Help! Need advice on decor safety

[KZol]

My betta is a very inquisitive boy, very busy, and easily bored. I have made him a mobile "playground" out of a heavy 1.5 gallon glass container that I can carry around with me during the day. I added some plastic pearls and curly polyester ribbon because he loves to tunnel and burrow, and was pretty much crucified for it in another group. Polyester is plastic, yes? And that's what silk plants are made of? I was told plastic must be "food grade", or made specifically for aquariums. My little guy is going to be devastated when I take away all his toys. My question is, can I make these things safe for him in some way? It looks like I could spray the pearls with Krylon Fusion spray paint. Is there a thin flexible clear silicone coating I could put over the ribbon? I'm at a loss.

(As far as other safety measures in the playground, he gets water tested and up to 50% water change daily, he's got 3 marimo balls and floating plants, plus 3 freshwater clams in there. We're in Southern AZ and the house is betta friendly in temperature.)

 

[dudley]

Welcome to the forum!!

Spawning mops for fish are commonly made from synthetic yarns so I don't see a problem using the ribbon you have unless any dyes bleed off of them or they have sparkles in them.

Are the plastic pearls large enough for him to eat? If not they shouldn't be a problem.

After you post a few more times you will be able to post a picture of your betta and his mobile 'playground' as well as his aquarium.

I can't offer advice on the freshwater clams or how they should be fed so maybe someone else will jump on that portion of your post.

 

[KZol]

No, the ribbon is fabric and seems colorfast (Experiments to come on that). The pearls are much too big to fit in his moith. He likes to burrow under or behind his marimo balls, and the pearls make it so he doesn't get scratched up by substrate. The clams are there to be filter feeders. Three might be too many for the biomass of one little betta, but they are alive and well and doing their job..

 

[the loach]

Sorry but the clams aren't doing their job.... or being well for that matter, they are unsuited for aquaria. They feed on planktonic algae (green water), you can only keep them in ponds (with enough biomass and sunlight)
There is no animal that will somehow keep the water clean, no way around water changes.

 

[KZol]

Water changes are not a problem....He gets his water tested and up to 50% change daily. I've got a 4 gallon guppy bowl that's dirt bottomed, under a grow light because it's heavily planted, and frankly, overstocked. Would they be happier in there? They're all smaller than a quarter.

 

[#Crabs]

You can try PVC pipes

 

[KZol]

What for?

 

[#Crabs]

To make tunnels, caves, and decorations. My betta loved to swim through the PVC pipes and I would make these big mazes for him. But I know you can not do that with your enclosure size.

 

[KZol]

That is a super cool idea. I could do that in his bigger tank and maybe he wouldn't hate it so much. Do you have any photos?

 

[#Crabs]

I do not have the PVC up in my tank right now but here are some examples online


Just go to a local Lowes or Home Depot and they have selves filled with safe PVC pipers you can you y pipe connectors, elbows, etc. You can also use coconut shells and even glass jars.
Sometimes you can even use food-safe plastics

The possibilities are endless. All you need to do is buy some PVC pipes at a home depot.
You can also use LFS products like