i own a betta fish and I think he is a very bored fish. the only stuff in his bowl besides him, is gravel and a marble. He was jumping up the side of his tank a few minutes ago! What can I put in his bowl to keep him entertained?
2007-07-25 04:33:05 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Fish
Odds are excellent your betta isn't bored at all, but instead is trying to escape poor water conditions. It's difficult and very time consuming to maintain good water conditions in a bowl. Get him a 2.5 gallon filtered and heated tank, he will be much happier and healthier. In a 2.5 you can add some fake plants and a small decoration of some type as well as a tank mate of two like ghost shrimp, pygmy cory cats or a snail or two. Don't add any other fish to a unfiltered bowl, it will only foul the water that much more quickly.
A mirror in front of his tank for a few minutes every few days is good for him. it allow him to exercise the actions that at genetically encoded, defending his territory, forming a territory, etc. To long will stress him, so keep it short and only a few times a week.
MM
2007-07-25 06:02:12 · answer #1 · answered by magicman116 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
If you put a mirror in front of his tank for about 5 minutes every day, it gives the fish healthy exercise and allows him something to do. Try getting some live plants from the pet store (not lillies that float on top, they can suffocate your Betta). This will give him something to interact with. Of course, the best option is to get a real tank (5+ gallons with a filter and heater) and let him have some tankmates like 4 Neon Tetras. He won't bother them because of their small, short fins. Good luck!
Nosoop4u
Please don't subject your Betta to the cruelty of a bowl. Just because it can live in a bowl, doesn't mean it is happy. Get it a real tank (5+ gallons), it's only about $15-$20.
2007-07-25 14:54:29 · answer #2 · answered by nosoop4u246 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I own a betta fish too! He lives in a bowl with rocks and a plastic hairgrass plant, which he likes to swim through and around. You can get your fish a plant too. He'll like swimming through it (they seem to like swimming through things) and it'll give the bowl some ornementation. The tips of the plant touch the top of my bowl so it kind of stops him from jumping out. If he looks really bored, you can leave a mirror infront of his bowl for a couple minutes. He'll get agressive and this will entertain him for a bit - I do that to my fish, and it's actually kind of fun to watch. Just take the mirror away after a while or he'll get tired.
Well, good luck. =)
2007-07-25 12:17:09 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Only put the mirror at the side of his bowl than no more then 3 a day, And only for 15 minutes at a time, If it is kept for longer the fish will get stressed, A little is good for him but dont over do it.
- Do not add anymore fish as others suggested.
Good luck
~ GG
2007-07-25 12:00:17 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
I shall assume that your betta is male. I have two males in seperate housing. One is in a very large bowl with bamboos. I often find him swimming through and around the bottom of the plants. My other male betta is in a small 1.5 tank with a few live plants. He, too, tends to swim through the plants, which are situated in the rear of its home. At one point each male was in a larger aquarium and I must admit, they did seem "happier" but I was concerned for safety of them and the other fish. Captain America (my blue & white betta) was in with a school of small bala sharks and I was convinced that they were plotting on my betta. And Beast (my red betta) seemed to harrass the occupants of the other tank. I tried putting a mystery snail in each of their homes for company, but they nipped at them. Good luck!
2007-07-29 05:49:07 · answer #5 · answered by Is 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bowl = bored. Put it this way. Wouldn't you be bored, to say the least, if you were made to live in a closet for your entire life? Bowls should be outlawed. In Europe, they are. Yes, mirrors will get the fish moving and excited, but that's because it is angry and scared. It might be funny and entertaining to you, but this is teasing and mean and only stresses your fish. Get your betta a 2.5 gallon aquarium with a filter and heater and you will see a much different fish.
2007-07-25 12:34:23 · answer #6 · answered by Venice Girl 6 · 4⤊ 3⤋
Betta fish naturally jump they like to, you could get a little baby plant, look on www.petsmart.com and there are some small plants that can fit into a betta bowl for $1.50. They like to sleep on them too! Not sure what else you could do. Sorry and good luck :] - Another person suggested a female but they will still fight! dont do that
2007-07-25 11:40:08 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋
Put his bowl in front of a mirror. He will see his reflection, think it's another fish and start to dance. It's what they do before they fight, but it is very beautiful to watch and very entertaining and cute! =)
2007-07-25 11:41:19 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
a female betta should work. print a female betta picture actual size or a mirror for it to flare against.
2007-07-25 23:21:28 · answer #9 · answered by TK 2 · 1⤊ 3⤋
I've heard that if you hold a mirror outside the bowl they follow it.. not sure if you can put it in there with them, though.
2007-07-25 11:41:14 · answer #10 · answered by Bre 1 · 0⤊ 4⤋