Keeping Betta fish (also known as fighting fish) in a bowl with live plants, rather than in the typical aquarium, is becoming more and more common. The Betta is a very colorful tropical freshwater fish; it is very territorial and is often transported individually in small containers. However, experts on these fish agree that they should be kept in larger tanks once brought home. With good maintenance of its environment and careful care of it, you can keep your Betta fish healthy and happy even in a not exactly ideal space.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Prepare the Betta Fish Bowl
Step 1. Find a place to place it
Where you put the ball affects your little friend's health and life expectancy. Ideally, you should keep it away from sources of noise and heat, with only little natural light. Too much noise can stress the fish and cause fin corrosion; heat sources can lead to excessive fluctuations in water temperature, while too much natural light can promote algae growth.
Step 2. Choose the type of ball
If you think that the best thing for your fish is an environment with real plants, the first thing to do is to decide which type of container is the most suitable. As a general rule, the bigger the better, as it gives the fish plenty of room to swim and feel healthier and happier; however, avoid containers with a capacity of less than 4 liters.
Step 3. Choose the basic accessories
Once you have found the bowl and defined where to place it, you need to decide what to put inside, in addition to the fish. Most people choose plants, a lid, and gravel.
- The plant that is used most frequently is the spatafillo, it is a tropical plant that does not require a lot of sunlight and water to survive.
- Fighting fish are jumpers and gasp on the surface, so you need to get a lid to put on the bowl to prevent your specimen from jumping out.
- Any type of gravel or rock should be fine, as long as it is clean and free of any chemical residue; you can also choose glass balls or marbles.
Step 4. Make sure everything is ready for the Betta fish
First, put the gravel in the bottom of the container and fill it with filtered drinking water. Avoid the distilled one, because the manufacturing process to which it is subjected eliminates the natural minerals that the fish needs instead; if you use tap water, you need to treat it to get rid of chlorine. You must also get the accessories and material to ensure the fish are properly cared for; you also need fish feed and may need a small water heater. Once you have all the material, leave the bowl undisturbed for 24 hours before introducing the fish.
- Feed him every day Canadian or American worms, brine shrimp, or dried and frozen food specifically for Bettas. The fighting fish is omnivorous and needs meat to survive, it cannot survive on plant roots. Secure your little friend's food once a day for 5-6 days a week.
- The Betta is a tropical fish and prefers temperatures between 24 and 27 ° C; never let the water drop below 20 ° C. If the room temperature regularly stays within this range, there is no problem; however, if it falls below this minimum temperature, you must install a small heater.
Step 5. Allow the fish to acclimate to its new environment
Once you have everything you need in the bowl, it's time to introduce the fish. Remove any items that may prevent them from accessing the water. If the fish is not already in a clear plastic bag, put it yourself in such a wrap using the same water it is in. Then put the bag on the water surface of the bowl for 20 minutes; then add water from the bowl to the bag to double the volume of the water and wait another 20 minutes, so that the temperature can equalize. Finally, turn the bag over and allow the fish to enter its new home.
If you are hesitant to mix the water in the bag with the water in the bowl, use a fishing net to transfer the fish after the last 20 minutes of the water resting
Part 2 of 3: Caring for the Betta Fish in the Bowl
Step 1. Feed the fish regularly
It must be fed properly, just like any other animal; give him a small amount of food once a day. You can also buy the specific feed for this species at pet stores; Bettas are omnivores and need protein in their diet, they cannot eat only the roots of the plants present in the container. The most suitable foods for their needs are: worms or artemias (live or frozen), fruit flies or specific pellets for Betta fish.
Don't overdo the food. To avoid overfeeding him, set a regular meal schedule (for example, feed him at the same time every day). You should also observe him when he eats; if he has any food left over, it means that you have given him too much. You only have to give him the amount he can eat in three minutes. Leave the fish on an empty stomach for one or two days a week, on which you do not offer any food
Step 2. Change the water regularly
It must be replaced frequently; since you have not installed a filter in the bowl, waste and other substances released by the fish and plants could accumulate. To change it, you need to momentarily place the fish in another clean container. You can use the same water from the first bowl to fill the second bowl. Then empty the bowl of all the water and fill it with another filtered tap or drinking bottle. Wait for it to reach room temperature before inserting the fish inside with the help of a net.
How often you change the water can vary based on the volume of the bowl. If the container is 4 liters, you should replace it every 3 days; if it exceeds 10 liters, change it every 5 days. If it is 20 liters, you can change it once a week. Since you haven't put the filter in, this change purifies the water of ammonia, nitrates and other harmful chemicals produced by fish waste and feces
Step 3. Clean the container
When you change the water, you must also take care of cleaning the bowl. When it is empty, wipe all the internal walls with a clean cloth or kitchen paper; eliminates all traces of dirt and algae. Remember to also rinse the accessories, without neglecting the plants that should be "cleaned" by cutting and pruning the leaves and dead parts.
Do not use soaps or detergents when cleaning, as they could harm the fish; in fact, some chemical residues could remain that mix with the water and that can be ingested by the Betta
Step 4. Observe the fins and behavior of the animal
To understand if he is unhappy or ill, pay attention to the change in color, behavior or fins of the specimen. When any of these changes occur, you need to promptly investigate the situation. You must prevent the fish from getting sick when with a few small changes you can save their life. Go to the pet store for specific advice on how to treat your little friend.
Step 5. Check the water quality carefully
Even if you change it regularly every week, you may notice that it becomes unexpectedly cloudy or experiences temperature fluctuations. This may indicate that the ball is in a location that is too exposed to direct sunlight (which causes algae to grow and heats the container) or that the heat emitted by the heater or the temperature in the room is outside the ideal range. Remember that the optimal water temperature must be between 24 and 27 ° C.
Part 3 of 3: Transfer the Betta Fish to a Larger Container
Step 1. Find an appropriately sized aquarium
Usually, Betta fish need a lot more space than what is offered by a bowl; the ideal would be to start with a tank that contains 10 to 20 liters, but it is even better if it is larger. The goal is to guarantee your friend a large space to allow him to swim and interact with the environment that surrounds him. These fish are typically sold in small containers, but only for ease of transportation and not for other reasons.
Step 2. Prepare the aquarium
There are many considerations to make when installing a Betta fish tank. Assuming you already know how to set up a bowl for this fish, the aquarium is only slightly more complicated. You need to add a filtration system, as well as larger amounts of gravel and water; It is also important to place plants and other decorations. Do not forget the lid, to prevent the fish from jumping out of the aquarium; a larger heater should also be installed. Once the interior has been set up and water has been added, leave the tub undisturbed until the water has become clear and the heater has brought it to the appropriate temperature.
- Avoid a filtration system that can create too intense a current; Betta fish like to "stop" in one place and the current could stress it.
- The heater must have adequate dimensions to guarantee the right temperature in relation to the volume of water present. The small heater used for the bowl may not be sufficient for a 20 liter aquarium; make sure you get one that fits the size of the tub you have chosen.
- Do not put plastic plants and other abrasive accessories. Install real or silk plants that you can find at the pet store in the fish department. the same is true for decorations: they must meet the specific requirements of the aquarium.
Step 3. Separate the fish from the plants
If you have to move them, you need to find a container to put the plants in; it may be sufficient to remove them from the aquarium in which the fish is located and take another tank containing only water. Before moving the fish, wait until the aquarium is ready; then use a plastic bag, fill it halfway with the water from the second tank and collect the fish with a net to transfer it inside.
Step 4. Introduce the Betta fish to its new home
Once the new aquarium is perfectly set up, you can start moving the fish into it by taking it from its temporary home: the plastic bag. Let the bag float on the tank water, wait 20 minutes and then fill the rest of the bag with aquarium water. After another 20 minutes you can turn the bag inside out and let the fish enter its new home.
Step 5. Add other live elements to the aquarium
Although the Betta fish does not need live plants or decorations to survive, these elements still make the aquarium as challenging and interesting as the previous bowl, if not more. Live plants are typically safer for fish, are softer and move freely in the water. Since the aquarium offers more space, you can decide to add more fish, but you have to choose them carefully.
Step 6. Do proper maintenance
The attention you need to pay to the aquarium can be more challenging, but it is less frequent than that required for the bowl. With the aquarium you can avoid frequent water changes and this only needs to be replaced a little at a time. However, you must change the filter regularly (check the instructions on the packaging for the frequency); if you have live plants, you also need to regularly remove dead leaves.
Warnings
- Betta fish are very territorial; when in small tanks, males can fight to the death and can attack females.
- Fighting fish enthusiasts and experts agree that these animals should not be kept in bowls, as it is considered cruelty; animal welfare associations recommend keeping them in tanks of at least 40 liters.
- If you decide to add fake decorations to your aquarium, keep in mind that plastic plants can injure fish fins, as well as abrasive surfaces.
