A List Of Questions...

So my younger brother (who has ADHD, hence needing the post) has come to me this morning saying he wants to buy a Betta, specifically a blue one that goes really fast.

I think it would be a good idea for him to save up and buy his own fish (and tank, but I will be nice and let him have some of the real plants from my tanks, maybe buy him a few decorations too) but when he approached me with the idea, he said it would have been cool to keep it in a bowl on his bedside table and I internally started screaming, but I tried to explain to him why he couldn’t keep it in a bowl. I told him he needs to go and do some reading on Bettas before he even considers buying one, and he still seems keen despite me sending him off to do research.

The thing is, with him having ADHD, he won’t sit still long enough to read what he needs to, so I’m making him a list of questions he needs to be able to answer before he goes and buys the fish. I already know a bit about Bettas as I want one myself eventually, but I’m the kind of person who can sit down for hours and read about a specific topic and get lost on a tangent (kinda) and absorb information like a sponge. My brother can’t do that. He needs to have a list of things he can look up (so, look up one thing every day) and do like 15- 30 minutes reading on it.

TLDR: Can someone help give me a handful of questions for a 10 year old to research about Betta fish, or possibly even a website he can look at?

Thankyou.

 

It's always fun when someone gets their first fish here are some questions for your brother

-What size of aquarium is acceptable for a betta?
-Does a betta tank need a filter?
-Does a Betta tank need a heater?
-What should you feed a Betta?
-Can I keep other fish with bettas?
-Do I need to clean the tank if I have a Betta?
-How often should I do a water change?
-Do I have to cycle my tank if I have a betta?
-How do I make my tap water safe for my Betta?
-How often should I feed my betta?
-Does my Betta need floating decor or plants?
-What does the labyrinth organ do (in bettas)?
-How do I safely introduce my new betta into my aquarium?


That's all I can think of right now, hopefully that helps him find the information he needs to know!

 

I don't mean to sound rude, but is a ten year old responsible enough to care for another living thing? I think it'd be best if you checked on it often

 

Maybe you can explain the nitrogen with cycle to him since it could be complicated for a 10year old? I'll provide a few links that I think could be helpful, Flowingfins has a care sheet. I wouldn't let him look it up on his own though, there are way to many false statements out there. That's why I'll provide some links.
Here's one jam packed with info, see The Proper Volume, Importance of Shape, and Why bigger is better.

This is a good article that is easy to understand
https://japanesefightingfish.org/betta-fish-care/
Those are just a few helpful links. If you want him to do a really good job, why not make it fun? Make it a game, with each correct answer he gets something, like an m&m, or points for your live plants. Like each plant is worth a certain extent number of points and he has to earn them with research and answering correctly. Here are a few websites he might have fun with when he gets his betta-

~

 

https://www.fishlore.com/aquariumfishforum/threads/betta-care-guide.226842/
Here's my care sheet
I agree with platylover, making it a game and having "points" for decorations sounds like an awesome way to get him to research!

 

Thankyou all very much for your help. I plan on "training" him with my guppy tank, feeding them once a day, helping me with water changes, learning the nitrogen cycle and how to test for the chemicals (and how to read the test tubes), and so on and so forth. I know guppies aren't bettas and they need different things, kinda, but its a start in learning about how much care actually goes into a pet fish.

If he does end up with the fish, we'll most likely be getting the (I think) 20L "kit" from Kmart I saw yesterday...and chucking the fake plants and neon gravel. I'll probably buy him a stand for it too.

I actually really like the idea of the points system for decorations and plants. Once I actually have some plants I'll work that system out. Just a quick question, are there any decor items I should stay away from (besides sharp things and metal things, obviously)?

GuppyKeeper, is he responsible enough right this second? No. Because he doesn't know anything about bettas and because he doesn't know how much work actually goes into a tank, which is why I want him to do some reading first and actually take care of one of my tanks (somewhat) before I let him go get his own fish. I would still help him with water changes and cleaning the filter and I would make sure the fish was fed daily (minus Sundays, that's water change day and fasting day for my fish, I'd try and get him into the same habit too) and that the fish was still healthy. I wouldn't just say "do some reading, here is a fish, now figure it out", as that's not right to both my brother or the fish. I do appreciate your concern however.

 

I'd stay away from fake plants to... I've had a cherry barb get "stabbed" by one. Don't like those things, especially for Bettas.

 

I'd stay away from fake plants to... I've had a cherry barb get "stabbed" by one. Don't like those things, especially for Bettas.

I used to use fake plants, but now there isn't one fake plant in any of my tanks, only live.


And lacer, this sounds like a good thing your doing, good luck