building a bubble nest. you will get used to bubbles.

bettas are usually pretty sedate. you can try exercising him by letting him see himself in a mirror or get him a "flare buddy". they will fan out their fins and gills and put on a show.

happy bettas are usually really sedate -- they blow bubblenests and will just kind of hang out in a plant or at the top of the water or in a calm place in the bottom.

most bettas learn to recognize you as at least a source of food. mine usually flare at me when i go by. i guess i look like a betta. some will play with your hand while you are pulling stuff out of the tank and moving stuff around. usually with these you can pull them up and scratch them under the chin. the more spastic ones will be scared of you and you can't pull them up with your hand.

if the water gets too cold he will die. usually he will just get really sedate and lose color. you need to keep up good bacteria treatments like stress zyme and anti bacterials like melafix or bettafix in case he gets a chill or something he doesn't get sick from bacteria too.
make sure you change the water once a week and put in 3 things -- a dechlorinator -- a good bacteria like stress zyme or cycle and melafix or bettafix (they are basically the same thing only melafix is stronger and costs a lot less).

Answer 6

Here is some info:

http://care.betta-fish.com.ar/