Anton

Hi..i ve read couple of threads that said the tank shud be covered with a plastic wrap to prevent air fr entering...so i decided to cover mine yest night...I ve covered with two layers over the lid...im quite sure that no air can enter...However this morning dad seems to be swimmming frantically here and there....Is he suffocating? Pl someone help me...!

capekate

I would take the plastic off the tank. Yes, the betta's breathe in the air and if you limit that, you can have some problems. Tank hoods usually have spaces cut out of them for filters, heaters etc and tho they are covered there is still an air supply.

aquarist48

Bettas breath air instead of getting their oxygen from the water. I've had bettas to jump out of the uncovered bowl. Use some type of cover with air holes .

capekate

I would suggest a simple critter keeper screen top but that would get in the way of the filter and heater. Home made toppers can be made out of any plastic that you can find that you can cut the appropriate holes into it.
When the suggestion was that you need to cover your tank, I dont think that they meant sealing the tank. I dont understand why someone would advise you to cover the tank as to not let any air in? That sounds pretty strange especially for air loving Betta fish.

Anton

omg...how coukd i have made such an awful mistake..i ve removed the plastic wrap...i hope he'll be fine...yes..ive realized how ridiculous i would have sounded...its prob my fault...i got the wrong idea when some ppl say that the top shud be covered... neways...thank u capekate and aquarist48...u saved my betta...

Lucy

Kate, some important info was left out of the the first post.
They've bred their betta.
I think in one of the breeding threads around here Karen (or someone else) used plastic wrap to keep the heat in. I can't find the post, I'm sure there was more to it than covering the tank with plastic wrap.

capekate

Hi Anton, you tried to do the best for your betta based on the advice you received about covering the tank, even tho you misunderstood what they meant. At least you did come and ask for advice and that is the best thing you did for your Betta.

Red1313

Plastic warp over the hood helps keep the humidity in the tank up which is helpful to the fry's developing labyrinth organ as well as allowing dad's bubble nest to stay strong. It also serves to keep drafts ect out of the tank. So cover the tank with plastic wrap but keep a corner open to allow for air transfer.

good luck

capekate

Hi Lucy, well the OP sure did leave out some important info above. I had no idea it was a fry tank.. or that they were breeding the betta's. Thanks for the heads up, it would certainly change the advice given.

Martinismommy

When using plastic wrap as suggested in my Betta breeding thread you will NOT have a lid on the tank and you should only use ONE layer of wrap...Because you are opening the top 4 times dauly to feed the fry there is no reason to be concerned about the Betta suffocating....In a 10 gallon with 25% filled you have 75% of air....I have NEVER lost a fish using this method....You'd be much more likely to lose fry from a tank that is not sealed and allows surface air in.....

Anton

i understand now the right way to use the plastic wrap...unfortunately..i think its a little too late...i see lots of eggs lying on the bottom of the tank..i ve also seen dad eating some from the bubble nest itself...
thanks anyways for the advice..i'll keep that in mind..