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Bubbles are a great sign! You must be taking great care of him for him to be so happy! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I hope Tony is dealing with the loss all right. I remember being in third grade when I lost my first animal, our family cat. It was rough, but then again I'd also grown up with it. It's amazing how attatched a child can get to a pet sometimes!

Bettas are funny little fish, aren't they? I'll bet if you waggle your fingers at him, he'll wiggle his body back at you too, mine used to do that. One quick thing: careful that your betta doesn't get overly stressed out about the mirror. Some love it, some get extremely worked up about it. It sounds like yours enjoys showing off, though <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> I probably would too if *I* were that handsome!

We have had rusty for two days, and the lady at the pet store said she fed him once a day, and not on sunday's.I was just wondering if we should keep to what he is use to already.And how much should we feed him? The first morning my son gave him three pellets,and he ate them fine and this morning he gave him four pellets and Rusty ate them fine.Should we keep going up untill we find out how much he eats in a certain time period or is four enough?
About the mirror, we only put it up for a little while at a time, and when you remove it he looks for places on his tank that he can see his own reflection, and keeps doing it.
I think he likes to show off, but I will keep my eyes open for any signs of stress thank-you. He doesn't seem to like people touching his tank he backs away, but he doesn't seem to mind if you just sit and watch he watches you back.
I will have to buy a heater for our tank, I didn't think that having the light on all the time would bother rusty,
and after reading the other entries I thought it would be best to dim his light at night so, I did but the water temperature was cooler this morning so,a light for heat is probably not such a great idea? I will check Walmart for one today.

Personally, I feed my betta 4 pellets a day, 2 in the morning and 2 in the evening. I feed my betta twice so he doesn't feel like he's starving the rest of the day. I can't see any reason to skip Sundays (or any day for that matter). If you *have* to they can go a few days without eating, otherwise feed them regularly. No one would want to go without food for a day.
Bubbles are a nice way to let you know you're doing a great job. Rusty thinks he's making a nest to find a mate and breed.<img src="/images/graemlins/lovers.gif" alt="" /> That tells you he's very happy.
With the heaters I've learned that they are not all the same. Some are not so accurate. Keep an eye on yours for the first little while and monitor the temperature. It should give you even more success with the 2.5 gallon.

Cyberspace ate my post! And I'm late for class!!

Try giving him a shelter of some sort, then you can leave the light on..more on that later !!

Actually fasting once a week is excellent for fish. I would keep to the schedule he has already. Here is my article on this matter: <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Betta Care - How Often to Feed Bettas
Bettas have tiny stomachs and well-meaning betta parents can be a fish�s worst enemy. Don�t overfeed!

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art35651.asp

Thank-you for all your words of wisdom in the food area,but it appears we now have a darting rubbing problem?I have asked for help in the betta journal? to betta fix remedy or not? <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />I have put salt in, a heater and thermometer,the darting started first I thought maybe stress <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />and the salt would help? he is very active even jerky,I am concerned and would appreciate your input.(I'm not very good at this,and loosing rainbow <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />has made me very unsure,so please excuse all the questions.)

Wow! Thanks for the correction, Jilly. I'd never heard about fasting once a week before. Guess I'd better be more careful before sticking my nose in. <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> Sorry for the wrong info, beautifullyrusty.

Hi BR, you're post showed up just as I entered mine. Here are a few things that I *do* know. Maybe you could figure out the problem from this...
Changing the temperature quickly can bring on stress, as will fluctauting temps. (This I know first hand.)
You could try a hidey-hole to give him a place to hide and make him feel safe. A very small terra cotta pot works well.
Try no stimulation for a while to let him relax.
My betta did the jerking/darting thing too for a while, and actually rubs his gills on his sea shell once in a while. I've always thought it meant something was irritating them, but my tank is always clean and my betta never develops any outward problems (like fungus or ick). All you can do is relax about it, the more you worry the more problems you will think of. I'm sorry I can't offer more than that, I know how stressful and helpless you feel. Hopefully someone else will tell you more.

Fishwife, you always have great advice and I sure do appreciate it. Please feel free to stick your nose in - we are all learning togther here! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> And you are right that a betta doesn't WANT to fast...but it is better for him in the long run. It's like tough love. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> We all want to make our bettas happy and they can be little piggies with food!

Rusty, fishwife's suggestion that it's just a reaction to stress or a habit is probably what is going on...just make sure you keep your eyes open for little white grains of what looks like sugar or salt on the fish - which would be ich. If it is ick, it's easily treated. But don't overreact and start treating just in case. Stay calm and make sure first and try not to be paranoid. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> You'll do fine - it's obvious you care and want to be a good momma.

Thank-you fishwife and Jilly for your great advice,Rusty is still doing abit of a shimmy but he has no white stuff. Our heater is working well and having an even sorce of heat will be much better.I will make sure to get him a hideaway and keep things around his bowl calm. My son made a beautiful picture for behind his bowl with red plants in it and I have removed it because rusty may be thinking they look a bit to much like a large betta.This may be the sorce of the stress.so we will keep an eye on him and I will try to be a bit more relaxed. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />