My new Betta and Cycling

[Jess7]

My new Betta and Cycling (Sorry for my ignorance!)

I received a Betta as a present and have him in a 10 gallon tank (alone) for now. He was in a small "betta bowl" and he seemed miserable, so the guy at the store said I could put him in the 10 gallon with out doing a fishless cycle as long as I keep up on changing the water every week. I let the tank run for a day before putting him in. Any feedback on what to look out for in the next couple weeks?

Also, the thermometer on the outside on the tank was read 78 and when I put a thermometer in that goes on the inside, it read 84!!! Obviously I am no using the outer on anymore!

 

[Emg]

Bettas are not good fish to cycle a tank with. Their fins are too delicate. Wouldn't hurt to put him in a smaller bowl and cycle the tank..then put him back in afterwards. Then you could rest easy not worrying so much about about the water as long as you do keep up with regular water changes and general maintanance.

 

[centralharbor]

Bettas are not good fish to cycle a tank with. Their fins are too delicate. Wouldn't hurt to put him in a smaller bowl and cycle the tank..then put him back in afterwards. Then you could rest easy not worrying so much about about the water as long as you do keep up with regular water changes and general maintanance.

this doesnt really make sense, your gonna put him in a small bowl, then cycle the tank? the small bowl will also have to be cycled anyway, so you might as well keep it in the bigger tank IMO

 

[Emg]

No..the small bowl will hopefully have frequent water changes, several times a week...don't need to cycle small bowls....it's easier to do frequent water changes in a small bowl than a larger tank. When I say small bowl, I'm thinking something at least half a gallon...not those pint sized things they sell in the stores. The betta will do ok in the smaller bowl since he won't be in there for very long.

If you take the time to get that 10 gallon cycled it will be much better for your betta and you in the long run.

 

[Jess7]

I just don't want to stress him out even more. I had him in a small betta bowl and he was not very happy I've already moved him out of a small bowl to a 2.5 g, then to the small one again once he got stressed, and now he seems happy as can be in the big tank. What if I do constant water changes? I don't mind if it'll keep the little guy happy

 

[Emg]

Well, that's as good a reason as any for leaving him in the 10 gallon Jess...they sure do hate being passed around from bowl to bowl, tank to tank.

Go ahead and leave him in the 10. Do at least two 20-30 % water changes a week...and keep an eye on the ammonia and nitrites. If you notice his fins getting tattered or just plain not healthy looking..do a water change immediately...hopefully if you are testing the water and notice the ammonia or nitrites rising you'll do a change before this happens.

Good luck Jess !

 

[Jess7]

Thank you. Just tested the levels and I actually don't have a nitrate testing kit. Just Ammonia, Nitrite, and ph. The only one that was somewhat off was the Ammonia. It was at about .50 I changed 2 gallons of the water and it's now down to .25 Should you always change the water until it's down to 0 or is .25 ok?