FEEDING !! HELP !!

[yaya]

I just got my male betta today. The person who gave it to us said that we dont need to feed it, that the plant that is ontop will feed the betta fish. my question is, is that true or do i have to buy something for it?

[abm]

OMIGOSH I AM SO GLAD YOU CAME HERE!!!

First, PLEASE remove the plant. It will decay and poison your betta's water. It is a selling ploy that kills bettas, sometimes slowly, sometimes quickly.

Second, you now have a PET called a betta fish and he will be GREAT FUN for you! But if you thought you were buying a plant with a moving vase, you were wrong.

Next, yes you need to feed him. Flakes or pellet foods are inexpensive and widely available at department and pet stores. 2 or 3 pellets or a small pinch of flakes twice daily will do until you learn more.

Yaya, please click above on the HB Articles and read why the lily vase setup is wrong. I trust that by coming here right away you want to do the right thing by your new pet so I hope you'll remove that silly plant and get him some food tonight!

This is VERY basic, emergency info for you as a newbie. If you want/need more, please PM me by clicking on my username. Also, if you have time, read thru the basic betta care info on this forum - it's a great way to get started:)

I will be thinking of you tonight! Best of luck and again -THANKS for caring enough for your fish that you came here and asked how to do it!

~abm

[Rekall13]

I've always hated those planet things. Even before I got into bettas and found out how bad they were I never liked them.

I don't think they're sold here (thank goodness!) but a few years ago I was on vacation in Florida and a store had them (I think it was Target or KMart or someplace like that). I remember feeling so bad for those bettas because they looked so unhappy, some were sick and I seem to remember a couple already being dead. If I hadn't had to worry about getting one all the way back to Canada I would have bought one right then to try and give him a better life.

[Flurry]

I remember once while on vacation to visit my dad who was working on Oregon, we made a trip to the computer store and one of the ladies there was showing off her lovely blue fish, which I am pretty sure was a betta, swimming in a bowl with a plant floating on top That was two years ago of course...

Ditch the plant and maybe purchase some silk plants for his bowl. I know mine loves swimming through his plants. Maybe a hidey hole? Be sure to read up on them at healthybetta.com =)

I feed mine Betta Bio-Gold pellets, freeze dried red grubs and the occasional frozen bloodworm. They enjoy variety, and believe me, he gobbles up his grub or worm pretty fast

Good luck =)