Thanks for your help! Boy, I guess the 5 gallons are tough! I should switch to a 10, but don't have a place to put it. for now I have to figure out how to keep the 5 gallon happy.
All 5 gallon Betta keepers.... HELP!!!!!!
- Thread starter montanafish gal
- Start date
Thanks for your help! Boy, I guess the 5 gallons are tough! I should switch to a 10, but don't have a place to put it. for now I have to figure out how to keep the 5 gallon happy.
If the tank was cycled,and you are sure you did not do anything to disturb the bio filter,overfeeding is probably the problem.Betta's are little pigs IME,but only need to be feed a small amount once a day.A couple freeze dried blood worms one day,and a Betta pellet or 2 the next day is plenty for them.I change 75% of the water in my 5 gallon Betta tank once a week. 5 gallons is just not a lot of water to dilute any ammonia that will come from overfeeding.Lots of people keep Betta's in 5 gallon tanks without issue.If you cut back on the feeding,and change the water weekly,you should be OK.
My bett's first home was a 5 gallon, I changed half the water 3 times a week. It's so easy to overfeed bettas, they're such cute lil' beggars! When he was by himself in the 5 gal., I fed him either one or two pellets, a few flakes, or one or two bloodworms twice a day. Have you tried getting a turkey baster to siphon out the uneaten food?
no, I am guilty of leaving the uneaten food, thinking "oh he'll eat it later when he gets hungry....." bad me, I know.... :jaw-dropping:
I have my bettas in a 5 gallon and 6.6 gallon tank and clean 50% once a week. I'm only home for the morning part of their light's on time (I work nights) so I usually feed 2-3 betta pellets, or 2-3 frozen bloodworms, or a few pieces of frozen daphnia in the morning before I leave. I was talking to people at work who apparently only feed their bettas once or twice a week! Make sure you only feed what he can eat at one time.
I have found that having live plants helps keep the water quality in a smaller tank better more easily, so you might want to add more...plus bettas love to play in them.
I have found that having live plants helps keep the water quality in a smaller tank better more easily, so you might want to add more...plus bettas love to play in them.
I have my bettas in a 5 gallon and 6.6 gallon tank and clean 50% once a week. I'm only home for the morning part of their light's on time (I work nights) so I usually feed 2-3 betta pellets, or 2-3 frozen bloodworms, or a few pieces of frozen daphnia in the morning before I leave. I was talking to people at work who apparently only feed their bettas once or twice a week! Make sure you only feed what he can eat at one time.
I have found that having live plants helps keep the water quality in a smaller tank better more easily, so you might want to add more...plus bettas love to play in them.
Hi Starstruck! Yes, I actually have about 5/6 small live plants in the tank. I think my problem is mostly overfeeding. My betta tends to hide when I feed him. If he would come out and eat , then I could more easily feed him the correct amount. But because he's not eating in front of me, I think I put too much in there because I want to make sure he see's it and gets something to eat after I leave if that makes sense.
You are going through a mini-cycle, completely separate from the original. Something was disturbed...bacteria died off, more ammonia initially added either due to an increase in bioload or overfeeding, something is rotting, etc., etc.
Keep doing water changes to get those levels under control and cut back on feeding. Eventually I think weekly changes should be enough, but more than that wouldnt hurt.
Keep doing water changes to get those levels under control and cut back on feeding. Eventually I think weekly changes should be enough, but more than that wouldnt hurt.
jpappy, thanks, that makes sense. It must have been caused by overfeeding and extra rotting food. I need to figure out a more appropriate way of feeding one little fish.
