Betta fish - please help?

Question

Hi,
I am going to buy a betta fish tomorrow (first time ever) and i need your help.
I have a limited budget so tell me exactly what i need and what i do not need from the list below
Also, give me any advice if you can on how to set up the tank and adjust the water etc.

Fish - 1 male betta
Fish tank - (it says that it comes with light hood, light socket, cord & bulb assembly, air pump, air line tubing, filter plate, air stone, riser tube)
Plants- (probably fake ones)
Gravel
Net
Food- flakes
Dechlorinator
Algae removal?
Thermometer
PH (up and down and test)

Is that it?

Thank you so much

Answer 1

I actually have a betta, he is thriving in his tank, and he has none of that.

He has a gallon tank, with gravel, the air pump doesnt work, the light doesnt work and it has no water.

Bettas are some of the easiest fish to take care of and you honestly dont need all of that stuff.



You can even just get a clear vase, with a plant that grows in water (like certain kinds of bamboo) and a little plastic thing that blocks the fish from getting out, but still lets Oxygen in, and some little gravel at the bottom, and the fish will eat off the roots without killing the plant. Not only does it look really cool, you get a really cool plant to look at.



But whatever you decide to do, I do recommend that you get a clean milk jug and fill it with water and let it sit over night so its room temp so you dont shock the little guy to much.



Hope this helps.

Answer 2

From your list, you can drop the pH adjuster and tester, it simply isn't important, and you can't really "fix" water problems with it.



Algae "Remover", nope, get a nylon sponge and/or magnetic glass cleaner to keep the tank clean. Algae isn't harmfull to fish, it's just a cosmetic issue. You will want a gravel vac/syphon to remove waste from the gravel and make water changes easier.



Food - Betta can eat normal good quality flake or pellet food. In the wild they have the same diet as many other fish like guppies, gourami and neons. (insects, shrimp, insect larvae, small fish etc) So the food is actually the same.



With the $$ you save on the pH stuff, buy a small heater to suit the tank. Betta prefer the water temp up around 75-80F. Unless your house is very warm you will need a heater.



Dont buy the betta tomorrow. Buy all the other stuff, get the tank set up and running first. Then buy the fish. While you can do a full fishless cycle to get the tank ready for fish, that may take a month and will need a full test kit. For a betta, just run the tank and filter for 24-48 hours and add the fish.



Good luck



Ian

Answer 3

NO flake food!

Unless they're made especially for bettas, they're no good. Bettas need meat based foods. Make SURE it's not plant based.





Skip the Ph test. It's pointless with a small tank.



You don't mention, but the tank should be at least 5 gallons. 10 gallons are better. It needs a heater.



I've used the algae removers, they're fine. I just scrub it off now. Both are just as good.



Set up the tank and leave it running for at least a week before you get the fish. Some people say a month, but that's crap. I've never had a problem with putting a fish in a "new" tank.



Good luck.



This is a great site:

http://www.bettysplendens.com/articles/home.imp

Answer 4

okay this is what you'll need:

10+ gallon tank

hood with a light

gravel

filter one that hangs on the tank

heater for a 10+ tank

no under water filters they don't work

ph tests are need becaouse the water need to be at a specific ph level or the fish will DIE! mine is at a pH of 7

plants aren't need but they look nice

flak food works for me but meat food is needed in the diet

don't put two bettas in the same tank they will kill each other nor a female because hell chase her to death because hell want to mate and she wont"had this happen before"

mine loves flightless fruit flies

feed him twice a day only a pinch.

change 25% of the water with dechlorinated water every two to three weeks

algae remover is not needed because the fish can use that as food if you forget to feed him

and if your still confused pick up a book on bettas at any library

Answer 5

You don't need algae remover or anything to do with ph as adjusting it will just cause more problems. Most bettas prefer pellets than flakes. You would also be better off with a sponge filter than undergravel and as bettas are tropical an aquarium heater is essential. Your tank needs to be at least 5 gallons.



http://www.5plusgallon.co.nr



EDIT: As you can see some people are dumb and do any research before buying fish and keep them in stupid, cold vases and bowls. Please do not buy your betta tomorrow as you will need to preform a fishless nitrogen cycle first.

http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/fishless_cycling.php

Answer 6

bettas are a tropical fish so they need a heater, and they do best in a 5 gallon tank or bigger. if the water is not the right temperature, ie too cold they can become lethargic and ill. my bettas water is round about 27'c and he has never been ill and he is always active, he lives in a 65 gallon tank with loads of other fish.



and dont listen to people who say they cant live with other fish, as this is not true.

Answer 7

Betta fish are real simple cold water fish, half of the stuff listed is not needed unless you plan on having more then one fish of a different kind



Get a simple gold fish bowl less then one gallon, nothing fancy, needs no light unless you need a night/walking light for the dark. Get a bag of rocks no more then 2lbs, fish food for Betta's, small net (if needed) and water conditioner and that should be good. Change the water every week, follow water conditioner directions on bottle/box for water amount. Feed your fish once a day, a small amount/pinch of food. When removing the fish for cleaning it's bowl, place it in a small cup of water (water from the bowl) and replace all the water remaining in the bowl with room Temperature water. Betta's are able to go to the surface for air so no air pump is needed, and keep the tank from direct sunlight, heat and cold areas in the house.

Answer 8

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Tetra-Aquarium-Starter-Kit-5-Gallons-Fish-Aquatic-Pets/12177653

this + heater= very happy betta



http://bettacare101.com