Betta Bowls

[palmbreeze]

I know the best situation for a Betta is in a filtered aquarium. I've had bettas for some time now. However I am looking to start a family and we are tearing down some of our aquariums. One aquarium torn down was a 10 gallon. We put all the fish including my betta into my 55 gallon. I told my husband that he won't survive in that tank but he was sure the fish would be ok. Well the fish ripped his fins apart! Poor guy! I quickly put him back into the 10 gallon that was still set up...just not running. I can not have him in a 10 gallon by himself - the tank won't be that upkept anyway. So, I would like to take him to work with me where he would get closer attention. So what is the best way to keep him at work? If I keep him in a bowl, how often should I change the water etc?

Thanks!

 

[briggadane]

They make vases that have bettas at the base and a rooted flower floating above. This would probably work. The plant would help keep water clean and H20 changes could stretch to weekly- like fridays...

 

[Dangerdoll]

they do have the 3-5 gallon setups that you can get for your desk at work, we all have them here... they are small enough not to get in the way but big enough for the comfort of the fish.

 

[SchizotypalVamp]

DO NOT get the vases. Those are inhumane, and the people who thought that a carnivorous fish would eat a herbivorous diet, well, I don't know what the heck they were thinking. I've kept several Bettas in bowls, but the happiest I've seen one was in 2.5-3 gallons. You can get a seaclear nano filter or a sponge filter and do 25% water changes every week and a gravel vac(or put in a good substrate and plant it with very hardy plants that need no CO2 and low light, looks pretty and no gravel vac. If you want to go another more pricey route, get a picotope! They're pretty., though my fiance bought a $15 2.5 gal and a hood for $10 at petsmart. You don't have to buy the tank from petsmart, can also come from cheaper home depot if you're careful.). A more traditional 1 and 1/2 gal setup, which i personally would not do again after seeing how happy the bettas are with the previous setup, would need a 50% water change every three days and gravel vac.

 

[-KT-]

They make vases that have bettas at the base and a rooted flower floating above. This would probably work. The plant would help keep water clean and H20 changes could stretch to weekly- like fridays...

No, these things are horrible.

It's my opinion that no Betta should NEVER have to live in a bowl, after seeing how active my first betta is in his 5 gallon tank I would feel horrible sticking one in a bowl. I actually just got a new Betta and put him in a 3 1/2 gallon aquarium thats tall so it only has the footprint of a 2 1/2 and he is SO active and uses all the space in the tank.It barely takes up any space so I would suggest that over a bowl.

 

[Easydoesit]

i like the little 5 gallon setups. theyre cute, and a 25% weekly water change would be a breeze with them. i think theyre 5 gallons anyways... actually, probably smaller.. like the 2.5-3 gallon tanks the previous poster mentioned.
you know, those little bowfront ones?

 

[trashion]

I find a good setup is a plain ol' 2.5 gallon aquarium, with one of those azoo palm filters(see here:http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?siteid=6&pCatId=9821) and a Visitherm stealth 25W heater set on a low setting.

 

[Dwarf Puffers]

Try to get a 3-5 gallon, like others have said. Avoid bowls. As for the vases, well, I prefer my fish to be able to turn around, and I like my plants green. Neither has happened in any of those that I've seen.

 

[SchizotypalVamp]

I can't edit my post anymore/the Azoo filters are manufactured here under the Seaclear Nano name.

 

[chirp]

have to agree with pp's

we purposefully "saved" a beta from bowl-life when we got a 5 gallon for free (had snails in it). we planted the tank- using cheap soil and gravel as the substrate, got rid of the filter and just have a heater to keep it cozy for him. he really does use the whole tank. at night he rests on the leaves of a sword plant we have in there!

plants and snails help keep it clean, and the beta even helps out by eating the unsightly planaria that result of my hubby's overfeeding (which is okay, because i figure it feeds the plants too)

water changes - 20-30 percent weekly. takes 5 minutes.

the setup is compact...we live in an apartment with a walk-thru kitchen and not much counter space, but that tank is on the counter with no real loss to me (and I'm a cook!)

plus beta is so friendly, he swims to the side of the tank where I am at when I am making food. He's a nice kitchen companion!

and what a difference from the little plastic bowl he was sitting in when we decided to get a beta!!