Cheap Way To Set Up Betta Tank?

[eggy]

okay, sorry i just don't have common sence, i have very rare sence

 

[Honeythorn]

plastic critter cages sound good, but i quite like the idea of big plastic tanks
but what is with the whole "place them under your bed" idea, i mean don't they need alot of sunlight?

*head...desk...head....desk * I did not say put the bettas under the bed. I said get clear plastic storage tubs of the sort you can put stuff in and push under the bed. Or under anything for that matter. I was simply describing the type of tub.

Something like this.

Simply go into a shop and pick out the ones that are the most clear/see through.


You simply drill some airholes in the lid and cut a couple of notches out of the edge of the lid to allow the wires for the heater and filter to sit so that you can close the lid properly .

They make perfectly fine temporary tanks and also hospital or quarantine tanks. A heater will not melt or burn the tub because most heaters come with suction cups that will keep the heater away from the plastic.

When you get a tub like that, even though it's new wash it out with hot water ( not boiling , that will bugger the plastic ) and salt, then rinse with hot water again to get any trace of salt out . This is just to be on the safe side and remove any dust that may have got on or in there during transit and the time in the store .

You can set it up the same way you would any other tank.

The only thing you won't really be able to do is have live plants. But soft silk plants will be fine and plenty of them , not just one or two, it looks crap and it's hardly enough hiding space . So plenty of bunches of those dotted about for the fish to dart into and interact with . A coconut cave or flowerpot on it's side for a hidey hole if the fish is particularly nervous will also wrk well.

Perfectly simple and cheap. These tubs often come in packs, and even the biggest ones ( I have seen some that hold up to 17 gallons which would be fine for a group of around 8 female bettas by the way ) are not expensive at all. They aren't glamorous and obviously won't look anywhere near as nice as proper glass or acrylic tanks, but if you're going to have a lot of bettas then they will generally work out a bit cheaper.

Don't forget about second hand glass tanks though. They also come cheap, and a ten gallon tank can easily be divided into two 5 gallon sections for a pair of males to have a side each.


Personally I would still go with a 4 foot second hand tank and divide it up for males, and say a 2-3 foot tank for a big group of females ( you could also have a few peaceful tankmates in there . Keep a few of the previously mentioned plastic tubs for quarantine/hospital tanks. The bettas you rescue will more than likely be diseased in some way, and require medicaments . Finrot and fungus seem to be a very common problem with rescue bettas, and the last thing you want is for these to spread in a divided tank if you have one, so tubs for hospital tanks are essential for what you want to do.




EDIT- I think I might buy a plastic tub and make a tank as I described above , then take a series of pictures of it in progress. I'm not being harsh but I seem to be having to describe this type of temporary/cheap tank so often and not just in this section. I think pictures with briefer descriptions will take up less time and get the point across better.

Does this seem a good idea?

 

[Truck]

you could easily get a lighting unit in there, my tank has a plastic lid with no space for a light to clip on.

so buy an arc pod and some cable ties

drill some holes in the lid like this

. . . . .
ARC POD UNIT
. . . . .

the dots are holes and then use cable ties to secure it in place, they dont produce to much heat and if you have decent air circulation you will be problem free, and you can have live plants

 

[your1stopshop]

If you want to save the bettas from an existence in a small plastic cup, then don't buy them. If you buy them, the store owner will only buy more and inflict the same fate onto others. The more people buy fish subjected to these conditions, the more store owners will think its ok and continue the practice. Save the fish from the plastic cup by refusing to buy them if kept in those conditions and tell others to do the same.

 

[Truck]

a follow on from what was said above, buy one from a reputable breeder.

 

[reportingsjr]

Agreed that buying them will only make them worse.

If a pet store with some of these is going out of business, then it would be in your interest to save them!

 

[eggy]

i found a really good plastic container (80L) but it is only a foot high, is this good enough or should it be deeper?