What type of fish is this?

Question

A few years ago, my mother went to a doctor, who had a fish and a plant inside a closed container. The fish cleaned the plant (and therefore didn't need to be fed), and the plant cleaned the water (and therefore the plant water didn't need to be changed), and the two lifed in harmony without human intervention for years.

What type of fish was it? What type of plant was it?

Answer 1

This person is not talking about a betta in a vase, She clearly states that it was a closed container and they both lived for years.

You are describing something that I have seen before, a small sealed glass ball with a twig in it. They put tiny organisms inside (like brine shrimp or something similar), and the environment fosters a self-perpetuating cycle that only needs sunlight. I don't know of a "fish" that can live like this, though, so I would assume that your mother just called the tiny swimming things she saw "fish". If the object was about the size of a baseball, then this is what it was.

I just found it on the Signals catalog page, it's called an "Ecosphere"

Answer 2

There is absolutely no system in the world that is completely self-sufficient and the people who told your mother's doctor this are just perpetuating yet another urban myth. All fish need food. Roots alone, even for a true omnivore, are not enough. And the plants that they put in these environments are actually poisonous if eaten. Also, fish need sufficient air that cannot be provided in a closed environment. The water needs to be changed, and even more often in a small environment, to prevent the build-up of toxic elements in the water. The plant does not and cannot provide any oxygen to the water and the plant does not and cannot remove the toxic elements from the water. For most fish, the water needs a heater to be warm enough to keep the fish healthy and these vases keep the water much too cold. Chances are this was one of those Bettas In A Vase ruse, which is the most horrible "decoration" that has been invented since goldfish in a bowl. This is not a viable environment for a fish. Please do not choose to do this. The fish will die far sooner than it would need to if given a proper environment.

Answer 3

The fish was a betta. You may want to ask your mother how long the betta was around, though, before trying this.

Bettas are carnivores - they don't eat the plants, clean the roots, or anything of that sort. In a setup like this they will starve unless they are fed meat-based foods. They will also need water changes at least 1-2 times a week - the plant doesn't remove all the waste byproducts of the fish. If you have enough light for the plant to thrive, you're going to get algae as well.

The fish also need to have a tropical water temperature - 76-80o - or they will be lethargic.

The only reason a betta will last any amount of time in a vase is that it can breathe surface air through a lung-like apparatus called a labyrinth organ.

The plant, by the way, is a Spathyphyllum, or "peace lily".

See this link for more about a "betta in a vase": http://www.bettatalk.com/betta_in_a_vase.htm

Answer 4

I've seen those. Pretty cool microcosms! If you're talking about the little store bought cubes, I think they're tetras and an aquatic weed called "Coon Tail". However I'm sure you can make your own using other compatible species.

After doing some looking around, I found this page http://www.aquababies.com/index.html which is what I've seen, and is not a true microcosm - you still need to feed the fish. They say: "We use an assortment of small compatible fish types that are raised specifically for our aquariums. You may have danios, guppies, white cloud minnows, swordtails or barbs. Your fish are not wild-caught and should never be released in the wild. Most of the fish we use have a one to two-year life span and will not get any larger than 1-4" long. You will notice different types of fish will have different behaviors, this is normal." Hope this helps!

Answer 5

Maybe it was an algae eater living with a certain type of plant that cleans your water. I think the algae eater ate the algae from the plant and the plant cleans the water by itself.

Answer 6

This was a male betta. You can put him in a vase with a plant such as a peace lily plant but make sure you still feed (either betta food, freeze dried bloodworms or tropical fish food) your betta. He will only eat the plant if he is starving to death. You will also still have to change 50% of the water about once a week although the plant will help keep the water oxygenated. Make sure there is still air holes in the top of the container because betta's come to the surface to breathe. Also make sure you only put one male betta in the container as two will fight to the death. Good luck with your display! =)

Answer 7

That isn't a correct senerio. You have to feed and change water even with a plant. The fish was a beta. They are carniverious, they cannot survive on plants or in dirty water.

Answer 8

This would be a Betta fish. Go to your local Petsmart or Petco (I got mine from Petsmart more than a year ago and he's doing just great) and ask them how this works. They'll be able to help you. I'd suggest getting a male...they live longer, or so I'm told.

Answer 9

Those are bettas, if it is what I am thinking. If so, it is best to also feed them meat pellets, and I would get a large vase if you do this so he is happy. If it's another kind of fish, sounds cool.

Answer 10

bettas :). they co-live with plants, they eat the plant and the plant cleans the water for them. they pair up really good :)