the9thpawn

This is the mighty "Admin LOU", which was my co-worker until all fish were banned at my workplace hahah.

Im currently in plans to s/u a 50-57 gallon tank at home... hope my betta doesn't jealous, lol

Blub

A 5litre tank is much to small for a Betta! They need at least 10litres to be comfortable, but at least 20litres is really best! They also need to be heated and filtered, just like any other tropical fish!

http://www.fishlore.com/fishforum/be...ead-first.html

He looks lovely! Red Veiltail.

the9thpawn

I was wondering if I would have a response like that, heh. That link is actually quite interesting... I never knew about the over-feeding issue for example. I'll have to cut back a bit knowing that.

My personal work environment wouldn't allow for much space for him let alone enough living space for the human that occupied the cubicle (me). So we bonded well in knowing we were both trapped in a tiny corner of the world. I did the best I could at the time, and increased his living space approx 4-5 times then that of what he had for a couple months sitting in the back row of Wal-Mart while kids kept tapping his bowl daily just to get him to move.

I've even "rewarded" him with a trip to Jamaica and the Cayman Islands earlier this year.

http://a793.ac-images.myspacecdn.com...b7168c01c8.jpg

http://a437.ac-images.myspacecdn.com...42f803bfcc.jpg

He was the perfect "wingman" on the singles cruise we went on.

Butterfly

Beautiful fish and good for you to rescue him and take such good care of him. But now it's time to get him a larger heated and filtered "singles" pad You will both enjoy the increase in space.
Carol

the9thpawn

Now that he is home he is getting a bigger pad (approx 6 times bigger than the current "box" he's in). It wont be here for another two weeks but he's already excited I can tell! It won't be large enough to meet the recommendations listed in the link above, but it will be an improvement since I can't keep him at work :::shakes fist at "the man":::

Last night was the first time I've seen him in 4 months as I just returned from my backpacking trip in Asia, and went to pick him up from his "fish-sitter". He was so happy to see me (he told me by making a bubble nest)

Devon

By the way... welcome to FishLore!!

I have often thought of creating some sort of "fish carrier" so I didn't have to leave my baby at home when I leave town, but I'm always worried that the worst could happen. Hilarious that your fish went with you on a cruise.

I'm going to go ahead and chime in with everyone else here and say the absolute MINIMUM space for a betta is 2 gallons... I personally would never keep mine in less than 4 or 5. He needs at least that, and a heater... a filter would also be very nice. You will see amazing changes in his personality and activity level. Betta boys are some of the biggest clowns you'll ever meet... truly intelligent and inquisitive little troublemakers, given the opportunity!

Lucy

Hmmmmm

You can do amazing things with paint shop and photo shop.

For quiet a few less dollars he would have been more happy to have a larger tank than a cruise.

Blub

I'm not sure what a Betta would think to a cruise... If it was fairly smooth and he had battery powered heaters and filters then he might enjoy it more than being left at home. I have always dreamt of going round the world with a little menajary of Betta...

You should get him a tank around 2.5 - 5gals. We will never be truly happy in something even 6 times bigger than the one he is in now - and it is also hard to heat and filter!

BTW, if that little critter thing next to his 'tank' in the photo is near him a lot, and if it is safe to put in the tank (Like, no soap or stuff that could degrade and damage the tank in it) then it might be good for when he moves up to his bigger appartement as a little familiar thing.... It is pretty cute IMO!

shecky95

I have had a Betta before the one I have now and I kept him for 4 years. I had a small divider tank(took the dividers out cause he was the only fish in there) put water in it(store filtered water that had reverse osmosis , dechlorinated stuff) i changed the water when it got a bit cloudy which was once -twice a week, no heater or filter and he lived for 4 years.The water temp was fine. They are air suckers(sucks air from the water surface from what I know). It depends on the fish really.

When I cleaned his tank I would wash it with warm wter to get the slime off the sides( NO SOAP!) towel dried the inside and outside of it. Refilled it with water. He was a happy man! RIP little guy!

Blub

That is a good example of the Surviving/Thriving situation. Although an animal may survive in conditions that are not ideal, he will never be truely happy and thrive. When keeping animals captive, we must respect them and let them thrive, not just work out a miserable little existence!

shecky95

I wasnt speaking of that type of situation(surviving/thriving) I was speaking only from my experience lets face it ALL fish are captive in a tank( large or small) My daughter was with her father and won that fish at a fair( didnt even know she won one till she brought it home and showed me). I went out bought the food for it(pellets). The bowl which was VERY small was all I had to house the fish ( I knew NOTHING about fish then).He would always looks right at me and flare right before I fed him( the fish she has now,the betta) does the same. Silly fish the are. I talk to them a bit and they still look at me and my daughter. I have always had good luck with them(Bettas). Im amazed myself he lived for 4 years. There was no need to be harsh with your responce I was only giving my experience I had with that fish in the past.

Devon

Amen. I've never subscribed to the "well, they seem fine!" philosophy on keeping animals of ANY kind. If you're going to make the commitment to take on a pet, then make the commitment and do it right. Some people seem to have this attitude of, "it's just a fish," but don't appear to have similar feelings of "it's just a dog" or "it's just a horse" or "it's just a child." What is it about fish that make them so easily overlooked? I've always suspected that part of it is that fish can't make noises of discontent... a lot of wayward fish owners might change their ways if their finned friends whined or cried when their tank was dirty.
The thing to do as a responsible pet owner is to create as close to an ideal situation for your pet as possible... if you're not up to the task, even if your pet "seems fine," then the most humane and adult thing to do is re-home the creature with someone who can cater to its needs.
That being said, it's really NOT hard to make bettas happy... four or five gallons of heated, filtered water changed each week, a balanced diet with the occasional supplement of peas and garlic, a little attention and some rearranging in their tank once a month to keep them from getting bored will reward you with an active, healthy, thriving companion that I promise will surprise you with their personality and charm.

shecky95

I look at my fish as a child of my own( even though I have 1 human child myself) I interact with them daily and yes even talk to them. I took that responsibility when I got all my fish( see profile) I NEVER looked at him or any of my fish as "just a fish".

When parenting in real life you do the best you can to take care of the child. Back before I knew ANYTHING about Betta's I got by with what I knew ( guys at work had fish so I would ask them from their experiences). THAT is what I knew THEN. Now its different. Especially after I read the second paragraph of what you posted. I never knew they liked garlic or peas, I just fed them pellets and the flake food to enhance their color. Im wondering how often do they get the peas and garlic? 1-2 time a week? or less or more?
As I was saying I was only commenting on my experiences in the past.

Blub

We are just trying to say that you did wrong in the past, but by joining this forum it makes you one of those people who wants to learn about their pets and learn how to care for them responsibly. Commenting on experiences with bad betta experiences in the past (And possibly sounding like you are advising/supporting the betta bowl) on a thread where someone is larning about good Betta care is a way to turn many of us on and to stop whoever is learning thinking that is is OK to do that, because quite clearly it is not. We are not being harsh, just caring about people reading that and thinking it's fine to have a Betta in a bowl - remember people believe what they want to hear!

Devon I wish that Talking catfish where the new Goldfish - because the noises they make when stressed could help get them into a better home!

Lucy

Garlic juice can be added to their water to boost their immune system. I usually add it with a water changes, just a few drops. It can also be used as an appetite stimulant by soaking their pellets in it. Or daily if they're having a problem. Mine loves the taste so I'll even give her tiny bits sometimes.
About the peas.....I give mine a few tiny bits of peas once a week. Use the frozen kind, thaw, take off the shell and cut into bits about the size of their eye. They can be fed more often if they're having constipation issues.

platy ben

You really need to get that betta out of that "tank" even though its more like a little tub, and givei t a bigger and better home, no offense but ithink that its really cruel to keep it all cramped up in there

shecky95

I wasnt trying to "support" the Betta bowl. Sometimes you have to do what you have to do until you get funds to get a bigger bowl. That is what I had to do with my daughter's Betta(the one she has now). The .5 gallon tank was all I could afford until the next paycheck to get him the bigger bowl. He looked so cramped in the tiny space, I even took the sharp plants out that came with it cause everytime his beautiful fins would go against them it would tear his fins. I sat and watched him do this.I did have the pebbles at the bottom(the large kind but not many) and it still looked cramped in there so I took those out as well. The only thing that was in there was a small thermometer, so I could monitor the water temp. Yes the small bowl looked boring but it was just until I got paid which was a few days later. That is when I got him the "mansion" he is now living in. Complete with gravel at the bottom, a few plants, and frog buddy(dont worry he is a decoration) to keep him company.As well as a light that has 3 color options(pink,blue, clear).

I understand I did wrong in the past but Im trying bit by bit to correct it as well. I also was trying to not speak for the thread starter, that they might be waiting on funds to get that bigger bowl like I had to do. We dont know really until they post again.

Sorry for the misundertanding.

shecky95

Thanks for the tip ill keep that in mind