Cross posting from /r/bettafish.

I've been having to do (sometimes multiple) 50% water changes every single day since I brought my betta home. I know my tank isn't fully cycled, but this is getting ridiculous. How on earth does one itty bitty fish generate so much waste??? I can get it pristine and it just skyrockets again by the next morning. Anyone have any ideas what might be causing this/what I can do? :/ I just want her to be healthy.

5 Gallon fluval chi with heater and default filter.

Contents are a single baby betta and some live plants. (I thought there might be some rotting plant matter in there somewhere but I picked it all apart and it's all looking pretty healthy.)

Only additive in the water is Prime.

I feed her 4-5 frozen bloodworms in the morning and either a few more before bed, or a crushed up pellet or two. I hand feed her to make sure nothing goes uneaten/sinks to the bottom.

Been doing one or two 50% water changes per day.

PH is somewhere around 8. I need to get the high-range test... Very hard water, if that makes a difference.

Tank's been running since late last month. Fish only added about a week ago.

Ammonia rises 1 or 2 ppm every 12 hours or so.

Aaaand if I left out anything else potentially relevant, let me know.