One gallon tanks

[Loboto-Me]

I need advice. I was told on another forum that perhaps my betta is chasing his tail because of stress. They seem to be saying that my 1 gal aquaclear may be too small for him and that may be why he's chasing his tail.

I really haven't the funds to go out and and get a larger container for him. Who here uses one gallons successfully? Can you tell me EXACTLY the steps you take that makes YOUR one gallons successful for your babies?

I don't want my little guy to be stressed or depressed or even bored, but I also don't want to have to go out and buy another tank either.

Tank Details

1 gal aquaclear with light.... no filter
medium stone gravel
plant (dunno the kind).... description... longish leaves, kind of bushy, and makes rootlets along the stems... very soft for his fins

1/3 water changes every 2 or 3 days, use dechlorinator and a little bit of aquarium salt .... how much should I use of each for such small changes? hmmm

Ok that's about it... I'd LOVE to hear from successful 1 gal. users.

 

[DrOizo]

Just a point the plant sounds like a Java fern. Your Betta would be very happy to be in a larger tank, Your fishes welfare should come first and if you don't have enough money to but him a decent size tank then perhaps the hobbies not for you

 

[wuvmybetta]

I use ton's of one gallons. I personally think they're perfect for a betta.

A one gallon tank can be cycled, it just takes awhile and you have to be diligent about water changes in the beginning, or just use gravel from an established tank.

I keep mine filterless and I do weekly 60% water changes. For a water change I hook up an azoo filter,let it run for a minute, scoop out about half the water (usually just above the intake valve of the filter so that it can keep running) refill it with fresh water, let it filter for about 3-5 more minutes and it's sparkly clean without a drastic change in water quality AND without having to remove the betta (stressful)

As for boredom...yeah they DO get bored when they're alone, I keep mine in groups of three and they're extremely active,not a bored soul in the bunch

Salt...I don't use salt can't help ya there.

 

[wuvmybetta]

Just a point the plant sounds like a Java fern. Your Betta would be very happy to be in a larger tank, Your fishes welfare should come first and if you don't have enough money to but him a decent size tank then perhaps the hobbies not for you

Not trying to make this ugly, but I disagree with your comment. If we're going to be like that...I must ask whatever happened to the clown loach you had in a 4 gallon...and I also must point out that IMO cories should be in a much larger tank

 

[Loboto-Me]

Hmmm does DrOizo ever have anything nice to say? Without little picks at people?

 

[Loboto-Me]

WuvMyBetta, I'm going to copy and paste your reply to my fish files... thank you for the encouragement and the step by step

Sure am glad you're around!

 

[Loboto-Me]

Darn... I forgot to ask you Wuv... how do you keep them in groups of threes? You mean you put 2 other little fishes in the same tank? Or do you have 2 other bettas in tanks nearby to serve as "company'?

 

[DrOizo]

Hmmm does DrOizo ever have anything nice to say? Without little picks at people?

Yes I sometimes have nice things to say to people who deserve it And the Clown loach was returned to his LFS the next day so there you go!

 

[wuvmybetta]

Darn... I forgot to ask you Wuv... how do you keep them in groups of threes? You mean you put 2 other little fishes in the same tank? Or do you have 2 other bettas in tanks nearby to serve as "company'?

yes, two on each side...I do a male/female/male combo, that way they flirt all day

Happy to help

DrOizo...I'm biting my tongue, you should do the same

 

[Auratus]

If I could find females around here I would do female/male/female so that he feels extra special!!! Doesn't the female get stressed out a little? I have a 3 way 3 gallon that I just split in half with two males. I have background paper so they can't see eachother except in one tiny little place I missed and they are always right there. If I found a female and put her in the middle wouldn't she get stressed? This used to be my uncles tank and he said that the betta in the middle would always die so I just split it in half.

 

[Butterfly Betta]

Before my friend got his HUGE tanks he used to breed Bettas beside his Angels.

He kept them in one gallons. They were perfectly fine.

Had about twenty of them. Like mentioned before, you just have to take EXTRA care with a one gallon.

Otherwise the tank will be either too dirty that it'd be no better than those silly cups they are kept in by lfs

 

[wuvmybetta]

Auratus~lmao@ female/male/female so the guys feel special

To answer your question...no the females don't get stressed, they actually turn in to quite the little teases , other times they just ignore the boys when they go crazy over the girls...they just give them a look like "oh,pffft,puhleeeze "

 

[Auratus]

COOL!!! Wal-mart has females sometimes and maybe they will have them for the valentine's day sale. If I find one I'll get her for the boys! I'll keep her in a half gallon until I figure out if she's got anything.

 

[Flowerpetal]

I use one gallons just fine. I do have to do alot of water changes but that is just fine with me. I've never had a betta bored enough to chase it's fins but nothing about bettas surprises me to much anymore

Your betta is just a bit fiesty. Maybe he will calm down before to long. In the future when you get the funds you can think about getting him a bigger home and that might help. I would not worry that you are doing something wrong. It sounds like you are doing the best you can.

 

[crimsontsavo]

Try this-
Move your betta to another spot and put house plants around his bowl. Not IN his bowl,lol. Sometimes it helps- and the fish seem to like it.