Bigger Betta Tank = Big Problems

[BettaMomma]

After the heartbreaking incident where I lost my little Amos, I felt like I should share my story here with anyone who will listen. I'm hoping that I can prevent someone from making the same grave mistake I made.

Here's the story, in a nutshell:

Amos had been living a happy life in his 2.5G tank.
I, as many betta owners do, thought it was time to give Amos a nice (bigger) new home. That home would be a new 5G hex eclipse tank with a filter. I did everything right - I set up the tank, got a scoop of gravel from my lfs and let the thing do a mini cycle. When it was ready, Amos went in. From the get go, he struggled around with the current and was always getting blown around. I even got some filter sponge material and shoved it into the intake tube. It didn't help much.

I knew I had to get him back out of that tank when I came into work one day and witnessed him eating his own tail off. Then, upon closer inspection I noticed he was covered in ick. I rushed out and got him a 2.5G tank with a heater (just like his old setup which had already been reoccupied by another fish) and put him back. From that point, he continued to deteriorate, and despite my vigilant efforts and everyone on the forum's bets efforts, he died a few days later.

3fsh and I have been discussing this at great length. We have been seeing a pattern of folks coming to this forum for help after they've decided to upgrade their betta's home, and ending up with a sick, depressed or very stressed little guy. Just yesterday, we were trying to walk 3 different folks through this very aftermath.

So, I just wanted to get this out there so I can at least start to feel like maybe, just MAYBE Amos' death will have a purpose - it will let others know that if you want to do something really better for your betta, PLEASE consider not getting him a bigger tank, but get him new decorations... get him new plants... but just remember little Amos' story. He'd still be here watching me type on the forum this morning if I hadn't decided to upgrade him.

In closing, here are some photos of my little guy before I moved him, and after I moved him back out of the big tank.
Happy healthy Amos:

Here he is having a salt bath after he got so sick:

And here he is back in his tank, laying on the bottom after his salt bath:

He died sometime during the night, all by himself here at the office.

 

[3fsh]

From my experience (and from reading about others experiences) I have also come to the conclusion that bigger tanks are not necessarily better. I have seen so many horror stories lately about what happens when people move their bettas.

The little boy that I got from Petco went through the same ordeal as Bettamomma's "Amos" when I transferred him to a 1g tank from his little cup. Thankfully, he made it... but your betta may not be so lucky. Please think long and hard before upgrading your betta to a bigger tank! If he's happy and healthy where he is, don't risk losing him by moving him. Just my 2 cents...

 

[Idolz]

IMO, a bigger tank isn't the problem...
If a betta goes from a 1gallon bowl or tank, w/ no filter, to a 10 gallon tank with a filter that generates a lot of current that he's not used to.. he will get stressed out because of the move and the current that he all of a sudden has to deal with.
I'm sorry that your betta didn't make it.

 

[BettaMomma]

Exactly.
That is exactly the problem - and I just wanted to let people know that before they did something that they thought would be a good move.

Thanks, I miss his little face and his awkward flare every morning.

 

[SuckerLove86]

I read the entire thread about Amos a couple days ago. I'd never cried for a fish until then.

As far as upgrading bettas to new homes, if they're being upgraded to anything with a filter, be sure to make a "dead zone" somewhere in the tank. And if they still seem uncomfortable, wouldn't it be best to leave him in there a bit with the filter off before you move him, to kinda ease down his stress?

In the pet stores around here, it seems that a lot of people think bettas are invincible just because they're "fighting" fish. Things like currents and stress somehow don't apply to them.

 

[wuvmybetta]

I've heard many times that moving a betta can be extremely stressful to them, and I think this applies to pet store bettas more than anything merely because they're traumatized. This may sound corny but it seems they've lived so long with nothing,and when they get an actual home,they adore it and can't imagine anything better,nor do they want much more. They're simple and easy to please.

Sorry for your loss,Bettamomma,but maybe your experience will help others.

I still stand firmly by my feelings that each betta deserves at least a gallon,and I have many who live in 2.5's quite happily, for well over a year now. But I think the best move is to start them off in a tank you intend to keep them in.

 

[BettaMomma]

SuckerLove86 @ Posted: Mar 17 2005, 07:21 PM

I read the entire thread about Amos a couple days ago. I'd never cried for a fish until then.

Yeah, it's a pretty darn sad story.
It was hard to live with myself for the first few days after he was gone.
I was extremely attached to that little guy.
It was a very hard lesson to learn.

 

[tekknocolor]

I had a petstore betta that when I purchased him he was in a tiny cup. Well, I brought him home and gave him a nice 5 gallon tank w/ filter and he absolutely adored it. He lived there for over a year before he passed away, I'm thinking old age because he was fairly large when purchased. Anyway, I don't think I agree that death will occur every time a betta is upgraded to a larger home. I am sorry about your loss though...

 

[wuvmybetta]

I had a petstore betta that when I purchased him he was in a tiny cup. Well, I brought him home and gave him a nice 5 gallon tank w/ filter and he absolutely adored it. He lived there for over a year before he passed away, I'm thinking old age because he was fairly large when purchased. Anyway, I don't think I agree that death will occur every time a betta is upgraded to a larger home. I am sorry about your loss though...

I agree that if proper precautions and care are taken,transfering your fish can be done successfully. I had an old thread somewhere where I went into extensive detail on letting your betta sit by the new tank and peer in for awhile and such

But,I also believe that if you start with healthy fish from the beginning,you should have no problem.

 

[BettaMomma]

Hi -
Just to follow up on my original post and offer some clarification as to why I even started the topic....

I really don't want to send the message that a big tank is a bad thing for a betta. In fact, some of you may recall a nasty phone conversation I had with a PetWorld employee not all that long ago when I argued with him about how bettas do enjoy larger environments as opposed to the tiny plastic cups.

My whole intent was moreso to let people know that bettas don't necessarily do all that well with a major change in their living environment. That's all

I highly commend anyone who has the luxury of putting a betta into a 10 gallon tank or even something larger than that. We don't all have the money or the space to do it. And, since some of us are horrifically addicted to buying so darn many of them, we must stick to the 2.5G tanks, which each and every one of my boys has thoroughly enjoyed since day one.

So... sorry if I upset anyone - my only purpose was to try to save someone the torment that I went thru with Amos' nasty death.

 

[FishyLoveBug]

I bought a 2.5 gallon tank tonight and it came with a divider, heater, and filter. Will this be to small to hold 2 betas with all that equipment in there?

 

[littlefishie]

FishyLoveBug, the tank you're talking about sounds like a MiniBow2.5

If that's the tank you have, you shouldn't have any problems.

 

[BettaMomma]

Should be just fine

 

[FishyLoveBug]

FishyLoveBug, the tank you're talking about sounds like a MiniBow2.5

Wow your good! Yes that is the tank I have. *checks out her window for beta stalkers*

I'll add the divider then. YAY room for more little beta loves!
I've been corrupted. hee hee

 

[tekknocolor]

My whole intent was moreso to let people know that bettas don't necessarily do all that well with a major change in their living environment. That's all

You and Wuv are totally right though, that a lot of it is due to stress. Some bettas just aren't comfortable with large spaces and some aren't with small spaces. They're crazy little creatures, that's for sure... It's always good to share your experiences with the forum just to make others aware