A Gardeners Forum Forums Members History Forum Life 2006 Oh No!

A friend of mine just brought over a betta fish for my kids. He brought food as well but other than seeing them in the stores I know nothing about them. Before he ends up 'flushed' can someone help me with the basic care of a betta?
~Tina

It is pretty easy. They like being alone and can live in a very small space. Keep the bowl clean and feed it daily and you should be good. They also work out really well in combination with some plants where the plant lives above and the beta lives in the roots. Will have to look that one up.

Check this out Tina.
Beta and Plant

Tina,
If you do a FORUM SEARCH, and type in FISH TANKS
or BETTA'S... We've had some posts about fishes..

I've seen them in really small bowls. For a while they were a very popular desk-top pet in a vase with a peace lily. Very pretty. Don't ever put it with another Beta though - they are fighting fish.

My son is a tropical fish expert and gave his son, my 4 year old grandson, a Beta. They change the water about once a month and feed it daily and that's preety much all you have to do! Someone at my office had a double planter with the plant on top. The bottom was a fishbowl with a live Beta in it. The roots in the plant hung down in the water, giving the Beta cover and in return, The water in the bowl watered the plant and the fish waste provided nutrients. A well balanced system if you ask me.

I have 3 of those betta vases right now.
I have made several and given them as gifts - they were all very well received!

Here's a picture I had posted when we were talking about growing plants in water - this one is a pothos.

Do you still feed the fish Lynne?

Hi - I really am going for that nap, Triss!

But, yes - you must feed the fish.
There is a misconception out there that they can survive on the roots of the plants - NOT SO!!!
They must be fed! I'm pretty lazy about doing so, though, and they get fed about 3-4 times a week and seem to be ok.

Thank-you. I got the fish, posted my Q, and went to take a nap. I'm awake and reading. I knew a little (fuzzily) from reading before.
I also knew if I could research it myself but it is so nice to have friends to ask. Thank-you.
I will go out and dig up a bit of my peace lily and look for a suitable container. My water is straight from an underground spring and untreated so I'm good there. Now to find a vase.......
~Tina