Reddit reviews New Life Spectrum Betta Formula 1mm Semi-Float Pet Food, 50gm

Since you are trying to learn as much as you can, here are my simple guidelines!

Supplies

-filter
-heater (3-5 Watts per gallon)
-tank 2.5 + ( bigger the better )

• 3 living plants or more
  
  Upkeep
  
  -water change 25% small tank& 10% for larger every other week
  -plant fertilizer ( liquid and/or tabs )
  -quality pellets ( I recommend this )

You want to feed a food that has a first ingredient of some type of meat. Some excellent foods are:

• New Life Spectrum
  
  
• Hikari Biogold
  
  
• Repashy

Hmm odd that the water fizzed up. Did you rinse out the tank and rinse off the carbon and decorations before putting them in? The fact that you can smell chlorine is probably a good indicator you are best of to switch to a different water conditioner. (I like Seachem Prime.) Betta's like a low flow filter so just keep an eye on the filter or even switch to a sponge filter, or filter with a sponge over the intake, etc. Remeber to test your tap water too! I will link some products I have used or similar to those I have used in the past and had success with. (It may be a good idea to compare prices at your LFS store to Amazon, as I know my local Petsmart/Petco charges a fortune for a lot of aquarium items without much selection.)

API Freshwater Test Kit (Amazon wow $19.99 right now!) or at your LFS -Don't buy the test strips.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000255NCI/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

SeaChem Prime ($4-$13 depending on size from Amazon or at your LFS. I swear by Prime.)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002568S6/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

A thermometer is a good idea to make sure your heater does not create a major issue. I do not use this exact one but figured I would add it to the list with a link ($2)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002AQITK/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

Here I will just attach a link for a sponge filter I use in a 10 gallon (~$12). You will need some airline hosing and an air pump (tetra air pump works) if you get it, though I think it may be a little big for a 4 gallon. Also, an aquaclear is by far my favorite HOB filter if you go that route. Hopefully, your filter will workout!
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LXRDZPO/ref=ox_sc_act_title_4?smid=A316L92SV4DH0Y&psc=1
Tetra Air pump (~$7)
https://www.amazon.com/Tetra-77851-Whisper-Pump-10-Gallon/dp/B0009YJ4N6/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1506349229&sr=1-1&keywords=tetra%2Bair%2Bpump&th=1
Aquaclear 20 (110V ~$25): This may be a little big for your 4 gallon, not sure as I have the Aquaclear 50 on my 30 gallon but I will add it along just in case.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000260FVG/ref=twister_B00MO35VD2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Airline Tubing (a few dollars, great to have)

Household Ammonia without surfactant (to do your fishless cycle) see link http://www.fishkeeping.co.uk/articles_51/fishless-cycling-article.htm

If you decide to go with silk aquarium plants, they have few fun options online. I would also suggest really plants as they will help reduce nitrates in the future. Some good low-tech plants would be anubias, or java fern (and some others). These can be tied to a rock or driftwood as don't need to be placed in the gravel/sand/soil itself. (A small clip-on LED for an aquarium should work
if you go this route.)
https://www.reddit.com/r/bettafish/wiki/plantsetc

I would provide food options, but r/bettafish has done a great job!
https://www.reddit.com/r/bettafish/wiki/food

Here are a few they have mentioned:

Ocean Nutrition Atison's Betta Food (~12)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/huc/view.html?ie=UTF8&newItems=C38WET63RPACA8%2C1

New Life Spectrum Betta Formula (~$10)
https://www.amazon.com/New-Life-Spectrum-Formula-Semi-Float/dp/B0038JTL1Y/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1506350883&sr=1-1&keywords=New+Life+Spectrum+Betta+Pellets

Hikari Betta Bio-Gold (~$13)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B013EXTU7S/ref=twister_B00ZJZMXIS?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

You should be able to find frozen daphnia, and frozen brine shrimp at Petco/Petsmart, and live brine shrimp at your LFS.

Will add on later! Happy cycling and keep us posted!

Mine love NLS Betta Formula and fortunately it's also pretty cheap. Hikari Betta Bio-Gold is good too, especially for bettas with small mouths. The main thing you want to look for is that the first ingredients are meat sources rather than grains or anything else.

Sounds like he has a bit of swim bladder disease, which is typically caused by constipation.

You say that you give him flake food; this is not recommended, because it actually increases the chances of them becoming constipated. New Life Spectrum Betta Pellets or Hikari Bio-Gold Betta Pellets are much healthier. We feed our boys the New Life Spectrum pellets, and they go absolutely nuts for it. Our girl gets the Hikari pellets (they're smaller, and easier for her to eat) and she is equally ravenous over it.


Most likely, you've been unintentionally overfeeding him because of the flakes. It's okay to give him worms occasionally for variety, but don't overdo it. With NLS and Hikari pellets, it's easier to prevent overfeeding. For our bettas, they get 2 pellets per day, and then a day of no food, to fast them and give their digestive systems a break.

Since your boy sounds like he has a case of SBD, I recommend you continue to fast him. That is the best course of treatment. Make sure his water is clean. If you can find it in your local fish store, get some frozen Daphnia - this works as a mild laxative. Do the same thing as you would with a blanched pea; fast him for 4-5 days, then offer some of the Daphnia, and fast him again.


Curing SBD is in no way a quick process. We're currently treating a new rescue for a harsher case of it, and he's just beginning to show signs of improvement after nearly 3 weeks of fasting & blanched peas. Just have patience and stick with the treatment.

I also have small tanks of around 2.5 gallons for my bettas (only because the apartment I live in restricts them to around 3 gallons). I have to be on top of water quality maintenance though, so API Freshwater Master Test Kit (buy on amazon.com cheaper than most LFS) to frequently check ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels. I also have to do 50% water changes around every 2-3 days to maintain a decent water condition, and use Seachem Prime (water conditioner) + Seachem Stability (BB) + Seachem Pristine (BB) to help in between water changes. Also buy a clear plastic or glass turkey baster, specifically to do spot-cleaning to suck up any poos or leftover food pieces that you can see, any time you see any waste sitting around.
For heaters, I have Marina 8-watt Always-On type, but plugged into external thermostat Outlet controller to maintain proper temps without boiling my bettas (cuts off heater power when max set temp is reached).

Temperature outlet controller: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01NB8LQA8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

up to 2.5 gallons Always-On heater (USE ONLY WITH THE EXTERNAL TEMPERATURE OUTLET CONTROLLER linked above, or other similar Temperature Outlet Controller): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AE23Z88/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 (it says its for up to 1.5 gallon tanks, but since it's an always-on, it could work for slightly larger tanks, if using the appropriate temperature outlet controller).

COMFY Temperature zone for bettas = 78-80 F, so set the temperature outlet controller's low temp to 77 F, and max temp to 82 F, then stick the probe in the water (preferably across from the heater, in the tank) put the heater submerged in the water, and then plug the heater into the outlet controller. DO NOT plug the heater in before putting it into the tank. (and you probably know to rinse everything in hot water before first use, NO SOAPS)

Plants - CLOTH types (test plastic parts w/ pantyhose if any rips/snags/tears then NO NO unless you get rid of the sharp parts) or LIVE plants (can quarantine up to 2 weeks to observe for any unwanted hitch-hikers)

Hidey-Cave - No sharp pokey edges or innards, or tiny spaces betta can get stuck in.

High quality FOOOOD: NORTHFIN Betta Bits http://www.northfinusa.com/betta-bits/ , https://www.amazon.com/Northfin-Food-Betta-Pellet-Package/dp/B00M4Q5DQ4
OR New Life Spectrum Betta https://www.amazon.com/New-Life-Spectrum-Formula-Semi-Float/dp/B0038JTL1Y/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1503088646&sr=1-1&keywords=new+life+spectrum+betta
Test pellet-size soaked in water to observe the fully swollen size; betta tummy = size of their eyeball, feed accordingly the number of pellets as judged by the water-soaked size.

https://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Med-Laboratories-AZMBP5-0-12-Ounce/dp/B003ZWCTZO
(additional variety food, for a happy healthy betta)

As long as the FIRST ingredient on the ingredients list is the actual item you're ok. Look at your Fluval Bug Bites. I use the Tropical Formula for Small Fish (the light blue container), the first ingredient is the actual protein itself, in this case Black Soldier Fly Larvae (ewww). But, if you look at the back of something like TetraMin (sorry Tetra) and the first ingredient is Fish Meal. So, fish meal may have fish but it will also have ground up small ocean fish, left over bits of fish, so it includes bone, waste, etc. and you don't know what kind of fish. In case you wondered why it's not as high quality.

So, for your Betta, as long as you're using the Bug Bites for Betta, that's fine with bloodworms as a treat, no more than a couple of times a week since they aren't very nutritious and if that were all a betta ate, might cause constipation and other problems. Frozen or freeze-dried brine shrimp same thing re the treat a couple times a week. Same for the Dial a treat. The treats are "or" not each of them 2 times a week. I would trade the Hikari Betta Biogold as it's fish meal first ingredient and look for something like New Life Spectrum (not sure why this one is unavailable, but look around) if your LFS sells it or on Amazon for Bettas.

For your Tetras, Sera is a great brand and I feed that to my fish. As long as you have enough in the tank to eat the tabs they're great. I feed the Fluval Bug Bites I mentioned above. They can get the same treats the Betta gets.

Sorry, don't know about the frogs. I have fed the Hikari sinking pellets for bottom feeders like loaches and Cories and Otos (the green and the orange packets) but I only noticed after that the first ingredient is a meal. So, I occasionally feed it because the packages aren't empty yet, but I won't replace them. I use the Bug Bites for Bottom Feeders for my Cories and Otos.

The other Brand I use is Omega One depending on the size of the fish, sometimes the shrimp micro pellets for color and the veggie ones but I think they're too big for tetras who can get bloated from too many of them. I sometimes use Seachem Chlorella or Shrimp Flakes just for something different.

Hope that helps.

You don't really need an oxygen bubbler; bettas can breathe from the surface of the water and your water will be plenty oxygenated if you have something (like a filter) breaking the surface tension. Replace the bubbler with a filter and you'll be golden.

Throw that food away and get something with way more protein. Most people recommend this stuff which you can get at PetCo. It's worth the money; it lasts FOREVER. I usually feed my fish 2-3 pellets twice daily.

With a filterless tank that small you're going to have to do water changes a lot more often than once a week. Pics of the tank would help a ton too!

Two pellets twice a day. Morning and night. This is the food: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0038JTL1Y/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Thank you so much for your help, it's really appreciated. I just worry about the guy because honestly between last night and this morning, what you see in that video is the extent I've seen him out. He's either hiding in his coconut shell, under the bridge or laying on/in the gravel.

I'd go for pellets rather than flakes if it were me since they're less messy in the tank. This brand's a popular one.

If you like internal filters the Aqueon quietflows and Tetra Whispers are always good. I use HOB power filters on my tanks. I use an AquaClear on my 29 gallon and a Tetra whisper hob filter on my 4.3 gal, but the flow is a bit strong on them so I use a baffle. Theres also external canister filters, but those are really pricey and there are only a few canister filters available for tanks under 10 gallons. Sponge filters are also good choices for bettas and are almost a necesitty if you plan to add shrimp eventually, I dont have any experience with them though.

Lighting is a bit complicated because if you choose one too strong and dont have any live plants (it looks like the tank has a few though) then it will definitely spur algae growth. I use some a cheap one from amazon that has a pretty low wattage and on my tank with only java fern in it. But I use the AZOO Flexi light for my planted 4.3 gal with no algae issues on either. Also when you cycle algae will probably begin to grow but that is natural and nothing to worry about.

Also if the plexiglass covers the whole top of the tank and is thick then it will be a bit humid, youre right on that. It will definitely have to be temporary. The petstores near me never have any lids besides the metal ones that you would normally use for non-aquatic tanks, and they run for 20-30$ plus shipping online.

For transporting him you could use a bag, some pet stores sell bags specifically made for transporting fish. I usually use the cups that bettas come in, but since he is your first you probably wont have any lying around, so a plastic bag would be your best bet.

Id wait to get snails or shrimp until you upgrade to the 20 gal. Unless you choose a smaller snail species like nerites, then you could add one to the 5 gal. Apple and mystery snails get very big and have a large biomass so you would want a larger tank and good filtration for them. He would probably be really nice as a centerpiece if you do get the 20 gal long. Some bettas dont like shrimp (mine ate them), but many usually get along with snails.

Edit: I also agree with the other commenter. New water conditioner is probably needed and new food eventually. I use this food, overall though Omega One makes decent food. On the more expensive side, Ive heard Northfin Betta Bits are good and high in protein.

What country are you located in?

Petco has the dollar per gallon sale every so often. So, you could get a 10 gal for $10

Then:

Sponge filter

Air pump tubing

Heater

Thermometer

Edit: this is just basics. Other things you'd need: a hood, a liquid test kit, Food- this one is just okay, cheaper in store to get Omega one pellets, absolutely need water conditioner- this one is very concentrated

NLS is a good one. Omega One is not too bad.

My Spanish is pathetic (I've studied it for 5+ years too) but I did find these for you:

Aqueon Betta Pellets

New Life Spectrum Pellets

​

I'm pretty sure I'm still using the bottle of Aqueon pellets I ordered 3+ years ago and I have a lot of fish. That pack should last you a very long time. I also keep mine in little latching air-tight jars to help them last longer. The original container should be fine too though.

I have this product exactly and it's literally lasted me multiple betta lifetimes like /u/whale52 said. I actually had to throw out my second bottle because it expired lol