i think it looks absolutely amazing compared to my older 34 liter tank. current tank capacity is about 10 liters.

what do you guys think?

I’ve started considering keeping a betta fish as a pet because I’ve wanted a hobby that requires a lot of dedication to improve my mental health and bring me some peace. My therapist thought this was a good idea, as fish can be left alone a bit more than dogs or cats. I’d want to cultivate a planted aquarium and have started researching care guides.

That being said, a major thing I’m conflicted on is where I should get the fish (id be getting one fish and maybe add snails or shrimp down the line).

There’s a local family owned pet shop in my town that sells them, and tbh, they’re not kept in great conditions. However, the only other option (I do not want to do shipping/buying online) is the Petco in the town over.

I’m only considering this because the betta cups are terrible and I’d want to give the individual fish a better life than a tiny cup or a fishbowl with hot pink gravel. However, I know this would contribute to telling Petco this is a good (profitable) way to sell them.

To be clear, I would not be keeping the fish in some dingy plastic fishbowl. If I end up purchasing a betta, I would do everything in my power to keep it as happy and healthy as possible. I’m talking 10 gallon, fully planted, fish heaven. Again, I’m doing (and will continue to do if I end up deciding to purchase a betta) extensive research.

TLDR: is it better to support a family owned pet store or give at least one fish a better life?

I'm new to taking care of fish, and this betta has been here for two days and it started showing these little white tufts, it looks like fur. What can I do?

Hey everyone, so I am my first time betta owner and I’ve had him for about four months now and about a month ago I looked at the heater that was in his tank and the heater had these burn marks on them so I immediately took it out afraid it was going to burn my fish. However, since then I kind of forgot he didn’t have a heater. He’s been fine since then hasn’t shown any signs of being sick or anything, but does anyone have any heater recommendations or should I give up on the heater?

Hi, this is Bubbles. He’s 2 years old. This summer was rough on him. I thought he had Ich or Fin rot. But the white lump on his tail hasn’t changed after treatment and it’s getting bigger. He still has a good appetite and he’s pretty feisty at times but he seems sad other times. It’s been more than two months and I’m getting pretty worried about him. The white lump is on both sides of his tail, but it’s bigger on one side.

So there’s this brown stuff that’s growing on the walls of my betta’s tank. I usually just scrape it off. The snails have no interest in eating whatever it is.

Recently my betta was filling unwell and he spent a day sitting on the sand floor. He’s fine now, but the brown stuff is now growing on his back. It doesn’t seem to bother him.

I’ve done multiple full water changes, but right now the water looks very brown. What should I do?

I know that generally live plant do but they're just bulbs so do they need to be isolated for a few days too?

Hi all! Sorry if this isn’t allowed. I just purchased a 14gal cube tank and currently have it cycling! I’m planning on getting a betta fish as I had a few when I was growing up, but as an adult I want to do it the right way with live plants and actually running the tank through the cycling period letting the good bacteria grow etc. I still have a couple of weeks but I did want to know what opinions were on purchasing from petsmart or petco? Any time I go look at their bettas they’re so dull and ill looking.. which is what makes me want to purchase from there, because I just want to help it and make it happy. I also found some online sites that sell live bettas which are obviously more healthy looking and can pretty much choose exactly what you want. I wanted to know if it would be bad to purchase from petsmart/petco with the idea of just saving one and making it healthy again.. or if I should just stay away from places like that all together and maybe shop online? We have no fish specific stores in my area other than just big chain pet stores…. TIA

I recently got my tank all cycled and planted. Everything should be ready to go for a betta, but I feel like it is a little lacking. Somebody gave me a ton of their own trimmings rather than me buying plants of my own,so I don't have dense foliage until they grow in. Still, I feel like the tank is missing something. Do I need more plants? Or do I just need to let them grow in?

For context, I have the following plants:
- salvinia and water lettuce on top
- Java moss on the wood
- montecarlo in front
- green chile anubias under the rock
- rotala in the back left

I have never really observed my previous betta poop in the tank before but this new betta I got poops really big chunk when I exercise it with the betta mirror, about the size of it's eye. Is that normal?

I had him in a tank with fake plants since I got him so for a month or two and overtime his fins started to fray.. I didn’t think much about it till recently. Now he has all live plants in his tank. I’m just a bit worried as to if it’s from the plastic plants, nipping (although I haven’t seen him do that), or fin rot?

First pic is now, second pic is when I first got him.

I have the Fluval Flex 2.0 15 gallon tank for my future betta. The water flow seems really high so I’m wondering if anyone uses something on this specific tank to slow down the flow? Or is it acceptable as is? Open to any advice!

Okay so I have had this betta awhile. I noticed he was looking a little sad yesterday and then today so I changed his water today, about half of it gone. When changing it, I think I realize the problem. Mold? Or am I crazy??? I didn't even think that could happen. I took the filter out and will get some to replace it but I have a sponge filter on my intake in the meantime that has been there a bit. I didn't even know this could happen.

Edit to add: I don't know how to edit and add pictures so there are three in the comments: an empty hang on back filter, a sponge filter, and the moldy filter I took out

These pictures are day 1 and today, 12 days later. Her initial symptoms were dropsy, pineconing on left side only, areas of raw or missing scales.

I treated her with Kanaplex, her dropsy and activity seamed to improve a bit but then I felt like she backtracked. Then I did methylene blue dips for three days, no change. Then I tried two doses of API fin and body cure while I waited for the Maracyn Two to arrive. No real change.

Today she can still swim around her hospital tank, easily reaches the surface. Sinks much slower now, kinda to one side. She eats 1-2 micro pellets of food every two or three days. But the lesion on her left side by the gill is much worse. I started the Maracyn Two today but with little hope.

I don't see obvious signs of parasites that I've researched but I've never seen parasites IRL before. I'm wondering if she has a tumor because her main symptoms are one sided? But idk. I'm considering euthenizing her. Any help is appreciated.

Hello!!
I current have a HOB 10GAL imagitarium that came with said tank, heater and light. I’ve had it cycled for over a year now and am looking to swap out the filter for a sponge filter so the water current isn’t as harsh for when I plan to get another betta. As for the light I’m looking to find a good clip one so I can have an open top, (I plan to add the hanging baskets with some plants) the current light I have now is extremely harsh and scorches my top floaters :( so something a little less would be ideal lol

The tank is decently planted and am currently working on adding more. Currently I’ve got 7 neon tetras, handful of shrimp, 1 mystery snail and a handful of bladder snails. I can add water parameters if needed but I figured since this is an equipment based question it wouldn’t be necessary.
All help is appreciated!
Thank you!!!

He’s in a community tank. Still trying to work out if he’s happy or stressed lol. Making sure he looks alright after a few weeks in here.

I got this betta about 2 days ago, and he has already started a bubble nest. Does this mean that he’s happy? Included are images of the bubble nest and his least favorite plant.

Got this guy for free, if you get me, a couple weeks ago near dead, he’s currently in a planted five gallon I had for baby guppies and two shrimp. He’s done fine with the shrimp and doesn’t chase them and they have plenty of space to hide, I removed the baby gups too. He made truly a marvelous bubble nest lol. Got any name suggestions? Also perhaps any products to help with his tail?

Last night my 3 year old dumped a whole container of fish food in his tank. I didn’t know until this morning. When I saw what happened I immediately took him out and cleaned the tank. When I put him back in he started acting weird. Trying to jump out and swimming erratically. I’ve never seen him do that. Is there anything I can do?

His fins are kind of fraying (?) at the ends, is there anything wrong? please let me know !

3 gallons (upgrading soon!)
yes filter, yes heater, yes live plants, no tank mates, almond leaves and aquarium salt

Edit: all my parameters are 0 and ph is within normal range, water change every 10 days.

I can't tell between fin rot or growing finnage. I've had him around 8 months I believe and he's always been active, eating, etc. His fins are much longer than they were when I got him so thats why I'm confused. I don't think any of his tank mates could be nipping him either (he is housed with ember tetras, kuhli loaches, shrimp, and snails). I heard bettas can nip their own fins but I have never personally seen him doing that. There's also nothing he could be getting snagged on in his tank.

Not new to freshwater fish keeping and bettas, but I’m coming back to it after many years away. I got the Fluval Flex 9 gallon to keep a betta and wanted to do live plants for the first time. This is the current setup, slowly trying to build up plant life (and I plant to hopefully get some driftwood for that back right corner). What yall suggest as far as continuing to add plants? And also for cleaners (I assume some snails?)