Beta fish help

[freakygirl]

Ok.. Mr Freakys mom dumped her beta fish on me for 2 weeks.

And I know nothing about them. His bowl needs to be cleaned.. I looked online for some information and I'm still confused.

They said not to use tap water.. so I bought a jug of drinking water. Now.. it hasn't been refridgerated but it is colder than room temp. It was in the trunk of my car for a few hours so it got a little cold.

Do I need to let it warm up to room temp before I put the fish in it?

Also.. I don't use soap in his bowl.. right? Just rinse it with fresh water and dry it out with a paper towel.

 

[Freya]

Stick another one in with it, sit back and watch the fun.

 

[Guru]

You need some "starter" solution. But, the alternative is to just let it sit, open, for a day or so. (It gets the chlorine out!)

 

[freakygirl]

Stick another one in with it, sit back and watch the fun.

LOL..

I don't want the damn thing to die.. This is my future mother in law we are dealing with

 

[freakygirl]

You need some "starter" solution. But, the alternative is to just let it sit, open, for a day or so. (It gets the chlorine out!)

It's bottled water.. nothing added. I bought the water because it was cheaper than the starter solution. She didn't send any and didn't say anything about cleaning the bowl. I know she just got this thing.. and probably doesn't know anymore than I do..

 

[concrete]

WARM it UP ..with a few springles of salt..
FREYA bad, bad ,GIRL

 

[Guru]

That's why I didn't suggest the it would make a great meal for my catfish.

 

[Gilly Bean]

When you change the water, stick the fish in a cup of water from the bowl now, scrub out the bowl, and let the new water sit in it for about an hour, then add the fish back in, complete with the old water from the cup.

It will help neutralize any thing in the new water, and lessen the tempature difference when the fish is changed.

 

[Freya]

WARM it UP ..with a few springles of salt..
FREYA bad, bad ,GIRL

Who me?

*giggles*

Sorry Freakster. It just slipped out.

 

[Vilac]

How long is she gone for?! I mean...seriously...if she's only gone for a week, then you're only looking at changing the water once if that.

If he's eating flake food...3-4 flakes every other day would suffice. For Beta food..simply follow the directions on the package. (I used to use flake food myself)

And yes....you want the water at room temp...and open the jug up as mentioned earlier.

No soap, bleach, or anything else to clean his "bowl" out with. Rinse it out with water and he'll be good to go.

Keep him out of direct sunlight (like you've got much to worry about if you live up here in the cold tundra like I do) lol

Other than that....you're jake. Unless of course he hops out of the bowl, then you'll have to do "Beta C.P.R.". For that...you'll need to start another thread. lol
V~

 

[Vilac]

<just reread your post> Duh. LOL

For her being gone two weeks, if you were extremially lazy (or overly nervous) I'd not change it at all. He'll be fine. <g>

V~

 

[freakygirl]

<just reread your post> Duh. LOL

For her being gone two weeks, if you were extremially lazy (or overly nervous) I'd not change it at all. He'll be fine. <g>

V~

The water is nasty looking and it's driving me nuts.

 

[concrete]

Who me?

*giggles*

Sorry Freakster. It just slipped out.

YA right ..remind me not to put a mirror close to YOU..
I'D BE DEAD ALLREADY>>>FREYA

 

[freakygirl]

I think the stupid ass plant (Ivy) she has stuck in the bowl is making the water gross.

This is what she has started Beta fish vase

 

[Vilac]

Ahhhhh....that's the same thing my grandmother started about 18 months ago.

She's only on her second fish. <g>
heh

V~

 

[freakygirl]

Ahhhhh....that's the same thing my grandmother started about 18 months ago.

She's only on her second fish. <g>
heh

V~

It's stupid.

I think what I will do.. is take the plant out. It's just floating on water anyway. And I'll put it in a vase of its own.

When she comes back from vacation I'll stick the plant back in. LOL

 

[RudeNastyAssBitch]

Good Gracious!

Stupid Woman, But Not Anymore Than Most Folk That Will Buy Anything That Looks "Cool".

I'm Gonna Tell You Stuff That You Probably Don't Want To Do Or Even Care Ta Do, Since You Did Not Want A Fish.

Go And Purchase Some, Aquaplus Water Conditioner, This Will Nutralize The Clorine And Cloramines In Your Tap Water, And Any Heavy Metals, Read Directions, It's Easy.

Pitch That Stupid Vase In Your Nearest Garbage Or Use It For What It Was Made For, A Receptacle For Dying Flowers!

Grab At Least A 2 Gal Tank, But If She Is Willing Ta Do A 50% Water Change At Least Once Every Two Days, I Suppose A 1 Gal Will Work, Though It's Not Much Off From The 2 Gal Which Is Once Every Four Days. Imagine Living In A Closet Your Whole Life!!!!!!!

If You Have A Flouresant Light On It Then You'll Be Able To Keep Plants In There, But They Are Expensive And Silk Plants Look Nice Too.

Betta's Are Labyrinth Fish And Have Evolved In The Rice Fields Of China, So They Have A Lung Of Sorts. This Means That They CAN Breathe Air And DO Require Coming To The Top To Breathe, Making That Dumb Setup Rather Useless When The Surface Is So Small. They Are Also Carnivores, So Flake Food Or The Plant In There IS NOT A Healthy Diet, Nor Will He Last Very Long On It. Blood Worms Or Brine Shrimp Are Wonderful Foods Ta Feed And He Will Love You For It, Freakygurl

He Does Not Require A Bubbler, But A Filter Is Helpful For Your Maintenance Worries, Though Not Totally Nessasary, If You Are Commited To A Very Regular Water Cleaning.

These Are One Of The Most Abused Fishies On The Market And If You Really Are Upset At His Treatment Now, Just Look From Where He Was Bought. A Childs Cup With A Lid On It And Unclean Water

Please Do Help This Poor Guy Out!!!! And DO NOT Put Him With Another Male Of His Species, They Will Kill Each Other Or One Will Kill The Other.


Go Here, And Find The Betta Forum, It'll Help You Out With Any Questions Or Problems You May Encounter

 

[RudeNastyAssBitch]

A Link Might Help!

Here Ya Go!http://pub157.ezboard.com/bthetropicaltankdiscussionforum41828

 

[freakygirl]

RNAB

I appreciate your help. But I'm not buying chemicals or a tank.

I bought pure bottled drinking water (just like a website said to use if I didn't have the chemicals to purify tap water). A gallon of water was 49 cents.. compared to over $5 for the bottle of chemicals to purify water.

I'm waiting until tomorrow.. and I'll dump the fish into a cup of his old water.. clean his vase and dump his ass back into the vase. I'm going to leave the plant out.. to see if that helps keep the water clean.

The food she left is little pellet looking things.. I have no idea what they are.. but he eats it. So I guess it's the right stuff.

 

[DiamanteBella]

Here is the experience I've had with betas...
It is best to clean the bowl out with an unsoaped scrubber. Make sure to rinse everything out really well (duh). Then pour in the bottled water and let it sit until it is at room temp...then add the fish and top with the plant (I have bamboo in mine).
I have little beta pellets and I feed him about 4-5 of them a day and he seems to be doing okay.
However he was going through a phase where his fins just started to disenigrate so I had to get him some medicine...he's all better now though
I wish you the best of luck with yours.

Oh...if you want to keep the bowl from getting super yucky don't put it in sunlight...that causes algae to grow in there really fast and you'll have to clean it a lot more often.

 

[Lancecastor]

1. Flush the little fuckers down the toilet.

2. Tell them to pony up for the commercial fish next time....2.0 or better... instead of buying those flaky Beta fish.

 

[Barely__There]

When you change the water, stick the fish in a cup of water from the bowl now, scrub out the bowl, and let the new water sit in it for about an hour, then add the fish back in, complete with the old water from the cup.

It will help neutralize any thing in the new water, and lessen the tempature difference when the fish is changed.

Try to keep about 1/2 to 3/4 of the old water, and put it back in the bowl after you clean it (NO soap, NO cleaner etc.)

betas DO NOT like great change. Only replace a little at a time, or it will get stressed.

Let the new water sit overnight tonight to de-chlorinate before you add it.

I have had a beta for a year now, and he is doing maaaahvelous!

 

[Barely__There]

RNAB

I appreciate your help. But I'm not buying chemicals or a tank.

I bought pure bottled drinking water (just like a website said to use if I didn't have the chemicals to purify tap water). A gallon of water was 49 cents.. compared to over $5 for the bottle of chemicals to purify water.

I'm waiting until tomorrow.. and I'll dump the fish into a cup of his old water.. clean his vase and dump his ass back into the vase. I'm going to leave the plant out.. to see if that helps keep the water clean.

The food she left is little pellet looking things.. I have no idea what they are.. but he eats it. So I guess it's the right stuff.

Give him two or three pellets in the morning and a couple at night. Betas like calm, quiet. take the plant out. I had one do the same thing, get icky.

For only two weeks, don't get anything special. one water change, feed twice a day (just a little) and ignore him otherwise LOL

 

[freakygirl]

He is pretty cool.. if this thing proves to be easy to care for.. I might have to buy one.

I have an old 5 gal tank hanging around the house someplace.. I might filter it and get me a fishy for my desk.

 

[Angel]

Betas are easy as hell to care for. I've had Beta fish ever since I can remember and those suckers live forever.