Need advice on my Betta fish water...?

Question

I have my betta fish in a small bowl so I change the water quite frequently (3-4 times per week?) and since the water has to be room temperature before added in, I have put the TAP water in a 500ml bottle and dropped about 3 drops of water conditioner in it. This way whenever I need it, I can just pour it in. Is this okay? I'm not sure if the quality of water changes after been put into a closed capped bottle, and I dunno if I should put the water conditioner before or after I put the water in the bowl (since my betta is in the bowl the when I do 1/2 water changes)...Thx~!

Answer 1

Room Temp needs to be around 78*...you are changing the water correctly...unlike most advice, Betta's can live in small unheated tanks, as a matter of fact, Betta's ordered off the internet are shipped in about 3 oz of water (I suggest no smaller than 1 gal). Betta's do not need to be in a tank with a filter that circulates the water (a corner filter or sponge filter is ok). The "running water" makes them "swim" too much. I have one of my two males in a "small" tank, and the other is in a 10g with a sponge filter and a corner filter...the movement is minimum (he is in the 10g to keep the bacteria on the sponge filter alive for my Betta broods in the spring). I have two female Betta's in a 6 gal with a HOB (hang on back) filter. They are constantly "fighting" the current. The males fins tend to get shredded in a tank like that.

I keep 3-1g "milk" jugs (had distilled water in them), and I add 12 drops of water conditioner and about 1 teaspoon of aquarium salt to each jug. These set for about 24 hrs. I keep them made up all the time, that way they are "room temp" when I need them...when I change my males water, I either put him in a small cup or net him and "hang" the net in the "girls" tank (making sure he can't escape), water my plants with his fish water, rinse out his tank, add new water to it, and gently dump him and some of his old water into his now clean tank (if 100% change, I just lift him out of the "girls" tank and gently release him into his clean tank). Betta's can withstand a 100% water change. Changing the water the way you are, keeps amonia and other stuff from spiking in the tank. Also, you can feed your Betta every day, just a few pellets a day (I feed mine 4 pellets each-daily)...a friend also suggested soaking the pellets for about 5 min. before you feed...keeps air from getting into the fish stomach.

Good luck with your Betta!

Answer 2

room temp is not suitable for bettas. they are tropical fish. you wouldn't keep an angel in a bowl just big enoguh for it to turn around and swim a bit at room temp would you? of course not. so why make bettas suffer this abuse?

pet stores and places like wal-mart started spreading the false facts about bettas, how they can be in unfiltered, unheated bowls happily and it's actually much bettas than their natural habitat. they just want to make money, of course people want a fish that doens't take up room, need basically no care, and no filters or heaters, but there is no such fish.

sure bettas can survive in these conditions, but they won't be happy or healthy. you seem to care for your betta and see him as more than just a decoration since you bother to change his water so often, so try to put yourself in his place...

someone is keeping you in a 45F closet (bettas need temps around 75-85F, the average room temp water is 65F, 20F colder than they need) and no place to go to the bathroom but the floor. even if someone cleans the floor 3 to 4 times a week you're still not going to be very happy or healthy, right?

it's the same with bettas. so get him a filter and a heater and at least 2 to 5 gallons of water. he'll be much happier and healthier and will perk up quite a bit. get the tank, filter and heater and a few silk plants. put it all together, condition the water, add some stress coat and beneficial bacteria (another reason a filter is needed, this stuff grows on the pebbles and filters if you have one and is very important to fish health. every time you do a full water change, which is need often without a filter, you get rid of it all). run the filter and don't add the betta for a day, use the day to monitor the temp, make sure it stays at about 78F.

Answer 3

the water should be fine the way you are doing it -- what changes the water parameters are things like fish food and fish poop. is the bottom getting cleaned when you do 1/2 water changes? lots of stuff can grow in the gravel that is really bad for the fish. how small is small? try to get your little buddy a gallon bowl at least. 6 bucks at walmart.

Answer 4

The water conditioner works immediately. =] Right after you put the conditioner in, I'd wait for about a minute or two just to make sure and then put him in. Remember to float him though. =] It really doesn't matter. But I would personally turn the heater on in the new tank and then wait for an hour or so. Then float him. =]

Answer 5

Listen, all you have to do is get yourself a gallon of drinking water. It is all ready room temp. and it is already purified. Only change his water every week to week and a half. He should be just fine. And don't forget, only feed him a little bit every 2 to 3 days. They don't eat that much. Enjoy your betta.

Answer 6

actually as a tip......you can get a ssecond bowl....add water to it and let it sit for a minimum of 24 hours then just transfer the dang fish....much eaier than just adding H2O to the same bowl

Answer 7

you don't need the conitioner, just keep hthe bottles at room temp.

Answer 8

the way you are doing it is the right way to do it. thats they way i do it.