How Should I Set Up My Fish Bowl?

Question

Like I said before ina another quaetion. I have a female Betta,, [Chinese Fighting Fish to be exact] and well.. I have her in a pretty small bowl.. wiht not much in it.. I knwo thats sort of bad so I want ot get her as comfortable as I can. The bowl is.. well. a circle shape [hense the word 'bowl'] it is about 24v inches [around] and I can get a new bowl.. but it can't be too much bigger than that.. it could be in the shape of a square too.. doesnt matter.. but it cant be too big!

Anyway.. sorry for just blabbing on and on.. ill get to the point..
I was wondering manly.. what kind of stuff I should put in her bowl? what type of plants do Chinese Fighting fish like?
i already have some little pebbles.. shouldi keep those in there.. shouldi get actual little stones instead of just tank pebbles? or what..

please give the exact name of the stuff so its easier to find at the pet store.. so any kind of stuff that female bettas like is good.. thank you!!

Okay,., for the guy that lectured me about how i don't care fo r my fish:
I do care fo it.. and I am tryign to get research about Bettas and what to put in my bowl.tank tingy.. and i know i need a bigger one so i don't need you telling me thatim a bad owner! becasue if i asked a question on here about it, and what kind of stuff i should put in ther eexactly obviously im not doing nothing!

so. don't sit there and say "glad i could take care of your fish for you" becasuase i am taking care of it.Just 'casue i needed help figuring out exactly what she needed deosn;t mean im not taking care of her.. i am cleaning the bowl. I do feed her. i do make sure the pebbles and the water is clean.. i don't sit ther and tap on the glass or act chilidsh. i care for my fish.

and that's all i have to say to you.

Answer 1

I just answered your other question and if you are going to get another fish than you should have a divider. Plastic and live plants are okay for bettas. Live plants can be really any kind that you find in the petstore but I personally think the fish looks better with small figurines or other decorations.Hope this helps and good luck w/ the new fish!!!!

Answer 2

Actually, Accellerated Catalyst is completely correct.
I know you think you are doing good, but bettas are only of the most abused and neglected fish (except for maybe the goldfish) because some idiot somewhere started the myth that bettas could happily survive in a small bowl, because they supposedly come from tiny dirty puddles in the wild.

Well, that's not true. Bettas from areas with warm, shallow, clean water, with other fish and plants and ample food.
Bettas can survive in a tiny bowl, in the same way that you could survive in a tiny closet, cold, and with someone cleaning out some of your feces and urine maybe once a week.

ALL fish need filters and clean water and enough room to comfortably swim around. They want to establish territory, 'catch' their food, and be healthy. That is just not possible in a bowl.

I don't know what size your bowl is right now, but the minimum should be a 5 gallon tank. I'm not sure of the exact dimensions but it would be maybe 8-10" across, 8" high and 8" deep. Not 100%, that's just rough estimate.

And luckily, they make small filter, that is only 7$.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=9821&Ntt=palm&Ntk=All&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Np=1&pc=1&N=0&Nty=1 and they also make small heaters.

As Accellerated Catalyst said, please read up on the nitrogen cycle. It wouldn't hurt to read up about betta fish in the wild, either.

I mean just think about it logically. Does it really seem like a fish could be happy in cold water (when in the wild, they have warm water) with no water flow (when in the wild, their water does flow - not quickly, but it is always moving) with barely enough room to move?

The added benefit of a tank is that it has a proper lid (bettas CAN jump), and possible a fluorescent light which you will need to grow plants. And if you get a decent sized tank, you can get your betta a tankmate like an african dwarf frog or a mystery snail. I saw someone suggested you get a small goldfish. NO NO NO, do NOT get a goldfish! Goldfish are huge waste producers, and even the smallest types of goldfish (Fancies) need 20 gallons each. Other types of goldfish need to live in a pond.

Please think hard about your bettas and the life they have with you. Why be one of those people who own bettas because they like the look, and think they care for them alright, but get mad when someone suggests that they could care for them a whole lot better?
Especially when its so easy to do it right.

Answer 3

you should try to get a one gallon bowl. you can get a 1 gallon bowl that's pretty and fairly small. I'd suggest live platns if you can (you'll need to get plant food then, which is cheap, about $5 for a bottle and it will last you FOREVER). real plants help with natural filtration and aeration and will just help the betta's health in general, plus give her something to do. and kind of plant it okay for the most part, but I recommend Java fern or Java moss... Java moss is amazing for betta nitrogen levels. the pebbles you have are fine, as for anything else, it will just clutter the tank.

Answer 4

Buy a plant to put it in. I don't think it matters if it's real or plastic. Also, she might want some company. You should check to make sure I'm right first, but you can put another fish in there such as a small goldfish or another betta. If you decide to do the betta, DON'T PUT A MALE IN! She will most likely die then, as males are very territorial, even with mating there's a danger of the male killing the female. So only put a female in as they aren't nearly as territorial as the males.

Answer 5

Generally big is better, but the key is keeping the water clean. The smaller the container the more often you'll need to change the water. Betta like something to rest on, and hide under. Anything will work if it lacks sharp edges.

Answer 6

This type of fish doesn't require a lot of stuff.
Use the items you have.
Also buy another Betta for a separate bowl. Every now and then put them next to each other. That's when you will see the real beauty of this fish. They fluff up in beautiful colors.

Answer 7

Okay, well the first thing you should do is put some live plants into the bowl, but do not overcrowd it. you can check with your local pet store or reasearch online wich types she will like bettter. Add some rocks or caves so that she can hide and unless she is in heat, keep her away from other beta fish. some breeds of fish can however coexist with betas like Dwarf Gourami, mollies ,and other tropical community- non aggressive fish.- just be sure to have hiding places like plants, rocks , and caves.

Answer 8

Don't

Your fish needs an Aquarium.

Your fish will never be comfortable in a bowl, I can't imagine how you could expect it to either.

Your water needs to circulate, and cleaned. Buy a filter.

The water needs to be kept warm. Get a heater.

If your fish bowl is 10 gallons in size, keep it. Otherwise buy an aquarium.

Before you buy a fish, research the nitrogen cycle of aquariums. Educate yourself on this topic before you purchase livestock.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitrogen_cycle

The most valuble portion of this article is entitled Nitrogen Cycle in Aquariums. However a broad understanding of the topic will help you in uncountable ways.

http://saltaquarium.about.com/cs/bionitrogencycle/a/aa073199.htm

Directly discusses nitrogen cycle of a salt water aquarium. However do not have disbelief of its relevance because you own a freshwater fish.

Hopefully some reading on this topic will encourage you to give your pet a suitable home. In my own humbled oppinion owning a bowled fish is like having your own personal bum outside your house. Always begging for food, half starved to death. Never warm enough, pathetic little thing you feel so bad for but just dont care enough about to do anything. Ontop of it all he smells like his own excrement.

Does this sound like a comfortable way of living to you?

After you have read up on Nitrogen Cycle, you may feel compelled to view these following articles

http://www.worldoffish.com/aquanotes_html/an_gold.html

http://experts.about.com/q/Fish-1472/Betta-bowl.htm (This could be you in a week)

http://freshaquarium.about.com/cs/anabantids2/p/betta.htm (Care Sheet for Betta's)

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/aquarium/msg0523341413068.html?11
(Another example of what can happen in a day by keeping fish in a bowl)

I'm glad I could spend 5 minutes to take care of your fish for you.

Answer 9

wild betta's come from murky rice patty water...I'm sure he would appreciate some fake greenery he can hide in