New 6.5 Gal Betta Tank....would Sharks Teeth Work?

I just got a 6.5 gallon tank for my future Betta. I am wondering if I could use fossilized sharks teeth that I have collected over the years mixed with gravel. The picture shows about 1/3 of my tooth collection.
Obviously I collected them from salt water and wondering how would this impact my tank.

If I can use them:
What prep or treatment would I need to to do?
What color gravel to use with them?

Thank you for any comment on what is probably the first of a few dumb questions.

 

Personally, I don't think you should. Not only could it pose the potential to harm your fish, especially its delicate fins, but it may even tamper with your pH. It likely contains some degree of calcium carbonate which can buffer the alkalinity of your water by raising carbonate hardness (kH) which will in turn raise your pH. The effects would depend on your base water though. If you have fairly low kH, it could be a very rapid effect which would be quite harmful and even fatal. There could be just enough fluctuations with the consideration of water changes that it may wear down your fish's health. All-in-all, I think its safer not to add it into the aquarium.

 

Absolutely you can use them. The only impart they might have is to increase your water hardness, but I doubt that will have any ill effect on your fish. The only other thing I can think of is if any of them are still really sharp, it might be able to cut your betta's fins... (they shouldn't be that sharp unless they splintered though).

To be on the safe side, I would boil them; it will kill off anything that might be living on them and remove most of the salt and calcification.
You can use the teeth a the only substrate if you'd like, otherwise I think a natural sand would look great with it!

 

I guess our question would be why do u wanna add these teeth into the substrate first and foremost?

 

I guess our question would be why do u wanna add these teeth into the substrate first and foremost?

The sharks teeth were collected on a tiny stretch of sand in south Georgia while pondering life and the universe over the last 45 years. Many, many good hours of feeling the sun and tasting the salt in the air. As I get older( and can no longer walk in the sand with walker), I want to reuse things I own rather than buy new things. Just trying to make more memories.

Personally, I don't think you should. Not only could it pose the potential to harm your fish, especially its delicate fins, but it may even tamper with your pH. It likely contains some degree of calcium carbonate which can buffer the alkalinity of your water by raising carbonate hardness (kH) which will in turn raise your pH. The effects would depend on your base water though. If you have fairly low kH, it could be a very rapid effect which would be quite harmful and even fatal. There could be just enough fluctuations with the consideration of water changes that it may wear down your fish's health. All-in-all, I think its safer not to add it into the aquarium.

Thank you.....so much to learn!!

 

If this is the semI hexagon 6.5 if so I suggest getting a sponge filter the filter that came with the kit is trash n caused my fish illness from being faulty

 

Well, those are some nice Mako, and that one megalodon tooth... I would say it may have a small adverse affect on water?? I mean, they are fossils that are typically found in water so I don’t think they’re one to leech that much mineral content into water since they’ve held themselves together for a few million years.. but.. I would say: I’d be more worried about the Betta impaling itself on a tooth...

 

If this is the semI hexagon 6.5 if so I suggest getting a sponge filter the filter that came with the kit is trash n caused my fish illness from being faulty

I was told that at the pet store today....What filter would you suggest?

Well, those are some nice Mako, and that one megalodon tooth... I would say it may have a small adverse affect on water?? I mean, they are fossils that are typically found in water so I don’t think they’re one to leech that much mineral content into water since they’ve held themselves together for a few million years.. but.. I would say: I’d be more worried about the Betta impaling itself on a tooth...

Thinking I may put just the the Megalodon in for now. many of them are pointed and sharp. No experience with Betta behavior as the only ones I have seen are in those cups in the pet store.

 

I would add them. As for someone asking "why" a person would want them in their tank, why not? Same reason some like sand or gravel substrate. It's your tank and if you like it then that's all that matters I think they are kinda cool myself.

 

I was told that at the pet store today....What filter would you suggest?

I ordered this and everything else heard its good filter


Id also suggest doing daily or every 2 days a 50% waterchange till your new filter comes

 

Bettas fins are very delicate. I wouldn't risk it .

 

If you can find a way around water parameters, the next concern is fins. Well, that's actually a pretty simple fix. Just sand the points out of the teeth.

 

I ordered this and everything else heard its good filter View attachment 557739

Id also suggest doing daily or every 2 days a 50% waterchange till your new filter comes

Thank you. Just ordered and it will be here in 2 days.

How often would you test during the cycling process? I just added water yesterday. And what are the most reasonable testing options? I think I just paid $16.99 for a pack of 25 5 in 1 strips with 25 ammonia strips. Have not researched this aspect yet.

 

Maybe test it with a feeder fish or something first? If it dies, don't use the teeth.

 

It could mess with your water chemistry

 

I personally wouldn't use these myself only because they can be sharp, and the fact that I wouldn't teeth in my fish tank, but there definitely wouldn't be anything wrong if you choose to put them in.

 

As a long time Betta and Betta community tank owner, I personally wouldn't put anything designed to rip into flesh with serrated edges into the habitat if the Betta has any long flowing fins.

Bettas like to rest along tank items letting their fins wrap and lay on plants, driftwood, leaves, intake tubes, outflow tubes, rocks, substrate, pretty much anything. As they pull away from these items their fins drag along them, so sharp and serrated will definitely rip and slice, exactly what shark teeth are designed to do.

A giant, smoothe fossilized tooth that's got rounded edges and no point is probably fine.


Here's "Sunny" in a 55 gallon community tank:

 

Maybe test it with a feeder fish or something first? If it dies, don't use the teeth.

A
He is beautiful!

 

I just got a 6.5 gallon tank for my future Betta. I am wondering if I could use fossilized sharks teeth that I have collected over the years mixed with gravel. The picture shows about 1/3 of my tooth collection.
Obviously I collected them from salt water and wondering how would this impact my tank.

If I can use them:
What prep or treatment would I need to to do?
What color gravel to use with them?

Thank you for any comment on what is probably the first of a few dumb questions.
View attachment 557492

They would look AWESOME sprinkled across a white sand substrate! I'm headed to the Georgia beaches.....lol!
Don't worry about them changing your water chemistry. Even if they weren't 'fossilized' they wouldn't do anything different to your tank than adding some seashells or dead coral.