Considering a Betta

[AJ356]

Thanks for this. Had a look at SpotlessWater - they do actually market themselves as providing aquarium owners as well as window cleaners etc so obviously got word of a new type of customer! - could you tell me how much it costs per month (ish) to use this water for aquarium use? It's not easy to find out costing as it seems to be a membership type service on their site.

I had a look today, I think it works out at about 8p, yes 8 pence a litre, so would be very affordable for a small tank. You'd only need to use 50 or 75% RO water and the rest tap water. There is a member who uses this company I think @Lcc86

 

[gwand]

Consider a Paradise fish.

 

[kcl_jmo]

I'm going to agree with several others. Bettas aren't hard to keep with basic weekly water changes, vacuuming out waste & a good varied diet. Plants are very helpful for both water quality & betta amusement. They like to snack on plant "goodies" (biofilm & micro-critters).

They have different "personalities", that's part of the fun! If you need a bit more action & have plants &/or hiding places, shrimp can be a nice addition. The betta may eat small shrimp (also fun to watch) but you should be able to keep a colony going. Just something to think about.

A word of warning, most betta splendens (the usual kind) only live for a couple years at best. That can be distressing for kids. But as temporary pets that might not be all bad (I'm not a parent). That can let you "get your feet wet" & see how you like our hobby without too much investment, $$ or emotionally. I hope that's not too brutal to say, I'm trying to give you an honest idea of what to expect in the longer term We're all fish lovers here & we love to help new folks.

I'm glad you pointed this out, fishorama. For someone who isn't a parent, you've certainly got a sense of what might be problematic to children. I asked my 8 year old about it as I know he is tender hearted and he was quite upset by the idea of such a short life. I have also read more now about how the inbreeding can cause visible illness before death which could be quite upsetting. I think the Betta might be out! Back to the drawing board. Thanks again for your helpful insight.

 

[MattW]

One overlooked species that can be kept in both hard and soft water is Medaka's. They can tolerate quite hard water. I've seen them be recommended for hardness up to 18gh. They should be kept in a group of 6 minimum. If you can fit in a 45-50L tank, I reckon you'd be able to keep a small group. They won't be as personable as a betta or colourful, but they are a good fish overall.

 

[gwand]

I'm glad you pointed this out, fishorama. For someone who isn't a parent, you've certainly got a sense of what might be problematic to children. I asked my 8 year old about it as I know he is tender hearted and he was quite upset by the idea of such a short life. I have also read more now about how the inbreeding can cause visible illness before death which could be quite upsetting. I think the Betta might be out! Back to the drawing board. Thanks again for your helpful insight.

Many tropical freshwater fish can live between three and five years, some more and some less. The important factors are where you buy the fish and how well you maintain their watery environment. Many forum members place their Fish in quarantine for 4 to 6 weeks because Store bought fish frequently arrive with worms and/or parasites. I am not trying to be a downer, but this is the reality of fish keeping.