New To Betta Fish

[AdamBeat8]

Im new to the betta fish. I got a ref halfmoon betta today, really beautiful looking. Could you guys give me any heads ups i need to know, or any tips? Hes in a small vase right now but i will soon put him in a big vase with plants and a few other small fish, thanks

 

[AnimalHouse36]

Does the bigger vase you're putting him into have a filter? Vase's with large plants on the top tend to not be recommended.
What are the fish he'll be going in with? Neon Tetras? If so they can be nippers. And they like to be in schools of 8+, I doubt you'll be able to fit a betta and 8 neons in a vase with no filtration.

It's recommended that Bettas are in at LEAST a 2.5 gallon fish tank. They are tropical fish and therefor the temp should be at about 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Or at least this is my understanding.

What are you feeding him?

 

[AdamBeat8]

well acually neons go in schools of 3-4 and also bettas dont care what size at all they live in. i feed them frozen brine shrimp and some pellats

 

[iBetta]

What size is the bigger vase?

 

[lilfishie]

well acually neons go in schools of 3-4 and also bettas dont care what size at all they live in. i feed them frozen brine shrimp and some pellats

Neons need groups of atleast 6 to feel secure.

Bettas do care what size tank there in! there just like anyother fish, need heating & filtering and the space to swim.
Yes you can get a way with a smaller tank but 3Gal is usually the minimum as a perminant home.

Also Vases are not ideal as there usually rounded, Bettas need surface area at the top of the tank which vases cannot provide.


Putting a Betta in a vase is like you living in a cupboard IMO and that is no life

 

[Louiseness]

well acually neons go in schools of 3-4 and also bettas dont care what size at all they live in. i feed them frozen brine shrimp and some pellats

Why ask for advice if you're going to disregard the answers anyway?

Regardless of the size, a vase isn't suitable because firstly you most likely can't get a filter in, and secondly the surface area is very small - it will kill your betta if he can't get to the surface to breathe.

If you look anywhere on this forum or most reputable fish websites you'll find that the recommended number for schooling fish (and therefore most if not all tetras) is MINIMUM six. Lots of people here tend to prefer numbers more like 10 or 12 minimum because it;s much more natural.

 

[Jinty McGinty]

well acually neons go in schools of 3-4 and also bettas dont care what size at all they live in. i feed them frozen brine shrimp and some pellats

Actually it is indeed 6+ for all Tetra fish.

And a vase?? Don't be evil and get it a tank with a heater, filter and some real plants.

 

[Blubble37]

well acually neons go in schools of 3-4 and also bettas dont care what size at all they live in. i feed them frozen brine shrimp and some pellats

if you are going to take that attitude, you shouldnt be keeping fish. A betta will be VERY grumpy if you stuck him in a 500ml mug for all his life but would love you forever if you stuck him in a tank with big surface area and low water current so it wont buffet it around. 3gal is pushing it IMO. 5gal+ only for me

i'll be keeping my male in a 10.5 gal, with some tetras (6) and dwarf cfories when they come back in stock (4)

 

[AdamBeat8]

alright ill probably get a bigger tank

 

[loraxchick]

While hes in the vase, make sure you are changing the water at least every other day (every day would be ideal) and make sure it is in a warm place if there is no heater. Try to keep the temp around no less than 72 degrees. These are tropical fish and need to be kept warm. A small desklamp with incandescent bulb at an appropriate distance should do the trick..If you dont have one keep it in the kitchen..the warmest room in the house (on top of the fridge is ideal as it is usually toasty up there.).
also, dont overfeed him. only a few pellets or flakes every OTHER day. cooler water=slower metabolism and need less food. also will help with the water quality. If you are able to, try to put a few plants in. Camboba and elodea/anacharis can grow JUST fine floating freely in the water (dont need to be rooted) and will provide some cover for him as well as help somewhat with ammonia.
hope that helps you a bit more than people just "shouting" about getting a larger tank. If you do upgrade for him (idealy you should, but given info above should be ok in the meantime), try to look for at least a 3 gal. Bigger is always better (and easier to maintain if you are new to the hobby) but 3 gal would be great for a single male (or female) betta.
cheers

 

[Whisper]

And when you do water changes NEVER change more than 50% of the water at a time. It is best to do freaquent SMALL water changes no more than 25%. This way you lower the risk of killing your fish from a large pH change or a mismatched temperature change. Let the new water stand for a day so it becomes the same temperature as the water your fish is currently in and treat it to remove the Chlorine.

I cannot express how important this is. It is the main reason why new fish owners kill their fish unintentionally. Do small water changes and it's a good idea to get a pH measuring kit so you know what the pH is and if it is dropping too fast.

If the pH drops within a few days, it means you need to do more freaquent water changes.

The advice you were given above about putting him in a tank of 3 to 5 gallons minimum is excellent. And in that small of a tank, I would not look to add any other fish or you'll need to do daily 25% water changes.

Take our advice and your Betta will love you and will even interact with you if you spend some quality time with him every day. A betta can bond with a human much like a dog does. Treat him like royalty because..... HE IS!

 

[Jinty McGinty]

And when you do water changes NEVER change more than 50% of the water at a time. It is best to do freaquent SMALL water changes no more than 25%. This way you lower the risk of killing your fish from a large pH change or a mismatched temperature change. Let the new water stand for a day so it becomes the same temperature as the water your fish is currently in and treat it to remove the Chlorine. TOTAL AND UTTER RUBBISH THIS PARAGRAPH - IGNORE IT

I cannot express how important this is. It is the main reason why new fish owners kill their fish unintentionally. Do small water changes and it's a good idea to get a pH measuring kit so you know what the pH is and if it is dropping too fast.

If the pH drops within a few days, it means you need to do more freaquent water changes. PH is the least of his worries!! It is unlikely to drop anyway!

The advice you were given above about putting him in a tank of 3 to 5 gallons minimum is excellent. And in that small of a tank, I would not look to add any other fish or you'll need to do daily 25% water changes.

Take our advice and your Betta will love you and will even interact with you if you spend some quality time with him every day. A betta can bond with a human much like a dog does. Treat him like royalty because..... HE IS!

Think you need to go to the beginners centre and relearn fishing keeping basics. No offence.

 

[Whisper]

And when you do water changes NEVER change more than 50% of the water at a time. It is best to do freaquent SMALL water changes no more than 25%. This way you lower the risk of killing your fish from a large pH change or a mismatched temperature change. Let the new water stand for a day so it becomes the same temperature as the water your fish is currently in and treat it to remove the Chlorine. TOTAL AND UTTER RUBBISH THIS PARAGRAPH - IGNORE IT

I cannot express how important this is. It is the main reason why new fish owners kill their fish unintentionally. Do small water changes and it's a good idea to get a pH measuring kit so you know what the pH is and if it is dropping too fast.

If the pH drops within a few days, it means you need to do more freaquent water changes. PH is the least of his worries!! It is unlikely to drop anyway!

The advice you were given above about putting him in a tank of 3 to 5 gallons minimum is excellent. And in that small of a tank, I would not look to add any other fish or you'll need to do daily 25% water changes.

Take our advice and your Betta will love you and will even interact with you if you spend some quality time with him every day. A betta can bond with a human much like a dog does. Treat him like royalty because..... HE IS!

Think you need to go to the beginners centre and relearn fishing keeping basics. No offence.

If you don't understand why a 100% water change to a tank with a pH of 7.0 using new water with a pH level of 7.6 can harm a fish than you know nothing about water chemistry and water chemistry is essential to keeping fish healthy because.....THEY LIVE IN WATER!

If you think monitoring your pH levels is not important than you know nothing about water chemistry and water chemistry is essential to keeping fish healthy because.....THEY LIVE IN WATER!

If you think treating tap water for Chlorine before adding it to a fish tank is not important than you know nothing about water chemistry and water chemistry is essential to keeping fish healthy because.....THEY LIVE IN WATER!

If you don't know why the pH is very likely to drop in a small vase with a live plant and a fish than you know nothing about water chemistry and water chemistry is essential to keeping fish healthy because.....THEY LIVE IN WATER!

No offense intended. Just facts!

 

[Jinty McGinty]

A water change can be done as much as leaves the fish enough water to swim upright in to remove ammonia and nitrite levels.

Water can't be left to stand for a day as done in the 'old' world because water has chemicals added to it. Water should be conditioned with a tap safe then added to the tank. To prevent temp changes you use some warm water as well provided your pipes are not made of copper thereby using boiled water from the kettle mixed with cold should be sufficient.

What a nasty attitude you have because you've been told you're wrong.

With a vase, the water would need minimum of 50% water change to remove the ammonia created by the fish. 25% would not be enough.

 

[Dieses Madchen]

A water change can be done as much as leaves the fish enough water to swim upright in to remove ammonia and nitrite levels.

Water can't be left to stand for a day as done in the 'old' world because water has chemicals added to it. Water should be conditioned with a tap safe then added to the tank. To prevent temp changes you use some warm water as well provided your pipes are not made of copper thereby using boiled water from the kettle mixed with cold should be sufficient.

What a nasty attitude you have because you've been told you're wrong.

With a vase, the water would need minimum of 50% water change to remove the ammonia created by the fish. 25% would not be enough.

I agree. I do 50% everyday on my old Betta, Blue, because he is in a 1 gallon filterless tank that is kept in my bedroom (warmest room in the house, constant 75 degrees) because the ammonia gets high really fast. I know 1 gallon is a little small, but I have tried with bigger tanks and planted tanks, and filtered tanks. His poor little fins shriveled up and it took two weeks of being in his original home to start flaring again. I figure i am not going to fix whats not broken...but anyways. I do 50% water changes everyday, conditioned tap water that I try to match as closely with the temp of the remaining water in the tank. Is this correct? Or should I be doing something else?