Unanswered Questions About Betta's

Hello all,

I've a new Betta owner, and I'm already in love.

I've spent the last several days researching TONS of info about Betta's, but I have just a few questions that I'm still stumed about:

1) Water Evaporation:

At least, I assume that's what it is. I'm using a 5.5G tank (with about 4G of water in it), filtered and heated, and plan on doing 25-50% changes every two weeks, but in order to keep the water level above the mark on my heater, I have to add water almost every other day. The tank doesn't have a lid, which is why it's not full (so he doesn't jump out).

Many people use even smaller tanks, and I've never seen anyone else talk about this. How come? It raises so many questions:

-> Do I keep adding water every few days. Should I condition it first?
-> Do I not add water, and just make up for it when I do a water change?
-> Do I add water AND do regular water changes?
-> Would a lid help against the evaporation?
-> Is it okay to have the heater completely underwater (including the dial)?

2) If you only have one Betta in a tank, and no other's nearby, is there still a risk that he'll jump out?

3) Even if a lid won't help against evaporation, and there's no chance he'll jump out, is it still a better idea to use a lid?

4) My Betta is currently healing from fin rot, he seems to have more of an appetite than before, should I feed him more while he's healing?

5) I've been told that pellets are generally better than flakes, and that you should soak them first. However, when I do that, they seem too big for my guy to eat. He has to spit them out a few times before he can get 'em. I'm worried he might choak. Should I still soak them first?

These might seem like random questions, but I'm a very meticulous person, and only want the best for my little guy.

Thanks,

Phill

Hello all, I've a new Betta owner, and I'm already in love.

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Bettas are great fish, aren't they? So much personality.

Many people use even smaller tanks, and I've never seen anyone else talk about this. How come?

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Because most of us do frequent water changes, at least once a week, which means that we generally aren't in a place where evaporation is a huge issue. My betta bowls evaporate a bit, but since I change 100% out every 4 days, it typically doesn't effect anything other than the general humidity of my room.

-> Do I keep adding water every few days. Should I condition it first?

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Yes.

-> Do I not add water, and just make up for it when I do a water change?

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Eeeh, you can do that, but it's better to maintain the quantity of water you have, imho, it'll help maintain your parameters. What temp is your water that causes it to evaporate so quickly?

-> Do I add water AND do regular water changes?

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Oh, yes. Doing a water change lowers your ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels, whereas simply adding water would allow it to build up over time.

-> Would a lid help against the evaporation?

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Definately, the evaporating water would strike the lid, condense, and drip back into the tank. Some vapor will escape, but it'll be less.

-> Is it okay to have the heater completely underwater (including the dial)?

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Depends on the heater, I guess. Did you buy it used? Are there no directions? I'd keep the dial out, personally, for fear of water leaking inside.

2) If you only have one Betta in a tank, and no other's nearby, is there still a risk that he'll jump out?

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My bettas never jump, unless something tempts them to, but I've heard of bettas jumping simply because they were bored. No point in risking it when a bit of plastic will keep him properly 'indoors'.

3) Even if a lid won't help against evaporation, and there's no chance he'll jump out, is it still a better idea to use a lid?

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Well, the lid keeps things OUT as well as IN... imagine anything that can do both, and gague the risk.

4) My Betta is currently healing from fin rot, he seems to have more of an appetite than before, should I feed him more while he's healing?

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I wouldn't. Maybe a better quality of food, or a wider variety... but I wouldn't generally feed more. The real key is water quality, here.

5) I've been told that pellets are generally better than flakes, and that you should soak them first. However, when I do that, they seem too big for my guy to eat. He has to spit them out a few times before he can get 'em. I'm worried he might choak. Should I still soak them first?

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They swell when you soak them, they swell when he swallows them. Spitting out and drawing back in is a betta 'chewing' his dinner. I never soak the pellets, but then I only feed 4 pellets a day.

These might seem like random questions, but I'm a very meticulous person, and only want the best for my little guy.

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Welcome, brother! I research to death, too. It's better than not knowning, right?

Is your tank cycled? If not, I'd recommend more frequent, smaller water changes. That'll keep his water quality up and help his finrot a Great deal.


edit: My 'quotes' don't seem to be working, but I can't figure where the bug in my code is..
edit: Well, I tried to fix it, apologies for the mess that was meant to clarify.

soritan's right on all accounts

About the pellets... what brand do you use? Some are almost too big for my bettas' mouths even without soaking them! Personally, I use Hikari brand and don't bother soaking them first and haven't had any problems.

soritan,

Thanks so much for your reply.

The water is kept around 80F. But the water in his smaller "healing" bowl at room temp evaporates pretty quickly as well. I assume it just always happens, but people with bigger tanks don't notice it, and people with smaller tanks do frequent enough water changes that no one mentions it.

I'm using Wardley Betta Premium Food:



Crude Protein - min. 40%
Crude Fat - min. 6%
Crude Fiber - max. 3%
Moisture - max. 10%
Vitamin C - min. 200 mg/kg

The pellets don't seem bigger than any of the other pellet foods I saw.

I feed him pellets now, and bloodworms (frozen in gel). I used to feed him exclusively flakes.

Then tank isn't cycled... yet. Right now he's in a small bowl for healing purposes, soon I'll move him into the tank and monitor the ammonia, nitrite and nitrate and work on getting it cycled. I'm also thinking of getting some Java Moss.

Thanks,

Phill

I've tried Wardley and it's too big for some of my fish. I'd give Hikari a try, their pellets are a bit smaller... Atison's betta food is probably the smallest pellet around, but they're still new and hard to find outside of ordering them online... they're a great value, however; you get a huge container for the price!

EDIT: Alternatively, crush the pellets up before feeding them and see if that helps.

Alright,

Well, now after soaking them, they're almost too big to even get in his mouth.

So I tried not soaking them, and when he eats them I can hear them crunching (is that bad)?

So I tried giving him some flakes again, and he won't eat them. Also, now he's not eating all his pellets?

What should I do?

I'm thinking of just going and buy him some smaller pellets, but these ones were the best ones I found at the store...

Thanks,

Phill

Abiut the evaporation, why not fill it all the way up instead of only filling 4.4g or whatever?

OohFeeshy said:

Abiut the evaporation, why not fill it all the way up instead of only filling 4.4g or whatever?

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The person already said that. lol It's because they have no lid, so they dont want him to jump out.

I have TetraMin Tropical Granules as one of the variety that I suppliment with. They are smaller than any other Betta food I've found. It says that they are good for Bettas, but I've not researched it. The Betta seem to like it more than everything but the real meat actually. Next is Hikari. For some reason I've never had much luck with Attison's.

If you have central air and heat the circulating air could be increasing your evaporation, especially when you are still using the air. Air conditioning compressors take the water out of the air. The lid will help whatever the cause.

Bre_B said:

OohFeeshy said:

Abiut the evaporation, why not fill it all the way up instead of only filling 4.4g or whatever?

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The person already said that. lol It's because they have no lid, so they dont want him to jump out.

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Oops... So much for reading posts

Thank you so much for your replies so far.

I went out today, and got a lid, it takes two bulbs, I opted for 15W instead of 25W (because of heat generation). I got clear, but they came in other colours, and I was wondering if there's any advantage to using a different coloured light.

I also went out and got him some more food. The only brand I could find of the recommended brands (recommended by you guys) was Hikari, so I got these:



Crude Protein - min 30%
Crude Fat - min. 4%
Crude Fiber - max. 5%
Moisture - max. 9%
Ash - Max 10%

How does this compare to the Wardley's (health & nutrition-wise)? (FYI: The pellets are smaller)

I just fed him some, and he ate them RIGHT AWAY. Phew. He didn't seem interested in the Wardley's anymore, so I guess I've found a winner.

Thanks,

Phill

PS: Another quick question!

How does loud music affect betta's. He's in my room, and I listen to my music pretty dern loud, will that be a problem?

Phill

Hi. I've never noticed a problem with the loud music, even the bass music!

That's not really a betta food that you bought. It says cichlid on it and that looks like an oscar! quite a bigger fish than bettas. I guess if you've opened it you can't really return it anymore.

I guess if he eats them, and he remains healthy then you're okay

-Ian

newbettaowner05 said:

Thank you so much for your replies so far.

I went out today, and got a lid, it takes two bulbs, I opted for 15W instead of 25W (because of heat generation). I got clear, but they came in other colours, and I was wondering if there's any advantage to using a different coloured light.

I also went out and got him some more food. The only brand I could find of the recommended brands (recommended by you guys) was Hikari, so I got these:

Crude Protein - min 30%
Crude Fat - min. 4%
Crude Fiber - max. 5%
Moisture - max. 9%
Ash - Max 10%

How does this compare to the Wardley's (health & nutrition-wise)? (FYI: The pellets are smaller)

I just fed him some, and he ate them RIGHT AWAY. Phew. He didn't seem interested in the Wardley's anymore, so I guess I've found a winner.

Thanks,

Phill

PS: Another quick question!

How does loud music affect betta's. He's in my room, and I listen to my music pretty dern loud, will that be a problem?

Phill

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I thought it would be okay. It was also with all the other Betta foods, but that might not mean anything.

Is it alright to feed these to him?

Thanks,

Phill

As a point of reference: while oscars get quite big. other SA Cichlids are referred to as dwarfs and stay 2" and under. In this case it's the contents and size of the pellets that's at question.

Hmmm? As a matter of fact I have some Hikari Cichlid Gold pellets that my appistogrammas don't pay much attention to. They don't care to make their way through the top and middle dwellers to get floating foods. Maybe I will try some on the Betta.

There is also Hikari Betta Bio-Gold and Tetra BettaMin Tropical Medley. Both of these have passed my betta's approval.

BTW, we need pics of Betta. Please post some pics of your Betta right away.

My Betta isn't in very good health right now, here are a few quick pics:



Pic #2:



Thanks,

Phill