Decision making dilemma regarding my house, my child and and pet's happiness: please help!
Asked by
jca (
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March 19th, 2011
A few weeks ago I asked Fluther about a betta fish that someone gave my almost 4 year old daughter. I learned that betta fish need some heat but otherwise are fairly hardy fish. My daughter’s tank is ½ gallon. It’s quite small and I feel the fish is somewhat sluggish due to no heat. It’s ok now but I feel I can’t open the window because the house will really get chilly and I don’t want the fish to suffer.
I went to Walmart and bought a 5 gallon tank with a filter and light, and a heater. I also bought spring water and new gravel, and was going to set this all up today. When I took the tank out of the box, it’s quite large for a small fish. The bedside table I was going to put it on would have no room for my lamp or much else. However, to put it on the other available horizontal surface would make it harder for my daughter to see and feed, thus reducing her interaction and possible enjoyment of the fish.
Do I:
1. keep the fish in the small tank and have him possibly suffer?
Then use the large tank for all new fish? That could be a fun hobby or it could be more pets and mess that I don’t need.
Or I could return the tank to Walmart and forget the new fish idea totally.
2. put the fish in the large tank which would minimize my daughter’s interaction with it but the fish would probably be happier.
I was all ready to set the new tank up today, now am confused and need some decision making advice. Help!
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15 Answers
Maybe you can find a small table for the new tank that would keep it more accessable to your daughter.
I just bought my 23 yr. old daughter a bigger tank for her Betta and two aquatic frogs.
The fish and frogs really like it and the Betta has its own leaf hammock and the frogs have hiding places in the rock sculptures.
An end table or small coffee table in her room or wherever you keep the tank would solve the problem.
Go to a thrift store to look! :-)
Generally with aquariums the larger the tank the better. Makes the environment more stable. I would get a stand designed for the tank. It provides better support than a table. Once you get the tank established and in balance it’s pretty easy to maintain.
(How does one interact with a fish?)
I wouldn’t think there was any such thing as a tank that’s too large. I mean, mos fish come from the ocean. Get that puppy set up! Could be the start of a fun new hobby!
@Dutchess_III : by “interact” I meant feed it and be able to view it easily.
as far as space, the betta fish is from (this is what I read on the internet) “muddy puddles and rice paddies in Thailand” where it does not have large spaces, and can jump from puddle to puddle. Also the water there is probably pretty warm, as opposed to here, in this tank.
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I’d put it in the larger tank. They’re easier to clean and take care of. We have a 3 gallon tank for one fish, and I would have put a 5 gallon tank up but space was limited.
One other option is once the betta dies, instead of getting another betta, get a couple of goldfish and put them in the larger tank. Goldfish have a better temperature tolerance, and there would be a couple of fish for your daughter to look at. You can’t put bettas together though as they’ll kill each other.
Bigger tank and enjoy your new hobby.
@jca My betta loved his tank. Give him the larger one and put it on a sturdy end table. Your fish and your daughter will be thrilled.
Fina a new table. As has been suggested, you should be able to get one at a second hand store pretty cheaply. Then your daughter AND the fish can be happy. She will so love feeding him and watching him.
Get a new table, and put the fish in the larger tank. You can find tables free on Freecycle.org or very low price at charity thrift stores.
Those little beta bowls need to be changed often as there is no filtration. True they don’t need the water to be ariated but nitrates build up in the water sort of turning it into poison to a fish. it’s a pain so, use the tank with the pump and filters and save yourself a little work. You will still need to do water changes but not as often especially after the tank cycles. Also you can add a few more different fish to make it more interesting just avoid fish with long flowing fins. Remember 1 inch of full grown fish per gallon of tank water so you don’t over stock. In your case you should be able to get at least 2 more assuming those new fish will be about 2” long. Neon tetras you can squeak by adding a few more.
There is a fish/aquarium expert in fluther, is it uberbatman??? I would send Auggie a pm and ask her who the fish guy is, then pm him and get the real info you need.
If there are any other fish experts responding above, I do not mean to offend, I am not aware of your expertise as I am of the other guy :-)
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