Bad Betta Mom

For a beta?
Huh!
We only ever had them in goldfish bowls. We didn't do heaters and filters and all that...

I have had many beta's over the years and they have always lived in fish bowls, vases or at most a one gallon tank with no heat or filter. In the vase I had a peace lily plant growing. Most recently I had it in a one gallon with some snails.

He doesn't need a tank, filter or heater. A big round fishbowl is just fine.

We have had betas. The most recent lived 4 long years in his bowl, very happy when we'd talk with him and feed him. He also liked the cats who came to drink the fish flavored water (eww).

They like something to hide behind, but don't buy any fake plants...they cut up their lovely tails. Be careful that everything you get to decorate the tank is smooth.

For cleaning and care, we simply kept a jug of tap water with the lid off on top of the fridge. All of the chlorine evaporates out of it and it's room-temperature. Gently remove Betta from his water to a small bowl of clean water. Wash all of his stuff in hot tap water. You can use dish soap to wash any algae, but be sure you rinse very well. Once everything's clean, arrange the bowl and add clean water from your jug. Put the bowl back in its spot and then pour your betta back in. :-) Done.

I cleaned it when it started to look like it needed cleaning.

Be sure you don't overfeed. Follow feeding directions on the betta food. I like the little nuggets.

Enjoy him! They're neat fish, and actually friendly once they know that a face means food.

I had a betta fish in one of those square tanks with no filter, just some rocks. I was really good about keeping the tank clean and the fish appropriately fed, though. Alpha the Betta fish lived for over two years with us. He used to come to the surface and let me give him his pellets off my nail. He also used to start swimming around happily when I walked into the room. Constantly blew bubbles and made bubble nests at the top of the water. He was one happy fish and I loved him. When he died, I was really REALLY sad. Yeah, he was *just* a fish, but he was a real member of the family.

Havent read all the responses but Betta fish are Stagnant water and pond dwellers. They do not want aggitated water. Bowls, if large enough and kept clean enough are provided they do fine.

As teen I raised Betta's for a project. I had a male and female in a 5 gallon tank, no heater and no filters. Changed water 1/4 every week. Never a full dump. Vacuumed bottom with water vacuum.

Cold water dulls the color. They are originally from South Asia and lived in Rice Paddies but have been domestically bred and raised for so long they can adapt to many types of water and temps. They have rudimentary second lungs where they can come to the surface of the water and gulp air if the water quality is poor due to sediment and particulates. Air filters dont hurt them but they are not always needed. They can not properly make a nest with lots of agitation in the water. If you want to provide more saturation in the water use a stone bubbler in the bottom. Not a filter.

My guy Neal and his woman, Sparkly produced over 200 offspring in 5 years. The male made it to 7 years.

Our neighbor has had their beta for 3 years now and he's just in a little tiny fish bowl! He has a snail and a fake plant in there too. He seems like a happy fish...we fish sit for them when they go out of town.

I've kept bettas in bowls before - they don't need a heater unless you're keeping the fish on the northside windowsill of your house.
As long as you do a 1/4-1/2 change of the water every week (how much water to change out depends on the size of your bowl), you don't need a filter.

We have a betta and since our house gets cold during the day, he was always hiding. If you live in a cold climate, he might need a little heat. They are tropical after all. But he should be fine for a few days. Just perhaps not too happy.

And you have to be careful that they don't jump out. Betta's will jump from pond to pond to find fresher water. We found out guy on the table - he was still wet - we put him back in and he looked horrible. But he made it and that was 1.5 years ago. He's awesome!!

Haven't read your other answers yet, but wanted to say that if your goldfish bowl is at least a gallon, you really don't need to invest in all the other stuff, unless you just want to. And if you want to go longer in between water/tank changes. (Assuming your keep your indoor temperatures up at least to 70 degrees during the winter).

To be safe, yes, get a full on tank with filter and heater.

But, my daughter wanted a Betta and I got her one. Used an old goldfish bowl. It has some natural stone gravel (not the colored stuff), a live plant, and a moss ball. And a beautiful red/blue male betta fish. He is almost 2 years old.

All we do is feed him and change his water (with the appropriate de-chlorinating drops each time).

However, we live in the south, so not a lot of cold weather, which means we can get by for the short term of winter that we have without having to install a heater for the water. If we needed a heater, we'd need a bigger tank (not just a goldfish bowl), because they don't make them small enough for the size bowl... I think the smallest I have seen is designed for a 3 gallon tank. Otherwise, you overheat the water.

And the typical "neat" looking betta in a vase with a plant growing out of the top? Don't do it. It isn't really a proper ecosystem for the fish.

I had a Betta fish that lived in a glass vase where a plant grew. It had no other filtration. I cleaned the vase about every week. It stayed alive till I accidentally dropped it and it got hurt too bad to live. I'd say at least a good yr and a half.

We have two betas one in each bowl they are fine no filter or bubble maker needed just beta food and water changed once every couple months. And make sure the water sits covered over night to become safe for them

Good for you for researching, even if it was after the fact. There is a difference in a fish being able to survive in a bowl versus living a decent quality of life in a proper environment. Some of the posters below have given poor advice on the basis that their fish managed to live for a couple of years.

Use betta-specific food and treats. Bettas like to hang out in real plants, but they do not eat plants unless they are starving. They are carnivores.

For a betta tank, wide is a good thing. Bettas take oxygen both from the water and will surface for air. Whatever kind of tank you end up with, it needs a lid. You don't want to come home to find your fish decided to end it all.

Tell you kiddo that he should not tap on the glass or hold up mirrors just to see the betta flare up. This is a defense mechanism and he/she is not trying to be pretty for you. Doing such things often can harm your fish.

We were also told at the pet store the beta needed a filtered tank...so for our little one's b-day we got the whole set-up. The next morning we went to check on the fish and overnight he was sucked up into the filter! It was awful!!!

Betta fish don't need any of that! Just change the water every week. If you put a mirror up to the side of the bowl he will try and fight his reflection. I'm not sure if the female betta does this, but our male did! they do like something to hide in, plant wise, so you might buy it a plant for the bowl.

Gosh I never knew Bettas had to be kept that way!
We've had Bettas. Just in a bowl and decorations and plant.
No filter nor water conditioner.
And it was fine.

How IS the Betta now, from the Halloween Fairy?
Is your son jazzed?

We love Betta fish and we have never used a filter or heater. Just a regular ol' fish bowl works just fine. Just change the water every week or so. I've gone much longer, but we do use filtered water in our home.

Feed them sparingly is the key. Just a few little pellets every 2-3 days. Do not feed them every day.

GL! and cute idea!

I used to have bettas and they lived fine for years in a little bowl

That's such a smart idea, having a Halloween fairy to get rid of all the extra candy. I never thought of that!

To be honest, I never heard of needing a tank and filter for a beta fish. We had one and just used bottled water that we set out for a day. I had two little fish bowls and prepared one the day before, put the fish in it, and then at my leisure, cleaned out the dirty fish bowl. I had two sets of rocks so I could easily clean those. (Don't let them go down the sink while cleaning them, or you'll end up having to call a plumber.) My beta fish lived a long time like that.

If I were going to go to all the trouble you're going to, with a tank and filter and stuff, I'd do more research and buy a bottomfeeder and some other fresh water fish that you can enjoy watching. My kids and I used to turn on the aquarium light at bedtime, lay there and watch the "show". One of my sons said "Mom, we should have popcorn because it's like watching a movie!" Loved that!!

We have three betta bowls and none have a heater or bubbler. We once tried to have one in a two gallon tank with a filter and he was so freaked out that he just stayed on the bottom, far away from the filter. After about a week, we put him in a bowl, and he was a happy little fish for another couple of years. They LOVE real plants. I've had several and most of them have been very lazy, lounging in their plants most of the day. When I mix the water, I use a gallon jug and put in half a teaspoon of aquarium salt and half a teaspoon of betta fix, plus a drop of Aquarisol along with the water conditioner. It keeps their fins healthy and they stay healthier. Our oldest is over three years old now. I'm sure your fish will be just fine with what you have.

General fish keeping advice - watch the water temperature of the new water when you are doing water changes. The new water should be close in temperature to the old water. I rushed one time and against my better judgment and knowledge had the new water just a touch too cold. In a matter of a few minutes I massacred the entire Fin Family. Lovely. :( Even with a two and half year old, I had a lot of 'splaining to do as they say. Good luck.