WOW! I think I need help.

[newschoolcaretaker]

I just read the betta basics. Thank you for so much information! I was given a betta as a gift - never had one before. My daughter's friend puts together bettas in large vases with live plants as a hobbie. If they don't sell, the fish are flushed. The girl was going to flush a betta, so since my birthday was coming up my daughter decided to save the fish and get me a present at the same time. We have multiple types of critters in my home and I dispise habitats that are to small/inappropriate. I was going to place the fish in my 29 long tank but I think that would be a mistake. I have an angle that ate a guppies tail.

Question: Is it going to be ok to leave the betta in the vase? I do not have an alternate tank, space, or financial resources to set up another one. We also have Betta flakes to feed it. Petsmart said it was ok to feed it just this type of food. Reading Betta basics I am now not sure. What do you suggest?

 

[wrs]

thats bad that she flushes them! The beeta should have a small home, like a gallon or two, but i think other people are typing so ill just let them tell you what to do because theyre the betta experts

 

[Carolinesugar]

WHO THE HELL DOES THAT GIRL THINK SHE IS?? :saddam: ??

You cant just make betta homes as a hobby then if they dont sell flush them, does she not know how precious they are to people ?

Id have a chat with your daughter and tell her how much of a good deed she has done in saving one of the poor lil fellas that would have been flushed!

Bettas can be kept in a vase, but can often become happier in larger tanks, however, this lil fella should just be thankful he is not swimming thru the sewage system really!

Bettas eat betta flakes, tropical flakes, betta bites, and live foods such as blood worms, red larve, and Brine shrimp. you can get these fresh from fish shops, or frozen. i use the frozen form, as its cheaper, and alot easier to get hold of.

I think you should name this lil fella survier! (but thats just my opinion, you dont have to )

 

[wuvmybetta]

Uggh,I can't believe she flushes them

He'll be ok in the vase for now....maybe remove the plants? Does he have ample swim room to temporarily hold him? Then maybe someday soon you can pick up a little 1 or 2 gallon kritter keeper or small tank. For now he's just happy to be alive and loved,I'm sure.

How much water do you think the vase holds?

Do you see him eating the flakes? I know some will take them but most will turn their noses up (even further than they already are ) at them.

 

[rykitten]

Hi and welcome! Sounds like you've got a smart daughter.

Is this what your vase/plant/betta home looks like?

I think it's big enough to accomodate a betta with regular water changes but you may either want to take the plant out or trim the roots often.

If he eats the flakes You can also give him a variety of other foods. Frozen bloodworms are cheap and last a long time (especially since you only have one.)

 

[abe]

Thats horrible, how could anyone kill a sweet lil' betta because it wouldn't SELL? Is there anywhere to report people like this??

Anyway, I keep my bettas in 1 gallon kritter keepers. Theyre only $5 or so, and they come in larger sizes as well. I also have one in a 2 gallon eclipse explorer, which are around $20, and come w/ a filter & hood.

 

[Wisperian]

*gasp* 3 cheers for your daughter dude! that evil lady should be sued! i wouldnt be surprised if a real betta lover came over to her shop and saw what she does and give her the old one two! i mean how would she like it if someone flushes her down the toilet or do you mean she flushes the plants down the toilet

 

[mandi]

Wow that's crazy. If she had a hobby of dressing up puppies in sweaters and bows ... but they didn't sell ... would she kill them?! I think not. People don't seem to comphrend that fish are just as much a living, breathing creature as a dog or a cat or even another human. If only the animal-cruelty laws extended to fish...

Anyway, I agree with what everyone else says -- if there's a plant in the vase, get rid of it so the fish has some room to swim.

Think about getting a critter-keeper for it. They're very cheap. Even something like this perhaps? It's $7.99 and comes with a little critter-keeper, gravel, food, etc.

 

[Final Dynazty]

OMG Thats so not kool at least she should of gave them to the pet store. NOT KOOL

 

[shrks1fan]

That's wonderful of both you and your daughter, your daughter for wanting to save a living creature and you for coming here to find what would be best for your new friend.

Depending on how large the vase is, if you take the plant out it should be fine with regular water changes. If it's just a little thing, then there are plenty of inexpensive options for you. Others have mentioned the kritter keepers, which are great, I have many. Another option is an aquarium Wal mart sells, called an Aquaview Plus. It's only $9.99, is 1 gallon, nice looking and the hood comes with an incadescent bulp for lighting. It also comes with an air pump and undgergravel filter...but I suggest not using it, it's a crap filter. The air pump is good for other things, so you can save it or give it to a friend who keeps aquariums.

Other options are to check out Dollar Stores...they often get in containers of a gallon or larger that would work fine as a tank, and you can't beat a dollar for a tank, hehe.

Whatever you do, just keep up with the water changes (for 1 fish it really doesn't take much time at all). Every couple of days would be awesome, but a couple times a week would probably do ok depending on how much water the container holds.

Good luck and do you have a Dig Camera you can take a picture of to show us?

Linda

 

[GuppyDude]

well that is pretty cold i know a guys who flushed his betta "fluffy" because he got tired of cleaning the tank some people anyway, if ur vase is anywhere near the size of the one in the pic it should work, i would remove the plant thogh

and once again BL u cant sue people for the mistreatment of fish ( unfortunately )
but some one does need to teach her that it is still wrong to harm fish

 

[newschoolcaretaker]

Thanks for all of the info! As I said before we have a wide variety of critters in my home. Every one of our pets are someone elses rejects. My family and I are strong believers of proper care of those we chose to bring into our home. Love the internet!!

I forgot to mention our friend's name is Freddie. He does eat the flakes. He seems to look for me every morning and afternoon when I come in the livingroom. He has the most amazing colors (blue body red fins), appears to be happy (or atleast content), swims around alot. He seems to watch and follow whoever is in the room. Although we spend more time in the basement familyroom, I placed him in the livingroom. I figured he would be safer. I have two teenage girls that have groups of other teenagers over. Teenage boys tend to show off for teenage girls and knock things over. The dog and cat are down there too.

The vase he lives in appears to be the same kind and size as the one rvkitten posted. I cut the roots to almost nothing as soon as she gave me the vase. I think I've seen the small animal containers a few of you have suggested. I will be going out payday to see what I can find.

Thanks again,

Newschoolcaretaker

 

[wrs]

thats nice, and if you get a kritter keeper, you can get him a friend, like some catfish or so, because they can get depressed by them selves. the 5 gallon ones are 11 dollars.

and @ betta Love- why do you always want to sue people?

 

[GuppyDude]

ok thats good that u r takeing good care of them, its amazeing how people can literally flush these fish, they have such great personalitys

 

[Logitech]

You can just buy a one gallon, inexpensive fish bowl at your lfs.