BellaOnline Forums Home and Garden Fish Is this okay? Betta Question

I think I may already know the answer, but I want to double check with you guys. My 17 year old nice was one of the girls who got a Betta at the Boardwalk like my Zeta. Anyway, hers died a couple weeks later and she wanted a new one. Her birthday was this weekend, so I got a 1 gollon tank with some soft decorations and gravel. I went to the store on Saturday (Petsmart) and found one I loved. He was a periwinkle color, but my husband did not like her white face. he was very active and almost crazy, but I wanted my husband to help pick the fish. So, we found a little blue one and a little blue-teal one. They were flaring at each other. Although we both like the little blue one, he looked too much like her fish that died, so we went with the teal-blue one instead. I brought him home and put a pellet in the little cup he was in. He ate it. The cup also had some bubbles for a nest in it. Then, I put him in his new home which already had water sitting out over night in it. He seemed happy, swimming around. So I tried to give him another pellet. He took it, then spit it out, took it, then spit it out. Then, he didn;t want anything to do with it. So I tried a blood worm, and the same thing. Took it spit it out. I had to use a turkey baster to remove it from the bottom. So I tried the pellet again and he just looked at it. I put my finger in there to move it away from the wall, and he tried to eat my fingernail!!!! But still no interest in the pellet. I went to bed, and Sunday morning tried again. No interest. Also, no bubbles. He now does not seem as wild as my two Bettas, but Zeta was even less inactive than this guy in the beginning. The new one still flares at his own reflection in the mirror, and does come to see me when I look at him. Anyway, I gave him to my niece last night and explained everything. I just hope he will make it. My question is: Is he like this because of the new habitat? I mean, he seemed fine in that stupid little cup. Does he just need a few days to get acclimated to his new surroundings? Thanks.

Hi Rns. Your little guy is just having a bit of a snit. remember, bettas don't like change. Give him a week or two to relax and get used to things. He will eventually eat what you offer and come around. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Thank you. That is what i thought. I also told my niece that if he doesn't eat in a week, that she can always buy bettafix to cheer him up. After all, now that she just got her driver's license, she will be happy to drive somewhere to buy something if she has to.

I think giving him a hidey hole or toy to rest on would make him more comfy, too.

Actually, i bought a nice size castle with silk plants for it. The castle doesn't have any rough edges, so it should be okay. It has an open door that I have seen him swim in to, so he does have a hiding spot. I think he just needs time to get used to going from a small cup (and he was one of the new ones the stores just got shipped) to a larger tank with stuff in it. I actually love the set uo and would like to get them for my fish as well.

Also, I was thinking of the snail shells you metioned before. Would a large Hermit crab shell work as well? I would like to get them for my two fishies.

Sure, try a hermit crab shell. Clean it really well in boiling water first.

Great!! I have seen two packs of the large shells on sale at the petstore that I would like to buy. Don't worry, I clean everything. Thanks for your help!