Is that a flame orange I see? I want an orange beta! I love that color! You don't need salt. I've never used it and my fishie kids are doing fine. Gravel developes good bacteria after a while- which is why I don't clean the whole tank, I just suck up bits and pieces in the gravel and change half the water. Get soft plants so he doesn't tear his fins. Wardley's beta food is good and can be found at Walmart. One or two pellets is an awfully small amount of food- maybe two meals a day consisting of a few pellets.