I'm getting a betta fish?

Question

Okay, so I'm getting a betta fish for my new room (I'll have my own room from now on! :D). It's WAY different from the guppies and goldfishes I raise. It's going to be living in a simple fishbowl that I used to breed my ghost shrimp/guppies in. Any tips on how to make it feel comfortable in it's home? I don't want to hear how I'm a horrible person for making my fish live in bowls without heating pads and etc. For someone like me, I can't afford huge tanks with filters and things like that. It's not that I don't want to hear the truth, I just want tips like what water I should use, what food, what plants it can live with, snails it can live with..


Additionally, the last time I got a betta fish *one year ago*, it was totally inactive. It barely moved, so I took it back to the fish store. Can anyone clear that up for me? That might help score you a few points. :]

Also, the room I'm moving into is colder than the other rooms in my building. What can I do about that? I really can't afford a heating pad unless it's like, 3 dollars. I hear they're 10 dollars.

Answer 1

Obviously you know a betta would do best in a filtered and heated tank of around 2.5 gallons, but they can be kept reasonably well in a bowl of 1/2 gallon or larger.

You will need to find a place for the bowl with a quite steady temperature. Best if it's in the mid 70's to mid 80's. Lower than that and the betta will be lethergic and inactive, which could be the explanation from your previous bettas inactivity. Additionally, lower temperature will invite disease problems, particularly fin rot.

Dechlorinated tap water will be best for your betta, avoid such things as distilled water or R/O water, both are far too soft. As for food, I would suggest a good betta pellet as the staple of it's diet and the addition of frozen or live foods every few days. The main thing to watch VERY carefully is to not over feed. A small bowl will never cycle, therefore excess food will endanger or at the least harm your fish in a matter of hours.

As I just mentioned, a bowl will not cycle, therefor ammonia will be a constant problem. You will need to do a 100% water change every 2-3 days to prevent damaging the fish's gills and fins.

I wouldn't suggest any type of bowl mate for the betta, even a snail. Any additional living animals would only add tot he ammonia problem all the faster.

Since you will have to do such frequent water changes, the only plant that's practical for you would be floating plants such as duckweed, frogbit, hornwort or similar plants.

While it's not the best way to keep a betta, with a commitment to very careful and constant attention to it's needs, you can keep a betta in a bowl.

MM

Answer 2

Make sure you get a de chlorinator for the water you use in your bettas bowl. You can use tap water as long as you dechlorinate it. The water should be as close to room temp. as possbile, don't let the water get cold. It makes no difference to a betta if you have a real plant or plastic one, for now, I would just get a plastic plant, its easier to maintain. There are betta pellets at any pet store you go to, and they are cheap. I don't know why your last betta was inactive, maybe your pet store didn't take a lot of care of it, or maybe it was sick, or maybe its enviroment had something wrong with it. This time, pick a betta that is moving and looks active and healthy.

Answer 3

I have had betta fish all my life!! I keep mine in the same conditions as you are speaking of! I change the water once a week and clean out the bowl too once a week. I use tap water that I let sit out in a pitcher overnight before I change the water. Keep the home at about 80 degrees or your betta will become sick! They hate cold temperatures!! If you have any type of air cinditioning in your house you should forget about getting a Betta.
Bye

Answer 4

Get like a crab, or frog. different fish are no longer a stable thought. the only situation that works is a woman betta and a male. The might combat while they first meet, yet they do get alongside ultimately.

Answer 5

my beta is very inactive.

beta's in the wild (or when they were wild) males stay in small pockets of water for long periods of time. they get there oxygen from the surface, as well as through their gills. this makes them perfect for a regular bowl of water. you can buy "beta" water at the store, but i just use a dechlorinator and tap water for mine. use some rocks at the bottom to help catch the poop/extra water, feed basic beta pellets, and change the water weekly. (fish push waste products into the water with their gills as well, and the water must be changed so they dotn poision themselves)

betas are very docile fish, and dont move much. but its fun to use a red earser of a pencil to the side of the glass and watch them puff up in defense. :)