Maybe I will try again...

[iheartnjdevils]

I never thought I'd get attached to a fish but he was so enjoyable that I'm thinking of trying again. Some questions I have before I start again:

1. Heater - Has anyone else experienced a problem where the heater turns on and off? I've tried 2 heaters and sometimes the water gets pretty cool, and then other times it's warm. Why does it do this?

2. Tank Cycling - Is it recommended to take the time and do the cyclying the long way or has anyone found a product that will cycle the tank longer? If so, is the water ready as soon as you put in the liquid? The boxes give very general instructions.

3. Water Conditioning - How long does it take the conditioner to work? Do you have to let the water sit for a bit or can you just shake it up and pour it in? (I have a 5 gallon tank and was doing a 1 gallon water change each week.)

4. Salt - I have read that some people use salt for bettas at very low dosage. And that this can prevent any fungus or bacaterial disease. Is this true? How much is recommended for a 5 gallon tank?

5. What is the life span of a betta? Do they come in different sizes or does smaller usually mean younger?

Sorry for all the questions!

 

[OohFeeshy]

Yup, I've had heater problems before, I just dumped it . Room temperature keeps them at a steady 80 degrees or so (yup, my room is that warm. Combo of all the tank lights, no open windows and various other stuff.) Cycling, I don't filter mine so I obviously can't cycle them, but if you have a filter you might as well cycle. Theres not a great deal of point in having one otherwise . Water conditioner, it depends what it says on the bottle. As for salt, I don't use it regularly unless the betta has some fin regrowth to do, if you keep the tank healthy there is no reason for it to get disease. And lifespan, it varies, but you are correct in that smaller usually means younger. Bettas from shops are normally 6 months or older so past their prime, whereas bettas from breeders are around the 3 month mark.

 

[SRC]

1. Heater - Has anyone else experienced a problem where the heater turns on and off? I've tried 2 heaters and sometimes the water gets pretty cool, and then other times it's warm. Why does it do this?
Those heaters that aren't adjustable are the ones that seem to go bad more often, imho. Those sold at Walmart are definate culprits/examples of this. There are some links to some great heaters in this thread.
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=107641&hl=

Now that being said...adjustable heaters have a light on them. The light going on and off is normal. The light comes on when the heater is on...when the water reaches the temp you set the thermometer for the light will go off.

2. Tank Cycling - Is it recommended to take the time and do the cyclying the long way or has anyone found a product that will cycle the tank longer? If so, is the water ready as soon as you put in the liquid? The boxes give very general instructions.
Anything over 5 gallons is a good choice to cycle. Would keep you from having to do 100% changes so often. 1 -3 gallon tanks are going to be a PITA to cycle..as the amonia builds up so quickly in them..it's almost not even worth it imo.

Those products that promise cycling in a bottle...I don't trust them. It's like ammonia lock and PH buffer...it can't be good adding that much chemicals to your tank. I just don't think I'd trust my babies to some chemical.

Here is a good link to cycling.
http/www.algone.com/fishless_cycling.htm
A fishless cycle is a great alternative..BUT not everyone can come up with pure ammonia..it's hard to come by in some areas. So in those cases you will have to do a cycle with fish...just don't use goldfish...they are coldwater fish and the tank will nto cycle properly for tropicals using them.

Either way, cycling is not a short process. Fishless takes longer then the regular way (with fish) but it doesn't affect any little fishie lives.

3. Water Conditioning - How long does it take the conditioner to work? Do you have to let the water sit for a bit or can you just shake it up and pour it in? (I have a 5 gallon tank and was doing a 1 gallon water change each week.)
The water conditioner is almost instant. Just make sure you swirl it around real good.

4. Salt - I have read that some people use salt for bettas at very low dosage. And that this can prevent any fungus or bacaterial disease. Is this true? How much is recommended for a 5 gallon tank?
You can use it as a live in treatment, called a bath. But, the more often you use it the less effective it will be when you really need to call for it.

To prepare your tank with a live-in solution it's 1 TBSP (tablespoon) to 1 gallon of water.

Most people use a salt bath on newly acquired fish...while quarentining them before adding them in with other fish (i.e. a community tank or divided tank). Just to be sure they aren't harboring anything that may attack their other fish.


5. What is the life span of a betta? Do they come in different sizes or does smaller usually mean younger?
Most live up to 3 years, some people say there's have lived longer. It would be my opinion that the better care you take of your betta, the longer it will live. Make sure the ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates stay under control and your betta will live a longer, happier life with you.

Yes they do come in different sizes (just like people). Alot of Veils seem to get bigger then the other tail types. But that isn't a rule.
Sometimes you will find a betta at say, Walmart, that are full grown yet much smaller then another fish beside it...this can happen due to over crowding in the grow out tanks and/or poor water quality in general while the fish was growing up.

But yes, smaller "usually" does mean younger...but not always. The fish sold on Aquabid are generally young (3-6 months old) and when you recieve them not all will not be completely grown.

 

[xamdarb]

i would get a betta but all the fish stores here have bettas that have deseises and stuff so im afraid of spending money on one if its going to die in a day