BellaOnline Forums Home and Garden Fish i feeL dumb: New Betta

Hello everyone. i am so new to this. i've been waiting to get my login name approved!! but anyways, i have this new betta. he is gorgeous. i bought him from Walmart.. he was looking so sad and i just had to take him home!! his body is a navy blue/ violet. his long tail is a mixture of pink and violet. the tips are pink, very little though. ;]

When i first brought him home i had to leave him in this little bowl because i didnt have the chlorine stuff to put in his water, so i left water over night for him in a big vase thing. when i put him in, he liked it, though he just stayed at the top sleeping i guess. i named him Muhammed. u know, b/c Muhammed Ali is a boxer.. and Betta's are fighters. ;] well yesterday i got him a 2.5 gallon tank with cute brown rocks and plants and a heater.. Aqua Safe and blood worms..more pellets. a themometer and a lil vacuum thing... so this is the question i have..

the themometer says its 82 degrees in there, when i put my fingers in there, it feels liek 60!! i dont know if it really is 82 or not. i also have the heater plugged up. it just doesnt feel to be 82. im like, so lost. <img src="/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> help me make Muhammed happy please. i want to be a great betta parent!! ;]

p.s SORRY FOR THE FREAKING BOOK I JUST POSTED.. lol, just need help.

Ever gotten into a swimming pool? those are usually around 80, but they usually feel kinda chilly! The reason is because our normal body temperature is 98.8, much higher than 82. Anything lower than our body temperature will feel cool to the touch. Go by what the thermometer says, as there's hardly any chance it is wrong, as long as you got it from a reputable pet shop. 82 is also high enough that he's be fine even if your thermometer is off by a few degrees, as long as that temperature remains constant.

<img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> ohhh. thanks alot. well thats great. also i had another question. lol, Muhammed likes to stay in the corner and stare at his reflection through his tank. i wonder in time, will it stress him out. what would be signs of his own reflection stressing him out? i mean, can it be that fun to stare into your own eyes for hours..? or is he doing it because he's upset?

can someone help me out with my question above?
thanks for the help.

Unless he's losing color he's fine. You can probably tell by looking at him if he's being overly stressed, but chances are he's just fine. Bettas can be somewhat big-headed about themselves sometimes <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Oh good grief YES!!! *walks away singing 'i feel pretty' under her breath.

thanx alot for your help!! he's doing fine though.

Great!!!