What FW fish can live in still water?

[CoRPS]

I'm sorry but I couldn't really think of a better place to post this. About a month ago my girlfriend bought a Betta. She originally bought this small, ugly container. After seeing one of those potted plant things before I decided to make one myself. Went to HomeDepot and got this plant and went to Target to get the vase.



Now, I'm wondering if there are any fish that do well in basically stagnant distilled water like the little Betta does. I'm thinking about making another one of these, but... think more like a foot or two long with 2 or 3 of these plants.

What say you, RC?

[Juruense]

No fish does well in stagnant water. Bettas tolerate it and survive it. But there is a big difference between surviving and thriving... I have a betta on my desk right in front of me in a one gallon bowl with a very small Duetto internal filter. There is gravel, live plants also. He is a very happy Betta. Just because the pet stores sell them in those tiny bowl does not mean it is acceptable to keep them long term like that. Get a filter and a good size bowl for your Betta.

You can also add snails, glass shrimp, and even a female betta if you like and have sufficient filtration and room for them.

Pet stores also seem to often recommend a continuous diet of freeze dried bloodworms only for Bettas. This is hardly enough nutrition, get a good quality flake food instead and feed sparingly especially if you have no filter.

[CoRPS]

No kidding. I honestly thought it was fine. He's so big and colorful, he looks so healthy. Much more healthy then when we got him at the LFS. Damn, you just ruined my day

Edit: There is about 1 gallon of water in the pot. Not sure if you can tell by just looking at it.

[CoRPS]

As for food she feeds him "Hikari Betta Bio-Gold" @ 10 pellets a day

[CoRPS]

Where can I get a bigger rectangular shaped glass enclosure? I don't want a regular small aquarium, I'd like it to look more like it's supposed to hold plants rather than fish.

[Michael]

Originally posted by CoRPS
I'm thinking about making another one of these, but... think more like a foot or two long with 2 or 3 of these plants.

What say you, RC?

pointless really, why not give it an oxygen rich tank, at night that plant is pumping out carbon dioxide and with no water movement im shocked the betta is still alive

[CoRPS]

Wow, I'm really shocked at all this. I'm going to get him into a new tank as soon as I can.

[gregod]

from what I have heard, in their natural enviroment, bettas live in stagnent,oxygen depleted mud holes. They breath air so surface area is imortant.

[Juruense]

Well I cannot see the pic at work but I would suggest at least a gallon of water and a Duetto would be nice to move and clean the water. Some oxygen exchange will take place on the surface of the water so try to have as much surface area as possible especially with no water movement or filter.

A Duetto drop in filter is not expensive and is the ideal solution here...

It is a very small and cheap filter that is easily cleaned and keeps the water moving: http://www.aquariumguys.com/duetto.html

Bettas are a labrynth fish so in theory they can gulp oxygen, but again that comes down to the diff between survive and thrive...

[Juruense]

In answer to the thread question here are various labirynth fish described: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anabantoidei

Some may still need heated water however so do not think you can just throw them in a tiny bowl and they will survive. But all have the ability to gulp air due to labirynth organ...

[gregod]

the water just needs to be kept between 70-80

[kathainbowen]

Originally posted by Juruense
Some may still need heated water however so do not think you can just throw them in a tiny bowl and they will survive.

If you are contemplating keeping some of the more exotic hybrids, this fact becomes SERIOUSLY important. Even if you're looking at something which has become as relatively common place as the crowntail betta, the hybrid varieties are not quite as tolerant to temperature fluctuations as some of the more common varieties.

I cheat. My bettas are beside my ball python tank on the warm end of my temperature gradient, so they get the ambient heat from the lamps.

[CoRPS]

He's survived a little over a month now so I don't think the temperatures are effecting him, but I haven't actually tested his water for the temperature. My probe actually broke a few days ago, and the GF just brought the fish home from her job (where she was keeping it).

So, I'm confused by the conflicting suggestions. Is the non-aerated water fine for the fish?

Also, what are the dimensions like on those little Duetto filters?

Edit: I saw the dimensions to the duetto filter you linked me, and the thing is just about as big as the vase. Are there any smaller options?

[CoRPS]

Originally posted by kathainbowen
If you are contemplating keeping some of the more exotic hybrids, this fact becomes SERIOUSLY important. Even if you're looking at something which has become as relatively common place as the crowntail betta, the hybrid varieties are not quite as tolerant to temperature fluctuations as some of the more common varieties.

I cheat. My bettas are beside my ball python tank on the warm end of my temperature gradient, so they get the ambient heat from the lamps.

I've got a ball python too!

About 3 or 3.5' now. Yours?

[gregod]

it is fine, they breath air. In fact with less surface disturbance, it will be easier for the male to create his bubble nest which is part of their mating process.

[CoRPS]

Will they build these nests even without a mate?

[gregod]

yes, you don't introduce the female until the male has built the nest. Then you just leave the female in there for a short time, 1 maybe 2 hrs. If you want to see your betta spread all of his fins out in fight mode, hold a mirror up to the side of the container. The round container may disort the image but I had a retangular glass box. and it worked with that.

[Juruense]

My male Betta builds a bubble nest about once a week. Its quite interesting and relaxing to have one on your desk. My company does not allow photographs to be taken inside the facility or I would post a pic...

[ziyaadb]

i had a 10G tank for my betta he lived a long and happy life

[Michael]

regardless of the fact they live in relitively slack water with very slow movement, that vase is not acceptable in size for a betta, ive seen them in heavily planted tanks with little movement, but the surface area is bigger than what you have, we could debate this all day and night and into the next day as well, im just saying its unsuitible and thats my opinion, good luck with it anyhow

[Vesa Wuoristo]

I just wanted to say my 2 cents, I am sure that betta is doing much better in that vase than it did in those stupid containers they are sold in. That said, it would do even better in a bigger tank or maybe a bigger goldfish bowl. You could have plants come out if it if you want the vase look. They make some very small heaters you could also use, bettas do need warm water to be healthy.

[evilspaz]

I heard male bettas like little to no water movement do to there long fins.

[BurntOutReefer]

Bettas will be fine....and yes, what Gregod said is true.....

[Rae C.]

I had a betta as well, for many years. i would suggest finding a glass container at Hobby Lobby or some such store, then thread the plant/plants through styrofoam rings to float on the surface. Some of the pet stores sell small fiber/charcoal filters that attache to the end of an airpump hose that are about 3"x1". Effective enough and you might only run it during the night.

Another interesting still water critter is the African Clawed Frog. There is a brand name "Grow-a-Frog", quite entertaining, and you can have more than one in a container.