Beginner MUST HAVES!

[ACKislander]

I've been reading a lot of threads from folks who are just starting out with their first betta. (BTW it feels so great to know that so many bettas are getting good homes.) I thought maybe a quick list of "must-haves" may help a bit. I know when I got my first betta... and even my second betta I had no idea what he needed to live a long happy life. The people at my local fish store gave me all kinds of wrong information, but how was I to know better? I mean, you'd think of all people they would know best? Well, we tend to learn quickly when our babies get sick, that maybe the fish store people don't always know best. Here's my quick list of must haves when you're just starting out.

Feel free to add what your lists of must haves are...

1.A tank or bowl (no smaller then one gal with a lid that lets oxygen in)
2. Food (to be ever debated... let's just stick with food for now)
3.A heater (can't let them fall below 76F)
4. Hidey cave and silk plants
5.A thermometer (also helps with water changes... so you can plop your little buddy in right away)
6. Water Conditioners (I use Dry-Buffered AmQuel and NovAqua personally)
7. pH Test Kit
8. Ammonia Test Kit (ok, I bought the whole gamut of test kits, but we're talking for beginners here)
9. Turkey baster (for picking out bits of uneaten food... yeah, like they leave any)
10. Measuring spoons (use them for water conditioners)

My personal favorite meds to keep in the house: Although these don't really need to be bought on DAY 1.
Maracyn 1 (for gram positive bacteria)
Maracyn 2 (for gram negative bacteria)
Kanacyn (for anything serious)
Ric-Ich

What's makes your "must have list" for beginners?

[towelpants]

i'm going to have to debate the heater. if you have a tank under 2.5 (or was it 5?) gallons, you shouldn't bother with them at the risk of boiling your fish. usually, a nice lamp will usually do the job, as long as the temperature doesn't fluctuate too much.

[Captain Flashheart]

Woo, I pass! Though my plant is plastic, but it's also very thin and likely to lose the battle of fin. vs. plant. And has, many times!

-Flash

Edit: towelpants - I use a heater in my 2-2.5 gal bowl (depends how full it is). It's automatic, and the company guarantees that as long as it's submersed it doesn't matter if you're heating a tea cup or an aquarium.

The problem arises when the wattage is too low to cover large tanks, I find... so get one with an internal thermostat and make sure it switches off automatically when it reaches temperature, and back on when the temp. changes . You should still keep an eye on it, but I ran mine for a week and tested it in baltic conditions with the room window open, and it maintained a safe temperature all the time.

I'd rec. two thermometers - I have one that stays in the bowl and a digital one for panicing with .

[ACKislander]

Good call towelpants. (I still want an explanation into your name BTW)
I should have said a "means of heating" instead of a heater. I suppose it doesn't matter if it's a reptile mat, a lamp or keeping your home's heat up to 78.

[lihairden]

When I first got my bettas they were in 1/2g tanks. They now have bigger ones (1.17g) and I use the small ones when I'm cleaning their homes.

Don't forget mirrors. Simon doesn't care for them, but Bubba loves them.

I use Aquasafe for a water conditioner. Someone here (forgive me for not remembering who it was) suggested it and it's really good if you want to use an all-in-one.

I've got Melafix and Pimafix for meds. I haven't used the Pimafix on the bettas yet, but it worked well when I had a sick guppy. I read that using both together is as good as JFE...which is great since I can't find JFE anywhere but online. (melafix and pimafix also smell pretty good lol).

I use a cup instead of a net. I've only got one right now, so I soak it in aquarium salt and really hot water when I switch from one betta to the other.