MaddieLynn

I've heard that keeping a betta with sand substrate can kill it because it will eat the sand. I was just wondering, how are bettas more prone to this than other fish? Why will it hurt bettas, but not others?

TFA101

I believe it is because the grains of sand resemble the pellet food they are so often fed. Also, lots of fish like to sift through the sand, but I believe the bettas are more prone to actually ingesting the sand because of the resemblance to their pellets. Just my two cents though, I'm sure somebody has much better advice to give.

MaddieLynn

Soooo.... if I don't feed my bettas pellets, I could put them with sand substrate wihtout an issue?

Lucy

It has to do with they way their little piggy selves scrounge around for food.
Warning about use of Fine Sand as Substrates in Betta Tanks

pinkfloydpuffer

I've wondered this same thing. For example, my guppies would attack sinking algae wafers that I dropped in, and I don't see how that's any different than what a betta does... but whatever I've had good luck with EcoComplete and bettas. It's quite a bit different than sand though.

Lucy

Just a guess, but maybe it's the shape of their mouth?

MaddieLynn

@ pink: How much would ecocomplete for a 55g cost? Would loaches/corys like it the same as sand? Can you give me a link?

Franklin

"Fine sand used as a substrate in betta tanks can and has been confused by hungry bettas who can be very piggy in nature as food that has fallen to the floor of the tank and they will eat it. I have had a betta eat sand and die from it. So it would be my recommendation that Fine Sand NOT be used in betta tanks as a substrate. The only recommended substrates for bettas in my humble opinion are the standard pea gravel or the glass stones or flat marbles. With the glass stones or flat marbles really being much desired as they provide a very smooth and nice surface for them to float across when they drag their fins across the bottom of the tank.

Thank You

Rose"

I am very curious as to where this person got this information from.Is it based off of facts,or just a personal opinion?
Anyway,I keep one of my betta in a 10 gallon tank with pepper corydora and it has fine sand for substrate.He has been in this tank for about 18 months now with no problems.I have got all of my bettas(3) from a local breeder who has a few show tanks with sand bottoms and bettas in them as well.Just my

pinkfloydpuffer

My cories like it. It's not cheap though. Here's a link: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...87&pcatid=9087
I get mine from here because they don't charge extra shipping costs for the extra weight

Lucy

Franklin, Rose was a very active member here and started the betta section of the forum. Her advice, guidance and caring has saved many betta lives.
Her knowledge is from many years of personal experience.

Franklin

So she actually had a betta die from keeping it in a sand bottom tank?

Lucy

That's what her article said, yes.

Franklin

I am missing it then.Where does it state that?
Edit:
I see it now my bad.

MissMTS

Yes she did. I remember when it happened and it was really sad

pinkfloydpuffer

Franklin

My bad I see it.But how could it be confirmed that is what killed it?I see my betta,and all my fish in sand bottom tanks eating food off the bottom and the sand falls through the gills.I really do not think that is what killed her fish.

Lucy

It's okay if you doubt it, but Rose would not have written it if it wasn't true.

Everyone has their own experiences with fish. Because her betta ate and died from eating sand doesn't mean someone elses will.

It was written as a precaution and as said above, her love for these beautiful fish.

Franklin

Not only do I doubt it,I cannot see how it can possibly be true.Sand,dirt and all kinds of debris are all part of fish's lives.In the wild and in captivity.If eating a bit of sand or dirt kills fish,they would be extinct.

MaddieLynn

The reason I asked is because there are 2 things about it I reall don't get:

Why don't bettas die from it in the wild?

And, why don't other piggy fish get sick from it? I have some very piggy fish, like my DG and my molly, and I haven't had an issue with that.

Unless that could possibly be what killed my mollies? But I'd never heard of mollies having issues with that? And I need the sand for my kuhli's.

MaddieLynn

Hmmm... I just did some googling on it and I didn't find anywhere other than the link Lucy gave saying that sand substrate is bad for bettas... I'm wondering if there could possibly have been a different or aditional cause of death with the betta who died from ingesting sand.

Franklin

I say go for it.I think one person here had a fish die,and used the excuse of the substrate for killing it becuase there were probably no clear signs of disease.I personally,and a breeder I know use sand in betta tanks.I see my betta sift the sand through his gills like all fish do,and it has not killed him.If a betta is actually ingesting the sand,I would say there is something wrong(disease) with that fish.

Lucy

I can't answer your questions, however, since I don't want to repeat myself re-read post #17.

potter

Well fishes in the wild and fish bred commercially probably have a little different habits I would think but I wouldn't say it never happened before. Maybe the fish bite the sand and then choked on it just like they choked on food? I have pool filter sand in all my aquarium and I do sit there and watch them for hours when I first put them in to make sure they don't do funny things such as eating the sand. I saw one of them tried once and he spits it right out and never tried again so maybe they have to learn too that it cannot be eaten. That was before I knew sand is dangerous for bettas but mine did okay, all 5 of them so maybe it is the type of sand? Not sure.

Shawnie

bettas and sand subtrate DO NOT mix ..and the reason why is their labyrinth organ..the sand doesnt always pass through it and come out their gills...after time and the buildup of sand, will kill them..you wont see any signs other than a dead bloated betta, among the other things rose has pointed out ...rose has had bettas and year and years of experience with them...her years of experience probably aquate to your age of life....doubting her and questioning her is your right, but be cautious if you go against it and have a betta suffer from the effects...the bettas we purchase today, do NOT have any idea what its like to live in the wild...they are tank bred...so comparing them to their wild anscestors, is like telling us to cook on a fire and use an outhouse not a stove and bathroom

haedra

Uhh.. no thanks.

Shawnie

makes you appreciate technology doenst it?

egkilmon

I certainly don't have the experience with Bettas that Rose does, but I have to agree, it's not worth the risk if you love your Betta. My current Betta started out in my cory tank, but I put him in his own tank when I switched my cories over to sand. After watching him try to eat all their food (including his own), it wasn't worth the risk of the sand ingestion. I can also control his eating habits better (since they are so prone to constipation from overfeeding). This particular Betta will eat ANYTHING. He nips at my fingers when I'm cleaning the tank, nips at the dropper that I use take water samples, etc. He still cruises the bottom of his own tank and picks up (and then spits out, thankfully) even his own poo. He is a naughty boy.

MissMTS

Well shoot. I completely forgot about this when I set up my sorority tank. Looks like I will be changing out the substrate today. Bummer. lol. Gotta love extra tank maininance

potter

Oh no..sounds like I have work to do...I think I will put a layer of smooth gravel on top of the sand so that it covers all of the sand surface. That way, I don't have to take out the sand since my plants are doing really well right now and my bettas do not have a chance to eat sand!

Lucy

Unfortunatly, that won't work.
The gravel will make it's way to the bottom after at least one gravel vac.
Remember, Rose is saying it can happen, not that it will.