Do Bettas Need Cycling?

[Tom26]

If a Betta goes into a tank on it's own as they don't need filter does the tank need to go through the cycling process or do you just need to carry out frequent water changes for the betta?

 

[kelvinrankin767]

If a Betta goes into a tank on it's own as they don't need filter does the tank need to go through the cycling process or do you just need to carry out frequent water changes for the betta?

I will be the first one to say it you should never put a fish into a uncycled tank and a tank without a filter and a heater considering this is a TROPICAL fish, just go out and buy a filter and a heater by the sounds of it you got one of those tiny plastic tanks that come with a beta and that is no way for a fish to live.

 

[Tom26]

No I haven't got a small plastic tank. I've got a 5 gallon tank with proper heater and filter which I've just started cycling. But having realised there's not much other than a Betta that can live in that size there's a lot of info around which says Bettas don't need filters so I wanted to clarify whether the tank would need fishless cycling or whether a betta can be put into a tank that's been running for a week and as long as the water is changed every few days to a week, the fish is happy?

 

[awilson360]

No I haven't got a small plastic tank. I've got a 5 gallon tank with proper heater and filter which I've just started cycling. But having realised there's not much other than a Betta that can live in that size there's a lot of info around which says Bettas don't need filters so I wanted to clarify whether the tank would need fishless cycling or whether a betta can be put into a tank that's been running for a week and as long as the water is changed every few days to a week, the fish is happy?

I am currently fish-in cycling my 10g tank with my new Betta. He has been in the tank about 14 days now and I've been monitoring the water and his behaviour day after day and only get trace readings of Ammonia and Nitrite. It's moderately planted and I've been doing 50% water changes every 3 or 4 days. They can survive for days in a little cup of water, a 5g or 10g aquarium that is filtered and heated would be heaven to them, not quite literally.

Good luck.

O and I also only feed mine about 5 Hikari Betta Pellets a day so that is why he is producing little waste. If you throw loads of food at him the water will quickly pollute and become toxic.

AW

 

[BigIan]

the quick and simple answer is..... yes a betta does need a cycled filter.

if you already have the betta in there then don`t worry frequent water changes are what is needed.
if not search the forums for fleshless cycling.

While there are many places out there that say a betta does not need a filter and can live in a cup. Its the difference between thrive and survive, i had a betta in a 5 gal planted tank and he loved it, he would often be sat in the middle of my amazon sword.

 

[coldcazzie]

The people who say that bettas don't need filters are lying, either because they don't care or because they don't know any better. Why would a betta somehow magically be able to survive ammonia levels that other fish cant?

Filter = yes. If it's uncycled then you need to do frequent water changes, just as you would for any other fish.

 

[LilyRose Tank]

If a Betta goes into a tank on it's own as they don't need filter does the tank need to go through the cycling process or do you just need to carry out frequent water changes for the betta?

I will be the first one to say it you should never put a fish into a uncycled tank and a tank without a filter and a heater considering this is a TROPICAL fish, just go out and buy a filter and a heater by the sounds of it you got one of those tiny plastic tanks that come with a beta and that is no way for a fish to live.

I am sorry but whereby did this person say anything about having this...theres no need to attack an innocant questioner....jeeeez

 

[stubert]

Trust me spending less than 10 pounds on a filter for a betta tank will save you effort and keep your betta healthier, unless you can seed this filter from an existing one, you will need to keep a strict eye on ammonia etc and keep up with water changed the ammonia will build up quickly, depending on the size of your tank.

 

[loraxchick]

simple answer- no they dont NEED a filter. they simply need water free of ammonia and nitrites. if you are willing to do waterchanges frequently (several times a week) then the fish will be fine.
is it easier to keep the betta helthy WITH a filter? yes. will save you loads of work and make the hooby enjoyable and seem less like a chore (less likely to get bored of it and abandon the hobby).
same statement for ANY fish/tank. we dont NEED filters! they simply make it easier on us as hobbyists.
cheers

 

[Timmy_Bee]

loraxchick has given a pretty definitive answer there, but just as a point - the OP is NOT doing a fish in cycle in an old urine sample cup. They are just aking questions.

 

[zophie]

If a Betta goes into a tank on it's own as they don't need filter does the tank need to go through the cycling process or do you just need to carry out frequent water changes for the betta?

I will be the first one to say it you should never put a fish into a uncycled tank and a tank without a filter and a heater considering this is a TROPICAL fish, just go out and buy a filter and a heater by the sounds of it you got one of those tiny plastic tanks that come with a beta and that is no way for a fish to live.

I am sorry but whereby did this person say anything about having this...theres no need to attack an innocant questioner....jeeeez

I agree with LilyRose- that is flaming.

 

[The Haunt]

Whoa! I'm sure that was not the intention of kelvin, although I agree it sounded rude. >.<;

Bettas don't need filters! :3 It's what lorax said, and it makes it even easier if the tank is planted! :3

 

[zophie]

Whoa! I'm sure that was not the intention of kelvin, although I agree it sounded rude. >.<;

Bettas don't need filters! :3 It's what lorax said, and it makes it even easier if the tank is planted! :3

Betta's need clean water, like any other fish. If you are ready for twice weekly cleans, great,go for it! If you want a easier bet, go for a filter. My betta fish, Kenji, who I show and breed is in a 4.5 gallon tank, heated, but un-filtered. I do three x weekly cleans, and he is a amazing, healthy fish.
So, I think the thing you really have to worry about is heat- I have had many betta's, and te one's in heated tanks always did so much better. If you live in florida, or somewhere else warm, you don't need a heater. But if you live anywhere else, thats neutrel or cold, you do.

ZOphie

 

[Bretzz]

My sister kept a Betta in a bowl (<2 Gallons), did maybe monthly water changes (100%), and it lived for 4 years. These things live in tiny plastic bowls for weeks, I think they must have very high tolerances for ammonia/ect.

 

[loraxchick]

My sister kept a Betta in a bowl (<2 Gallons), did maybe monthly water changes (100%), and it lived for 4 years. These things live in tiny plastic bowls for weeks, I think they must have very high tolerances for ammonia/ect.

that must have been an exceptionally hardy fish. all bettas unfortunately are not so tough, although still pretty hardy as far as fish go.
i would agree that THE most important thing with bettas is the heat. they are tropical fish and need to be accommodated! really the waterchanging depends on a few factors if you dont have a filter-
-volume of water in the tank (larger volume=less often/smaller changes)
-How much/often you feed them (equally as important as the water volume), the more you feed the more often you change (food in=waste out)
-plants! which type and how many. ive successfully had tanks with NO filtration that never needed a waterchange-just a top off as the water evaporated. was jam packed with fast growing plants which use up all available nitrogen containing compounds (ammonia, nitrIte and nitrAte). easy set up-just took really good care of the plants, they took really good care of the water quality.

if keeping an unfiltered tank it is ESSENTIAL that you have a good test kit, use it often and keep a log of the results until you understand that tank and its balance. for example it is not necessary to do daily waterchnages if the ammonia stays 0 for two days. when you see ammonia-do a waterchange. it really is not difficult to keep the tank "clean" if you test and do waterchanges as appropriate. filters are just "easier", and no one should be blamed for not using them.
just my thoughts on the matter.
cheers