Fishies!!!!

Kuma'sMom

You can bring fish into most pet stores and they'll take it in. No, a Betta won't die in your tank, in fact, your size tank is perfect for a Betta. Just take out the filter, you won't have to worry about cycling the tank with a Betta, and do a 100% water change once a week and you'll be fine. Betta's are labyrinth fishes, and while cycling is nice, it isn't necessary so long as you do regular water changes. I never cycle my Betta tanks. Just make sure you keep the water between 76 and 80 degrees. I think you'd be very suprised by how much you'll enjoy a Betta. When kept properly (not in a tiny 1/2 gallon or less bowl with no heater), they actually have really wonderful little personalites and are quite interactive with their owners. There are also a lot of wonderful varieties out there if you don't want the standard veil tail sold in most pet stores.

HuskyLuv

You will probably need to call the store first before bringing it in if you go this route as a lot of stores are becoming more strict about taking fish in. Years ago it was so easy to find a store to bring a fish in. A couple years ago after raising a few broods of baby mollies I had an awful time finding a store to take them in. I had never had this problem for years prior.

I agree it's perfect for a betta, however I would still run the tank with the filter. The filter on the Eclipse 3 produces a very mild current making it perfect for a betta. We keep a betta in ours with the filter running without the bio-wheel.

Kuma'sMom

I agree, they should always call first to make sure the store will take them. I do disagree about the filter though. Betta's really don't like current at all, and generally the filters in those tiny tanks create way too much current for the Betta's. They'd be better off just doing a 100% water change every week in my opinion.

Katzyn

There's ways to make the current easier for the betta. I would keep the filter.

I have three bettas in a 10 gallon (divided, of course), complete with filter and heater, and my bettakids love it. When I have a betta who can't swim against the current, I use pantyhose on the part where the water comes out. Extra physical filtration, and slower current. Works great. I don't have to do that currently, in my betta tank, though, because my little girl, who is in the middle, with the filter, doesn't mind the slight current at all. I use pantyhose for my other 10 gallon, though, because my gourami doesn't like the current.

My tanks are not cycled, stupidly. I didn't know about cycling until after I'd gotten fish, and I have nowhere to put them while their tanks would be cycling, as of right now.

Shaina

I agree with HuskyLuv and Katzyn -- absolutely keep the filter, just reduce the flowrate at first because the Betta will likely need time to build muscles after languishing in one of those cups. As long as the filter isn't super strong (those big fins are heavy after all) there is absolutely no reason to at least *try* to hold a cycle in your tank.

100% water changes weekly without filtration is a bad idea. You'd essentially be letting toxins build up in the water to the point of straining the fish (particularly if you are over feeding at all), then shocking his system by suddenly eliminating all toxins and, likely, not exactly matching the old temperature, all at once.

I would consider a 2.5 gal tank with a small filter and heater the minimum accomodations for a heathy Betta, so if you do 50% water changes at least weekly and only clean the filter media by rinsing in the old tank water before throwing the water out (to save the bacteria) you should be fine. I'm not sure if you are using activated carbon in your filter...personally I don't recommend it unless you are trying to remove something specific from the water column, but that's just me.

Just because Betta are labyrith fish (thus can breathe air) so they *can* survive ammonia levels that harm their gills and would kill other fish, doesn't mean they should have to.

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LeRoymydog

I have a 25 gal tank and have a variety of fish in it. I also have 3 bettas (2 girls and 1 boy). They all get along perfectly. I also have a biowheel, and 2 bubblers (1 which is produces big bubbles). I've had no problems with the bettas with this going. And I've had all 3 for over a year. I do 1/2 water changes 1x/month. I also put stress coat in the water after the change. Knock on wood none of my fish have died in well over a year.

HuskyLuv

Thing is Emily has a 3 gallon Eclipse, same one I've had for 10 years now. These are great little tanks and perfect for a betta with the filter running. My filter finally died on me 2 years ago (after 8 years of running 24/7, not bad! ). So I bought a replacement filter, exact same one that goes with the tank and the flow is no stronger than it was on my 8 year old filter. For those of you not familiar with the filter on this tank, trust me it produces an extremely mild current. Our betta can swim effortlessly throughout the entire tank with the exception of directly in front of the filters outlet, and I do mean only directly in front of which encompasses like 2 square inches. It really is perfect for a betta. We do a 50% WC (water change) weekly and a 100% WC monthly. Been doing it for 10 years now without any issues.

LeRoymydog

Yeah, I don't have any idea what any tanks are. Just my own. So if I were her, I'd trust you after 10 years. That's a long time!!!

HuskyLuv

LOL If that's a long time I won't even mention how long I've had fish for. That was my 4th tank out of 10 so far. I gave it to hubby so he could have a tank of his own with a betta he picked out himself. Also gave my mother in law my 5 gallon bowfront Marineland tank with a Whisper filter for her betta and hers is absolutely thriving in it.

Katzyn

I'm surprised no one has died in your tank, LeRoy; three bettas together is a recipe for disaster, all males, all females, or a mixture of both. You can usually do well with 5+ females (only females), but when you add a male, no matter how many females, you're usually asking for trouble. Good thing you have other fish. Maybe you just have a nice male; I surely wouldn't recommend such a thing at any time. =X

That aside, I totally agree with what HuskyLuv has been saying throughout this thread, and I, too, would follow any advice she has offered in this thread.

LeRoymydog

Me too. I don't know much about fish. But they are all thriving. I think he is a nice one, because he lets my 4 year old daughter touch him when I clean out the tank.

Bettas are my favorite fish. They look so graceful. Huskyluv sounds like she knows whats what.

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