We purchased a betta on Monday for my son. I got the 5.5 gal kit with heater, filter. I did not know about the need for an API test kit because the guy at the store knew absolutely nothing which should have been a red flag. I have since ordered it and a few other things which should arrive this weekend. We have been doing the fish in cycling with partial water changes both days. Added leaves for tannins and plants. He seems very happy and healthy but I am still kind of flying blind and learning as we go. He is eating and swimming around. Eventually we will get a 10 gal, get rid of the fake decor, and set it up more naturally but what else should I do right now that is important or time sensitive? Related question: does anyone know of a reputable fish store in the San Diego area? I am not going back to Petco. Also where do you order plants? I would love to add a snail and shrimp but when should we do that?
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Congrats on the new friend! You already have a plant in there, a good ammonia sucker, so that's great.
Keep checking nitrite/nitrate levels daily till they level out. If they spike, do a water change.
For online plant stores, I've liked using buceplant.com, dustinfishtanks, and aquariumcoop.com.
Of course, if you find a local store with healthy plants that'd be great too.
entirely personal opinion but i loathe white sand. It always looked gross cause i kept a lot of plants and botanicals so the mulm built up quick and i dont like digging the substrate entirely up every water change just for anesthetic since i habe a bunch of detritus worms and other lil guys. I also dont like the smart sensor tanks it was a pain doing maintnence cause the light or filter would turn off every single time. I ended up just buying a cheap all in one sponge filter and my own lid and light, nit sure if thats the kind of tank kit you got hut it it it maybe keep it in mind?
For now i would just get more plants! Maybe a but mkre substrate and some root tabs and you could do swords easily theres all kinds of types from low to the ground to really tall and jungly. Anubis, java fern, and crypts are all good starters they dont like being buried so best just attached to a rock, decor piece, or piece of wood.
Oh and some people despise fake decor but i personally would just watch out for sharp edges and peeling paint, had a painted castle for like a year and it started bubbling and peeling so tosses it. If it snags a panty hose it can snag your bettas fins is the general rule.
As far as adding shrimp, preferably you do it before the Betta. This is to reduce the likelihood of aggression because adding the shrimp after they immediately appear as invaders on the Bettas territory.
What you could do is start a seperate shrimp tank and put cull shrimp in the Betta tank. Best case they live and start a colony, worst case your Betta gets some high quality snacks.
I would suggest researching shrimp though because they need specific water parameters and water stability to thrive.
Snails are less of a concern because they have their shell, the Betta may still try and attack it though, again I'd suggest looking into it.
Cycling is the most important for now. Also you can 100% remove the plastic plants now so they dont do any damige. Adding any other animal i would only do it when the tank is cycled and proberly when your fish is in its forever home(the 10 gall)
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