Baby Betta In Unfiltered Tank

Newbie here. I ignorantly put a baby betta in a 10 gallon unfiltered tank. Been almost a week and he seems super happy and healthy, but I'm worried sick about the aquarium getting a spike of ammonia/nitrates/nitrites.

Anyway. Been doing 25-40% water changes every couple of days. My tank has 5 live plants and 4 bulbs. I also got my water tested and this guy at my local pet store said my tank seemed cycled and perfect for betta environment, but I find that hard to believe after it only existing for 5 days (3 days at the time). He even said bettas were a great fish to cycle a tank with?

Anyone have any tips? I bought a sponge filter but am far too scared to turn it on, so I'm leaving it in the tank in hope of good bacteria accumulating on it.

To think I was going to keep this little guy in a jar. Really glad I did my research. He'll be one pampered fish if he survives my mistake.

 

Turn on the sponge filter. Do you have a heater? Bettas prefer temperatures of 76-80F.

 

Honestly at this point adding the sponge filter isn't going to make matters worst, it'll help the situation. With or without a filter this is an uncycled tank. This also may not be a "baby" betta, looks like a female betta

I'd add the sponge filter and a heater if you haven't already. Daily water changes will help the fish survive until the tank completes the cycle (you should already be in your cycle). You don't have to clean the gravel or anything every water change most of them can be water only and replace with similar temp water with water conditioner.

 

Newbie here. I ignorantly put a baby betta in a 10 gallon unfiltered tank. Been almost a week and he seems super happy and healthy, but I'm worried sick about the aquarium getting a spike of ammonia/nitrates/nitrites.

Anyway. Been doing 25-40% water changes every couple of days. My tank has 5 live plants and 4 bulbs. I also got my water tested and this guy at my local pet store said my tank seemed cycled and perfect for betta environment, but I find that hard to believe after it only existing for 5 days (3 days at the time). He even said bettas were a great fish to cycle a tank with?

Anyone have any tips? I bought a sponge filter but am far too scared to turn it on, so I'm leaving it in the tank in hope of good bacteria accumulating on it.

To think I was going to keep this little guy in a jar. Really glad I did my research. He'll be one pampered fish if he survives my mistake.

Hello lore...

You can certainly keep healthy fish in a tank with no filtration. Just remove and replace half the water every few days. A small tank under 30 gallons will need half the water changed twice a week. A larger tank, 30 gallons and more, you'll need to change out half or more of the water weekly. Feed a little every day or two and your fish will be fine.

Old

 

Welcome to Fishlore

If you don't go way overboard on feeding this one tiny creature in a 10 gallon tank should never cause a spike in ammonia.

Turn on your sponge filter. Change out half the water once a week and your new water pet should live a long healthy life. The live plants may take care of the small amount this little guy will produce.

If you should decide to add more water pets to the tank you may have to do water changes more often than once a week.

 

I just wanted to say, Welcome to FishLore!

 

I agree with all of the above. To add to that, live plants should offer some level of protection against harmful spikes. Don't rely on it though, you still need to do your water changes. It's just that your fish will do fine in it's current environment sans overfeeding. Good job!

 

Honestly at this point adding the sponge filter isn't going to make matters worst, it'll help the situation. With or without a filter this is an uncycled tank. This also may not be a "baby" betta, looks like a female betta

I'd add the sponge filter and a heater if you haven't already. Daily water changes will help the fish survive until the tank completes the cycle (you should already be in your cycle). You don't have to clean the gravel or anything every water change most of them can be water only and replace with similar temp water with water conditioner.

Would be so cool if I had a little girl betta! Thank you for the thoughtful reply! Filter is now on.

 

Would be so cool if I had a little girl betta! Thank you for the thoughtful reply! Filter is now on.

How big is that cutie? It may be a girl betta! If its only an inch or so long it's nearly impossible to differentiate genders. Don't put girls and boys in the same tank tho. A male betta, left in a small tank with a female will literally harass and assault her to death. Be sure and get a heater and thermometer in there soon. Bettas are tropical fish and require warm water (75°-80°F). You are right, a 5 day old tank is not anywhere near cycled. It will take at least 4 weeks, more likely 6 to 8 weeks to cycle a tank that size with a single fish in it. Get you a test kit (API Master Test kit is highly recommended) that measures pH, ammonia, nitrites and nitrates too so you can keep an eye on your parameters while you're tank is cycling.

 

How big is that cutie? It may be a girl betta! If its only an inch or so long it's nearly impossible to differentiate genders. Don't put girls and boys in the same tank tho. A male betta, left in a small tank with a female will literally harass and assault her to death. Be sure and get a heater and thermometer in there soon. Bettas are tropical fish and require warm water (75°-80°F). You are right, a 5 day old tank is not anywhere near cycled. It will take at least 4 weeks, more likely 6 to 8 weeks to cycle a tank that size with a single fish in it. Get you a test kit (API Master Test kit is highly recommended) that measures pH, ammonia, nitrites and nitrates too so you can keep an eye on your parameters while you're tank is cycling.

Heater and thermometer are in! Actually heater is off because I've been struggling to keep the water within that range (house is overheating). It's about 81-82°F currently.

Also have an ammonia test kit, but not something for the others. Will probably invest in that asap.

And he/she/it has the tank all to itself. Might get a snail or two eventually if they work out, but that's about it. Its also less than an inch long. This photo shows how much it changed in the week I had it.

 

It looks so much better!! <3

 

Heater and thermometer are in! Actually heater is off because I've been struggling to keep the water it within that range (house is overheating). It's about 81-82°F currently.

Also have an ammonia test kit, but not something for the others. Will probably invest in that asap.

And he/she/it has the tank all to itself. Might get a snail or two eventually if they work out, but that's about it. Its also less than an inch long. This photo shows how much it changed in the week I had it.

They grow up so fast! Pretty soon it will be going off to 'school' lol! (Stupid fish joke)