Is it bad that i change the water on my betta's tank twice a week?

Question

So i went to the pet store with my cousin and i saw this sad little female betta in this tiny cup, and i thought: "poor fish, that's no place to live!!!" Sooo i bought the betta kit sold at the store, it's a 1/2 gallon tank (link provided below)... but now i'm reading about bettas and it states she needs a FIVE gallon tank... so if i keep her in her current tank, will she die? Or if i keep cleaning her water twice a week... will she live a healthy life? I bought her BettaMin tropical fish food, and she seems to enjoy it. I guess i wanted to give her a better life than she had at the store, but it seems im not properly taking care of her... i cant afford to buy a 5 gal tank nor do i have the time to clean it. Can you suggest something i should do to prolong her life or make it more comfy in her tank?

ps: im buying a thermometer so i can keep the temperature above 78 degrees, just like it should be.

http://www.petco.com/Shop/petco_Product_R_5048_PC_productlist_Nav_217_N_24+115

http://www.petco.com/Assets/product_images/1%5C1556113410B.jpg

Answer 1

A 5 gallon tank wouldn't actually need to be cleaned as often as a 1/2 gallon, but if you can't afford one try and give her at the very least a gallon, it is possible for bettas to survive in small containers, but I doubt that they are very happy in them and they are probably more susceptible to disease.

For a container that small twice a week is about as many water changes as you need. To make her more happy make sure she has a little hidy hole, I use old plastic pots that used to hold aquarium plants weighed down with a rock on their side, my bettas love them. It is good to hear that you are doing what you can to learn how to care for her. :)

Answer 2

as many have said here you're betta can be okay in the 1/2 gallon. cleaning it twice a week is perfect. a thermometer is a good idea, however it won't help you keep the temp up. and please, if you have that plastic plant in there remove it, it can tear a betta's delicate fins.

IDEALLY your betta should be in a 5 gallon tank with a 25 watt heater and a low power filter.a five gallon tank would have to be cleaned less often than a 1/2 gallon, so you don't need much time. and wouldn't need to be clean much at all if you got a small filter for it. you could even get it a tank mate like ONE mystery snail snail.

if price is an issue, I would suggest a 10gallon tnak with no hood. most places sell these for $10, which is a much more suitable environment than those kits they sell and much cheaper. a 50watt heater would be needed for that tank but still a small power filter (if a whisper brand power filter something like the 1-3 gallon filter). a few silk plants and some gravel and you've got an amazing betta home and one spoiled betta. a snail and a african dwarf frog could be added, as well as some other fish, but I won't get into that.

Answer 3

Your betta will live fine in a 1/2 gallon tank as long as you change the water 2-3 times a week. The best thing to do to help insure a long healthy life for the fish is 1) keep the water clean and 2) feed him a nice variety of foods. Try a small pinch of flake each morning and something like freeze dried brine shrimp or blood worms at night. They do great that way.

Best of luck with your new fish!

MM

Answer 4

hi! that is alright to do water transformations each 2-3 days in the experience that your betta has fin rot. very few weeks in the past, one in each of my bettas had fin rot and that i positioned him in a health center tank. that is what I did. a million. I wiped clean the tank with warmth water including the pebbles 2. I poured contained in the water and further some drops of water conditioner 3. My drugs? Salt water + Methyelene blue... merely upload a million/4 tablespoon of Rock or aquarium salt on your 2.5 gallon tank. do exactly the mathematics once you've distinct tank length. 4. I keep the tank bare, if conceivable no pebbles or upload-ons in any respect. 5. I do finished water transformations each 2-3 days. After 2 days, the fin rot has stopped yet I kept on treating him...that is been 2 weeks now and his fins are starting up to strengthen back. sturdy luck bro!

Answer 5

A heated tank is best. They live longest with warm water. I can't believe how stores can sell these tiny, unheated torture tanks for so much while a 5 gallon is only a few dollars. I hate how they lead people onto the misconception that fish can live this way.

Answer 6

I think that a 1/2 galon tank will be okay for a while untill you can afford a larger tank. I also think that you shouldn't be cleaning the tank too regularly, mabye every 2 weeks? If it is getting too dirty in the space of 2 weeks, buy some water snails. I used to have axolotils and they are really dirty fish, we got some snails and they did a really good job of keeping it clean.
That is my suggestion,
good luck.

Answer 7

I think what you have is a great place for a beta to live. If she/he starts to seem different maybe you need a bigger tank, but I am almost positive it is fine. Somebody I know has 2 betas in separated tanks and I don't think those tanks are 5 galleons.

hope i helped!

Answer 8

Well to start with, the betta is a male. They can live in a cup. They can breathe oxygen from the water or air. The tank you have is fine. remember only one betta. 2 will fight to the death. unlikely you will see a female. I have 2 a red one and blue one. the red one i keep with my gold fish in a ten gal. tank. the other was nipping the other fish so he has long been grounded to a clear vase, holds about a half gallon of water. I add plastic flowers. makes nice center piece. Changing the water once a week is fine, actually just change it when it gets cloudy. don't over feed. They live in puddles in the country where they come from. life span about 2 years.

Answer 9

Hi ,
When you do change water twice a week make sure the water is aged ok at least 3 days old