will the second attempt be successful?

[bloomer]

I decided to give it another go with a Betta in my 5g tank. This time I did my research, read reviews and found a different shop. The one I used to go to with my family when I was a kid has a great variety of fish and supplies, but the quality of their fish has gone downhill. I found a new shop nearby with much better reviews, so I popped in and had a chat with them about my previous experience. They thought the problem was probably with the fish itself, not the tank, but they offered to help me troubleshoot if I got a new one from them and the same thing happened. Their Bettas looked much healthier and more vibrant, and they're nearly double the size of the ones at the other shop.

I took some time to think about it, then went back and picked out this little guy. He's been in the tank for about a week now and seems to be doing great - he's making bubble nests and chasing the shrimp, though he's not catching any since they're mostly too big for him. He's already figured out that when the lid comes off, it means food time, but I'm being careful not to overfeed him. Fingers crossed I haven't jinxed him by posting about him - I've been a bit superstitious about it.

[SeaBidder]

Lovely addition to your tank. Fingers crossed this one works out for you, sounds like you've found a better supplier this time around.

[coltin]

If issues arise with your new Betta, I'd recommend testing your water for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and pH levels, then share the results here along with a photo of the fish. Perform significant daily water changes until you identify the problem or resolve it.

There's a helpful, albeit lengthy, resource on what to do if your fish falls ill - it's worth familiarizing yourself with the information: https://www.fishforums.net/threads/what ... ck.450268/