So my fiance has a betta in a small tank that I bought her a while back. The little guy is great, has a filter and heater, builds his little bubble nest. The thing is, she doesn't like the gravel I picked out. She wants to know if she can use buttons. She has a whole bunch that used to be her grandmother's and wants to use them insteas of gravel. There is plenty to cover the bottom as well as the rocks do, but would it be safe?
my concerns are coatings on the buttons, are there any? If so is there any way to get it off? Would using buttons as a substrate harm the fish in anyway?
2007-04-29 15:56:33 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Fish
They are all plain plastic buttons, the plastic is colored, they are not painted (I bit at a few to make sure, no paint chipped off, just broke the button and it was colored all the way through).
I've showed her other gravels and such, she doens't want them. She wants the buttons because they'll be "meaningful, just like September." September is the betta, by the way, we met in September of '04 so and I got him for out anniversary last September.
2007-04-29 16:54:10 · update #1
Plenty of good reasons not to use buttons unless you really are sure they won't harm the fish. As others have said, paint, metal or mother of pearl would all be concerns. Many buttons would be perfectly safe for a substrate, but is it worth the risk? One thing you can do is place them in a bowl with just enough water to cover them. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and leave it for several days. Then check the surface of the water for any oily film and look at the buttons for deterioration or discoloration. If they pass this test they are probably safe. You could of course test them on another fish first.
MM
2007-04-29 17:17:27 · answer #1 · answered by magicman116 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Buttons are pretty, but I must warn you that it's really white colored! So it will fade in a month.
And that buttons are plastic! You said you had a heater, it might burn and poion ur little fish.
Buttons are not good substitute for gravel.
2007-04-29 16:17:48 · answer #2 · answered by Candyman!!!! 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your concerns are legit. I would not use buttons. There is no way to know what they are coated with...what chemicals are on them, and they could break down in water, causing the chemicals to kill the fish.
If she doesn't like the gravel, there are lots of other types of stones, in all sorts of colors and sizes that you can buy at your local pet shop. They make glass, colored beads, and all sorts of decorative stones made to be in a tank. I would have her look around, and buy something that is meant to go in a fish tank.
:-)
2007-04-29 16:11:48 · answer #3 · answered by PennyPickles17 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If Granny was real old the buttons could be Mother of Pearl,(Mussel shells) they could slowly dissolve in the water,raising the pH,but if your friend keeps up with the water changes they should be OK. Plastic buttons? OK.----Metal buttons? Definitely not.. Good luck.----PeeTee----- Oh yeah,one more thing,the buttons could be collectable.
2007-04-29 16:11:03 · answer #4 · answered by PeeTee 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I'm pretty sure using buttons will be fine but if there are like paint coatings or some glitters for example then, now we have a problem.
But, good luck about that. =)
2007-04-29 16:10:42 · answer #5 · answered by J.A. 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes, as long as the buttons are made of plastic (no metal!!). But I don't know if they will sink.
2007-04-29 17:47:42 · answer #6 · answered by DiRtAlLtHeWaY 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋