Advice/help For Betta In A Bowl

I just got a rehomed betta, the previous owner is a teenager. The father of the teenager was upset that his child wasn't caring for the betta and getting into other trouble so the dad asked if I would taken in this betta. I knew this was coming, but I was told this would be in a couple of weeks to give the teen a chance to clean up their act and the betta. This wasn't done so I suddenly got the betta a few weeks early....

Poor little guy is in a 1-2 gallon unheated and unfiltered bowl. I was planning on buying a 10 gallon tank and an adjustable heater for him during the upcoming $1 per gallon sale. I have a sponge filter, pump, tubing, and 1 way valve on order for later this week.

The issue I have is a common one, money. I cannot afford to buy a tank yet for him till next Friday. I really want to get him out of the bowl and into a better tank. I am just going to have to keep him there till I can get a tank next Friday.

How often should I change his water in his bowl till I get him his permanent home? I have only had 1 betta before and I kept that poor guy in a bowl too. I just want to do this right, but he is just going to have to hang in there till then. We've named our little guy Rusty.

 

Thank you for saving him! Do daily water changes while he in the bowl, and fairly large ones too. I'd say 60%, but I'm not an expert. Get the bowl filtered as soon as possible, when the filter comes. If you have a five gallon plastic bucket just for a temporary home, that can work till you get the new tank. I would also order a heater asap. Does he have any injuries or sicknesses?

 

So nice of you to rescue him!

I think he'll be okay for a little while longer in there. Daily 50% WCs will help keep ammonia down, and if you have Prime, it will also detoxify ammonia. Plants will help as well.

Picture of him and the current setup? Parameters? Depending on the parameters, you may need to do a 100% WC right now and just acclimate him back in.

 

Do you have a food safe plastic tote that is clean and is a few gallons in size? That could work temporarily until you can get the tank you want.
Edit: I have a 6 gallon sterilite to use in a pinch that I got from Home Depot for about $7. I'm sure Walmart would have them even cheaper.

 

Anything would be better than the bowl he's in.

I'd take out all decor and substrate, and do a 100% WC. Then, feed every 2 days a very small amount, and vacuum out any mulm at the bottom of the tank with the daily WC's. Dose Prime pretty heavily, and he should be much better by the time you get the 10 gallon.

If you have any fast growing live plants in your tanks such as anacharis, moneywort, or duckweed, placing that in the tank next to a window could filter out the ammonia in the water a bit, as well as give him something interesting to look at.

 

I feel bad for that poor betta! Don't do water changes too big or it could upset him. I would probably do water changes whenever the water starts to look cloudy, but not not over 50%. Good luck!

 

I feel bad for that poor betta! Don't do water changes too big or it could upset him. I would probably do water changes whenever the water starts to look cloudy, but not not over 50%. Good luck!

Waiting till the water gets cloudy isn't a reasonable way to schedule WC's. If the water's cloudy, that indicates that something is wrong with the water - which is obvious in this situation, but you still want to provide clean water.

In a bowl, you need daily WC's, large ones. I'd personally do 80-100%. Its better to change the water and shock the fish a bit than let it stew in toxic ammonia and stagnant water for long periods of time.

 

My camera is all full with pictures right now; since 2 Christmas's ago! ops: Need to get my kids pictures developed! So right now no pics. Sorry.

He does have fin rot; I know this since he only has glass marbles for his substrate and silk plants. I think he will get better with clean water, at least I'm hoping so. He was very overfed and that was one of the main reasons the dad gave him to me. I didn't do a water change yesterday since he had a stressful ride to my house. I just added fresh water treated with Prime. I did just do a 100% water change tonight since his water was VERY icky. He did a few victory laps around his bowl once I put him in the fresh water. He was very happy!

Thanks for everyone responding!

 

This should make a good temporary set-up

 

Waiting till the water gets cloudy isn't a reasonable way to schedule WC's. If the water's cloudy, that indicates that something is wrong with the water - which is obvious in this situation, but you still want to provide clean water.

In a bowl, you need daily WC's, large ones. I'd personally do 80-100%. Its better to change the water and shock the fish a bit than let it stew in toxic ammonia and stagnant water for long periods of time.

Okay, what I said was not true. Yes, ignore what I just said, change it daily.

 

Okay, what I said was not true. Yes, ignore what I just said, change it daily.

Sorry, didn't mean to come off as hateful! Typing on a phone and walking at the same time, so my responses are kinda short and sweet.

Sorry!

 

I have my betta in a ~1 gallon critter keeper. Use a good conditioner like Prime that will detox some ammonia. Take your water and age it--get it all mixed up in a gallon jug or whatever, and put it aside. What I do is just have two critter keepers and gently move him by hand from the old water to the new water. I do this twice a week. No water parameter change = no shock.

Keep your thermostat high--80 if you can stand/afford it. Do not overfeed--I feed my betta two pellets a day plus a little more on day before change day. Twice weekly water changes should be fine--I show no ammonia levels on change day.

Sudden change or too much fussing will kill or weaken the fish with stress.

 

I have my betta in a ~1 gallon critter keeper. Use a good conditioner like Prime that will detox some ammonia. Keep your thermostat high--80 if you can stand/afford it. Do not overfeed--I feed my betta two pellets a day plus a little more on day before change day. Twice weekly water changes should be fine--I show no ammonia levels on change day.

You realize bettas need a 2.5 gallon tank MINIMUM, right? A filtered and heated tank? And cycled?

Not to be rude, but a 1 gallon critter keeper really isn't a home for any fish. Definitely not a tropical fish such as a betta.

Even if your ammonia does stay at 0, air heating a tank leaves it vulnerable to temp swings, and in a tiny, tiny tank like that there's no margin for error.

A betta deserves a nice tank like anyone else does. It needs room to move around, and it doesn't have that in a critter keeper.

 

I will change the water daily! Till I get him in his permanent home.

Just curious too, what temp should I heat his tank to? He right now is at room temp, 70 degrees.

I know I could keep him in a sterilite, but my QT is full with rasboras right now. That's why I'm in this pickle right now. I just checked Petsmart and they are selling plain old 10 gallons at $15. I will go tomorrow and get him one.

ACCKKKKK!!!! Just looked at my Amazon order for all the supplies I ordered, the airline tubing won't come till May 8th!?!?!?! Unacceptable! I'll just pick up some tomorrow too. Everything else should be here by Thursday.

 

I will change the water daily! Till I get him in his permanent home.

Just curious too, what temp should I heat his tank to? He right now is at room temp, 70 degrees.

I know I could keep him in a sterilite, but my QT is full with rasboras right now. That's why I'm in this pickle right now. I just checked Petsmart and they are selling plain old 10 gallons at $15. I will go tomorrow and get him one.

ACCKKKKK!!!! Just looked at my Amazon order for all the supplies I ordered, the airline tubing won't come till May 8th!?!?!?! Unacceptable! I'll just pick up some tomorrow too. Everything else should be here by Thursday.

Betta's are tropical, so I'd say 78-82 F is preferable, although 76F is alright too.

 

I will change the water daily! Till I get him in his permanent home.

Just curious too, what temp should I heat his tank to? He right now is at room temp, 70 degrees.

I know I could keep him in a sterilite, but my QT is full with rasboras right now. That's why I'm in this pickle right now. I just checked Petsmart and they are selling plain old 10 gallons at $15. I will go tomorrow and get him one.

ACCKKKKK!!!! Just looked at my Amazon order for all the supplies I ordered, the airline tubing won't come till May 8th!?!?!?! Unacceptable! I'll just pick up some tomorrow too. Everything else should be here by Thursday.

Please keep in mind that a sponge filter will do pretty much nothing until the tank is cycled. You'll want to do massive water changes in a tank--just like you would in a bowl--until the sponge filter is established. I have several seasoned sponge filters I wish you were nearby I would just give you one.

 

You realize bettas need a 2.5 gallon tank MINIMUM, right? A filtered and heated tank? And cycled?

Not to be rude, but a 1 gallon critter keeper really isn't a home for any fish. Definitely not a tropical fish such as a betta.

Even if your ammonia does stay at 0, air heating a tank leaves it vulnerable to temp swings, and in a tiny, tiny tank like that there's no margin for error.

A betta deserves a nice tank like anyone else does. It needs room to move around, and it doesn't have that in a critter keeper.

He did state he didn't expect to have it yet and was doing a rescue. So he is waiting on deliveries for a real tank.

 

He did state he didn't expect to have it yet and was doing a rescue. So he is waiting on deliveries for a real tank.

Betta has plenty of room to move around. Yes it is vulnerable to temperature swings--but I have no job and I am almost always home besides--my place just does not get cold. Minimum according to who? Not breeders or people who keep show bettas. It is true that some have betta barracks but many do not.

This is all your opinion. To counter I have a healthy and to all appearances, happy fish. That's my goal in fish keeping, not to please the worry warts.

 

He did state he didn't expect to have it yet and was doing a rescue. So he is waiting on deliveries for a real tank.

I didn't reply to the OP, this is a different member we're talking about here

 

Betta has plenty of room to move around. Yes it is vulnerable to temperature swings--but I have no job and I am almost always home besides--my place just does not get cold. Minimum according to who? Not breeders or people who keep show bettas. It is true that some have betta barracks but many do not.

This is all your opinion. To counter I have a healthy and to all appearances, happy fish. That's my goal in fish keeping, not to please the worry warts.

. Think you quoted the wrong post on this one.

 

. Think you quoted the wrong post on this one.

Yeah I did, but I wanted to clear up that I'm not OP

 

Betta has plenty of room to move around. Yes it is vulnerable to temperature swings--but I have no job and I am almost always home besides--my place just does not get cold. Minimum according to who? Not breeders or people who keep show bettas. It is true that some have betta barracks but many do not.

This is all your opinion. To counter I have a healthy and to all appearances, happy fish. That's my goal in fish keeping, not to please the worry warts.

Excuse me... But almost every knowledgable person on this forum would agree with what I said. Most would even say a 5 gallon minimum.

Getting hostile and calling names isn't the way to solve issues (especially "worry wart"... you can do better than that!)

I don't think any swimming animal could be happy in a 1 gallon plastic box. But then again, I guess the hundreds of members on here that say that they need bigger tanks are wrong and a fish can be happy in an air heated tiny box. Funny how things work!

 

I'm also in the camp of "heating the room" because I'm looking to get many tanks. Like many keepers I've had a heater fail catastrophically and kill my fish (cooking in this case). I think that a possible dip in temperature is better then the alternative of death by toxins/cooking. I have combined propane and oil heat.

 

Excuse me... But almost every knowledgable person on this forum would agree with what I said. Most would even say a 5 gallon minimum.

Getting hostile and calling names isn't the way to solve issues (especially "worry wart"... you can do better than that!)

I don't think any swimming animal could be happy in a 1 gallon plastic box. But then again, I guess the hundreds of members on here that say that they need bigger tanks are wrong and a fish can be happy in an air heated tiny box. Funny how things work!

I'm not trying to insult you exactly, I really think it is over worrying. There's nothing wrong with my fish and lots of fish kept that way. It comes down to knowledge and dedication. Just like nano tanks, keeping my betta this way takes more time and attention to detail. I'm comfortable with that. In the future I might get a planted tank going and put a betta in there. To be honest every time I've had a betta in a tank (by himself) it has not gone well. First water flow issues, then switching filters, then torn fins on substrate or decorations, despite my best efforts. I've found what works for me and set about describing it best I can.

 

I can't remember who said it, but I do realized I won't have cycled media. I really am not that thrilled with doing a fish in cycle, but I'll have to read up on it. I had cycled media for my QT tank, but it is in my QT so none for poor Rusty.

My next main issue is to find a safe place to put his tank once I get it. I had him on my kitchen table until the 1 year old spotted him. She really wanted to get a good look at him! I have him up high for now, his bowl is above my head!

 

I'm not trying to insult you exactly, I really think it is over worrying. There's nothing wrong with my fish and lots of fish kept that way. It comes down to knowledge and dedication. Just like nano tanks, keeping my betta this way takes more time and attention to detail. I'm comfortable with that. In the future I might get a planted tank going and put a betta in there. To be honest every time I've had a betta in a tank (by himself) it has not gone well. First water flow issues, then switching filters, then torn fins on substrate or decorations, despite my best efforts. I've found what works for me and set about describing it best I can.

It doesn't change that a widely accepted opinion on something like this should be ignored.

I'm sure you've heard the closet argument before. If you were to be locked into a tiny closet and never let out, how would you feel? You'd go insane.

I'm not saying you're the devil or anything, as it seems as if you take care of the fish. But it really IS too small of a tank. Even with pristine water, stable temps, stable PH, etc... It's too tiny for fish.

We can continue our debate in a PM or a new thread if you like, but we shouldn't hijack a thread.

Sorry OP, didn't mind to steal your thread.

 

Thanks!

 

It doesn't change that a widely accepted opinion on something like this should be ignored.

I'm sure you've heard the closet argument before. If you were to be locked into a tiny closet and never let out, how would you feel? You'd go insane.

I'm not saying you're the devil or anything, as it seems as if you take care of the fish. But it really IS too small of a tank. Even with pristine water, stable temps, stable PH, etc... It's too tiny for fish.

We can continue our debate in a PM or a new thread if you like, but we shouldn't hijack a thread.

Sorry OP, didn't mind to hijack your thread.

Fish aren't people. Bettas in particular don't even have the parts of the brain that allow us to feel emotional distress and they also lack the complex social structures of mammals/primates. For example, the kind of structure that allows you to say a practice is widely accepted and have that have weight. Yeah I'll be happy to talk in PM

 

I'm also in the camp of "heating the room" because I'm looking to get many tanks. Like many keepers I've had a heater fail catastrophically and kill my fish (cooking in this case). I think that a possible dip in temperature is better then the alternative of death by toxins/cooking. I have combined propane and oil heat.

So you do the far east method? Daily 100% water changes and heated rooms? Just wondering. Sounds like the direction you are saying. Kinda like Thailand.

 

I've watched a lot of videos--sometimes I think I've watched all the videos on bettas on youtube. I do love the far-east method, there just aren't enough videos on it. I am not crazy about the whiskey bottle thing though--do they do daily water changes? I wish I could visit and see the whole industry. I'd love, love to see more .. well "Fish Lore".

I don't do weekly water changes, I do twice a week as I described.

If I could have any setup I think it would be a betta barracks with one gallonish containers each and a sump. I want a betta of each tail type!

I think we come to the hobby with our own preconceptions and experience. For example I came in after seeing my grandmother care for a betta for many years in a large (wide) vase (it was just past four when it died). She kept her apartment very warm at 80 degrees and would save a piece of her morning fruit to trick fruit flies. A little gross but it worked. She'd swat them and use them to supplement her betta.

My first betta I had a heated cycled five gallon and at day three or so he squeezed himself under my too big river rocks and asphyxiated.

The truth of the matter is that if I saw my betta was suffering in any visible way I'd change my tune in a hurry. I want beautiful lively fish.

 

BluePsion

Yep. They do daily water changes. Honestly a lot of Betta breaders in the states do similar. I would recommend getting into one of the betta breader / sale groups on facebook to learn the techniques. Will be better for your fish. Learn what you are doing right and what needs to be adjusted. You may pick up some tricks That extend you fishes life.

Part of the reason for this technique is the number of offspring Bettas have.

And yeah... The fruit trick is old lol. Similar for other flies and bees and wasps.

Personally I do have my Betta "Hern" in a Five. But I always believe if your going to use the technique, learn it fully. Learned that long ago. I am not an expert in this so talk to the experts.

 

RedLoredAmazon
How is the betta doing today?

 

He's pretty feisty. He doesn't seem to care too much for me as he will flare a little and then turn away from me in a snooty way. I think he does miss his previous owner, I'm hoping he will come around soon.

On a side note, I just saw that Petco or was it Petsmart is going to have their $1 per gallon sale starting Sunday! I think I will hold off on getting that tank till the sale.

 

I'm sure once he gets his big tank, that snootiness will fade! Ha ha!

 

RedLoredAmazon How's the betta doing this morning?

 

Rusty saw me this morning and seemed to be happy to see me...mostly since it was feeding time. I'll take what I can!

He was really mad last night and I couldn't figure out why for awhile. He was staying on one side of his bowl and flaring away. Since he is above my head I can't see what he was looking at. I finally realized he was looking at his food and saw the bettas on the packaging! I turned it so he couldn't see them anymore and he did a victory lap around his bowl that he chased them away.

Just based on his behavior that I've seen so far, Rusty would make a terrible tank mate for any other fish. He'll just have his own place.

 

Just did the WC for Rusty. I didn't have time to yesterday; I just ran out of time. I think that doing a water change when the toddler is down for a nap works really well. She can't "help" me when I do the water changes.
I was a bit worried once I put him back into his bowl of clean water that was treated with Prime. He just sat there for a moment at the top and then slowly descended to the bottom. He seems fine now, it was room temp just like his bowl so I know it wasn't the water temp that shocked him. I think when I get his tank, I will have to slowly raise his temp to the appropriate level. I keep my house at 69 so I will have to slowly acclimate him to the warmer temp.

I did surprise him when I went to change his water since I think he was sleeping. He didn't move at all when I came over, he normally flares a bit and then swims away from me. He startled when I touched his bowl so that's why I think he was sleeping.

On a side note, do bettas sleep alot? He seems to do that or just seems to hide under his silk plant all day and occasionally will swim around. I do suspect he is bored; I would be bored sitting there too!

 

Sorry, didn't mean to come off as hateful! Typing on a phone and walking at the same time, so my responses are kinda short and sweet.

You didn't sound hateful at all, you were just providing accurate information!

 

This is yet another thread that has been totally derailed by continually responding to posts not made by the Op.
This is Redloredamazons thread please confine your responses to their questions & not each other.

 

Just did the WC for Rusty. I didn't have time to yesterday; I just ran out of time. I think that doing a water change when the toddler is down for a nap works really well. She can't "help" me when I do the water changes.
I was a bit worried once I put him back into his bowl of clean water that was treated with Prime. He just sat there for a moment at the top and then slowly descended to the bottom. He seems fine now, it was room temp just like his bowl so I know it wasn't the water temp that shocked him. I think when I get his tank, I will have to slowly raise his temp to the appropriate level. I keep my house at 69 so I will have to slowly acclimate him to the warmer temp.

I did surprise him when I went to change his water since I think he was sleeping. He didn't move at all when I came over, he normally flares a bit and then swims away from me. He startled when I touched his bowl so that's why I think he was sleeping.

On a side note, do bettas sleep alot? He seems to do that or just seems to hide under his silk plant all day and occasionally will swim around. I do suspect he is bored; I would be bored sitting there too!

It is pretty important that any temp changes be done slowly. If you are doing room temp I would just set out a gallon jug of the water overnight or at least a half day before your changes to make sure it is the same temp.

Other then that it sounds like a normal betta. They swim around and they do sleep, you can tell because the will be still but when you come over they look up like "oh, hello?". The flaring is a great sign I think-a sassy betta is usually a happy one