A new *and first* Betta!

[HollandLoppy89]

Today We bought our first Betta, Elvis. He is a BEAUTIFUL green, blue and red mix. (BLUE SWADE SHOES) He is such a cutie! This isn't him, but it looks a little like him..until I can get pics.
http://www.thaichinaquarium.com/all/BETTA%20MALE%20GREEN.JPG
This is what he lives in:
http://www.greenacres4u.com/images/Betta_vase2.jpg
It is kind of like this^, but a little more decorative and pretty. Don't worry, the vase is WELL taken care of and I will be sure to feed it and clean the cage!

Pics SOON!:D

[flamepony12]

Congrats! :) How big is the bowl he's in?

[K9soul]

He sounds gorgeous... but please reconsider keeping him in the plant vase. Bettas need to be able to come up for air regularly, as well as to eat their pellets/frozen food etc., and it is very difficult for them to do so with the plant and roots blocking the opening.

You might want to look over this page about the betta vase:

http://bettatalk.com/betta_in_a_vase.htm

Of course, do not take this to mean I am scolding and criticizing you. Most people see them sold for fish and figure if they are sold for fish, it must be safe!

However, a betta vase CAN be done if it is done correctly, but it takes a lot of work and almost daily water changes. This site explained a way to properly set it up if you really want to have a betta in a vase,

http://honors.montana.edu/~weif/firsttank/vase.phtml

but I would still recommend getting at least a 1-gallon bowl or tank setup and letting him live without the vase and plant :)

EDIT: I missed your final comment about feeding and taking care of it, sorry about that. However I'll leave all the information up in case it is of some help to you :)

[lute]

congrats! if you ever need any help or have any questions, ask the people here! they know tons of stuff!:D

[Buddy Blaze Lover]

Congrats!! Can't wait to see pics!!:D

[HollandLoppy89]

Originally posted by K9soul
He sounds gorgeous... but please reconsider keeping him in the plant vase. Bettas need to be able to come up for air regularly, as well as to eat their pellets/frozen food etc., and it is very difficult for them to do so with the plant and roots blocking the opening.

You might want to look over this page about the betta vase:

http://bettatalk.com/betta_in_a_vase.htm

Of course, do not take this to mean I am scolding and criticizing you. Most people see them sold for fish and figure if they are sold for fish, it must be safe!

However, a betta vase CAN be done if it is done correctly, but it takes a lot of work and almost daily water changes. This site explained a way to properly set it up if you really want to have a betta in a vase,

http://honors.montana.edu/~weif/firsttank/vase.phtml

but I would still recommend getting at least a 1-gallon bowl or tank setup and letting him live without the vase and plant :)

EDIT: I missed your final comment about feeding and taking care of it, sorry about that. However I'll leave all the information up in case it is of some help to you :)

K9Soul,
The plant is much, much smaller than the one in this pic (which makes the roots smaller) and they don't take up much space in the vase. I brought the vase into the fish store and talked to them all about if it was okay for Elvis. They found nothing wrong with it, and Elvis seems very, very Happy!:)

PIX SOON!