Needed?

[fuzzyferretluver]

Do bettas need salt in their water? If so, what kind? How much per gallon?

[ickyfishywishy]

i put salt for my bettas and my community tank too, it helps with reducing stress, and healing any wounds and it helps theyr slime coating too! i put 1/2 table spoon per gallon for my bettas. And in my community tank, i put 1 table spoon per 1 Galon but you never use normal table salt, either use Sea salt or aquarium salt.

[amanichen]

Basically, it's not needed unless you're using it for a specific reason. Freshwater fish in the wild get along fine without salt in their water, but it does have some uses which I detail here:

s94779296.onlinehome.us/website/Fish/faqs/salt.html

[BlueBetta]

I don't put salf in my water. Ive used a salt dip/ Bath for other fishes before though.

[starlight]

Few topics equally divide the betta community the way the question of salt does. Suffice to say many breeders use aquarium salt in their water and many breeders do not use salt. In my experience if you have hard water with a lot of minerals, you probably don't need to add salt. Betta keepers with soft water often add 1/2 teaspoon salt per gallon.

My observation, the anti-salt people are usually adamant and advise that salt should not be added to a freshwater tank. In many cases their water is hard and require softening for household use. They are correct, they don't need to add salt.

The add salt people claim some benefit regarding illness prevention when using salt. This is not documented since salt in low concentrations is not strong enough to kill the baddies.

After I spend some time with my anti-salt breeder friends, I'll often cut back on the salt. The experiment doesn't last more than a week or two. I think my bettas do better with it and I wind up adding salt.

But...my water is soft water and your results may vary..

[twoluvcats]

In many cases their water is hard and require softening for household use. They are correct, they don't need to add salt.

Starlight, I have a whole house, salt softener...so does this mean that basically my fish ARE getting salt, even tho I'm not adding it directly to the tank? Do i need to take this into consideration if I AM using salt (i.e. dips, ICH treatment)?

[starlight]

twoluvcats said:

In many cases their water is hard and require softening for household use. They are correct, they don't need to add salt.

Starlight, I have a whole house, salt softener...so does this mean that basically my fish ARE getting salt, even tho I'm not adding it directly to the tank? Do i need to take this into consideration if I AM using salt (i.e. dips, ICH treatment)?

I've read about your local Colorado water before. I was referring to mineral-rich water like my friends in Pa, have. The kind that soap doesn't lather up and leaves deposits on glass. Their water comes from a good source and is fine to drink and use with tropical fish. The pH is usually a but high but on balance this water produces strong fish. One friend with this type of water routinely gets betta spawns of 300-500. He doesn't add salt to the water. Nor should he.

I wouldn't worry about minor concentrations of salt when using salt for dips. I can tell you about r/o water but I have no experience with water softening systems.

If you are concerned about salt as a result of your whole house system, get a salinity tester or get the water tested. Then you'll know the exact salt concentration.

[twoluvcats]

I was referring to mineral-rich water like my friends in Pa, have. The kind that soap doesn't lather up and leaves deposits on glass.

oh ya, here too...without a softener...pH of 8-8.2 out of the tap, pretty much liquid rock...even my R/O water's pH only dropped to 7.2.

[starlight]

wildcats said:

I was referring to mineral-rich water like my friends in Pa, have. The kind that soap doesn't lather up and leaves deposits on glass.

oh ya, here too...without a softener...pH of 8-8.2 out of the tap, pretty much liquid rock...even my R/O water's pH only dropped to 7.2.

But..their water is from good sources, spring water. You discussed the mining in your area. (wonky water)

My intention is not to recommend whether a fish keeper adds salt or not to their water. In many cases it is not required. In some cases there are benefits. You must understand your water before making this decision.

Whether you add salt or never add salt...if you go to a Betta club meeting, an IBC show or any gathering of Betta enthusiasts....you wouldn't be alone in your use or non-use of salt, since about half of the people would agree with you. Now that's a comforting concept!

[Minaku]

I didn't know that my water was considered good, unless you're excluding western PA and Pittsburgh from the "PA has good water" statement. It makes me feel a bit better, though - it's true, when water dries here, you have to scrape it up to get rid of it. Thanks Starlight!