unhappy Betta

[wendyjo]

Life will be easier if you can cycle it.  I have two 2.5g tanks and one 5g tank and all 3 are cycled.  I do a 30%ish water change each week.

I've never used a UGF so I can't comment about them.

[NewBettalover]

I also am concerned about my betta being unhappy.  When I first rescued him from abuse in a little tiny bowl, bad water and boredom...he seemed happy.  As I learned more and tried to 'improve' his home with plants, filter and of late a couple tank mates....he seems to be less happy.  I'm considering getting a second small tank and taking out the two dwarf frogs.  Maybe I should also take out a few plants and move over with the frogs, giving Charlie more space of his own.   

Thinking he may be sad, saddens me.   

I've only add the plants and frogs in the last week.  Should I give it a little more time?

Good luck with your water challenges.  ( I accept any and all tips--gladly)

[wendyjo]

Exactly what do you mean by unhappy? 

[NewBettalover]

Just not a playful and no 'bubble-nests'  He only did that for the first couple of weeks after I rescued him.

[RedRose]

If you wish to cut down on water changes and not have to worry about using filters to keep the tank cycled then set up his tank using the Walstad method.  After using this method to cycle tanks, you'll never want to use filters for that purpose again.  I tore down my betta's tank back in January so I could use a different soil and I have yet to do a water change on it.  The plants are growing well and Max loves his home!

Both of my 10g's are Walstad tanks and the only thing the filters are used for is collecting debris and water circulation.  When I had first set up a 10g for my Jake, he never had a filter in there for a good six months.  The only reason I added one was to circulate the heat around the tank.  Just click the links in my signature to check out my tanks.  I'll be adding more recent photos soon.  Also, here is another link for you if you become interested in setting up your betta's home like this.  It's a nice step-by-step guide for people who are new to this. 

If you would like more information on the Walstad method, just send me a PM.

[NewBettalover]

More good information.  Thanks Red Rose.

I had been told that feeding once or twice a day was too much for bettas.  So I have gone down to skipping a day every third day.  Could that maybe be cause for the lack of playfulness?  Don't want a chubby fish...(or dirty bowl)...but I also don't want to underfeed him.

[RedRose]

You're welcome, NewBettalover.   I know that keeping a tank that's under five gallons cycled with a filter can be fairly difficult but when using the Walstad method, it's a breeze.  I had a 2.5g set up for many months using this set up and I never had problems with water quality.

A lot of people feed their bettas once or twice a day.  I feed my Max a total of seven pellets twice a day, everyday and he's not chubby at all.  On top of that, he eats a lot of live critters that naturally live in his home like Cyclops, baby snails and Seed shrimp.  I think it all depends on the size of the betta and how active they are.  I know if I only ate a couple of times a week, I wouldn't feel like doing much so you could try just feeding him once a day to see if that helps any.

Here's a picture of my Max.  This picture was taken a few months ago but his stomach is still the same size that it is in the photo.  The only thing that's gotten bigger on him is his fins.

[RawketGurl]

That is a very interesting method RedRose. I've never seen that before.

I think, though, that I'm going to go with cycling.

I've set up my UGF in the 3 gallon, and am going to feed the tank daily. I'm hoping this will work, I've never established a cycle before. I've been researching cycling and think I have a pretty good idea of what needs to be done now. I've read that using gravel from an already established tank will speed up the process. Since I do not have any tanks established I wondered if using some water from the 1 gallon that my beta is in (while the cycle is established) when I change the water would also help? It seems to me there would be enough ammonia in the water to prompt the beneficial bacteria to grow.

[RedRose]

No problem, RawketGurl.

The way I posted would still cycle the tank but just in a different way.   I've never cycled a tank with a filter before and the thoughts of it make me a little nervous.   I do know that some people who do cycle with filters sometimes add Bio Spira to the tank to help speed up the cycling process.  I've heard of some people having a tank completely cycled in a few days to a week after using it.

[NewBettalover]

I've been reading up on the Walstad method.  Might try that with my next venture.  Think I'll buy her book also.

I've gone back to feeding Charlie once a day.  He seems more active and a little happier.