Hi everyone, i am a new betta owner by accident and gotten 2 low grade betta last Saturday. Me and my fiance went marketing in Tesco Puchong and saw Tesco selling fishes and also betta. It caught my attention because i sympathized with the betta's condition as they were placed in small plastic cup with a sealed cap that is way too small for them to even to move a fin. I suppose those are low grade betta and left only 2 betta when i was there.

I like fishes but it never occur to me in keeping them as i have 7 cats living with me in a small apartment. But these 2 betta caught my attention and i thought to myself that no one would want them as they are plain and kinda common with fading colours.

I dont know what went wrong with me and my fiance, we decided to buy them and keep them in our office out of sympathy. I need some advice from you guys, i had the impression that betta is fine living in a small environment so i got them both an aquarium at the size of 26cm (L) x 20cm (W) x 20cm (H). Once i settled them in the office and had a bit of time, i went surfing in the net to get more info in handling them. I was shock to find out from www.bettafishforum.com that a 3 gallon tank makes a happy betta and should be in the consistent temperature of 25 degree C.

My problem is, i only have a 4ft working table which i hv limited space for such a big tank. My office is so cold in the air condition which i suppose the water temperature isn't right nor healthy for them. I went around in Subang area in asking bout tank heater unfortunately it comes in only big sizes. What should i do?

What should i do with my fishes in my office? Well though they are nothing close to what you guys are rearing, but i just want to make sure they are living happily and healthy.

Appreciate your advices and thanks in advance!

PS: I'm being poisoned already, i got another better looking betta on the following day (Sunday), 3 all together in 2 days. 2 Living in office and 1 in my apartment.

Hiyii CityLife,

Thank you very much for your advice I am not that kind la, just being 'emotional' at that point of time. Being an animal lover, it is sad to witness how fishes are being treated 'it is just a fish', i guess my decision in bring my bettas home was based on emotional decision. But ofcoz i don't regret it as keeping bettas are definitely 10x earlier than handling my 7 cats at home

Glad to hear that my tank is ok for my fishes but yesterday night i went to some shop to buy a bigger aquarium, slightly bigger by 1 inch. Decided to change my fish to a bigger home because my fish (Bubble) hasn't been eating since the day i bought him and he sulks all the time, sinking at the bottom and hide. But guess what? Last night i bought his new home to the office and upgrade his home, today for the 1st time he is swimming happily at me and being more active than previously. But 1 thing still concern me as he still refuse his food, but he seems really happy with his new home.

My fiance's betta named 'Siew Keong' (i knw it is not a nice name for fish), though long tail but really fading colour on its body and tail (kinda ugly), but been happy since day one. He on the other hand seems strong and active, would swim up and down in his smaller tank and eat a little. Siew Keong seems to be a happier fish though living in a smaller tank.

My another betta is Twinkle, the one i rear in my apartment is doing much better, not shy another and eating well.

Btw, what about the room temperature in my office? As it gets really cold during the day and i put my finger in the water to test, it is really cold in there. Will it be ok for my fish to live in such temperature?

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Added on October 7, 2009, 12:37 pmSORRY, MY PREVIOUS MSG WAS TO REAVE!!!! KINDA BLUR

This post has been edited by CazzyCazz: Oct 7 2009, 12:37 PM

Reave,

Ya i thought it is the temperature too but 'Siew Keong' seems ok with it. Anyway, i did go around looking for heater but to no avail as all heaters available comes in big sizes. Oh well i guess just have to wait for Bubble to get use to its environment and me.

Thanks Reaves!

Btw, i hv the same PSP too!

1st Picture:
This is my Bubble's new home, after he sulks for few days, i decided to upgrade his home and hopefully he will be happier. Indeed he is happier new besides not eating for 4 days already.

2nd Picture:
Bubble's home in my office.

3rd Picture:
My Bubble to sulking fish, gotten him from Tmn Megah pet shop. I dont know what is him but i think they told me he is a half moon which cost only RM15.

4th Picture:
My Bubble sulks all the time, can please advice?

5th Picture:
This is Siew Keong, the colour less which no one wants to buy in Tesco, i suppose his is some low grade which no one even eye on him for more than 3 sec. But is he a happy bubbling fish.

6th Picture:
Siew Keong the happy fish.

7th Picture:
He is always happily swimming in his smaller tank.

8th Picture:
Lastly, my silly cat


Attached thumbnail(s)

Reave,

Haha thanks and hopefully he adapts to it asap. I did try putting mirror but he only flared for less then 30 sec and ignored it already. I even placed Siew Keong next to him and he was passive all the way. Hehehe maybe i got a really shy and tame betta.

I won't be in town from tomorrow until Saturday afternoon, so i am going to leave him as it is and hope to see improvement in him when i'm back from the event in Genting.

Gonna upgrade Siew Keong's tank as well on Sunday

Thanks Reave for your advice

PS: Yeah i hv no time for my PSP also, played Patapon 1, Patapon 2 near ending already but got stuck.

CityLife,

Thanks for sharing, at least i know mine isn't too bad, changing the other 2 bettas' tank on Sunday

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Added on October 8, 2009, 12:00 amYewlin,

It was indeed a great decision of rearing both bettas in my office, at least i have something to look forward to going to the office now. It is also fun and relaxing just staring at my fish while stressed out. Ok so now i dont have to search for a heater for my sulking Bubble, hope he will get use to the cold temperature soon. Ya mine are going to fast during weekends too, except for Twinkle (at home) the lucky fish.

Server room? Hahaha, they r gonna freeze to death!

Thanks guys for your kindness and advice, will be back on Sat to learn more from you guys.

Take care

This post has been edited by CazzyCazz: Oct 8 2009, 12:00 AM

Hey Yewlin,

I don't minding having another betta, any nice one?? Can i buy from you????

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Added on October 13, 2009, 12:55 amSilly me, your fries are only 3 weeks old cannot tell yet All the best Yewlin!

This post has been edited by CazzyCazz: Oct 13 2009, 12:55 AM

Wahhhh, RM250??? Must be a super duper nice fish!! My betta only RM5.90 from Tesco Puchong! Hahahahha, low grade but cute

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Added on October 15, 2009, 12:07 pmHey may i ask, i saw some really nice pictures of White Angels online. Just wanna ask is White Angels rare or hard to find in Msia? They are so beautiful

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Added on October 15, 2009, 2:01 pmHi everyone,

I am an inexperience new betta owner and i gotten my 2 low grade bettas from Tecso (rescue mission). I have gotten my fishes 2 weeks ago and they are now being placed in 30cm (L) x 22cm (H) x 18cm (W) aquarium with 2 small water plants, a mini playground for hide & seek.

I perform water change 3 - 4 days once, with Nutrafin water conditioner with aged water out from the tap. 1 of my fish used to sulk for the 1st week but now it is dancing happily at me everyday (in my office at my table). The other fish, used to be a happy non-sulking fish suddenly started to sulk and hide all the time now. It is either he goes into hiding at his small pot or would plant his head down at the water plan. He has not been like this from the 1st day i got him.

Today when i changed 1/2 of his aquarium water, i noticed one of his pectoral fin isn't flipping as usual when swim. On top of that, some substances (looks like a layer or white thingy) covering its pectoral fin. I don't know what is that white slippery thingy call, but in Cantonese it looks like 'Fatt Mol' is the best i can call it.

I am aware of the cold temperature in the office therefore i have also gotten them a heater and water temperature between 25 - 26 celsius. 1 fish from K.O to O.K now, 2nd fish from O.K to K.O, what should i do?

Is this what they call velvet, fungus, etc?

Please advice and i thank you in advance.


2nd note:
New discovery, as i looked closely at him just now, i notice that one of this purple coloured pectoral fin, 50% turned to white colour and it isn't flipping while swimming.

Just now i changed 100% of it's aquarium water, took off 80% of the small deco stone bedding, removed 2 water plants. I also read of putting some salt, but won't be able to get it until tomorrow. Hopefully it is not too late and nothing serious will happen to him.




This post has been edited by CazzyCazz: Oct 15 2009, 02:01 PM

Spirit,

Icic, thank you very much for your info and i learnt something today Cheers!

I really drools on opaque HM, very beautiful and really looks like an angel.... Currently i m bidding on a Red HM, maybe after this i will start looking for an opaque....

RM2? Gosh you are so lucky to have found one at dirt cheap price! Got pictures to show??

Spirit,

Saw your fishes for bidding, SO NICE and really tempted. So sad/happy i just booked a fish with SLS just now during lunch time for a Mustard HMPK. Would love to hv your Fish #3, too bad i am too inexperience and still learning, perhaps next time.