Please Welcome Oscar!! ( i changed it)

Today I decided that Aquamarines death was an accident so I went to petco and bought myself a little fishy new years gift!  I rescued Oscar from petco and hes now happily swmming in his new home.  hes so sweet if I put the tip of my finger into the water he'll come up to it.  hes so sweet.

Thnx Miley :-*

 

Miley,

I am sure that you want a fish badly, but while I am happy that you love your fish, that tank is just not big enough...he needs to have heat and filtered water and you are supplying neither. The first order of business needed to be getting a tank for the fish and getting it cycled, THEN adding the fish. I am sorry if I sound cross, but you get upset when your fish die and then go and put a poor fish back in the same conditions that killed the ones you had...yes, I guess you could say that I am cross.

I do wish the best for the fish, but unless you do a lot of water changes and keep it in a warm area and really watch that fish, it too will die.

Rose

 

Chickadee,
its ok - you didn't seem cross to me. and I know what you say is completely true too :-\ . sad to say. also I am in the process of getting a larger tank. you said a 5 gal can handle a heater right? thnx and I am fixing the tank issues, Miley

 

Yes, a five gallon tank can be heated by either a 25 watt heater or a 50 watt heater. When you get the tank, would you please consider cycling the tank fishless and then put him in it so it will cycle faster...???

The quickest way is of course, Bio-spira but that is expensive, so the next quickest would be to use the ammonia method but you CANNOT do it while he is in the tank so he would have to stay in his little tank for a few more days and you will have to do daily water changes (you should be doing them already).

The directions for the Fishless Cycle methods are in here:

https://www.fishlore.com/NitrogenCycle.htm

the ammonia one is option 3 but be sure that when you get the ammonia (grocery store cleaning supply section) that it is not the one with Lemon Scented or any other scent. There is another way to do it without ammonia that may be quicker but I do not know if you have anyone who owns a big tank who would be willing to share an old filter media with you.

Rose

 

Rose,
that's sounds good.... I am saving my money as fast as I can - which is hard cause I am 14... :-\. also - I change his water every two days - would this be okay or every day? also if every day should I do a partiale change or a full? thnx Miley

 

I know how you feel I'm 15 now and you just need to find odd jobs to get money, try to get a job of some sort, I ref soccer and make good money with that, but it's only seasonal. There are other teens on this forum around my age and younger and we all find ways to make money, I'm sure you can too, best of luck.

I would do 50% water change everyday or every other day, not sure, definitely not 100% because then you would have to remove him and that would get stressful. You can get filters for a tank that small, though heating is a issue, try to keep it in the warmest part of the house and make sure you have a lid, you can wrap a blanket around the top, sides, and back to keep some heat in, though make sure you have a thermometer in there if you do that so you can make sure it doesn't overheat.

 

I would do a 50% every day.

Rose

 

atm and Rose,
thnx - I am doing a full every 3 days now but now I am doing a 50% then - which I am geussing will be better for him also do u have to remove him for a partial change? thnx, Miley

 

LNL,

Not sure if you're saying you are doing a full change every three days or a 50% every ___.

Right now, with our Betta in an uncycled tank (due to treating him for velvet), I'm doing a 50% water change daily.  I do not remove the fish from the water for the changes.

For a full water change, by definition, you need to remove the fish from the old water.  For partial changes you should be able to leave the fish in the container.  Full water changes are more stressful on the fish.

There are a lot of things to consider with water changes.  If your Betta is in a 1.5 gallon unfiltered, uncycled container and you do not test the water to determine if there are toxic levels of ammonia or nitrites present (in which case you should assume these elements are at toxic levels), you should change 50% of the water daily.  You might even consider doing a 75% water change once a week in addition to the daily 50% partial water changes.  Try to keep your replacement water at or 1 degree higher than the water in the Betta's container during the change.  And, don't forget to use dechlorinator.

Good luck!

Mike

 

LZ is very correct in all that he says. I cannot add any more to it.

Rose

 

You were talking about needing money, I don't know what your situation is like, but my parents used to pay me for odd jobs they needed done around the house. If you talk to them first, and then work extra hard they may be able to help you out. Every one has their own parenting style though. Idk, you could also look into to shoveling snow (if you live where there is snow) or mowing lawns... baby sitting (if you don't mind kids, lol... I was never a good babysitter) there's plenty of options out there if you keep your eyes open! Good luck!

 

LZ,
I was doing a full every 3 days but now I am doing 50% Every day Miley

Rose,
I agree with that, Miley

Timesdragonfly,
that's a good idea - no snow lol we live in Texas lol. lots of lawns though!! lol. and thanks Miley