I have had my betta in a 2.5 gallon tank for about 7 months now and he is doing great. i do a water change about once a week if that. I have no filter no live plants or anything like that.
no filter for betta
- Thread starter mr.amateur45
- Start date
The filters and heaters for the really small tanks like the 2.5 can be pricey, but I just bought one of each off ebay. You might try some of the online auctions to save some $$.
nursie said:
Yep i just got a filter off ebay for .99 cents to go into my 10 gallon. shipping was 8 bucks though but still a good deal for a brand new filter.
This is coming from my gf's experience....
She had a betta in a one gallon bowl, with a plant, no heater, and no filter. They don't need it really. She did a water change once a week. Her fish was healthy and happy for a long time. If betta's can live in a cupfull of colored water at wallmart they can live in a few gallons of water just fine.
Out of curiousity, how long do all your bettas usually live?
She had a betta in a one gallon bowl, with a plant, no heater, and no filter. They don't need it really. She did a water change once a week. Her fish was healthy and happy for a long time. If betta's can live in a cupfull of colored water at wallmart they can live in a few gallons of water just fine.
Out of curiousity, how long do all your bettas usually live?
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I know there are some betta experts around here that can provide a better answer, but what I will say is that the heater is to more provide a stable temp as opposed to a heated one. One winter our house got cold, and my betta in an unheated tank died. Weekly water changes are good, but I just think it would be better to have the water filtered.
And the way the fish stores keep bettas is horrid. Being in a cup of water where you can't even stretch out your fins or turn is not living.
And the way the fish stores keep bettas is horrid. Being in a cup of water where you can't even stretch out your fins or turn is not living.
Can bettas survive horrible conditions? Sure--but that's no excuse not to provide better for them, and survival doesn't indicate that it's harmless. Ammonia is toxic and causes problems for them, just as it does for other fish. Nitrite spikes tend not to be lethal, but they certainly are not healthy. All my bettas average 5 years--most in 10+ gallons, with a variety of community fish.
I work at a LFS. Not sure if you're aware, but the 'coloured' water you see isn't for show, it's a result of medication. Without the meds, the fish would succumb to fin rot, bacterial or fungal infections, ich, you name it. Living in an unfiltered small bowl cup isn't comfortable for them, I liken it to you living in a very small bathroom without a flushable toilet. Fine for the first day, unpleasant the next, and by the end of the week, downright disgusting.ShmooBeast said:
Bettas deserve the same conditions as other tropicals. I've got a 1g planted tank (no fish, just shrimp and snails) with a tiny HOB Red Sea nano filter, designed for tanks 1-3g. It's clear, so it's aestheticly pleasing, with silent operation and adjustable flow. For such a little thing it actually does a really good job of filtering the water. They're fairly cheap too - it costs about $12.00CD (~$7.00 or $8.00US) at Big Als.
i have a 2.5 and a 1gal with betta's and they each have a red sea nano filter on them and it works great my bettas are very active and healthy so i would get a nano filter there about 10 bucks and use a sponge (for the 2.5 i made a mini carbon bag for it). Now for heating i just use incadesent lights so it keeps the water in the mid 70's i trun on the light when i wake up and turn it off when i go to sleep.
