Betta fish bowl filter?

Question

I just lost my three year old betta fish and I am planning to get a new one. I had him in a one an a half gallon bowl, with a small heater, marbles at the bottom, a small plant, and a snail. I was thinking of adding a filter to make my next betta's existance a little more comfortable. Here are the products I have been considering. Any suggestions or oppinions would be greatly oppreciated.

http://www.petco.com/product/101885/Betta-Halfmoon-Male.aspx

http://www.aquariumguys.com/foamfilter1.html

http://www.aquariumguys.com/hydrosponge.html

Thanks so much!

Answer 1

A small bowl is easier to clean than a filter.
It's not necessary and the water current in such a small container may be stressful, bettas aren't strong swimmers.

Seriously, guys don't just give me a poor rating because I am being practical.
In such a small container, a filter will be more hassle than water changes. The question wasn't about getting a new tank. Bettas do well in full sized aquariums, and they do well in bowls. A filter in a small bowl is less efficient than water changes, and it is more work. I am speaking from experience and bettas are one of the few fish out there that do well in bowls. They are sedentary, have slow metabolisms and their territories are small. A filter is more work and will be detrimental to the fish. It will cause too much turbulence and it will rapidly cool the bowl. Low temperatures make bettas sick.

Don't do a filter in a bowl with a betta.

Answer 2

Wow. Bettas kept in bowls commonly live 2-3 years, usually less, rarely more. But bettas kept in healthy living conditions can live 5-7 years. In comparison, two years is pitiful. If you want a healthy, thriving fish which will live to potential and beyond, then you would invest in the proper set up which includes about a 5 gallon tank, a gentle filter, and an aquarium heater. Goldfish are commonly kept in bowls as well and how many people know that they can live over 25 years? Not many because not enough bother to do their research and buy the necessary equipment.

Answer 3

Instead of messing around with a little bowl, upgrade to a 2.5 gallon starter kit that will only cost you about $25... It will come with a filter and heater, leading to a much more comfortable, safe life for your Betta. You will still have to do weekly water changes of about 25% to keep the nitrogen compounds down. Contact me if you have any questions.

Soop Nazi

EDIT: Bettas only have slow metabolisms in small, cold, bowls. In the wild, they live in vast rice paddies where they would have very large territories. If you want to keep your fish in a bowl, keep the water above 75* and do water changes at LEAST twice a week...

Answer 4

I would suggest buying a 2.5 gallon mini-bow aquarium. They are reasonably priced and are fabulous for a single Betta.

You can get a small in-tank filter as well as a small heater. One of my Bettas is housed in a planted 2.5 g mini-bow. He loves it :)