Cycling With Betta Fish

[GuppyGoddess]

Hi Everyone,

I lucked out in finding a 10-gallon tank with a stand for a price that's within my price range. The tank will be divided with a male on one side and a female on the other. Since I already have the two fish, they will be transferred from their smaller homes (2-gallon bowls) to the tank and the tank will be cycling with them in it.

Some of my questions are:

How well do Bettas hold up to cycling? ETA - I just googled and found a site that said it's best to keep them in the small bowls w/100% water changes while the tank cycles. Thoughts?

Any tips on how to make things most comfortable for them?

Since the bettas are in 2-gallon bowls, they're getting 50-75% water changes daily. With that in mind, would it make the most sense to put them in the new tank the day after it gets set up (which will take me about a week) since they're right now being stressed by the frequent changes?

Also, I won't be able to purchase all the decorations right away. They'll have gravel and two silk plants each to hide in. Is it better to add items as I can afford to buy them or should I gather up all the decorations and put them in at once. Which confuses the fish less? lol I do plan to put real plants in but first want to research because I've had bad luck with snails in the last batch of plants I brought home.

Thanks for help!

 

[loraxchick]

it would be best to divide the ten gal. and do a fish in cycle in there. with ten gals. it dilutes the waste significantly more than having them in the bowls until it cycles. feed them sparingly (say every other day) do water tests and changes as appropriate.
as far as decor, add them whenever. as you aquire stuff and put it in the tank, it keeps the boys active as their surroundings change and they need to "relearn" their surroundings. i wouldnt say it stresses them out, just keeps them from becoming really lazy couch potatoes
cheers!

 

[aussieant32]

yer just dont rush it, saying that it should take a week etc. It is never possible to put a time frame on it, im assuming you know what to test for etc to know its finished cycling?

Why not take the female back to a lfs and just give you male a 10g to himself, he would be much happier in that space!

 

[GuppyGoddess]

yer just dont rush it, saying that it should take a week etc. It is never possible to put a time frame on it, im assuming you know what to test for etc to know its finished cycling?

Why not take the female back to a lfs and just give you male a 10g to himself, he would be much happier in that space!

Oh, I would never take her back! The store I bought her from isn't the best of Betta caregivers. I was in there another day and saw them unpacking new bettas out of an insolated box. Interesting experience. I kept waiting to see what they'd do with all the bettas currently up on the shelves now that they had a whole new selection of bettas to put out. Clearly not enough room for everyone!

Even if I end up keeping the female in her 2-gallon bowl with a small heater, she'll be guaranteed to have a much more pleasurable life than what she would get if sent back to the pet store!