What is the best kind of water to use for a betta fish?

Question

Recently we bought a betta fish and we had it home only about one day and it's dead already. The girl at Petsmart said they can survive in tap water so that is what I used. Did I kill it with the water? I didn't overfeed it because I hadn't even fed it yet. I also made sure the tap water was room temp. Any ideas what happened to our little Tony? (he was male)

Thanks to all who helped me out through the loss of Tony. I got awesome advice from all of you. I took what I learned from you and little Tony's body in tow and returned to petsmart. I got a replacement whom we haven't named yet. He's also a boy. He's very pretty. Anyhow, it was no charge and I spoke with some of the employees about what I might have done wrong. Turns out that the girl who recommended tap water failed to mention the dechlorinating drops..... for that she's a drip. I had heard of these in the past though I dismissed the thought when she confidently assured me that tap water alone was fine. Anyhow, we have the drops now. I also bought spring water. Anyone who wishes to guide me here..... much appreciated. I will try spring water tomorrow after little "X" gets used to being in our home. He's still in his blue aquacage. Anyhow, thanks again to ALL!! It helped me out a lot!!

Thanks to all who helped me out through the loss of Tony. I got awesome advice from all of you. I took what I learned from you and little Tony's body in tow and returned to petsmart. I got a replacement whom we haven't named yet. He's also a boy. He's very pretty. Anyhow, it was no charge and I spoke with some of the employees about what I might have done wrong. Turns out that the girl who recommended tap water failed to mention the dechlorinating drops..... for that she's a drip. I had heard of these in the past though I dismissed the thought when she confidently assured me that tap water alone was fine. Anyhow, we have the drops now. I also bought spring water. Anyone who wishes to guide me here..... much appreciated. I will try spring water tomorrow after little "X" gets used to being in our home. He's still in his blue aquacage. Anyhow, thanks again to ALL!! It helped me out a lot!!

Answer 1

Tap water is fine for bettas if thats all you can afford/want to put into it. Treating the wather with clorine drops helps. Also, if you used cold water, you may have sent your little betta into shock. Wether you need filtration or a heater depends on your tank size. Heaters are not reccomended for tanks less than 5 gal. Smaller tanks also dont need filter systems but you'll have to change the water more often which also causes stress. The first days that you bring home betta is critical because the pet stores keep the poor creatures in mini cups and think that it suffices. So they're stressed when you buy them, stressed when you move them, and stressed when you put them in their new home. You betta might have also been sick when you bought him.

If you're going to be getting a new betta, I'd suggest looking up
www.bettatalk.com

Its a very helpful site when it comes to acclimating a new betta and diseases.
I'm sorry you lost Tony. I myself love bettas and like having at least one at my side in my room. They're peaceful creatures and aren't as simple as you may think. (Bettas in vases is torture.)

Answer 2

You don't say much about the quality of your tap water. All fish are sensitive to chlorine. If you are using water from a city water supply it is best if you buy chlorine out drops to add to the water. For the size of tank you are most likely talking about it will only take one drop to make your water safe.
And as stated above take the fish back with the reciept and PetSmart will replace it. I have gotten fish from PetSmart on several occasions and never had a problem with them replacing them.
I have a 50Gal. tank and 2 10Gal tanks.
Good luck with Tony II

Answer 3

the girl at petsmart was a freaking loon who obviously doesnt know anything about fish, and was just trying to make a sale!!


its never a good thing, or idea to just drop a fish into basic tapwater...even if it is at room temperature.

there are too make chemicals in our tapwater that makes it way too unsafe for fish. they cannot handle the chlorine, nor the amounts of iron that is on the water.

she should have offered you an actual bottle of beta water, as i know that they have it there, because i use to work at a petsmart before moving over to petco where i worked for 8 months.


if you do choose to use tapwater, there are chemicals that you can buy specifically to immediately make the water safe for fish...especially betas. you can use start right which is a cholorine remover, and water conditioner all in one, or you can use A.C.E which is Ammonia Chloramine Eliminator.

both of these chemicals can be found for under 5$ a bottle, and can be found at your petstore. jungle is the most popular brand that makes them, and they have instructions on the back of the bottle on how to use them, and doses to use and whatnot.

i would just use one chemical at a time though as you can actually kill fish by over treating the water, or treating the fish themselves.

treat the water before you put the fish in it though. the poor little thing is going to be going through shock from being poured into a bag, then carried around, then poured into a tank of some sort.

Answer 4

Betta fish need a temp or at least 75 degrees as they are a tropical fish. They really aren't a good call due to their Territorial nature. It probably died due to the temperature. Go to a local store and ask the peeps. Big stores like Pet-Co hire from the street, whilst the small places hire folk who love animals and are knowledgeable.

Answer 5

the tap water needs to be declorinated with a water conditioner. if you did that then maybe you had a sick fish. petsmart usually keeps their fish in medicated water (its blue) to cut down on fish loss from bacteria and disease. my last 3 bettas all had serious disesases from being stuck in their own poo in little tiny cups though (not from petsmart). you can usually take your dead fish back for a new one. i think petsmart has a 14 day fish policy.

Answer 6

Take his body back in a baggie with a reciept. Most pet stores have a fish-death policy of some sort. Yes, fish can survive in tap water. I have had goldfish for years and I never used any additives to my water. It could have been starving, or it could have already been sick. Most likely in one day it was not you who did anything wrong.

Answer 7

I always buy Spring Water, but you can also buy some drops that treat your tap water to make it safe. I lost a few figuring this out.

Answer 8

Betta fish to need to be in a warmer environment.
You can buy little filters and heaters for small tanks/bowls.
The water does need to be conditioned.

Answer 9

I thing you fish eat a lot.... because if u give how much u want the fish eat how much it can.....or.. U not change the water where the fish in....

Answer 10

I have mine in a vase with a "Peace Plant" in it. You can get the kits at walmart...don't know if it has something to do with aeration or what but mine lived for 2 years.