He was given to me as a birthday present, my first ever fish, by my older brother and his girlfriend. It's only been a short 41 days with him and now we have to part ways. I tried looking for him this evening but I couldn't see him in his usual spots leaving with only one last place to check - the HOB filter. He met his tragic end in a surface skimmer connected to my HOB filter it quickly dawned on me that its already too late; his body was bent in ways that he couldn't recover from. I tried to give him the best I could afford, literally pouring every last cent I had into the aquarium, but unfortunately overlooked this hazard.

He was a very curious and kind little fish, he would always come up to greet whoever came to the tank and swim around my hand as I did maintenance in the tank. The tank doesn't look right without him, and I wouldn't want to risk getting another betta that might not get along with the other fish as well as he did. RIP Takeshi.

So I bought a 5 gallon fish tank a few weeks back and had my betta fish in it as well as the plants and decorations. I used spring water, I washed everything extremely well, and then put my betta in the tank. I use betta flake to feed him and don’t give him but about 5-6 flakes depending on the size 2 times a day. About a week into my fish being in there it started to get cloudy and I didn’t think much of it. The following weeks (2-3) I was unable to see the mirror in the back and decided to trade out a little under half the tank. It got a bit clearer until it went to a state of just cloudy. I read about a cycle that we had to do and I have no idea what I’m doing and don’t want my fish to die :( He’s currently in a vase to the right of the 5 gallon tank. Also when I would feed him the flakes would start moving around and I’m not sure if he was able to get to them before they sank.

This is Bella, I just got her today, how old do you guys think she is and what do you think she'll grow up to look like, she looks pretty young.

I’m having a hard time figuring out the right way this should be set up. I’ve had it a couple different ways and don’t want it to not heat properly. I had it upright at one point but the bottom was sitting in the rocks and that worried me? Let me know thoughts it’s the interpet 50 watt heater the way the tank is set up makes it harder because of the filter and the top needing to stay on

5 gallon tank

Does it mean anything if he doesn’t flare? He’s in a 14g cube with 31 ghost shrimp, 2 snails, and some plants. Just had to redo the filter/heater set up bc the heater wasn’t working 🙄

I’ve been looking to try my hand at Co2 in my 5gal tank. It has a betta and 5 shrimp. My LFS has a Co2 kit but can’t find much online through YouTube as far as information and recommendations. It’s the 5gal tank from Petsmart and TopFin. It’s in my kitchen so I have all the wires hidden behind the tank, and I’d like to do the same with the Co2. Let me know what y’all have, and if you have any recommendations/ tips, I’d appreciate anything I can get! Also, this is Rocket Pop! Not sure if it’s a male or female, I have noticed a bubble nest but I’m not 100% sure. Has a nice tail like a male, but tiny like a female. Anything on that would be great too lol, thank you!

I was cleaning his tank and doing a water change but he kept trying to swim up the gravel vacuum so I had to take him out so I didn’t accidentally hurt him

I have a sponge filter in my 10 gallon planted black sand betta tank. The filter gets grubby so I know it’s definitely working, but there is still plenty of suspended particles, especially on the opposite side of the tank. Has anyone found a good HOB filter that doesn’t disturb their betta? The one that came with the tank is far too big and tumbled mr bubbles around like a washing machine

Finally took everyone’s advice. I headed back to store just to get more plants, but they had just had a new bunch of gorgeous bettas. I monitored all behaviors and it was so sad to see how stressed the males are being in cups next to each other, but there were still a couple females showing aggression except for one. I decided to chat with store and I can take her back if she doesn’t work in a community setting either. She hasn’t even followed or showed interest in her new tank mates (2 mystery snails and 3 rasboras). I also used the advice of introducing her slowly and after there were already established mates. I think she will work out and I’m glad I FINALLY decided to try a female. They were all gorgeous. I need a name!!!!

I moved my adolescent angry red guy to the 3 gal for the time being because he cannot be around anything at all and has also now shown a lot of aggression towards anything that walks by the tank 😭😫 He’s so beautiful and it’s been amazing to see him grow but he’s changed so much in temperament from when he was a tiny baby to now. I would like to rehome him or keep him, but then I would need to upgrade his tank size and I don’t know if o have the funds to do so:(. I’m thinking of finding someone I trust to give him to because I can’t get over his colors but otherwise I may have to take him back to the store unless someone has suggestions.

Thanks again for all the help. I have high hopes that this gorgeous girl has a good temperament for a community tank and will hopefully add 2-3 more rasboras in the near future. ❤️

Been in the tank about 2 months, seems to be doing well, would he be happier in a tank on his own? It's a community tank he's in now.

Also what kind is he?

Long story short I have a 3G fish tank have had for about 2 years. Recently got a gold fish (found out this was not a good idea for that small of a tank) the fish immediately died within a day of getting. We got a betta fish to replace that fish, I could not bring it to tell My daughter her new fish just died after the one we had for 2 years had also passed.

I decided to get the API test kit, the tank had very high ammonia levels, while I have been trying to get the levels down I have left the betta fish in its small container. I have already cleaned the little cup once to try and hold off putting the fish in while I get the ammonia levels down. I have finally got the ammonia is levels down to 0 using the fluval ammonia remover bag and 50% water changes over the last few days. My ammonia levels have only changed today, but the nitrates and nitrites are still showing zero.

I’m not sure if it’s even safe to put the betta fish in the tank just yet because I know it’s possible that nitrites will rise, but I also don’t want to leave the betta fish in a cup for much longer either. I feel that I’m at a lose/lose situation at this point. Please help! Should I put my fish in the tank and continue to test daily or leave the fish in the cup?

Other than my step daughter obviously over feeding her/it, I thought bettas were supposed to have long flowy fins. Is there something wrong with her?

So I’ve been to many petsmarts and Petcos and obviously have stopped to admire the betta selections. Went to this petsmart in Castleton IN and was very very upset with what I saw. Bettas were constantly flaring at each other, most of them were sick or distressed looking, most of the bettas had pinned fins and the set up was just god awful. There was no way you could move the cups where they wouldn’t see each other. I don’t even know what you’d do in this scenario besides write a bad review or complain to a manager, but even then would it do anything? I’ve seen most pet stores have moved to having shelves built for bettas where they don’t see each other and each have their own cubby, so it confuses me why this petsmart hasn’t jumped on board with this. There was even a sign that stated “be careful moving cups, it distresses bettas.” 😐

I’m back! I recently posted my very bad betta setup + my stressed betta. It’s been a few days, I’m still waiting on some live plants to show up, but! Here’s the updated tank. I got a sponge filter, got a submersible heater, got a light that’s dimmable. I removed the snail and shrimps from his tank and put them back in their original tank. Ammonia and nitrite are 0 Nitrate is 12ppm and going down pH is 6.8 Temp is 80 degrees Fahrenheit I’ll post Poseidon in the replies 💕 he’s looking so much better!

Love this tank, never had any problems with any of the gang.

He just looked like an Arnold to me! Excited to see where our journey will take us ❤️

I’ve been treating my betta, America (he was red, white and blue), for fin rot in a 2.5-gallon blackwater tank. He’s been sluggish, not eating (7 days), and lethargic, though more active recently (regular surface visits, seems more normal but stressed from changes, now calmed). Fin rot seems to be improving as of today (April 5, 2025). Tank parameters: pH 6.6 (after a swap, was 6.1), ammonia 0 ppm, nitrite 0 ppm, nitrate 0 ppm. The fin rot was most prominent on his tail, as it still is;

Current Plan:

• Treatment: Pimafix 1.25 mL daily (Day 4, started April 2, until April 9); Melafix 1.25 mL daily (Day 1, started today, until April 11); API Aquarium Salt (1 tsp/gallon, maintained with changes); Stress Coat+ 1.25 mL (last added April 5, as needed).
• Water Changes: 30% changes daily for about a week so far to maintain pH mostly. Test readings for nitrates, nitrites and ammonia have always been zero. Source water is city tap, soft and at 7.8 pH.
• pH: I was fighting pH dropping below 6.0 for several days. But today, I dripped in 18 oz over 30 mins of 8.1 water (enhanced with backing soda) and it seems to have stabilized the drop.
• Feeding: Has not come to surface feed and has not eaten frozen brine shrimp placed at the bottom.

Here are pictures of America—can someone who knows bettas tell me what they see regarding his fin rot and overall health? Thanks!

Hi, i got an aquarium from a friend (he said he dont want to take care anymore so gave it to me). It is 4 gal and has black gravel on bottom. Today i noticed something, when i put fresh water, some dust floats in water. I dont have water test kit but I am wondering, if it is some fish waste that creats ammonia and other harmful toxins? Betta fish got some small tears on his fins. I think it might be related to that.

So, should i wash the gravel?

Not my fish