How do I get my fish to stop stinking?

Question

I have one little male beta fish in a glass bowl. There's colourful rocks in there and a red and green plant in the middle. I feed him a little very night, and wash the bowl and it's contents each week. Why in the world does it often smell like skunk or sewer?!

Answer 1

You probably just need to change the water a bit more often. I have bettas in bowls and change the water every 2-3 days. It extra junk in he gravel that starts to stink and it only takes a few days to get pretty foul. Imagine what it's like for him though! That smell means chemicals that are bad for him. So try changing it every 2-3 days and see if that solves the problem. Of course, upgrading to a filtered and heated 2.5 gallon tank would be an awesome move if you can swing that. Then you can just change about 1 gallon once a week and it will never stink.

MM

Answer 2

I'd venture to guess it's an ammonia build-up. I'm assuming the vase is only 1.5 gallons or less, and cleaning it once a week is not enough. I don't ever recommend keeping bettas in anything less than a 5 gallon heated and filtered tank, but if you're determined to keep the vase then you definitely need to clean out the bowl every day or at the very least every other day. This is the only way to keep the vase from accumulating ammonia to the point of smelling. But I suggest upgrading to a 5 gallon with a heater and filter -- then you'll only have to do 30% water changes weekly and change the filter once a month. That would take care of the smell and I can guarantee you'll see a new, happier side to your fish. =)

Hope this helps,
C.G.

Answer 3

I hope you are using salt water to clean your bowl? It is the only thing I know of that is safe to use for fish tanks Is there anything in the plants or stones that need cleaned? I have never heard of just the fish stinking. Try taking out the fish and put him in a cup of water for a while. Pour about 1/2 cup of non iodized salt into the emtpy bowl with only about 1 cup of water. Let that soak for about 1 hour, then dump it and rinse really really well. Be sure to get all the salt out. This should work. Good Luck.

Answer 4

obviously giving a fish a 'bath' wouldn't work. So, there's really nothing you can do to keep the fish from smelling. Just as clothes smell a bit after you wear them, the same goes for the fish tank, but instead of being changed everyday, it's once a week. A better tank with a good filtration system would help a little bit. If you upgrade to a better tank i would also suggest getting a a fish that eats the algae-- it starts with p, I don't remember what it is though.

Answer 5

It's due to the build up of ammonia. The solution is to get a bigger bowl/tank. Ideally you want a filter of some sort. In a gallon bowl you need to clean every 4 days. Also be sure you aren't over feeding. food ~= ammonia.

Answer 6

Get a small aquarium with an under gravel filter that uses an air pump. talk to someone at the pet store about the care of Beta's, before the fish dies.

Answer 7

First off, I would put the Betta in a small tank 5 to 10 gallons. Bettas, do not llike to be in a little bowl. The truth is, that betta's like warm temperatures, larger area's so they can come alive. They just sit in those bowls because there is nothing to do. your bowl would not stink if you had circulation. air and filtration. I thought that bettas had to live in small area's until i put him in my community tank. He came alive swam all over. coloring became more enhanced. any time water sits. it will get smelly.do your betta a favor and change it's home.

Answer 8

Get an aquarium or clean it out more often. The wastes has to go somewhere and the bowl is the only place. Wastes stinks. There is your problem.

Answer 9

What form of stinking are you conversing approximately? Is it BO out of your armpits or something else? notwithstanding if that is out of your armpits or sweat i'd propose seeing a dermatologist. they'd supply you prescription deodorants that would extremely help. it might additionally be an illustration of an underlying illness, so this does not harm besides!

Answer 10

you should et a 5 gallong tank with GOOD QUALITY filter with actived carbon (if it has the carbon filter things with your filter, then be sure to change the cartirge every 2 months)
the carbon takes away water color (yellow/green dirty water clor) and stinky fish smell. it probabyl smell because you dont change 25% of the water.. (amonina)
you should really get a 5 gallong tank with a flter like this one http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441779404&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302030099&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023693&bmUID=1179469819060&itemNo=16&In=Fish&N=2030099&Ne=2

besure you dont wash it all the timee, only every month you sure clean it FULLY. just every wekk you can change the water (clean drinking water with conditioner)