I went to the LFS today to pick up the master kit, and have them check the am/ph/ nitrites/nitrates in the 10 gal guppy tank....that's another post later.

I was looking at the beautiful betta males and I bought one!

He is in a 2.5 gal tank with hood, that is near the kitchken sink, no gravel. Just a glass jar that has java moss surrounding it for a hiding place.

I had room tep water already waiting at home that just need Prime.  

His name is Bert, and he is blue crown tail with some red. A beautiful guy! He is small, so I hope that means he is young. All the bettas looked to be in good shape at this LFS, clean water and no betta looked sickly. This is a locally owned LFS in Oxford.  Which is a 50 mile drive from my home!

Well in my excitment I forgot to get him any food! I know they need to fast once a week, but I didn't think to ask "when was the last time he ate?"

I can pick him up food tomorrow but what about tonight???

Also Wal-mart and LFS were both out of small 25w heaters, his tank is 76 right now, it's cold outside so my house is warm. I can chrank up the heater in the house more if need be.
Can I use a human heating pad to healp keep him warm?
Thanks
_________________
Amanda Lee~ "I am from The Deep South. Where the Mocking bird sings and the azaleas are blooming!"
Mama to P & V L 6-7-2005
Betta~ Bert in a 2.5 gal tank...living life up good!
2 Orange Sunshine Guppies in a 10 gal tank

He should be able to go without food for a couple days (assuming he wasn't fed the day you bought him at the store).   If you want to try to offer him something, you could try a piece of pea, but he probably has never seen it before and won't recognize it as food.

A heating pad should work fine until you can get an actual heater for the tank.

Congratulations on your new betta; Bert sounds gorgeous.  Any chance you can post pics?  We'd love to see him!  

sure! I will try to in a few...


okay I added 2 pictures of Bert in the photo page. Click on the image and it will open a new window that is a large image of Bert.

How I came up with the name Bert... After I left the LFS I went by a local owner furniture store that was supose to be having a sale on ...but what I want was not on sale kinda thing. Well as I got back into the truck to head home I told the betta "Come on Birdy, we need to fly this coop" then I thought Betta is no bird! But Bert was the first name that came to mind. Yes I did watch Sesame Street today, so Bert ole buddy is or betta's name
_________________
Amanda Lee~ "I am from The Deep South. Where the Mocking bird sings and the azaleas are blooming!"
Mama to P & V L 6-7-2005
Betta~ Bert in a 2.5 gal tank...living life up good!
2 Orange Sunshine Guppies in a 10 gal tank

Bert got 3 mini -pellets today, and looked very thankfull!

His tank also got a Tetra heater, it is for 2 -10 gallon aquarium and is suppose to be pre-set at 78 but his water is staying 76. It has been in his tank since 3 pm today. The little red light does come on when I plugged it up and I felt it getting warm under water, so I sure hope I have not bought a dhud!

This is a 50 w heater, he is 2.5 gal. This was the only heater I could find with out making a 3 hour round trip to Petsmart.
I just love living in the boonies!
_________________
Amanda Lee~ "I am from The Deep South. Where the Mocking bird sings and the azaleas are blooming!"
Mama to P & V L 6-7-2005
Betta~ Bert in a 2.5 gal tank...living life up good!
2 Orange Sunshine Guppies in a 10 gal tank

Thanks for posting his pic, he looks great!  Interesting story behind his name, too.  

How's the heater working out for you?  50w seems rather powerful for a 2.5 gallon.  Does it have an adjustable thermostat?

I am not to happy with the heater. It is suppose to be pre set on 78. It's not adjustabe.

It is keeping the tank 76 but I still have the heating pad on low just to keep him 78. I have the heating pad up against the back of the tank. It is between the tank and the wall, with a little space between so he doesn't get too hot.

I am going to call the LFS today and ask them to order me a 25 watt adjustable heater. The LFS was sold out of them. This heater came from wal-mart, and cost $15.
_________________
Amanda Lee~ "I am from The Deep South. Where the Mocking bird sings and the azaleas are blooming!"
Mama to P & V L 6-7-2005
Betta~ Bert in a 2.5 gal tank...living life up good!
2 Orange Sunshine Guppies in a 10 gal tank

also I have 2 thermometers in and on the tank. The glass floating suction cuped to the wall farthest away from the heater and then a strip at side of the tank, also far away from the heater.

both reading 76
_________________
Amanda Lee~ "I am from The Deep South. Where the Mocking bird sings and the azaleas are blooming!"
Mama to P & V L 6-7-2005
Betta~ Bert in a 2.5 gal tank...living life up good!
2 Orange Sunshine Guppies in a 10 gal tank

Yeah, it sounds like there's a problem with that heater, if it can't heat the tank to the correct temperature.  I would definitely take it back.

Given that that heater is too powerful for a tiny tank, if it isn't keeping the water at 78* it just isn't working.  Quite honestly I would expect a 50w heater to cook a poor guy in 2.5g.  The 25W should be much better suited to this tank.  Take the bigger one back and tell them it obviously isn't working if it can't raise the temp two degrees in just 2.5g of water.

I am taking it back.

I am ordering a new one day, and when it comes in I will proceed to Wal-Mart to take their junky heater back!
_________________
Amanda Lee~ "I am from The Deep South. Where the Mocking bird sings and the azaleas are blooming!"
Mama to P & V L 6-7-2005
Betta~ Bert in a 2.5 gal tank...living life up good!
2 Orange Sunshine Guppies in a 10 gal tank

Just yesterday I returned the exact same junky heater to Walmart. It was in my 10g tank overnight and the water was still 74/75. I don't think it heated the water 1 deg over what it would have been without any heater at all.