are betta fish suitable for beginners?
are betta fish suitable for beginners?
I’ve recently got a tank and 2 female betta fish, I thought they'd be easy to care for, but I've quickly realized I'm out of my depth. Before the bettas, I had 5 neptunes, 2 of which seemed to have scoliosis (according to Google), they all died within 2 days. I'm not sure if it was my tank or the fish, as everything seems fine with my tank. I'm getting worried about my bettas, I've tried researching but there's so much conflicting info. Any tips on keeping them healthy and happy would be great. I've noticed they both float to the top of the tank in the same spot every time and blow bubbles when they're "sleeping" - what does this mean?
Re: are betta fish suitable for beginners?
I've added some pics of my 2 betas and the tank setup, would be great if you could take a look and let me know if I'm doing anything wrong or if there's anything I can improve on.
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BadgersSong - Posts: 156
- Joined: Wed Jan 19, 2022 4:47 pm
Re: are betta fish suitable for beginners?
Hi aidzone, welcome to the community. I'd love to help you out, but I have a few questions to get started. What's the size of your tank? Is it cycled - if you're not sure what that means, we can go into it. What kind of filter are you using? I'm guessing your plants are artificial, am I right? Also, do you know the water hardness and pH levels? What water conditioner are you using? Let's start with these, and we can work our way up. It's normal to feel overwhelmed with all the info out there, but we'll take it one step at a time.
Re: are betta fish suitable for beginners?
It's a 17 litre tank. I'm not sure what cycling is, to be honest. My filter's a Ckento4o cf40, and it's making this really loud crackling noise - it's quite annoying. The plants are artificial, yeah. I did get some bacteria balls from the shop, the people there said that's all I needed, but I'm not sure if that's the same as a water conditioner. I'll add a photo of them so you can see what I've got. Thanks for getting back to me, I appreciate it.BadgersSong wrote: ↑Sun May 29, 2022 11:59 pm Hi aidzone, welcome to the community. I'd love to help you out, but I have a few questions to get started. What's the size of your tank? Is it cycled - if you're not sure what that means, we can go into it. What kind of filter are you using? I'm guessing your plants are artificial, am I right? Also, do you know the water hardness and pH levels? What water conditioner are you using? Let's start with these, and we can work our way up. It's normal to feel overwhelmed with all the info out there, but we'll take it one step at a time.
Re: are betta fish suitable for beginners?
I've been reading up on cycling my tank and I'm getting a bit worried. Apparently I should've done it before I put the fish in, but now I'm not sure if I should do it at all as it could harm them. I've come across loads of websites saying different things, so I'm not sure what to do. Should I just leave it as it is or try to cycle it now, even though it's got fish in already ?
Re: are betta fish suitable for beginners?
I'd strongly advise getting a water test kit ASAP - you'll need it to keep an eye on ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels. Since your tank isn't cycled, regular testing will be crucial. As soon as you detect any ammonia or nitrite, you'll have to do a water change. Make sure the new water is dechlorinated using a proper water conditioner, and its temperature matches your tank's.aidzone wrote: ↑Sun May 29, 2022 3:49 pm I’ve recently got a tank and 2 female betta fish, I thought they'd be easy to care for, but I've quickly realized I'm out of my depth. Before the bettas, I had 5 neptunes, 2 of which seemed to have scoliosis (according to Google), they all died within 2 days. I'm not sure if it was my tank or the fish, as everything seems fine with my tank. I'm getting worried about my bettas, I've tried researching but there's so much conflicting info. Any tips on keeping them healthy and happy would be great. I've noticed they both float to the top of the tank in the same spot every time and blow bubbles when they're "sleeping" - what does this mean?
I'd also recommend picking up a beneficial bacteria product like Tetra Safe Start - it'll help speed up the cycling process. It won't be instantaneous, but it'll make a difference. I'm not familiar with the product you've pictured, so I'm not sure if it's the same thing.
You may want to consider rehoming one of the bettas, as they typically don't do well with tankmates.
Re: are betta fish suitable for beginners?
I totally agree, 2 female bettas in a tank this size is a disaster waiting to happen, I've already lost my neptunes and I'm worried sick about my bettas, I'm considering rehoming one of them ASAP.
Re: are betta fish suitable for beginners?
I've had a look at the bacteria balls you mentioned and they seem to be a bacteria supplement, so you probably won't need to get the Tetra Safe Start as well.
Re: are betta fish suitable for beginners?
I'm glad to see you're looking into ways to help your betta, I've had my fair share of experience with them too. I've found that providing them with plenty of hiding spots really helps, especially if you have multiple females in the tank. I've heard that having a few plants with broad leaves can be perfect for them to rest on, and I can imagine your girls would love that.
In terms of their behavior, I'd love to know if you've noticed any signs of aggression between them. I had two females once, and unfortunately, they didn't get along too well. One of them almost killed the other, and I was caught off guard. I learned a valuable lesson that day - it's crucial to keep a close eye on them, especially in the early stages.
If you're planning to keep both females in the same tank, I'd recommend getting a larger tank or at least providing some extra hiding spots to reduce stress. Female betta sororities can work well, but it's essential to have a larger group to distribute any aggression.
Regarding the cycling process, I think it's best to just monitor your ammonia levels and take it from there. I'm no expert, but I've found that using a good water conditioner can make a big difference. I personally use Aqueon, and I've had great results. I've also heard that their ammonia reducer can be helpful in emergency situations.
One more thing, when cleaning your filter, be gentle with the filter pad. That's where most of the beneficial bacteria accumulate, and you don't want to scrub it away. I hope this helps, and good luck with your tank!
In terms of their behavior, I'd love to know if you've noticed any signs of aggression between them. I had two females once, and unfortunately, they didn't get along too well. One of them almost killed the other, and I was caught off guard. I learned a valuable lesson that day - it's crucial to keep a close eye on them, especially in the early stages.
If you're planning to keep both females in the same tank, I'd recommend getting a larger tank or at least providing some extra hiding spots to reduce stress. Female betta sororities can work well, but it's essential to have a larger group to distribute any aggression.
Regarding the cycling process, I think it's best to just monitor your ammonia levels and take it from there. I'm no expert, but I've found that using a good water conditioner can make a big difference. I personally use Aqueon, and I've had great results. I've also heard that their ammonia reducer can be helpful in emergency situations.
One more thing, when cleaning your filter, be gentle with the filter pad. That's where most of the beneficial bacteria accumulate, and you don't want to scrub it away. I hope this helps, and good luck with your tank!
Re: are betta fish suitable for beginners?
Welcome to the forum and thanks for posting. Good on you for trying to improve the well-being of your fish. I'll add a bit more to the great advice already given. When doing water changes, make sure to add a water conditioner to remove chlorine and chloramine, which are toxic to fish. Also, avoid cleaning fish equipment with soap or chemicals that aren't aquarium safe.
Heating the water to the same temperature as the tank before adding it is a good idea, so your fish don't get a shock. You can easily do this with another heater. The bubbles your bettas are blowing might be a bubble nest, although male bettas usually form these more. If your fish can swim around the tank without issue, it's probably nothing out of the norm, and you just have a quirky pair. Keep an eye on their fins and scales regularly to detect illness or aggression early on.
As others have said, it would be ideal to rehome one or separate them, as female bettas can coexist, but the tank isn't large enough to house both. Do you currently have a filter in your tank? If not, a sponge filter could be a worthwhile investment. Avoid the cheap plastic filters that hang on the edge of the tank; they're generally poor quality.
Vacuuming your gravel during water changes is a good habit to get into. You can do this with a gravel vacuum, which you should be able to find online at reasonable prices. Rinsing your gravel before adding it to the tank is also a good idea, as it removes fine sediments that can cloud the water.
I know it must seem daunting now, with so much to learn and do, but it does get easier. If you need somewhere to start, get a test kit and monitor your water, and keep an eye on your fish's behavior and appearances. These should help you pick up issues quickly. Good luck, and if you have any other questions or concerns, feel free to ask.
Heating the water to the same temperature as the tank before adding it is a good idea, so your fish don't get a shock. You can easily do this with another heater. The bubbles your bettas are blowing might be a bubble nest, although male bettas usually form these more. If your fish can swim around the tank without issue, it's probably nothing out of the norm, and you just have a quirky pair. Keep an eye on their fins and scales regularly to detect illness or aggression early on.
As others have said, it would be ideal to rehome one or separate them, as female bettas can coexist, but the tank isn't large enough to house both. Do you currently have a filter in your tank? If not, a sponge filter could be a worthwhile investment. Avoid the cheap plastic filters that hang on the edge of the tank; they're generally poor quality.
Vacuuming your gravel during water changes is a good habit to get into. You can do this with a gravel vacuum, which you should be able to find online at reasonable prices. Rinsing your gravel before adding it to the tank is also a good idea, as it removes fine sediments that can cloud the water.
I know it must seem daunting now, with so much to learn and do, but it does get easier. If you need somewhere to start, get a test kit and monitor your water, and keep an eye on your fish's behavior and appearances. These should help you pick up issues quickly. Good luck, and if you have any other questions or concerns, feel free to ask.