Question For Only Those Of You Who House Their Betta In A Bowl

[Galanta]

I must have spent hours so far reviewing what different people say about the correct timing and way to change water for a fish living in a betta bowl. It seemed that just about everybody was saying to do 100% water changes with the interval being determined by the size of the container the fish is kept in.

But recently I found another small LFS which seems very good. It is the only place I could find that actually sells the Atison Betta Pro (which my betta is going totally NUTS over). When I mentioned to the owner that I do 100% water changes he was horrified and said that this should NEVER be done, not even if the fish was just living in a cup.

So now I am wondering again ... Azumo is living in a 3-3.5 gal bowl. After a 100% water change I can go for a week and there is still 0 ammonia. In fact can go for a week, do a 50% change and then go for another week and still not show any ammonia. But when I do this, the water is not quite as clear as it is after 100% changes and I am wondering if there is really any benefit to doing a partial change rather than a full change (since a fish bowl is not cycled and it is not like I am getting rid of beneficial bacteria, etc.)

So I was wondering what your routine is:

a) What size container does your fish live in?
b) How often do you do a water change?
c) How much of the water do you change?
and especially d) how long as your fish been living like this and have you ever had any health issues with him/her?

Does anybody know of a betta fish that lived 2 years or more in a bowl - and if yes, what his water change routine was?

 

[stevefish21]

Hi
If you are saying that there is no ammonia after a week, then i'd get a new test kit Are you using a liquid test kit or the paper test strips?

 

[Galanta]

Liquid test kit. It definitely works. When I had him in a 3/4g bowl when I first got him I would show ammonia within 12 hrs. I now have him in a bowl which is probably 4gal. It has some stones and ornaments plus 3-3.5 gal of actual water. I recently also added some java moss and another live plant. I am careful not to overfeed him and not to let food drift to the bottom. Anyways - I guess 0 ammonia is probably a misnomer. The test kit shows completely yellow even after a week, i.e. does not become light green like it shows for the 0. 25 mark. I guess there are probably some traces of ammonia just not enough to register noticably. The kit definitely works. I just remembered that I tested my friends water just two night ago and her water DEFINITELY showed up green : (

 

[lilacamy931]

Also just checking you havent a special filter for the bowl or anything which is why the 100% water changes were recommended?

 

[Truck]

the plants are most probably keeping the ammonia down as they use it as a source of nitrogen

 

[Galanta]

Thanks. Correct, there is no filter. I originally got the fish and had a 3/4gal bowl. I then read that what one should do is change all the water, and then test for ammonia daily and note how many days it takes for ammonia to show. Then one subtracts one day and does a 100% water change every ___ days.

So I bought the ammonia testing kit and was horrified that I would get a light green reading within about 12 hours. I was literally changing the water every morning and at midnight for a few days and then I went and bought the largest bubble bowl I could find. No pet store sells anything this big. I actually got it at a florist supply store. I changed all the water and tested for ammonia every two days. Test tube stayed yellow for 8 days, but by then I wanted to change the water anyways because fish poo was visible at the bottom and the water just wasn't as crisp and clear anymore.

Yes, I am sure that the plants are helping a little, but I just added those a week ago. Even before then I could go for 7-8 days without problem. I think it is just a very light load for this much water.

So, do you guys have any idea if it is for some reason better to change only part of the water instead of all of it?

 

[pippoodle]

Introduce a few more plants if you can and try changing 80% of the water using a gravel vac to get rid of any poo
see how things go then - you should be able to do 80-90% water changes without having to do the 100% and still have mr betta happy - as long as the water stays perfect


will pm you some links hun that might help

If you can get a very small filter (mini or sponge air or electriic operated)

 

[ellena]

I have a betta in a 3.2 gall bowl with a filter, but it's still cycling atm. I have had 0.5 ammonia in 1 day before, and there's generally some to show. Even with very light feeding, he has to produce some ammonia and before the plants, there was nowhere for it to be going, so very strange?
The idea with not doing 100% water changes is that it's too much for the fish to get used to in one go.
So it's since you changed bowls that there's been no ammonia? But this bowl's no that much bigger?

 

[Galanta]

Thanks for the link. Yes, since I've upgraded to a large bowl the water changes are needed less frequently. Azumo is with me at work and there is no outlet nearby nor can I afford the humming of equipment. Luckily the office is generally very hot, has no windows and is in fact away from any outside walls, so the water temperature stays steady at 78-79 degrees. Gravel vac is a little tricky as the bottom are actually 1-inch-size stones so the waste falls down between the stones. But I can easily scoop out 25-30% of the more clear water on top, then clean out the rest and put in 70-75% fresh water and the remainder of the old water, so it is not a complete radical change - if this is better.

 

[Cloud]

I know that people here say you have to clean many times. But.. I only clean my betta tank once every three weeks in a 0.6 gallon tank and he seems just fine. (Active + Bubblenests + Swims).

Dunno? I am confused.

 

[pippoodle]

I know that people here say you have to clean many times. But.. I only clean my betta tank once every three weeks in a 0.6 gallon tank and he seems just fine. (Active + Bubblenests + Swims).

Dunno? I am confused.

have you tested the water ?

 

[Cloud]

Nope

But I have had it for about 2 and a half years and it seems fine and happy. It always flares at me whenever I watch him.

 

[Forestpisces]

Cloud you need a bigger tank with filter and heater, you betta will be miserable in there trust me, please get him at least 3 gallons, i'm begging, it breaks my heart to hear of a betta in anything less.

There are so many reasons to get a larger tank, are you new to keeping fish at all?

I'm not trying to be offensive i just want to help you give your fish the heathiest life possible.

 

[stevefish21]

He may have been alive for 2 1/2 years, but just imagine if you stayed in the same clothes 24 hrs a day for 3 weeks without washing? You wouldn't be happy

In 0.6 gallons, which i'm presuming isn't filtered or heated, the ammonia level will be off the chart within a week. Its nothing to be proud of, keeping a betta in this sort of environment.

I only hope that the rest of the world follows the law in Rome, Italy, which has banned Bowls for fish.

Some things really annoy me, and this type of betta keeping is one of them.

 

[Cloud]

My betta is in a tank at the moment, I think it's about 0.7 gallons, hard to say. Also, you can't really make a comparison between a fish and a human being, not that I am saying they are not important. It's just that if the tank is too small, the water is too dirty, and the ammonia is too high. Wouldn't the betta fish be dead, sick, or inactive? I'm not saying your all wrong, I'm just saying based on what I have done.. He seems pretty happy.

He blows bubble nests, he's active, he flares at me, he follows my finger, he swims, sleeps at night etc.

Also, no I am not new at betta care.