Betta fish questions

[black_cat]

@black_cat I would suggest you get a Halfmoon Plakat (HMPK) betta since they don't have the fin problems that the longfin ones have. They are less prone to fin rot and can swim properly. Plus, they come in very cool colors such as Koi HMPK.

My pet store doesn't have those The only ones I can see on the website that are labeled with type and not color are Dragon Scale, dumbo halfmoon, twintail halfmoon, and crowntail. There are others that are labeled with color that I will have to look up the type myself.

 

[SegiDream]

This tank would be set up long before the fish arrived. I don't think that I can kill a fish that isn't in the tank with a pH swing. Fish would not come until tank is cycled, plants are set up, and all water properties are at the proper levels. I understand that they relate to each other, but I also want to make clear that I don't need to worry about killing a fish as I will not be adding one until everything is set up. I would rather spend time messing around with the adjustments to make sure that everything is the right level than not messing with them at all when they are improper.

Swings can mess with your cycling process fyi... also keep in mind if your tank parameters are very different than their current conditions you'll need to look into how to do an extended acclimation period (may take days) to avoid osmotic shock when you do get a fish.

 

[black_cat]

For lights, do I want LED, flourescent, or incandescent?

 

[chickenn00b11]

For lights, do I want LED, flourescent, or incandescent?

Depends. Are you going to have live plants? NOTE: Live plants are very easy to care for and provide a TON of benefits for your fish. I could recommend a light and some plants if you want.

 

[yakitori]

My pet store doesn't have those The only ones I can see on the website that are labeled with type and not color are Dragon Scale, dumbo halfmoon, twintail halfmoon, and crowntail. There are others that are labeled with color that I will have to look up the type myself.

I think dragon scales are plakats... is this petco? However if it means shiny iridescence on the scales, they tend to be prone to tumorous growth on the scales. Pet store stock betta are honestly not the best, if you can, I would recommend getting them shipped to you directly from a good betta breeder. You’re investing in so much anyway, you may as well get a fish with nice healthy genes!

letting the water stabilize before adding fish is a great idea, you will probably need to go through the same process every time you do a water change. In that case, lots of testing and observation. I honestly don’t consider that “simple”!

 

[HappyClucker7]

For lights, do I want LED, flourescent, or incandescent?

I personally like LED the best, but it depends on what you're growing and what you want to achieve with the lighting.

 

[yakitori]

For lights, do I want LED, flourescent, or incandescent?

I prefer LED, incandescents are unnecessary as they put out more heat than light. You want a good full-spectrum lighting intended for plant growth. To avoid algae problems, make sure the lighting output is proportional to plant growth and nutrients (and CO2, but that’s a whole other rabbit hole, lol). The idea is to have nice healthy plants so that there is no left over toxins (plant food, lol) for the algae to feed on - essentially starving the algae out.

Nature is always trying to balance itself out, and that’s why algae occurs.

 

[chickenn00b11]

I think dragon scales are plakats... is this petco? However if it means shiny iridescence on the scales, they tend to be prone to tumorous growth on the scales. Pet store stock betta are honestly not the best, if you can, I would recommend getting them shipped to you directly from a good betta breeder. You’re investing in so much anyway, you may as well get a fish with nice healthy genes!

letting the water stabilize before adding fish is a great idea, you will probably need to go through the same process every time you do a water change. In that case, lots of testing and observation. I honestly don’t consider that “simple”!

I agree. Getting a betta from a breeder is way better.

 

[black_cat]

I think dragon scales are plakats... is this petco? However if it means shiny iridescence on the scales, they tend to be prone to tumorous growth on the scales. Pet store stock betta are honestly not the best, if you can, I would recommend getting them shipped to you directly from a good betta breeder. You’re investing in so much anyway, you may as well get a fish with nice healthy genes!

letting the water stabilize before adding fish is a great idea, you will probably need to go through the same process every time you do a water change. In that case, lots of testing and observation. I honestly don’t consider that “simple”!

Petsmart. I was warned against the dragon scale ones for the same reason. You can get fish shipped? Wouldn't that be very stressful for the fish? I'm also not sure how to go about looking for a breeder.

I would be getting the tank before the fish (as I've mentioned) to do these things:
-make sure the plants get nice and set and growing and don't die
-make sure I know how to get the water to the right pH, kH, and gH for bettas
-make sure that the tank is cycling properly

 

[black_cat]

Depends. Are you going to have live plants? NOTE: Live plants are very easy to care for and provide a TON of benefits for your fish. I could recommend a light and some plants if you want.

Yes, I will be using live plants. I would like to grow anubias, java fern, and water wisteria.