If I'm not mistaken, I can put the roots of a peace lily in the bowl with my Beta. Right or not?
2007-04-23 15:21:52 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Fish
You can but you really, really shouldn't. Frankly it's not good for either the betta or the plant. The plant needs soil, not water to grow in and the fish will not eat the roots, despite popular myth to the contrary. It will not significantly help the water quality and you will still need to do regular water changes of 100% every 2-3 days as you should in any unfiltered container with fish.
What it will do is crowd the betta, not allow it proper access to the surface, prevent proper gas exchange and eventually pollute the bowl with dying plant matter.
Bad thing to do.
MM
2007-04-23 15:25:49 · answer #1 · answered by magicman116 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't. I have 3 bettas. Each of them is in a small tank, not a bowl. Optimally, they should have at least 1 gallon. The rule that everyone refers to is 1 gallon per inch of fish. A betta can get up to 3 inches. However, coming from small pools, he can do well in less. What he can't do though is live in water that's not filtered or heated. They will die early.
As far as a betta eating your plant: I would HOPE not! Bettas are carnivores. They don't eat plants. If your betta IS eating the peace lily, it's because it's starved.
Since you've got him in a bowl, chances are there is no oxygenation. I wouldn't recommend putting a plant in there that will take up more room and potentially cut down on the amount of surface space for him. The oxygen he gets is received from the air exchange at the surface of the water. If you cut back on that, you'll shorten his lifespan more.
2007-04-23 15:36:51 · answer #2 · answered by Barb R 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Firstly, Betta's do not eat plants. Yes they will eat the roots, but it's because they are starving. Feed your Betta pellets designed for them or blood worms. Having the plant in the top of the vase only prevents them from having access to breathe at the surface. Betta's get their air from the surface of the water. Having them in a round vase isn't so great either. Two gallons should be a mininum for these fish. They sell small tanks at the store for 12 dollars or so. The flat sides are better for the fish too, and they will be interactive with you if they can see you properly. There are many sites on the web about their proper care. Bettas are fun fish with personality. My husband used to get ours to jump out of the water and bit a pellet off his nose. Have fun with your fish, and take care of the properly.
2007-04-23 18:30:30 · answer #3 · answered by Mellie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are many problems with keeping Betta's in anything smaller than a 3 gallon tank with or without a plant. The plant just makes things worse for several reasons. I can't put them all down because I'm busy, but I'm going to give you a site. I want you to read it ALL even other things on the site if you have the time. I strongly recommend you read the WHOLE site but at least the page in the site your going to get. Then I want you to get that poor animal out of that cruel bowl.
2007-04-23 16:02:52 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A betta shouldn't live in a vase. Not with bamboo, not with lillies. They wont live any longer than a month or so like that. Its cruel to keep them like that, they shouldn't be used as decoration. bettas need oxygen and will get oxygen from the surface, they can't do that if the surface is blocked with plants, they also need warm water, so a heater, a filter and at least 5-10g of water to live a long happy life. They are prettier and more relaxing to watch when you give them what they need, rather than having them in the small bowl with a plant. Its much nicer to watch them swim around and look healthy than to be stuck for one spot without any room to move until they die. Vases are for flowers, not fish. I know its a popular belief that bettas fare just fine in small containers, and though they can live in them, its not recommended and they never live out their full life span healthy and happy.
2016-05-17 08:38:17 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. As mentioned, it will crowd the betta and they do not eat plant roots. On top of that, they are surface breathers and need to be able to get to the surface and the plants can block their access. Below is a link to a good betta site.
2007-04-23 15:39:47 · answer #6 · answered by rdd1952 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hi - Your right you can. the fish will eat the roots and it helps you by not having to clean the vase as often as you would if you didn't have a plant in there. Get a female beta they live longer. And don't forget to get aloe drops for your beta!
Take care.
2007-04-23 15:27:49 · answer #7 · answered by ray-ray 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Bettas do not eat plant material,they are insectivores,in the wild they live on mosquito larvae. Give the little guy his own tank so he can get to the surface and breathe whole air like he's designed to.
2007-04-23 16:20:38 · answer #8 · answered by PeeTee 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, you can. I have three betas- one in a bowl with river stones and a water lily, one in a vase with Bamboo, and one in an over sized brandy snifter with sea shells and a peace lily.( he hangs in the roots to rest !)Have had him over two years and he is just fine!
2007-04-23 15:39:35 · answer #9 · answered by La Rousse 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
its a bowl... with the roots, the poor betta will be crowded to death. ray, bettas will eat the roots when extremely hungry. go to bettatalk and find out! take the plant out, get it a TANK, and go to bettatalk
2007-04-23 15:26:51 · answer #10 · answered by Shadow(betta boy) 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋