I was thinking a/b getting a fish for my desk. Are there any fish out there that would be okay if they didn't get food on the weekend? I know this might be a stupid question, but I had to give it a try.
2006-07-11 08:41:20 · 8 answers · asked by Snatch 2 in Pets ➔ Fish
Thank you all for such wonderful answers!!!
2006-07-12 01:50:43 · update #1
I wouldn't recommend a tank at work, as they are very time-consuming when you first start them. Unless you have about half an hour a day to spend doing water changes the first month, you're not going to be able to have the time to take care of it.
Bowls are not a good idea, as you will need to do daily water changes. Also, the fish has no room to swim around, and ammonia build-up and poor water quality could cause diseases. However, if you do daily fifty percent water changes, you may be able to keep the water at a decent quality.
Bettas are the only fish that can live in a bowl, but you need to make sure that he has a steady temperature of around 78 degrees. You need not add an air pump, as bettas are surface breathers.
Bettas are carnivores. They will NOT eat the roots of plants. Feed him about 5 betta pellets a day. On Fridays, do NOT add extra food to carry him over for the weekend. This will do nothing but pollute the water. He will be find without food for a couple of days (in fact, many people recommend a weekly fast to stimulate the betta to poop).
Make sure you keep his bowl covered, though, as bettas are jumpers.
If you were to get a small tank with a filter and heater for your tank (like a 2.5-gallon), you will need to cycle your tank first. You will need tester kits to monitor pH, ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates. Ammonia and nitrites should be at 0ppm - if they're higher, you will need to do a 20% water change. Your nitrates should be at less than 40ppm, though less than 20ppm is ideal. If they're high, do a water change. It takes about a month to a month and a half to fully cycle your tank.
Good luck!
2006-07-11 09:19:01 · answer #1 · answered by birdistasty 5 · 4⤊ 2⤋
They have those small all-in-one tanks that are about 2.5 gallons, with the filter built in. They are ideal for 3 White Cloud Mountain Minnows or small Danios, and that's about it, unless you can put a heater in it too... then your options expand to any other small tropical fish. You can do daily partial water changes until the tank is done cycling (about a month).
Bettas don't love being in small glass jars and bowls and whatnot, contrary to popular opinion. If you do decide to go with that, though... change the water twice a week with room temperature water, always add a few drops of dechlorinator to the new water, and feed the Betta a few pellets of Betta food a day. Missing a couple days won't hurt it at all.
You could put the Betta in the 2.5 gallon tank, but they don't really like the water current in those, and their fins tend to get sucked into the filter intake.
2006-07-11 17:08:54 · answer #2 · answered by M.S. 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How about a Betta (a/k/a Siamese Fighting Fish)? They can survive in a relatively small container, and if you get a plant they don't even need an aerator. You can only have one male betta in a tank because they're highly territorial and will fight to the death for their space, but that should be fine for your situation. They come in lots of amazing colors, and will be fine for a short weekend without food. NOTE: Don't go crazy with feeding - the amount of food a fish needs per day is roughly the size of their EYE. Many fish are "abused" every day by overfeeding.
2006-07-11 15:48:16 · answer #3 · answered by mthompson828 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its not a stupid question at all
Bettas are great for that situation. They are fairly hardy fish, so they will be just fine without a feeding for 2 days. They are beautiful, and are able to live in a bowl that can fit on your desk. Just make sure you are able to clean the bowl out at least once a week, and it has some sort of lid or cover. Bettas are known to be jumpers.
Good luck.
2006-07-11 15:51:25 · answer #4 · answered by Audrey A 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually, it is more healthy for fish to not eat a couple days of the week. I had tanks of fish for years, both at home and at work. The ones at work were always healthier, and they never got food on the weekends!
Bettas (siamese fighting fish) are good desktop fish. But don't buy into that schpeel about putting them in a tiny glass. Get them a nice 2.5+ or bigger tank and you'll get to see his beautiful fins ripple as he swims around!
2006-07-11 15:54:50 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dear lord such good answers on this one. (Well at least after the 1st 2 bouts of dead fishy type misinformation.) I'd give my 2 cents, but with mthompson828, Audrey, birdistasty, kirakira8, and M.S. what is the need;-) If you are interested in bettas please read up on their care, and housing on bettatalk.
2006-07-11 19:42:32 · answer #6 · answered by Sabersquirrel 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Beta. they are very harty pets. Just put extra food in their bowl on Friday and the'll be fine over the weekend.
2006-07-11 15:45:58 · answer #7 · answered by Wonko 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think bata fish as long as there's a plant and they can eat off of it. I'm really not sure. try a pet store.
2006-07-11 15:45:27 · answer #8 · answered by Cass 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋