Trying To Improve Betta's Living Conditions While Waiting For Larger Tank

Would using his old stuff (rocks, decorations, filter, and water) work? I would have to add 1.5 new gallons of water to fill the 2-gallon after that, so it'd be about a 50% water-change. This new tank would be heated; I worry about new tank death syndrome and temperature shock. I do plan to acclimate Gill before putting him in...

Thanks for the tips, Rylan!

How long should I soak the flake for? I break the large flakes into smaller ones; it won't disintegrate while I soak it, will it?

 

How long should I soak the flake for? I break the large flakes into smaller ones; it won't disintegrate while I soak it, will it?

His old filter, heater, rocks and decorations will work just fine. I don’t think it will be a problem to use a portion of his current water either. You’ve probably made progression with that filter for the nitrogen cycle so I’d definitely use it. Smaller tanks always require more maintenance, when I had a little 3.5 gallon tank that was cycled I had to do two 50% water changes a week to keep things nice. Since you’re doing a fish in cycle you’ll need to do them a little more frequently until your cycle stabilizes.

The flakes don’t need very long to soak, maybe a minute, at the most. I’ve never had a flake disintegrate while soaking but I suppose it could, try it and see. It’s really easy to accidentally overfeed with flakes. Imagine rolling the flake into a ball, if would fit the size of his eye, that’s all he needs.

Check out the lifewithpets YouTube videos on setting up and cycling a Betta tank, and performing water changes on them. I referred to those a lot when I set up my first Betta tank. They are tremendously helpful

 

How far away is your new tank? I’m unsure of how to heat a tank that small. I’d follow the advice above

As for the peas for easing what might be swim bladder disorder: Have you tried daphnia? I heard it’s a better alternative to the pea since Betta are carnivorous. I know peas work for some but maybe he’ll more readily take daphnia from you?

As for the Spring Water, I’ve been heavily researching this the past few days there shouldn’t really have been anything wrong with it as long as it wasn’t reverse osmosis purified or distilled water. I’m not sure everyone always realizes that there’s a differnence. I’m in a situation where my tap is unsafe for fish so I’m have to look into Spring Water instead. If I had water from the tap I could use, I would. Have you tested your tap water to see what’s in it vs your spring water you were using?

Also, to avoid the water getting dirtied quickly by uneaten food, a simple turkey baster is your best friend so you can immediately remove what he doesn’t eat.

I was just reading this and I have been using reverse osmosis in my tanks since October, our water he is very hard and I thought r/o would be better. Am I doing something bad?

 

I was just reading this and I have been using reverse osmosis in my tanks since October, our water he is very hard and I thought r/o would be better. Am I doing something bad?

Hi! Reverse osmosis has all minerals removed from the water, including the ones that fish need for osmoregulation. If your water is too hard, you could cut the water with reverse osmosis water. R/O is fine to use provided you replenish the minerals it’s missing, whether you cut mix/it with tap water or mix it with something like seachem replenish but that’s kind of advanced and I wouldn’t really recommend doing that unless you absolutely have to. (Seachem replenish I mean)

 

Gill's new tank is here! I'm scared to start prepping it, though. I'm not sure where to begin. I worry Gill will relapse...

I'm watching lifewithpets' tutorial, but I don't know if I can follow it to the letter...

 

Gill's new tank is here! I'm scared to start prepping it, though. I'm not sure where to begin. I worry Gill will relapse...

I'm watching lifewithpets' tutorial, but I don't know if I can follow it to the letter...

Sorry for the delayed reply!

One step at a time. The tank set-up and water changes are little different than what yours will be but the basics are pretty much the same.

1. Wipe down inside of the new tank with a vinegar/water solution and than rinse it with warm water.

2. Do you have the cup or bag Gill came in? scoop him out of the old tank and set him aside for a moment.

3. Set aside the original water in a bucket if you plan to use it. Scoop the old gravel out and transfer to the new tank. Move the filter over. Move the heater over. To minimize loose particles when you pour the held water back in, diffuse the water by pouring it gently over your hand into the tank or even a decoration. So gravel doesn't fly all over.

4. Temperature match the other 50% of the water for the tank with a thermometer to the temperature of the water that’s now in the new tank. Dechlorinate it of course. Also add to the new tank.

5. Plug it all in. (Check to see at this point how much loose debris may or may not be in the water column)

6. Leave the tank light off and float Gills cup in the new tank so he'll stay warm and if there was a lot of debris let the filter run for a bit to let the the filter clear it out and allow the dust to settle. If you were really thorough with your original gravel rinse I don't think it'll be too extreme.

7. Acclimate Gill with tank lights off and leave them off for the first 24 hours he's in the new tank to keep him from getting too stressed out.

After he's in the new tank, when you do water changes after this you won't have to take him out at all if you have a gravel vacuum and if you temp match new water to the water that's already in the tank and if the water is coming from the same place.

 

Thank you for the guide! My mother has requested that I wait till tomorrow to set up Gill's new tank so she can help me do it. I'd rather not risk cracking the tank again or hurting Gill because I made a careless error.

I just gave Gill a tiny piece of Omega One. He went right for it and swallowed it in a single gulp. It was kinda cute!

My plan when setting up the new tank was as follows:

1) Remove Gill, filter, and decorations from old tank. Set them aside.

2) Carefully put old water into new tank.

3) Slowly add old gravel. Add decorations.

4) In old tank, put in new water. Treat with Seachem Prime and Stability. Wait an hour or so for new water to reach room temp and for Seachem to do its thing.

5) Add new water to tank.

6) Add heater to tank. Heat old and new water combo.

7) Add old filter. Plug it in.

8) Acclimate Gill. Add him to tank after 20 minutes or so.

I realize this is flawed, but it's probably how I would do it. Sound ok? I'm going to follow your guide tomorrow, anyways. I just wanted to share what my approach would have been, had you not provided yours. I don't want to screw this up!

 

Thank you for the guide! My mother has requested that I wait till tomorrow to set up Gill's new tank so she can help me do it. I'd rather not risk cracking the tank again or hurting Gill because I made a careless error.

I just gave Gill a tiny piece of Omega One. He went right for it and swallowed it in a single gulp. It was kinda cute!

My plan when setting up the new tank was as follows:

1) Remove Gill, filter, and decorations from old tank. Set them aside.

2) Carefully put old water into new tank.

3) Slowly add old gravel. Add decorations.

4) In old tank, put in new water. Treat with Seachem Prime and Stability. Wait an hour or so for new water to reach room temp and for Seachem to do its thing.

5) Add new water to tank.

6) Add heater to tank. Heat old and new water combo.

7) Add old filter. Plug it in.

8) Acclimate Gill. Add him to tank after 20 minutes or so.

I realize this is flawed, but it's probably how I would do it. Sound ok? I'm going to follow your guide tomorrow, anyways. I just wanted to share what my approach would have been, had you not provided yours. I don't want to screw this up!

Sounds fine! Seachem Prime works within in a few minutes, it’s not necessary to wait an hour. Stability as a bacterial supplement works as long as prime is in the water first. Is the heater in the tank with Gill now? I was imagining a portion of your water would already be heated. Making the tank transition quicker.

I could be being ultra-paranoid but I would spend up to 45 min on the acclimation. Is it overkill? probably haha. But it wouldn’t hurt anything either. So I’d float him for the first fifteen minutes so the temp adjusts, after the first fifteen add a cup of water to the bowl or bag and continue the pattern every consecutive fifteen minutes and then let him loose in the new aquarium.

 

The heater is not in Gill's 1-gallon tank. I couldn't get a conclusive answer on if it would be safe to use in a tank that size.

That said, I'm nervous right now because Gill seems to be having trouble leaving the surface again. The food I gave him last night wasn't much; it was a tiny peace the size of his eye.

 

The heater is not in Gill's 1-gallon tank. I couldn't get a conclusive answer on if it would be safe to use in a tank that size.

That said, I'm nervous right now because Gill seems to be having trouble leaving the surface again. The food I gave him last night wasn't much; it was a tiny peace the size of his eye.

Okay, maybe switch to a different food from this point on. It seems to not agree with him. Maybe a pellet like HikarI Bio-gold (also soak in tank water) and use the flakes as a treat once in a while.

Fast him today.

 

I plan to fast him today, yes. Isn't switching food more appropriate for if he isn't eating? That certainly isn't the case...

 

Hello, I have a male who will not eat a whole pellet, I have to break it down for him, same goes for peas if its too big he will spit it out & not eat. Hope this helps!

 

I plan to fast him today, yes. Isn't switching food more appropriate for if he isn't eating? That certainly isn't the case...

Flake food isn’t always recommended for Bettas. Some of mine have developed swim bladder issue with flakes as well. What sometimes happens is they swallow too much air when that eat. Which is why soaking the food in tank water first can help.

 

Alas, getting Gill new food is out of the question for a while; I already spent a lot of money on tanks, prime, heaters, et cetera. I'm gonna try soaking the flakes, and maybe feed him every other day. I'm not sure how much smaller I can make these things; the peas and flakes I give are already eyeball-size or smaller. I really don't want the swim bladder to come back. I thought I was in the clear...

 

Ok. Setting up the new tank. Really nervous. Could only use about 20% of Gill's old water, 75% of his old (washed) gravel, and his old decoration. Had to use a new filter. Just put in five drops of prime and stability. Will then add the heater (20w) and let that reach the preset 77 degrees. After that, I will put Gill in the new tank so he can acclimate. I will then release him and hope for the best...

Tank comparison photo:

 

What a nice new home for your fish! If you can't fit the old filter into the new, is it possible you could at least take your old filter sponge or medium out and put it in the new tank for a while? You want to save as many beneficial bacteria as you can so that your new tank will cycle sooner!

 

Sadly, no. This filter is not built to support the old cartridge...

Acclimating now

Ok. Gill is in his new tank. I'm worried about three things:

1) His happiness.

2) The automatic heater cooking him if he touches it.

3) The strength of the filter's current. I can't tell if the swimming he is doing is normal or current-forced.

My boy in his new home!

If it helps, Gill's new tank is the Aqueon Mini-Bow 2.5-gallon. The filter is quiet and doesn't feel that violent, but Gill does seem to be struggling against its current. Is there any credibility to the "water bottle trick?"

Gill has adjusted well to his new tank, it seems, granted the filter is currently off because its current is too strong, and I need to make a baffle (a styrofoam cup was recommended, but I'm unsure how to best cut and attach it). He is swimming relatively well and has been busy exploring all regions of his new home. I often see him resting at the surface or on the bottom, and this causes me to worry given his swim bladder issues, but I think things are going well, overall...