From the article: Should I Keep My Betta in a Vase?
Keeping a Betta in a Peace Lily Vase, or any flower vase, has sparked more debate than almost any other aquarium topic. The pivotal question is the well being of fish. Some say it's a great home for a Betta, others think it's a death trap Is it humane?
betta in a vase
- I had a crowntail which lived in a large vase with a rooted plant for four years. (I did feed him betta food.) Dexter has gone to live with the garden angel now, but Finley has taken his place and is beautiful and thriving after about a year, as is my husband's betta, also in a vase.
- —Guest slim
Half of a gallon works
- I keep my female betta in a half gallon tank and she does fine. I have some real plants in there plus a fake hollow log. She is brightly colored and seems to be just fine. I don't want to spend to much money on a tank and other things. She is healthy and I think she would be healthy enough to mate with my brothers fish this summer.(but ill get a bigger tank for the fry.) My fish seems fine in her half gallon tank and has lived for a while. So there is nothing wrong with her sized tank. Even the people at the pet store told me it was fine!
- —Guest M M
Beginner Betta
- Right now i have a Crowntail Betta (male, Dark Blue), and he loves his 1 gallon tank. He love to sleep in his little moonrock that i bought at the store. So far he has no signs of sickness or depression. I've had him since the Middle of March. I hope to go bigger a tank for him, yet i live in apartments and cant get that big of a tank or stand for my little buddy.
- —Guest NeptuneBetta
ha ha ha seriously?
- Lol which one of you has had the fish tell them they are happy or otherwise? It's a fish...seriously stressing about the well being of a beta fish...I'm pretty sure it's happier sitting in a tiny plastic cup in a store than it would be in a tuna or sardine can so take it easy
- —Guest fishwhisperer
I did but won't do it again...
- I started out with a Betta in a peace lily vase. My sweet fish lived for about a year. I was diligent about partial water changes, removal of waste and uneaten food, and would provide sport for him with a mirror. He seemed fine, but alas, he was a yellow fish, and they do not live as long as blue... that do not live as long as red. Since then, I have read many books and talked to breeders about the care of these beautiful creatures. The more I learned, the more I wanted. At one point I had 13 tanks going, all with breeding pairs, and one fry tank. It was a full-time job keeping up with the small tanks and watching for the fry, so as they grew up and were given away or died, I stopped replacing them. After 16 years, I am down to one 35 gallon tank and the most beautiful 4 year old teal and lavender male. He is in a community tank with platies, angels, neons, plecos, and mollies. Unless you are breeding them, I do not suggest small tanks without filtering, heat, or companionship!
- —Guest Wendibar
There are many factors....
- It all depends on the size. If by vase, you mean a half-gallon hellhole, I absolutely wouldn't. But if the vase could hold 5+ gallons, then I consider it. If filtration and heating were feasible, then it could be an option. Otherwise, no way.
- —Guest Jingle
Yes
- I have 2 male Betta's that I have kept in a "Split-down-the-Middle" 1 gallon tank. I do a 100% water change once a month and feed them every other day. The base of the bowl has blue rocks and each tank has 1 small decoration. They are over 3 years old and still healthy and active. They are only about 3 inches long, but that is appropriate to the size of their environment. I think that after doing more research that my fish would benefit from having a heater, but I do not think that a filter is necessary, nor a large aquarium.
- —Guest Tom
How Do They Survive?!
- It is rare, but Betta fish can get as big as 6" (aka Giant Siamese Fighter) So I don't know how they live a day in a vase. For start, no good food. When you have a Betta in this type of setup, people rarely feed them. They may be seen picking at the plants on the top of the vase. Because of the picking, the actual Lily will become weak, and soon dead. The dead leaves and flower will fall into the water, reducing swimming space. One way to die. Another issue is air. Once all the "good" air is breathed out of the surface of the water, the fish will have a hard time living. They will suffocate. Another issue is hygiene. Because of the Lily, water changes are hard. The water will fill up with all the bad chemicals. The only good way to perform a water change on any vase or bowl is moving the fish and completely changing the water. But the fish will end up stuck in unsafe water that is filled up with hard metals and bacteria. Off the top of your head, you can clearly see that this is wrong.
- —Guest fishaholic
NO WAY
- You would have to do at daily 100% water changes to keep ammonia at bay. People sterotype betta fish as there natural habitat is puddles right? Wrong, they are 1-2 foot deep puddles that are long in length and that combined with the rice patties is what keeps them alive. A bettas tank needs to be a minimum of 2.5 gallons and it needs t be heated and filtered. Before you put him in the tank you need to cycle it to grow beneficial bacteria, which you can research how to do this. Bettas are living creatures , not decorations, there life will be cut short with improper care and water conditions.
- —Guest Courtney
Well, it depends...
- I love betta fish, and I wouldn't ever keep one in a tank smaller than 10 gallons, but I think a 5 gallon would be a good size for those who just want a "desktop" tank. But some people can't afford a decent-sized tank with a filter, heater, etc. So, I'd say as long as you plan on doing partial water changes 2+ times a week, it might be okay. But keep in mind that this will most likely shorten your betta's lifespan, and if you consider yourself a person who wants to be humane to all animals, please consider a larger tank. But, If you really want a betta and don't want to pay for the setup, think about the cons in this situation. A betta needs 72-82 degrees fahrenheit and so you would most likely need a heater unless you keep your house at 75+ fahrenheit. Also, bad water quality will also affect the lifespan of your betta greatly. Do your research, and you will figure out what you consider humane. Please don't get a fish unless you can give it a great home. Thanks for reading thi
- —Guest luvmybetta
No way!
- I have a 15 gallon tank and I wouldn't think about going smaller. I live in Germany and it is illegal here to keep fish in bowls!
- —Guest Anoymous1
no..
- I had kept betta for years and years, and having a betta in a vase is not a good idea. My friend of mine had a male betta in his small tank- and he lived for 1 week. He was a healthy betta from a breeder, with no signs of ill. I had a betta with his 10 gallon tank, and he lived for 3 years with his proper care. Putting betta in a vase looks pretty- but if you are really a fish lover.. I dont suggest that.
- —Guest bettalove
Sure
- I keep my betta in a 2 gallon square tank. I have a little whit plant. I have a little turkey basted I got from the pet store I use to suck up his food if he doesnt eat it. Whenever I use it he swims up and starts swimming around it. I tried to play with him with the baster (Don't worry, it was sterile) and he loved it. I do that daily and he seems perfectly fine. Even before, he was fine. He swims around and flips around and seems fine. I think as long as it's over 2 gallons, its okay.
- —Guest Emily
Im just starting out
- i have a betta in a 2.5 litre tank from kellyville pets but i dont know if this is enough space for him do you think he needs more space?
- —Guest Jasmine
Depends
- I have a Betta and keep him in a 1.5 gal vase that's very wide (about twenty-five inches circumference up top). I have a live Anubias plant and some smooth stones at the bottom for anchor. I use water conditioner and feed him Betta pellets. I'm an animal lover and a vegetarian, I did my research and feel comfortable with this set-up. I feel that, if you are willing to take the extra steps of changing 1/3 of the water twice a week and clearing out waste/uneaten food daily (to reduce toxin levels), then there is no moral high ground to having a 3+ gal tank with a filter. Plus, my fish is lively and robust. As kids, my sister kept a Betta 4 years in a half-gallon bowl that she almost never cleaned. In fact, Gill's bowl was only cleaned bi-weekly by me because I felt bad for the fish. His longevity was NOT a testament to his overall health, as he was lethargic an dull-colored. Vase, bowl or huge aquarium, I think it's important to do your research & your best (unlike my sister).
- —Guest Lexxi
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