I just got a Betta Fish!

I had a pretty bluish/purple one in college. I took a makeup mirror out of the compact and put it in the bowl with him. I'll tell you a little story about Bob, the fish.

One day I came home from class and he was gone. I was sure one of my roomate's good for nothing boyfriends stole him. We decided it was him and decided to take it out on the roomate's boyfriend. I think we did something stupid like put rabbit poop pellets in his shoes while he was sleeping. Either way, at the end of the semester, we were moving out and found Bob. He jumped and landed behind the dresser. I never knew he was unhappy. I felt really bad for not taking him more seriously when he wanted to talk about how little his bowl was and how his only friend never talked to him. :(

On second thought, maybe don't put the mirror in the bowl.
 
My mother has one. Well, actually, she has had three different Betas, but they were all named Blue. (We still haven't broken it to my oldest daughter that Grandma's been lying to her to cover up the demise of not one, but TWO fish...)

One died because it didn't listen... My mother used to dump the used fishwater into her plant bed, because the plants love that stuff. One time she forgot to grab the net before heading to the plants.. She SWEARS she told Blue to hold on, but did Blue listen? Of course not! So, the fish went out with the fish water, and Mom didn't realize it until she was back in the house and refilling the fishbowl. By the time she went back to look for the fish, it was too late. Either it flopped its way under leaves, or Mom just didn't remember which plants she was giving the fishwater to that day... She never found the fish.

The second one died from stupidity. It kept jumping out of the bowl. Mom would scoop it back in, feed it, and then forget about it. The fish must have thought this was an awesome game. But, like most fish games, it wasn't the most well planned event... The stupid thing jumped out of his bowl in the middle of the night and there was no one there to save him. He was found the following morning stuck to the glass shelf, a few inches from his home.

The third fish was placed in a planter vase, where it has roots to swim through, and it cannot jump out. From what I understand, my mother no longer dumps the fishwater with the fish still in the container. She now scoops out the fish and puts it in a "holding cell" while she cleans the vase and puts in fresh water. This one looks like he might survive to live out a long and happy life of pointless swimming.


So.. My advice on Betas...

They don't listen. Don't give them instructions because they just refuse to comply.

Don't give them the ability to kill themselves. Who knew they were suicidal?

Don't dump them into gardens. Dirt is really hard for them to swim in.

If you accidentally kill a fish that a young trusting family member bought you for your birthday, just find a replacement, give it the same name, and carry on as if you weren't a horribly bad person who murders fish. :D
 
Or, keep a lid of the bowl/tank?

I have a LARGE fish tank with like 30 other fish and 5 Bettas and they all chill together like a party. I guess i got the good bunch.
 
do you have a picture

i have never seen one

(i probably have) but i want to see a picture and make sure lol
 

W-w-w-waiiiit a second ..

I thought beta fish were these things:
Betta_Fish.jpg
 
you may have posted a male and a female, but the species type is wrong too, The most common to keep at home is the Betta Splendens. :)
 
When I read the post title, I thought you were talking about Beta Fish...anyone ever play that game back in the day of floppy diskettes? I loved breeding fishes and making new and strangely colored species.
 
Oh god, you dont want me to start on this subject. Okay Passon. First you need to have at least a pump and airstone, for circulated water. If possible have a filter. The water should be cycled, as in the ammonia, nitrate, nitrite should be at 0 but if its a bowl or a 2 gallon then let the water settle for about 2 days. The Betta should have enough room to swim, do not get those tiny little brutal tanks that wouldnt seem comfortable if you lived in them. Second have betta flake food for him, feed it every day, about 2-4 little flakes. Clean the water every 2 weeks or so and dont put another male betta in there or a female betta.

Betta's have lots of personalities so it might be aggresive or very inquinsitive or nice. If you put your finger in, they wont hurt you. My betta actually likes being rubbed on the sides, but dont do that too often, its not good for their slime coat. All i can say is good luck, they live for about 2-4 years. Don't put the tank in direct sunlight or in a very busy place.

I know a lot about fish, so if you have questions PM me.
 
I used to have a couple of betta fish.... one killed the other, then the other died shortly after. lol
 

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