Questions about my new betta fish?

K

Kayla

New member
Hi, yesterday on a trip to wal-mart I walked by the fish area and basically fell in love with this blue male beta fish, so now he's here... but I have a couple questions.

He's in a 1gal tank with no filter. The tank came with an air pump but I didn't set it up, should I have? Should I get a filter? & How often should I change the water given how small the tank is?

I didn't get a heater, should I? If I do any recommendations for one in a tank that small? What temp should it be at? He won't get cooked will he?

Finally, I'm a college student. I'll be moving out of my dorm in a week and a half to my mothers house for the summer. I'll have to put him in his sad little fish prison container for the two hour drive, do you think he'll survive?
 
He should be okay for the drive. I had rather some large goldfish while in college and transported them in a 3-gallon bucket for the three-hour drive. You could remove half the water from the one-gallon tank to prevent splashing and transport him in that to give him a little more room and oxygen.

My friend in college kept a beta in good health in a one-gallon tank with only the air pump and no filter on the tank. I would recommend the air pump, I'd hate to see him gasping or hanging listlessly at the top of the tank. I also think she kept him without a heater.

If you aren't going to have a filter, you should probably get a small siphon hose from the aquarium store to suck out the debris that falls into the substrate (gravel) occasionally. Don't remove more than one-third of the water when you "vacuum" or you will remove established and necessary bacteria. Replace the water you take out with water which has been allowed to sit for 24 hours open to the air. (This allows it the temperature to be correct but more importantly allows any chlorine in the water to escape).
 
Omfg...don't know why people are saying bettas don't need a heater or a filter. Bettas are tropical thus they require temperatures from 78-80F. If they don't have this temp. and are left at room temp. then after so long it lowers their immune system, and they end up getting sick, and dying :'(. They also need filtration. Just because they can breath air threw their special organ they have doesn't mean they don't need a filter. Bettas also requir 2.5 gallont ank to be comfortable with a heater, and small filter. When you have a small filter you only have to do a 25% water cahnge once everyweek. Without a filter, you must do 100% water changes, which is VERY stressful, and that is another cause of death. The idiots on here that say they don't requir a filter or heater, oviously don't know crap about betta care. bettas can live up to 10 years, if givin the proper care. In those poor quality miost people keep them in, youtr lucky to get maybe 1-2 years. Now you want your betta to be happy and healthy? Right. :)
 
Betta fish dont need heat or air..they go to the top and get air, I had a betta and he travel with me to Wis from Mich and then from mich to NY and back to Mich spending 12 hrs in the car in just a simple fish bowl, they are great they take little care and if you clean the bowl every couple days he will be fine....
 
Betas do not need heater or filter but rocks and maybe a small plant will work. make sure you do not have any other betas with it though.
 
Bettas still need filtration like any fish. Even though they bread air, the ammonia buildup in the water can kill them. They are best at a temperature of 78 -80 degrees, however it will be difficult to heat a 1 gallon container, most heaters you can buy would be too strong. Keep the tank away from vents and air drafts and he should be ok. But get that undergravel filter installed in it. I have several of the 1 gallon tanks that you can get at Walmart. I keep my males that I use for breeding in them, as well as a couple of older ones. 4-5 gal tanks would be better, but space can dictate what you use. 2 other suggestions: 1 get a ramshorn snail, it will eat up any leftover food that can get trapped in the gravel; and make sure you do weekly de-chlorinated water changes of 10 - 25%. Do this and he can live for years and actually make a wonderful pet. One of mine even tried to come out and play. He jumped thru that little hole onto the table, but he is ok.
 
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