Imported betta advice

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Mount_Prion

Mount_Prion

Piranha
MFK Member
Jan 31, 2012
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center of the universe
Just ordered my girlfriend a gorgeous betta from a Thai breeder for her birthday. He recommends adding some aquarium salt, cappata leaves, and some tetracycline to the tank beforehand to ward off potential illness.

I've got the leaves, but I don't normally add aquarium salt unless I'm treating ich. Should I add some anyway? I'm putting plants in there and I don't want them to whither.

And tetracycline is prescription only in the US.

Is there anything else I should do it add to ensure healthiness? Is there a tetracycline alternative?

And don't say melafix cause that stuff is snake oil IMO.

Thanks!

PS this is the betta:

http://www.aquabid.com/cgi-bin/auction/closed.cgi?view_closed_item&fwbettashm1371363660

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
 
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Shots of his little 2.3g nano we set up last night.

Anybody got advice as per above?

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IMG_20130618_012246.jpg

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Clean water.. tea tree oil used improperly is indeed deadly in most cases to air breathers like bettas. ( Melafix's main ingredient) I only treat for infection if there is cause... so I wouldn't salt or add antibiotics unless its neccisary... and I would still QT the betta in a barebottom tank ect considering its being shipped overseas. no sense ruining the tank even If its not going to have tank mates you still have the plants ect.
 
MonsterMinis said:
Clean water.. tea tree oil used improperly is indeed deadly in most cases to air breathers like bettas. ( Melafix's main ingredient) I only treat for infection if there is cause... so I wouldn't salt or add antibiotics unless its neccisary... and I would still QT the betta in a barebottom tank ect considering its being shipped overseas. no sense ruining the tank even If its not going to have tank mates you still have the plants ect.
Click to expand...

I mostly agree, but the plants really don't matter compared to the betta. My GF is already in love with it. So I think it'll be more likely to be healthy in there than anywhere else. I've added only a tiny amount of salt (less than 1/4 teaspoon) and a piece of an indian almond leaf, because the leaf at least is ideal for a betta regardless of health.
 
i don't think the tea tree extact thing is necessary. It does more harm than good IMO.
 
Guys, I wasn't using tea tree extract. I mentioned melafix as a joke cause I think it's junk.
 
It will sit at the transhippers, in a tank, before it comes to you. So it's not like it is arriving at your front door straight from Thailand. I would keep the aquarium water just as you would if you were buying it locally. Unless treating ich, there is no reason to have salt in your tank. Or any meds. If you have ever had fish shipped to you from somewhere in the states, then do with this one just as you would if it were not coming from Thailand. Because it will rest at the transhippers, it is like getting a fish shipped to you from anywhere in the states. Don't overthink it. Acclimate the fish to the tanks temp when you get it, and put it in after that.
 
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