Anybody have Beta fish experience?
My gf has a couple of these. One is almost 3 years old and for the past few days, it is staying very close to the bottom, not eating. Its gill fins are still flapping normally, but, it isn't responding to her like it used to. Likely it is going to die, but, just wondering if anyone has any info. She takes very good care of him, so, I don't think it is an environmental thing.
I know this sounds funny, but, she asked me if she could bring him out to the cabin when she visits this weekend so that "he doesn't have to die alone". I don't think I should have mentioned that there is no flush toilet.
I know this sounds funny, but, she asked me if she could bring him out to the cabin when she visits this weekend so that "he doesn't have to die alone". I don't think I should have mentioned that there is no flush toilet.
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Put a mirror up to the fishbowl!! for the healthy ones! It's real cool to see them get all worked up and ready to fight! 0 -
I'm not really sure but it would seem to me that three is a "ripe old age" for a beta fish. 0 -
I had one for about 4 years. I'm not sure how long their suppose to live, but I'd say it's going to die. When mine died, it just kinda quit swimming around and hung out at the bottom, much like what yours is doing. That's what fish that you buy do. I had goldfish that would last about a week when I was little. Kinda frustrating. Probably shouldn't have mentioned no flushing. [;)] 0 -
they dont live forever, buy another 2 dollar guy and call it good. But you can try chaning scenery or food 0 -
Thanks. She is always moving the bowls around and putting different stuff nearby for them to see. The other beta responds to her (not me) and will take food from the tip of her finger. I have to give her credit for compassion. Maybe some of it will rub off on me. Hah. 0 -
Beta's are tough little fish. They seem to live through anything. 0 -
Bettas are relatively short lived fish. Kept in small bowls and in water much cooler than their khlongs in Thailand, they seldom live beoynd 4 years or so. They breathe atmospheric air via a labrynth organ which tends to become mucous filled over time when they are kept cool. Normal temperature should be in the 76-78F range. While they can survive in a very small bowl with small surface area and oxygen deficient water, it is not a kindness to them. They do much better in 10 gal tanks. 0 -
i had one named JAWS that lived for around 4yrs he had a 5gal tank and had peace lillies growning in his water 0 -
Yes, we used them as centerpieces in large vases at our wedding. My parents ended up with 3 of them, and took very good care of them. They lived for about 1 and a half years after the wedding. Who knows how old they were when we got them. The wedding was in July 2005, and some people still have theirs. Your gal's fish is at a pretty old age there, so it's probably getting ready to pass on.
One thing you can try is putting a SMALL aerator in the bowl with the fish. My parents did this when one of theirs looked like your gal's did and the fish perked up and lived for a few more months. Also, DO NOT put those plants with the dangling roots in the bowl with the fish. People say that the fish eat the roots, but all of my parent's betas almost died when they put those plants on top of their bowls. Good luck.0 -
I agree, they should not be in bowls. Its a horrible existence. We had them in a real tank and they lived 4+ years until I moved them cross country.They need heated water, as well as oxegenated water.quote:Originally posted by He Dog
Bettas are relatively short lived fish. Kept in small bowls and in water much cooler than their khlongs in Thailand, they seldom live beoynd 4 years or so. They breathe atmospheric air via a labrynth organ which tends to become mucous filled over time when they are kept cool. Normal temperature should be in the 76-78F range. While they can survive in a very small bowl with small surface area and oxygen deficient water, it is not a kindness to them. They do much better in 10 gal tanks.0 -
I've bred them many times, a couple times some of the fry actually reached maturity.
once they build their "bubble-nest" and mate you have to carefully lower the water level to a couple inches without disturbing the nest, (cause the water pressure of a full tank will damage the babies frigile labryinth gills) I use a styrofoam cup cut in half and place it around the nest.
3 years is a pretty old beta...0 -
A long 20 gal tank (2 10 gals side by side) with some plexi dividers can make a nice home for 4 or 5 of 'em. Drill small holes in the dividers, silicone them in place, take water at one end and output at the other, it will force the water to flow all the way thru. Put lots of plants, etc. so they don't have constant eye contact with eachother.
Another nice thing is to just set up a 10 gal tank with a male betta and a couple of cory cats (I like pandas or peppered corys), lots of plants, sand bottom (pool filter sand). Looks really nice, the corys and bettas get along fine.
Personally, I'm waiting to enclose a room to make into my office at home, at which point I'll be buildign a tank around 500 gals or so to keep NA natives in.0 -
The weakness of flow through systems is that it ensures if one fish is diseased, they all are. 0 -
Apparently, Mr Blue has rallied. She reports that he is swimming around and eating normally. Thanks for all the comments and advice. 0 -
Mr Blue passed on to the big aquarium in the sky a couple of days ago. He was fine for over three weeks after I first reported him ailing. GF put him in an empty Tums box in her freezer for spring internment in the pet cemetary out in the woods. She went out and got another one immediately, Mr Blue Two. I printed out some of the suggestions that folks here gave me. I agree that an aquarium would be much better for them, although she does change their water every 4 or 5 days. 0 -
Part of the problem is changing the water every 3 or 4 days. Yeah that kind of lowers the bacterial load feeding on feces and uneaten food, and lowers the ammonia which results from respiration via gills, but it also introduces chemicals, either clorine, or clorine remover. The temperature also fluctuates, and it is difficult at best to stabilize the temperate in a small container, particularly at the level beneficial to a betta. My advice would be to get her a good book on bettas. It is clear she cares, but in my view caring means taking good care of, not just being emotional over. Thanks for trying your best Woodshermit! 0
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