"Betta sitting" need information

[alicemagooey]

I am "Betta sitting".
My neighbor has gone away for the holidays and i am taking care of her "fishie"..who lives in a glass bowl with a plant at the top.

ps before i begin..i have been reading some posts here at this forum.Thank you for providing a forum where we can come and learn about tropical fish and optimising environments for them,etc.etc.

i want to ensure that 'fishie' will be happy and healthy..my neighbor says that she really does not do much special for 'fishie'..and not to worry,but i do.

Questions:
#1.
neighbor said i should clean the bowl every couple weeks..i feel
like i should do it more often.

how often to clean the water

#2.
today,fishie spat out the little food bit i gave him...I did not see if he cought it again,..but at the bottem of the bowl,there is something that looks a bit like the
morsel he may have not eaten...

she has marbles at the bottom of the bowl..
i do not think that fishie can reach the morsel,if it is food.

will it disintegrate and will he be able to eat it...or will it just foul the water.?

might the 'thing' at the bottom of the bowl be 'fishie-poo"?
is 'fishie-poo' visible as a lump.?

sorry for the questions..but i feel like i should know this info.

#3.
should i go to the pet store and get a water tester...

my neighbor uses and has used city water all along...but we have incredibly chemicalised city water..(so much so that i distill my own drinking water)(but i realise that distilled water is not good for fishie)

if he has been 'fine' in city water,would it be ok if i used bottled water while he is with me?
or would the changing of water types be harmful to him.?

would you recommend that i use "water treatment"(purchased from pet store) for a small bowl of water...neighbor has never used it.

#4.
should i change the water weekly whether i use 'treatment' or not?
ps..i really cannot scoop up the bits of sediment(whether it be food or poo)from the bottom of the bowl,as there are marbles there.

hope this is not too long
many thanks
alice

[Cheart99]

Hi! and welcome to the forum. The first thing I need to know what size bowl the fish is in? How long are you sitting for the beta? Also can you decribe the bowl is the plant competly blocking the surface of the water?

As for water changes, for example my fish bowl is 3.3 gallons and i change 50% of the water every week.

For question two yes you need to take the food out of the water along with fishy "poo" because it will decompose in the water and fishy poo looks like dark brown stringy or solid round. (hint: use a turky baster to get it out).

As for question three i advise you to get a small water tester. especially a ph tester as that is really importnant to fishs health. I would not put him into bottled water as it will be a shock to him. I use the city water but let it sit for at least 24-48 hours and put water treatment into it. You can get a small bottle of water conditioner for betas at walmart. it removes Chlorine and metals, as well as protecting the fishs scales. Just be careful of the doses, you may have to convert.

As for question 4 i cannot really answer that one but another member might be able to answer it for you. Also they may be able to tell you more than i can.

[alicemagooey]

thank you 'cheart'(?)

neighbor is going to be gone for one month.

do not know how big the container
(vase) is.

.almost looks like less than a gallon..the plant looks like it 'belongs' in the vase..fully covers the top..water is up to a point in the vase where there is still air for the fishie to breathe..around and amongst the plant roots.

i think to treat the water,i will need to use micro-mini doses of solution.like one drop...per treatment.

so i guess it is off to walmart tomorrow to get a
turkey baster,
a ph tester,
and water treatment for bettas.

many thanks
alice

[Cheart99]

If the vase is less than one gallon you will have to do at least a full water change every week with partal water change every two days. However if anyone knows better they can correct me. Also make sure that the plant is above the water so that new air can get into the vase for the beta to breath, as they breath air like we do.

Also if you have any other questions or problems dont be afraid to give us a shout.

P.S if you place a mirror by the vase you will see him flair at it.

[alicemagooey]

thanks again,cheart99.
i will be keeping an eye out here for the next coupla days...just to see if anyone else has anything to add..what you have said makes sense,and i will do..(changing water,etc.)..will be glad to get a turkey baster.seems like that would make the 'getting the guck out'..on a daily or every two day basis,much easier.

fishie is so interested in looking at me..i tried a mirror..but he just sorta kept watching me.

he is a really sweeet fish.(.if that is how to express it.).it almost seems like... he comes over to greet me (or investigate) when i come into the room.

.but that may be my imagination..

i must say i DO believe that creatures have more 'understanding' (if you will),than we give them credit for..
sometimes i feel like we are the 'dumb animals'..LOL

thanks again.
best wishes,
alice

[akestler]

wow! I wish I had a neighbor like you to take care of my bettas while I was away! The water change schedule Cheart suggested sounds pretty good, it definitely needs to be changed more often than every other week. And PLEASE get a dechlorinator and tell your neighbor to continue to use it when he or she gets back! Tap water from anywhere needs to be treated because chlorine is very harmful to fish and every city puts chlorine in their tap water. But it's even more necessary if, like you said, your water has more chemicals in it than most cities have. Also, I read on a very good betta website that it's not good to switch a betta straight from tap water to bottled water because it's quite a shock to their system. It would probably be even worse switching him from untreated tap water to bottled water. Just a thought! Good luck!

[alicemagooey]

thanks akestler

is one water de chlorinator better than another?

hope to go to walmart tomorrow.
and pick up the water conditioner that was recommended by cheart99.
as well as a ph tester.
(and turkey baster !!)

that ought to get the little feller's home all 'spiffied up'..
for the Holidays !!!
might even get him a 'treat' as described in this forum..
want to do new things for him little by (cautiously) little..

He may wonder what is going on in his world !!

thanks again.
alice.

[abm]

Hello and welcome Alice,

I'm glad you're trying to do the right thing by properly caring for your neighbor's fish...to be honest it doesn't sound like your neighbor understands much about the needs of bettas.

You've had good advice here - more water changes are a must, definitely add a dechlorinator (most any one is fine, use correct amount - when you change the water you'll know how much the vase holds - use a known measure to pour it in etc.) - and try to figure out what the water temp is...usually vases don't have heaters and bettas do best around 78 degrees. Put him in a warm room if nothing else, but not near heating vents etc. (needs to be stable - change=shock).

What kind of food did she leave for you to feed him? It's not unusual for bettas to be picky, especially if he's been moved around recently (I assume he's at your house?) How much did she tell you to feed?

I skimmed thru the replies but didn't see anyone tell you to take the plant out.... The lily/betta vase is not good for the betta, no matter what the flyers say when you buy the setup, and no matter what your friend was told. I understand he's only visiting you, but since you came here to learn how to care for him properly, you need to know that the betta vase setup is bad for bettas. If you can donate a vase I'd move the plant and give it to your friend with this website address so she can understand why you did it. (Vases are in the craft dept. at walmart for under $5). Don't take my word for it - read the lily vase articles on the main HB website). The betta will do much better with either a silk plant or a small hidey in the vase with him. (Actually he'd do best in a much larger home than a vase but let's take this project one battle at a time... ) With frequent water changes he'll do fine in the vase.

Alice, on behalf of your friend's betta, THANK YOU for trying so hard to do what's right for him. I'm sure your friend cares for the betta, or she would not have asked you to look after him. I hope you'll be able to share with her in a positive way some of the ways she can make his life better and healthier for the long term, not just when "Aunt Alice" is fish-sitting .

Good luck!
~abm

[alicemagooey]

Thank you so much,ABM..

thank you for your encouragement.

yes,i do so much want the quality of life of my new Betta friend to improve...

but there is so much to learn..in short order.

first thing this morning,i went to my cupboards to see what kind of glass containers i could find,(vase like)..I grow alfalfa sprouts personally,so i have some very large square jars which may be one gallon size..i need to go and measure their capacity exactly.

but i have three or four,so what i have done is washed them out thoroughly and filled them with water,which will sit at room temperature,and be 'at ready' for whatever i need them for..whether it be

• treating the water,(will treat with dechlor and let the water sit)
• changing 'fishie's water in his home either partially or entirely,or
• moving fishie..while cleaning his 'home'

these jars are nice in that they are square and really 'roomy'..

i understand from this forum that Bettas may jump so i need to address the cover issue..
[glow=red,2,300]would cheese cloth held by a rubber band at the top be an 'ok cover?'for a potential vase,etc.[/glow]

what i will do,because you suggested it,ABM,is leave my neighbors vase with plant in it..
and water,and put it under the sink or 'away' somewhere.
and move fishie to a new environment while he is with me..(minus the plant.).

i guess i will look in WAlmart when i go ,for what they have for a place for 'fishie' to hide.

i have read so many suggestions as i have been reading up on Bettas..from 'cultured sand' i think they called it,to adding snails..to keep the water more clear..

but for a couple reasons,i would like to keep it as simple,(but as perfect Betta-wise) as possible..

in the first place,i do not want to embarass my neighbor..she will feel like she is guilty of 'fish abuse'..and it certainly is not her fault..she only listened to one pet store employee..and i am learning that their information is not too good.(using a euphemism,here..)(i feel like flaming,but will refrain)(and i do not mean the type of flaming Bettas do..i mean MAD at pet 'retailers'..grrrr)

so,i am a little unsure as to what the "best for Betta,in a simple way would be".

i know that i am going out today to get:

#1. a heating pad
#2. something for the bottom of the vase..marbles??
#3. a 'hiding place' for fishie
#4.waterconditioner/dechorinator
#5.turkey baster
#6a small amount of 'different' food..
#7 thermometer to get water temp.

if anyone has a moment,would you be so kind as to answer two questions
(three actually)
MY DESIRE:WOULD LIKE 'BEST FOR BETTA' IN THE SIMPLEST WAY

• does what i have written above for my ideas sound ok: square bowl,minus plant,cheesecloth top?
• what would be the best to go on the bottom of the vase?are marbles ok?
• heating pad on low would be ok for keeping the water warm,right?

i have one more question..but i may address that on a different post.

i was looking at fishie's nose this morning,and it looks like there may be some mold or something on it..
oh dear,poor fishie..
i really need to go and do some reading.

but i will...i will be reading while i await possible responses.
i will not go to walmart.until i know if my list is complete.
(does walmart sell fish medicine?)

thanks ever so much for your help,your dedication,and your encouragement...for people to do the BEST FOR THEIR BETTAS !

alice