BellaOnline Forums Home and Garden Fish New and worried betta owner

I bought my first betta fish, Moe, a few days ago. The only past experience I've had was the short time I had a goldfish when I was younger, so I've been reading as much as I could so that I don't make any mistakes.
I have Moe (Japanese, pronounced Mo-eh) in a Marina betta tank with dark blue and clear glass stones and a red plant (I looked everywhere for a cave or something to swim through for him, but I couldn't find anything small enough).

When I first bought him, Friday afternoon, he seemed lively enough, but he gradually slowed down and now he's pretty mellow.
For food I bought him the Hikari Betta-Bio Gold pellets, and I've tried about twice a day to give him a pellet, but he hasn't eaten anything yet. It's been almost three days now, and I'm getting worried. Does this happen sometimes? Will he start eating soon?

Edit: I bought him so dried bloodworms and he gobbled them up. He still won't eat pellets or flakes, though. I read that bloodworms should be treats, so I'm not sure what to do the rest of the time.

Bettas are notoriously picky eaters. Just continue to offer hm the pellets, and eventually he'll figure out that is his food and he will eat it. I feed mine tropical fish flakes because the pellets caused swimbladder issues and he is doing great. Bettas can go for quite a while without food, so don't worry about him starving to death until a month or so has gone by. They are pretty hearty fish. Also, those marine betta tanks are only like a 1/2 gallon. If you can, try to get at least a 2 gallon for him. They really need heaters because they are tropical fish. You can get a junior heater at wal mart for like 7 bucks but it needs to go in a 2 gallon or bigger. Bettas like to swim and have lots of personality given the room. Also if you can't find any decorations small enough, you can go to a craft store and get a small terra cotta pot to put in his tank. Turn it on its side and it makes a great little cave. I have only seen the ones this small at craft stores, but you could check at gardening stores too, just make sure no fertilizer has been in it.
HTH!!!

Thanks, I'm feeling a little better now.
Is it really important to get a bigger tank for him? Because as an unemployed college student (living at home) I've already spent quite a bit on my new pet. In the future, if this works out, I'll probably get a new tank.
My room is pretty warm, and I keep my betta under a lamp (is that okay?). The water temperature is mid 70s.

You could keep him in there until you can get him something bigger. Just keep up with the water changes.

Is once a week good enough, or should I change the water more often?

With something that small, I would recommend 100% water change 2 or 3 times a week.
Here is a great place to get stuff free:
I have gotten a tank or two from there. It is against the rules to offer or accept money, so as long as you can arrange pick up, it's easy!!!
http://freecycle.org/
There are quite a few places available, so there is probably a group near you.
GL!

Hi Yohko,
I have the same half gallon tank for my betta and we've had him in it for a year now. His tank is in the bathroom and we keep a baseboard heater on, also about mid 70's. Some things I personally don't like about the Marina tank are: Bettas tend to get holes in their fins from the plastic plant.(Or at least mine did many times.) I think it's easier for them to get ripped on it because of the small size of the tank. Also, after a few months the blue gravel started to make fine blue powder in the tank. So pretty much after a year of learning the hard way all I have left from that kit is the tank itself. The plant replaced by a "silk" one, gravel tossed in favour of glass marbles and even pellets instead of the flakes. Stampingchicks' advice about the terracotta pot is good, the smallest one is ok for that tank. I tried that at the beginning and mine wouldn't go near it. Maybe you could try to find a seashell big enough for him to turn around in. One that is very smooth. A friend of mine uses a big snailshell and I have a conch, I think. (It looks kind of like a horn) My betta sleeps in shell all of the time, it's really cute. You have to be careful especially with such a small tank to put in things that are safe for fish. Stampingchick is also right about feeding your betta. I bought one for my sister for Christmas and he didn't eat until the 4th day. She thought her new pet was on a hunger strike.
One more thing... I change my tank (100%) once a week and he does just fine. I have a cousin with the same tank, and she would go often 2 weeks between changes and her betta was 3 years old when it died. I hope this helps, sorry I'm so long winded. FW