has any body found any way to make a betta live longer besides cleaning the tank alot ?

Answer 1

If you mean a small unfiltered tank then no. Water changes are critical to the health of your betta. If you mean a well filtered and heated aquarium then a 25% weekly water change is all that should be needed.

MM

Answer 2

If you have a filtered of 5 gallons you really don't need to clean the tank a lot. Even a 2.5 gallon tank filtered doesn't need a lot of cleaning. I change 20-30% the water in my betta tank every 2-3 weeks, and they all lived past their 3 birthday. Why? These are 5+ gallon tanks with good filters, and I don't over feed. My nitrates never get above 20 ppm, and there is never any ammonia, or nitrites. I test for nitrates every month do an extra water change if it's high.


The keys to a long lived betta are as follows:

0)Keep the water clean. The more water you keep the betta in the better. As a 6 gallon container is 1/2 as dirty as a 3 gallon contain, 1/6 as dirty as a 1gallon, and 12X cleaner than a 1/2 gallon container. (Given the same amount of food.)

1)Keep the temp in the 75-85 range. Don't subject the betta to temp rapid change.

2)Don't over feed. Food ~= ammonia/nitrites/nitrates. A betta will happily eat many many times more than he need. The extra food fouls the water faster, and can cause bloat. A betta really only needs an amount of food equal to his little eye ball 6 times a week.

Answer 3

I've had my betta for almost 2 years, which is the longest I've ever had one. All i have is a plain round tank that isn't very big & some rocks @ the bottom. I feed him once every 1-2 days & clean his tank once every 3 weeks. I don't change his water alot or anything. I actually bother with him very little & he's almost 2. So perhaps that's the answer? The lady a few spots up has about the same answer, bowl w/ minimal contact w/ anything but the bowl. IDK where everyone gets that you have to clean the tank & get them this huge thing, they CAN live in a small bowl for long time, not what the come in, a little bigger, but my sister put hers in a tank w/ a filter & it died w/i a week.

Answer 4

According to this site http://freshaquarium.about.com/cs/anabantids2/p/betta.htm

"Optimally the water for keeping healthy Bettas should be soft, warm, with a neutral to slightly acidic pH. Water movement should be kept to a minimum, which means that power filters and powerheads are not suitable. Bettas may be kept in a community tank as long as the water conditions are met, and if no aggressive or fin-nipping fish are present. However, only one male may be kept in each aquarium, unless they are separated by a barrier."

There is lots of other information about them at the site listed above. I hope that helps.

Answer 5

Don't stuff them into those stupid, tiny tanks that Petstores swear that they belong in.

Believe it or not, betta's don't belond in cups or tiny bowls where they're stuck in one position with barely enough room to move in. :)

Besides that, there's really not much you can do. A filter is always nice so you don't have to clean the tank so much--but it's really not required for a betta to live long in a lot of cases. It's all really the fish not so much the upkeep.

Answer 6

I've got some:
- Instead of a bowl, get a tank
- Feed him every other day or every three days
-Give him one fasting a week
-Feed him some live food
-Feed him less than what you would feed it
-Allow swimming space
-Get a heater and a filter system

Try all these and I will ensure you that your betta will live longer than the average.

Answer 7

My coworker has a tiny tank with a Betta that must be at least three years old now. No filter, she never cleans the tank, forgets to feed the little guy, but he is the oldest Betta in the world.

Answer 8

Get him a bigger tank. With a heater and filter. Dont clean the tank too much. There is good bacteria in there. they have "betta salt" to prevent diseases. Check with a petstore and see what good stuff they have.

Answer 9

regular waterchanges, not in a sunny spot, if you clean your tank put the beta ready conditioner in it, check the amonia levels, don't overfeed him, put a live plant in the tank and keep the water at room temperature.
good luck

Answer 10

tank, heater, very light filter. de-chlorinater. water changes and a variety of food. don't keep them in a bowl of any kind.