I recently switched from a 5 gallon tank to a 2 gallon tank. I used to have three goldfish and 1 beta and a snail. Now that I am down to just the beta and snail I thought a smaller tank would be fine. I put Gary(snail) and Elvis(beta) into a 2 gallon bowl and they were fine for the first week, but this past week Gary has been laying on the bottom of the bowl and I can't tell if he's dead! When I touched him in the bowl he didn't move and he had a ball of slime around him, I took him out and he was just hanging out of his shell, when I rinsed him off I could have swarn his foot was moving but I don't want to get rid of him if he's alive, I have him in a very small dish now and he isn't moving again, Is he dead?
I need some help please!
- Thread starter cventriglia
- Start date
supgourami said:
How would you like it if you were sitting in a tiny bowl where it was always cold? They have the same requirements as every other tropical fish, a heated and filtered tank.
You would be surprised how active these fish are when kept in proper tanks.
The fact that bettas don't need these things is a myth, and is almost as cruel as putting a golfish in a bowl(why? becuase goldfish get huge, not becuase bettas have adapted to these spaces).
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Bettas live in rice patties.
There is less room there than there are in bowls.
It may not be the best for them, but they can live for a long time in a bowl.
Thats what like 90% of betta owners do.
There is less room there than there are in bowls.
It may not be the best for them, but they can live for a long time in a bowl.
Thats what like 90% of betta owners do.
supgourami said:
You are right, but for a good part of the year rice patties have tons of space. :dive: :dive2: They may not be deep, but they are wide and meet up with other ponds, streams, and marshes. Betas can survive in small oxygen deprived spaces. However, this is a survival mechanism meant to get them through the roughest, driest part of the year. Many fish die anyway.
Plus, it is very warm where they live. Unless you to live where it is warm year round, the fish should have some kind of heat source.
You may not need a filter if you are diligent with water changes, but if you are going to choose to be responsible for an animal, you should do your best to give it the best environment you can reasonably give it.
rice paddies
Do you still think it's smaller than a bowl, at any time of the year.
Just becuase 90% of betta owners do it,doesn't mean it should be done, it's ust like putting a goldfish in a bowl, just becuase 90% of people do it, it's still cruel to the fish.
And, if you still think a bowl is right, have you ever seen a full grown betta?
Do you still think it's smaller than a bowl, at any time of the year.
Just becuase 90% of betta owners do it,doesn't mean it should be done, it's ust like putting a goldfish in a bowl, just becuase 90% of people do it, it's still cruel to the fish.
And, if you still think a bowl is right, have you ever seen a full grown betta?
If Gary is dead you will notice a rather nasty smell coming from him. It is very distinct. You really should get a filter and a heater for the bowl and I would move them back to the 5 gallon...more is better. Your betta will need water temps around 80 degrees so they should not be housed with goldfish as goldfish are cold water fish. Also, if you decide to get another snail make sure you are feeding it often as many apple/mystery snails die from starvation (they are hungry little buggers!!)