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  Do I cahnge my Bettas water..Help Please!

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Author Topic:   Do I cahnge my Bettas water..Help Please!
I lovepets
New Member

Posts: 4
From:Midland, Texas, USA
Registered: Oct 2003

posted 10-29-2003 06:35 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for I lovepets     Edit/Delete Message
I finnaly got my New eleven day old Betta to start eating but I noticed when I got close to his small bowl it smelled kind of strong..the water is a little merky but I just changed it two days ago..is it time to change it again..I do not want him to suffer in dirty water...what should I do..is it ok?......I need some information..Thanks

[This message has been edited by I lovepets (edited 10-29-2003).]

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Ahkahna
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Posts: 93
From:Savannah, GA
Registered: Oct 2003

posted 10-30-2003 09:08 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Ahkahna     Edit/Delete Message
how much food did you feed it?
are there any plants?

plants are good at keeping bowls and aquariums clean as well as provide oxygen a fish needs (yes, even betta's who are labrynth fish).

Personally, I don't keep betta's in bowls, I kept them in an aquarium with a safe filter or an air stone and tons of plants.

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Lildab
Member

Posts: 30
From:Chicago, Illinois, U.S,A,
Registered: Oct 2003

posted 10-30-2003 09:37 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Lildab     Edit/Delete Message
Moral is Don't buy pets you don't know how to take care of! Go buy a book or use the internet.Search for (Betta Care). Good Luck!!!!!

The optimum conditions for a betta would be a pH of 6.8 to 7.4 and hardness of 3 to 10. However, most bettas will accept most water conditions as long as they aren't too extreme.

100 percent water change should be done once a week on containers that are 2 gallons and smaller.

Gently net your betta to avoid fin damage, and place him in a cup with the old water while you are cleaning out his container. Rinse the container in warm or hot water; and be sure to avoid chemicals and soaps. If you need to disinfect the container use a 10% Chlorine bleach solution and rinse, rinse, rinse then fill with water and add a triple dose of de-chlorinator and rinse, rinse, rinse. When all the bleach is rinsed out, there will not be a chlorine smell present. Once the container is cleaned you can fill with warm water. Add your water treatments (Amquel, Novaqua, etc…) then gently net your fish from his holding place and put in the newly cleaned container.

An ideal betta set-up includes live plants, warm water (from 74-80 F or 23-26 C), not much surface agitation, and a tight-fitting cover (with air exchange) to prevent jumping.

[This message has been edited by Lildab (edited 10-30-2003).]

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Ahkahna
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Posts: 93
From:Savannah, GA
Registered: Oct 2003

posted 10-30-2003 11:13 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Ahkahna     Edit/Delete Message
woah...100%?! That can cause stress on any fish, betta or not.

With bowls you are supposed to empty about 20-25%, just as you would with any aquarium. But with bowls you do it more often since it gets dirty faster.

I've been scolded about doing 100% water changes, and so I'll do the same. When you remove all of the water you remove all of the cycling bacteria, and this can cause your fish to become ill and ammonia to build up really quickly.

When you remove small amounts of water you keep those helpful bacteria and also keep the fish stress free.

You DO NOT use chlorine with fish tanks! Traces of Chlorine can still be left behind and can possibly kill/harm your fish.

If you are going to badger someone about needing to read up on their fish, I suggest you do the same. Please don't take me the wrong way, but don't give advice if you don't know the right advice to give!

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katanas_edge
Member

Posts: 266
From:Canada
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 10-30-2003 12:52 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for katanas_edge     Edit/Delete Message
Well spoken(typed) Ahkahna, there's no point flaming them for inadequate research now, it's too late. Let's not make them feel uncomfortable asking questions in time to do some good.

100% water change - bad. If it's an emergency like this case change up to 40% until levels are low enough (very high water changes can have unexpected impacts on PH etc. as well). Then consistently do 20-25% water changes. Remember - that means REMOVING 20% of the water, not just topping off evaporated water. The contaminants in the water do not evaporate along with it, they have to physically be removed. And just for clarification, a great deal of the 'beneficial' bacteria live on substrate, rocks and ornaments in the tank as well.

Cleaning bowl with chlorine? - unnescessary and bad. With such high doses of chlorine remover, problems can likely be mitigated but still, why take the risk. Chlorine in your tap water can be hard to smell, but there's still enough to do in your poor Betta. Also, don't use soap. The residue can be very hard to get rid of. Just scrub it well with a sponge and if you have to disinfect use a fairly concentrated saline solution.

Food - don't overfeed! Remove any uneaten food or it will rot and cause havoc (ie: murkiness)

Plants: they do indeed give off oxygen in the day during photosynthesis. However, they also respirate - or use oxygen, during the night. For the most part they're beneficial and will metabolise some of the waste in the tank.

Set-up: Bettas are relatively simple. If you're willing to maintain every couple of days a betta can do well in 2-5 gallons (I know, there's 1 gallon enthusiasts out there - but I like to think of a 2 gallon as a condo versus a bachelor pad). More than 5-10 gallons is also not likely a great idea (without a lot of plant cover and some other fish to watch while he sits on the bottom.) To lower the amount of necessary water changes etc. add a filter. I've seen lots of betta tanks with no lids, but I've also heard lots of stories of betta jumping out of them too. For practical reasons a lid with a few inches of space between it and the water is a good idea. Betta are labrynth fish, like gouramies, and like to breathe air at the surface. It's best if this air is about the same temp as the water and moist - ergo a lid. As well, you'll have less evaporation - especially if you live in the dry prairies like myself. Don't get hung up on brand names though. Find a retailer who knows what they're talking about and you trust.

Good luck!

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tuttifrutti
Member

Posts: 478
From:Dallas, Texas
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 10-30-2003 03:32 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for tuttifrutti     Edit/Delete Message
I vote on teh 100% water change, and don't get on 2 me about it, i have had bettas my whole life and have 14 now, only one in an aquarium, the rest in 1 gallon bowls. Do a complete water about once a week, or every 2 weeks, it depends on how clean teh fish is, some of mine need once a week, others only half that often. Be sure to put dechlorinator in according to the instructions, and try a variety of food. Perhaps pellets, flakes, and bloodworms, even some frozen stuff, as that seems to keep betta's happier (at least mine, although some only like one kind of food!)Good luck on you betta!

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Lildab
Member

Posts: 30
From:Chicago, Illinois, U.S,A,
Registered: Oct 2003

posted 10-30-2003 06:50 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Lildab     Edit/Delete Message
http://groups.msn.com/AdvancedBettas/bettacarebasics.msnw


I've never owned a Betta. And yes, a 100% water change does sound extreme to me also. And would never recommend doing it to anyother fish. But Betta are not your normal fish. What other fish can you put in a 12oz glass of water and live happy its whole life. I read alot and 90% of Betta owners and breeders recommend 100% water changes. But i guess everone has there own opinions and ways of doing things. Sorry if I offended anyone. No harm meant. Good Luck with your Betta's.

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tuttifrutti
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Posts: 478
From:Dallas, Texas
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 10-31-2003 05:43 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for tuttifrutti     Edit/Delete Message
Bettas (the males) actually prefer at least 1 gallon, but some are happier in teh small ones, one of mine was! he got crushed with pebbles (his fault!) he wouldn't come out with teh water and teh bowl barely tilted, then he was covered

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kc5gvn

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Posts: 806
From:
Registered: Jan 2003

posted 11-02-2003 09:36 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for kc5gvn     Edit/Delete Message
The reason for changing 100% of the water on Bettas as follows. Since Bettas are generally kept in small bowls you are not changing large volumes of water. By doing a 100% water change once a week you are not allowing the bowl enough time to go through a cycle. It is a virtual sterile tank. The method most breeders and shops use: Mix up 5 gallons at a time. Treat with chlorine/chloramine remover, PH buffer and Methalyne Blue. With this method the Bettas do not have the shock of cycling or PH shock and the Methalyne Blue protects them from fin rot to which Bettas are highly susceptable. Hope this clears up confusion about water changes.

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fishyfriend4u
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Posts: 83
From:APG, MA, USA
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 12-13-2003 07:39 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for fishyfriend4u     Edit/Delete Message
100% is too much remove your betta into the 2 gallon bowl it'll be a lot happier

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tuttifrutti
Member

Posts: 478
From:Dallas, Texas
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 12-15-2003 05:42 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for tuttifrutti     Edit/Delete Message
100% is not too much, not if you do it right! You dump the betta into a smaller container, in the old water, and then clean out the big bowl and refill it, and then, using a net, catch teh betta and dump it in the old bowl. Some people even buy two of the exact same bowls and refill one, then use a net and take the betta from one to another!

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