Want to get a Betta

[aquarius]

i'm considering getting a betta but i really don't know much about these fish. i have a fish bowl, i think it's 1 gallon, would that be enough space for a betta? there's no lid to it though, is that a problem? also, i guess i wouldn't be a ble to put a heater or a filter in there. are they needed? what about gravel and plants? anything else i should know? thanks

 

[dixaisy930]

I have my black betta, Dogma, in a one gallon fish bowl with no lid, but it's always in the back of my mind he might jump out...but it does have that little lip, so I think it would be rather hard. It would be better to have a lid, though. None of mine have a heater or filtration, but I do two partial water changes a week. They are all in one gallon homes, except for Eptun...he's in a five gallon fish bowl...but I guess you didn't ask what I do. Alot of people like having live plants in with their bettas...most like to sleep and hide in them. That's something else bettas need....a hiding place. Plants can work, and I also use small terra cotta pots.

Bettas are the dogs of the fish world...each has their own personality, and seem to get rather attached to their people right away. (they just love us because we are the bringers of food...

 

[White Whale]

A 1 gallon bowl is good enough. I keep half my guys in a quart-sized Small World tank.

Lid is preferrable but not necessary. If you have no lid, just make sure the waterline is at least an inch from the top. Maybe more.

No filter is really needed. Just siphon out the waste when needed. And do a 25% water change at least weekly if not more. Make sure you use water conditioner before you replace/use the water. I use Splended Betta Complete Water Conditioner.

Gravel is fine. I use colored gravel to contrast the color of my bettas. It make for a nice and cute display. I use plastic/silk plants. It gives them cover at the same time no risk of disease from rotting.

To keep your non-filtered tank as clean as possible, feed using tweezers to make sure they eat what you place in the tank. My guys are fed no more than twice a day. I alternate between NutraFin freeze-dried red grubs, and freeze-dried bloodworms. None of my little chickens likes pellets.

Needed:
1 gallon bowl (it should be about half-filled and fully conditioned)
1 turkey baster
1 pair of tweezers/eyebrow pluckers
1 small 3" net
water conditioner
StressCoat
StressZyme (for cycling the wastes, the bacteria will live in the gravel)
freeze-dried grubs/bloodworms
a little mirror (for his exercise)

Options:
gravel
plant (plastic or otherwise)

Now, for CHOOSING a betta - color and pattern comes first. Select at least 3 of which catches your eye. Inspect the cups/bowls they are kept in. A bubblenest is a good sign of health. Also, they should be responsive when you pick up their jar and put your finger close to it. Alertness is a good sign. A bad sign is lethargy. After you made your choice, float the bag in your 1 gallon to acclimitize the temperature. Do this for 15 to 20 minutes. Then you may release him with his bagwater into the bowl. It may be dirty at first, but at least he will have some sense of "home" with his original water. After about 2 days, get a cup, about pint size, and fill it about half way with water from the bowl. Fill the other half with clean conditioned water (or you may use bottled spring water - I use Poland Spring). Net him and put him in the pint cup, siphon out the waste particles, and then you can fully clean out the bowl. Once the bowl is cleaned and conditioned, siphon a few ounces of water from the pint cup. Then net your betta and put him in the clean bowl. You can then do your regular weekly water changes.

Hope this helps.

Anyone concur or object to this?

 

[aquarius]

thanks. that actually answers a lot of my questions. another thing, since there won't be a heater, temperature will probably fluctuate a bit, would that be a problem? and where should i keep the bowl? the downstairs is always warmer than the upstairs, so what temperature do they prefer?
oh yeah and what's a turkey baster?

 

[Tempestuousfury]

How long do you have to cycle the bettas b/f doing the first water change?

 

[White Whale]

thanks. that actually answers a lot of my questions. another thing, since there won't be a heater, temperature will probably fluctuate a bit, would that be a problem? and where should i keep the bowl? the downstairs is always warmer than the upstairs, so what temperature do they prefer?
oh yeah and what's a turkey baster?

Definitely keep it where it will be warmer. Anywhere that is no lower than 72F or higher than 80F should be fine. They are tropical fish, so the warmer the better.

A turkey baster looks like one huge eyedrop. It's used to suck the juices from the pan and then to stream the juices over the turkey.

 

[White Whale]

How long do you have to cycle the bettas b/f doing the first water change?

Cycle? I don't really know what that is or if I am even doing that.... My bettas could be in trouble....

 

[FanOFish]

You might just use a desk lamp with a regular light bulb for light and heat. It doesn't take much to keep a 1 gallon warm.

 

[BettaBoyz]

Itty pretty much answered everything ^^ but you asked at the right place; Bettas are wonderful, active, personable fish that will give you tons of enjoyment. you'll soon find yourself baby talking to him, or...

"Yeah, Boomer did the cutest thing today! He was digging up his plant, and when I came up he started barking at me!"

"You don't have a dog..."

"Boomer's my Fish!"



maybe not, but you get the point

 

[aquarius]

yeah, everyone says that bettas have so much personality, i've really become curious about them and want to experience that for myself. i actually wanted to go buy one this weekend but there's like a foot of snow outside so i'll wait until next week

 

[Inchworm]

Hi Aquarius

I think you will really like a betta. My Ruby is just like a dog in some ways. You should see the way he stands over the worms and guards them when I put them in the tank. He flares and hovers over them.

I think it's a good idea to cover your bowl. Perhaps you can find a small piece of glass or plastic to use for this. This way the air that they breathe will stay warm and moist and this is better for their labyrinth.

Also, as much as possible, try to put it in a place where the temperature is consistent. IMHO that's important because sudden changes can result in diseases like Ich.
________
Isn't all that snow something? It's pretty now. coating all the tree branches, but in a day or two it will really be a mess!

 

[aquarius]

so if i cover the tank wih a piece of plastic for example, will the fish be getting enough air from the atmosphere?

and yep, it's gorgeous outside now, picture perfect but i don't even want to think what will happen once all the snow starts to melt. (rain is in the forecast)slush, yuck. better enjoy it while it lasts

 

[Inchworm]

so if i cover the tank wih a piece of plastic for example, will the fish be getting enough air from the atmosphere?

Hi Aquarius

I don't mean to put a totally airtight cover on. It needs to have a little bit of air getting in. What I meant was just a cover, of some sort, to block drafts.

 

[aquarius]

lol, thanks. i pictured myself sealing it with saran wrap