hey everyone just got my first betta after months of waiting for the tank to cycle then another couple of months waiting for "the one" to catch my eye! well he finally did

meet Marcus-San! Hes a metallic blue/green doubletail butterfly who i just put into his new home last night and already he's active as anything and loves to flare when he's swimming in the current of the filter! Looks awesome when he does!

Here he is in full flare, without flash he looks green!



and under the light he's more of a blue color, weird...



and a short video!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEVhW1J5yf0

He looks great but he supposes to live by himself. You shouldn't put him with any other fish. He will kill the other:(

Is that a mirror backed tank? If so then he will become stressed really quickly and thats not good for him. If you want him to flare then thats fine but just a minute a day is enough. As for the danios I would be more worried about them nipping his fins. Also their constant movement may not be to his liking.

Congratulations on your new Betta, he is beautiful!

He may do OK with those Danios, provided he has places to hide away/escape too.

Like Sandy says, just monitor that they don't get too nippy and that he doesn't get too stressed by being around very active fish

the danio's havent bothered him at all... they seem to do their thing and he does his.

he does have that java fern to hide in and under the driftwood too but he just seems to love swimming about randomly. what are telltale signs that a betta is stressed so i know to change things if i see them???

sandy the tank isn't mirrored i had it held up for that video so its all good!

he seems to like betta pellets... i dropped frozen bloodworm in just before but i don't think he recognized what they were! LOL

Things sound like they are going OK so that's great

Environmental conditions and sometimes the presence of other fish, can cause a Betta to become stressed and this can make them more susceptible to common diseases like ick, finrot and fungus growths. As with all fish, just keep a close eye out for the symptoms of these diseases.

General signs of stress in a Betta can include behavioural changes and physical symptoms. Bettas are active fish, but an overactive Betta which is constantly flaring or showing signs of being "overflared" is stressed by its environment.

Alternatively, a lack of interest or a generally lethargic fish, maybe with a loss or dullness of colour. Physical signs of stress include clamped fins and loss of appetite. Pinholes in the finnage are quite common in Bettas, but a sudden increase in them or ragged/split fins can be a sign of stress too. Watch out for nippy tankmates.

Providing places to hide away, lurk around or sit and watch the world go by help Bettas to feel more secure in their surroundings. Bettas are territorial and like to "patrol" their area, a stressed Betta may be constantly patroling and not take a break. The presence of other fish can sometimes cause this, although they can live happily with other tankmates. Every Betta is different and what works for one sometimes won't work for another.

I've kept Pygmy Corys with a male Betta and that worked very well because they occupied different tank levels.

Hope this helps a bit, these are some of the things I would watch out for. Other members may be able to suggest some more signs.

Also, sometimes it is easier to introduce one new food at a time. Bettas can be very finicky about feeding. If you get him established on to the pellets for a few weeks first, then introduce the bloodworms as an occasional treat he should accept them both. Sometimes they like to eat one or another food type and it can be a nightmare getting them to eat what you want to feed them! Also, it depends what he was fed at the store - he may never have seen a bloodworm before in his life, but they usually love 'em!

Good luck with your new Betta, he is lovely!

thanks for the excellent info mrbumblebee!!!

i'll be sure to keep a close eye on him over the next week to see if any of these symptoms occur!

also do they like peas? i know the danios do and they're about due for a bit of a pea feeding

Bettas are basically carnivorous, but they will eat some vegetable matter and some will eat peas. You can also use peas with Bettas to resolve constipation problems as and when required

Congrats on your new betta.He's a beauty.

Congrats on the new Betta,he's very pretty.I just wanted to add that I eventually had all my Betta's eating peas after a while.Some are piggies and more willing to have a go at them right away,and some need to be coaxed into it.

very pretty fish

Gratz on your new betta. Uh i have a question about the name. Do u know wat san means? lol

He's very pretty, Congrat's.

Beautiful betta, congrats!

goldfishlover- i don't know! LOL it was just a name we thoguht up for him... making them all "fighting" names!

O ic.............. Well ill tell u then. U say san at the end of the name of someone you dont know really well and u want to be respectful to them cuz they are more important than u........... like if your new boss comes and his name is mizuki you call him mizuki-san. lol

"san" is a polite and honorific suffix used on a name. You can use it with anyone's name to whom you wish to show respect - even equals like co-workers. You would not use it after your own name because that would lack humility.

You can use "chan" instead. That's for a child or someone cute or pretty that you cherish.

Who would want a FIGHTING fish with "-chan" behind his name? I can imagine E-n calling his betta "Marukusu-chan! Marukusu-chan!" in a squaky, kawai voice

Id call him Marcus sama

Well of course - Marcus-sama.

Lol. I think english names dont sound good with those (ill call them suffixes). It makes it sound like u want 2 be japanese but ur not............ But i dont think you want a fighting fish with chan in his name XD

congrats on oyur first betta