For my friends birthday i'm getting her ..?

Question

For my friends birthday i'm getting her a beta fish.

I've had one before but that was a long time ago and he died =[

but i see those poor fish in the store in those little cups of gross water and i wonder how do they survive in somethign like that...

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How big should the tank be for one of them.
And do they need a heater??

Answer 1

You can keep a beta in a decorative glass bowl of any size. They don't need a heater but they do need their water changed about once a week. The important thing is to make sure when you change it that you keep it the same temperature. They are air breathers so it is important to keep the water clean so it doesn't for a film on the top. They also like a container with a large area where the top of the water is. That gives them more room to breathe. They do well on the kitchen counter or anywhere they are close to a florescent light. They also like a cave in their container to go to sleep or just hide every now and then.

Answer 2

I strongly agree that the tank needs to be at the very minimum 1 gallon and preferably 2 or more. Also, you need a heater unless the ambient room temperature is always above 74 degrees. The tank temperature should never drop lower than 72. It will also need a filter unless she wants to do water changes every 2 to 3 days.

Also, as mentioned, giving a fish as a gift isn't a good idea unless you know for sure that the other person has an interest in keeping one. And if you do get her the betta, also get her a liquid master test kit. Most bettas die because ammonia levels rise due to no filtration and no water changes.

Answer 3

Don't buy a fish or any pet as a gift. The recipient may not want or be prepared to take care of it.
The betta survives in the little cup because it has adapted to such situations in it's natural habitat, where the dry season means the water may be no more than muddy puddles. The water is blue because it is treated with methylene blue, an anti-fungal medication. Being stressed in those little cups, plus being transported in bagged wet paper towels with even less water in shipping (you'd be shocked to see them shipped). They are likely to develop illnesses. They are treated as a preventative measure.
They can benefit from a heater, as it will stabilize the water temperature. Ideally, their temperature is 75-85, though they can survive lower (an invitation for ich) temperatures. It is not so important the actual temperature, but the stability of it. 80 isn't better than 75 or vice versa.

They need to be in a tank with filtration and heater. If it is just a single male and no other fish, 3 gallons will suffice. This is a nice small tank.

http://www.petsmart.com/global/search/search_results.jsp?In=Fish&N=2030056+4294966886&Ne=2
http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS/ctl3684/cp18525/si1379725/cl0/marinelandeclipse7hexcombo
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=3848&N=2004+62761
and a heater
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=12087&N=2004+62761

Answer 4

It is not fair to keep them in those little cups like at the store, and obviously it shows,. but betas are very ahpppy in 2-5 gallon tanks. You can get a little 2 gallon at walmart for $10. They are very clean fish so they don't really need filters. They pretty much take care of themseves as long as you feed them. They don't need a lot of cleaning, for a beta, every month maybe. But if you want to prolong it put a live plant in there, and it will feed of the amonia, which is good for the fish, becaus amonia is released by their waste. It creates their own little eco syste,m. As for heater, depends on where you live. if u do, its really only fo rthe winter if hte house is cool. But get one with a thermostat. Its so much easier than checking hte temp all the time and plugging in and unplugging.

Answer 5

For your friend to have a really good chance of success with her present you should get her a 2 or 2.5 gallon tank kit for the fish. One of the small kits that includes a filter and heater would be very best. That's really the smallest tank you can heat well and yes, you are thinking correctly, Bettas do need a heater. Then your friend will have everything she needs to keep her fish healthy. Here's a page you can print out for your friend so she can learn a little about bettas.

http://joshday.com/bettafaq.htm

Hope that helps

MM

Answer 6

All the tank needs to be is a bowl with some fish stones and maybe a nice plant for it to hide in, in the bottom of it. It doesn't need a heater. AND those "little" cups are perfect for it to be on the shelves also because it doesn't need much room and doesn't take A LOT of maintanance. There can't be two in the same bowl because they fight.

Answer 7

The fish needs minimum one gallon.
A heater is only necessary if the tank is 5 gallons or more.

Answer 8

a fishbowl and you don't need a heater. you just got to change the water every other day.

Answer 9

needs to be as big as my cock