My mom finally after much talk and arguing has agreed to let me get a betta fish. Now this will technically be my first betta as the only other ones in my life where owned by the person who was supposed to be my dad when I was just a child. Now I am planning on getting a 6 gallon set with a filter included but I could use all the help I can get. Like whats the best heater for the tank I'm getting, since I'm still new into this whole fish thing I will go with fake plants and so What are the one that you guys use in you tanks or what brands should I avoid. How can i keep my cats out of the tank ^^ (so far I've come up double side tape on the lid to both help keep it closed and bother the cats if they get up to where the tank is), Pretty much all advice you got throw it my way!

I want to commend you for looking for advice about owning fish. So many people do not think through their decisions and both suffer because of it; the fish live short, miserable lives burning to death in their own waste. Betta live for several years when cared for, and months when not.

Your $10 fish is going to require around $100 worth of gear and, realistically, A WHOLE LOT MORE. Check this out for a basic idea of what you need.

Have you looked into cycling tanks? That's VERY IMPORTANT; the MOST important thing for keeping fish (you're not really keeping fish, you're keeping water.). Have you learned about Ammonia, Nitrites and Nitrates yet? More on Nitrite.

Consider getting a proper test kit so you can monitor where you stand.

I would also absolutely suggest getting some Seachem Prime, as it will neutralize ammonia into a form that is not so harmful, until you figure out what you're doing. But, some tests will still pick it up, so you should grab a Seachem MultiTest Ammonia Test Kit too, as it measures both free ammonia and the total amount.

Have you considered getting bacter starter? Proper filter media for bacteria growth (you want porous rocks in the filter (ex: this or this etc.))? How to check water parameters? How you do NOT want to dump all of the water out and wipe everything? Ammonia spikes and what to do about them? Maintenance info.

What 6 gallon are you thinking about? It's not one of those novelty 'grow some food' tanks is it? Those are horrible and a terror to add anything to. I'd suggest a 10 gallon long, as they tend to run cheaper than vanity tanks, heaters you buy tend to be more aligned with that much water. Petco runs $1 a gallon sales fairly regularly. The lids fit the tanks as well, so you shouldn't need to tape it down. (my cat has zero interest in mine) Glass is almost always better than plastic or acrylic, as those scratch.

You also need to check the water that you're planning on using. Most cities add chloramine to their water and that shit will kill your bacteria, your fish and your plants. Aquarium water treatments don't remove it. Don't buy Betta Water. Don't use distilled/RO, as it has no minerals. Drinking water is the same as tap. Spring water works well, provided it's from a spring, not municipal source. The label will tell you.

More water is always better than less water, if you don't know what you're doing/this is the first aquarium you've got set up. Again, aquariums are pretty much water maintenance, that comes with the minor benefit of having fish.

Speaking of water, the weight ~8lbs a gallon. (6gal is going to be ~50lbs, 10gal is 80. neither of those include weight of rocks, plants, substrate/sand, & the weight of the tank itself.) You need to have a stable stand and a place for the tank that's not in a drafty area or by a window (light refracted through tank water can cause fires, algae growth, temp spikes)

Real plants are better than fake plants, as they'll help to keep your tank clean (they look a lot nicer too, but make sure you get legitimate underwater plants, not lucky bamboo). What substrate are you considering? Smooth rocks may look cool, but they don't give much area for bacteria to grow. You need good bacteria.

As for possible tank mates (people tend to want one): if you're considering a snail, get a nerite. They stay small; apple/mystery get HUGE. You don't want that. If you get shrimp, there's a good chance your betta will kill and eat them. Shrimp are food, never friends.

For brands, some of what I use are: EHEIM, Fluval, API, Cobalt Aquatics, Benibachi, BorneoWild, Mosura, Hikari, AZOO.

If you think this is too much, please take it one step at a time. If it is still too much? Perhaps fish are not for you; please do not add to the amount of suffering in the world by prolonging the life of something in misery.

TL;DR: Subeta is not the place to be asking for fish advice; you should really go check out websites that are for aquariums, because whatever pet you get? You are in charge of keeping it alive:

r/Bettafish theaquariumwiki fishlore bettafish aqadvisor /r/Aquariums

Omg holy you have given me alot to look at! This why i asked for advice though because i refuse to jump in blind and give my poor fish a crap life. Allow a little while to look through al lthat you have give me and answer your questions slowly xD as again that is alot.

Please don't take my questions too seriously as something that you need to actually reply each one to me . There are so many options for everything, that you've really got to find out info for yourself and educate yourself. I can't really make those decisions for you. Not to mention deciding what might work for you in the size of tank you end up with and how you want it to look! That's part of the fun of it, regardless if you go more natural or buy a lot of those little buddha statues, bridges, 'no fishing' sign, and things.

I typed that up more to get you thinking about things that you may not have considered before getting fish, as they tend to be an impulse buy. And, your post lead me to believe that you're more in love with the idea of having fish, rather than actually having them and caring for them.

(and, that thinking tends to bring people by the forums in a panic because their new pet is not doing well in the .5gal "the petco person said it was fine" "I don't want to spend money on a filter" "why is my fish sitting on the bottom all the time" "why is the water so gross" & "but don't they live in mud puddles and rice paddies???" which is one of my favorites, as rice paddies are massive and it's not like people can't look up an image of them.)

Good luck with your research.

No no! I love hte Idea of having a fish and taking care of one (hence why I asked for Ideas how to keep my cats out of the tank some creatures might be to full of wonder) Okay, I was already looking into finding a test kit as I knew some about cycling , water changes, and ALl that other fun stuff you just helped bring me more into light (thank you again), https://www.walmart.com/ip/Aqua-Culture-6-5-Gal-Semi-Hex-Aquarium-Kit-LED-Lighting-and-Filtration-18-L-x-10-75-W-x-14-50-H/37210187 thats the tank I was looking into as the spaces I have open I don't think anything much bigger then that would work. Also thanks for the info on rocks I didn't know that I was looking into something that would help the bacteria growth now that I know that I can fully cancel those out of my choices. Now heres a question for you since you clearly are a HUGE betta lover and know a lot about fish or at least bettas. IF I was to go with live plants what would be the best option? As I am still very very new and wouldn't want to risk killing any of them if possible , so which ones are more hardy?(my green thumb is still in development xD)

I had a hard time keeping real plants alive in the tank when I had a betta (kept him in a 5 gallon tank, first time, definitely not going to be as big of a help as previous posts. I had my Tully for almost three years before he got sick.)

If you do use fake plants be careful not to get anything that feels prickly. Really, if you think it might be the slightest bit too rough (stiff/ exposed stem ends/ ragged base surface) then don't get it. Their fins can snag and rip!

Also, they like things to rest on near the water surface. Tully had a little leaf hammock and he would rest on it all of the time!

With whatever plants you chose, be sure to give them lots of hiding space. Large open space will make them nervous.

I haven't owned a betta for a long time now (I had two boys at separate intervals but clearly I am a bad fish momma because they both died rather fast despite my best efforts ;w; ) but if I recall correctly, giving them things to do a la decorations they can hide in and explore and crap (things with holes and tunnels, I think it was) are good, especially if you change the positions around each tank-cleaning. Betta's are actually quite intelligent and can get bored if given nothing to do. It's actually possible to train them to jump through a hoop, but I've never tried.

Of course, Betta with their fancy fins, making sure anything that goes into your tank doesn't have any sharp bits is a must. I believe a torn fin can heal, but it's still better to avoid if possible.

Also, good on you for doing research beforehand - I've seen waaaay too many people just blindly accept the idea that betta are supposed to be kept in these wee little containers barely wider than the fish itself. Breaks my heart when I see them kept in bowls and vases.

Final note; I hope the place you get them from is lucky and has some of the REAL fancy boys in stock - betta tails can come in a bunch of forms and shapes; some of them are quite nice looking. Also; consider a marimo ball, if possible (if you plan to get live plants). I'm told they make good tankmates for betta fish~

In regards to your decorations, I've read that using a pantyhose/stockings will help give you an idea of what your fish can and can't handle. If it can snag a pantyhose, it can snag your fish's fins.

It's been forever since I had a Beta, but I remember that when your Beta is happy they make bubble nests. :) I always thought that was the most adorable thing. It's shows up like a little layer of itty bitty bubble on the top of the water that don't go away for a while.

I was never a pro owner though, I didn't get into water filtration or heaters or anything. I would always test the water and clean it and replace if it needed help. Not the better way to do things, but it was in my budget.

For my betta fish I use elodea water weed and emersed (that is, it grows sticking out of the water) peace lily. I've also used lucky bamboo (just make sure it's sticking out of the water! it needs air). Marimos prefer much cooler water than betta fish do, so I wouldn't suggest them.

The cheapest filtration system is what is called a "sponge filter", which uses air pressure to pull water through a sponge. The air makes bacteria grow on the sponge, which keeps your water healthy! You can get them for like $5 on ebay. Betta fish love sponge filters because the water is more still, they don't like currents. Between an appropriately set-up sponge filter and a bunch of plants you should only have to change the water about once a week, even in a six gallon. (Though keep in mind this is AFTER you have cycled the tank.) The Tetra "Whisper" air pump is the most quiet I have used and they're really cheap!

DO NOT forget to add a "check valve" to your airline - this will prevent water from flowing back down the line if your pump stops working.

If you prefer an actual HOB (hang on the back) filter, the tiny Azoo Palm Filter is perfect and it's like $7 for one, so it doesn't hurt to buy a spare! It has a tiny little flow control, and there's a surprising amount of room in the back for whatever filter media you like.

[[[[[This is very important, do not wash your filter media (that would be the sponge or filter cartridge) AT ALL. Only rinse it gently in DECHLORINATED tap water. If you wash it in regular tap water your bacteria will die and your cycle will crash, leading to a probably fatal increase in ammonia and nitrates in the tank.]]]]]

If you use sand as your substrate, you can use a turkey baster to suck up the poop. Not really necessary, but I find you don't end up disturbing the bacteria bed as much. I personally dislike gravel, because poop gets stuck underneath and fouls the water.

I would strongly suggest New Life Spectrum betta pellets for your fish, they're a little more pricey (like $10) but the little jar can last you over a year for just one fish, and the quality of nutrients really makes a difference in the color.

Also this is very important! Do not wash the tank out with soap! Don't do it! The soap can harm your fish and will also kill the good bacteria that keep your tank healthy. If you must clean the tank, just rinse the tank out with DECHLORINATED tap water. Personally I don't "clean" my tanks at all - I just siphon out as much water as I intend to change and then top it off.

As a note, I suggest the dechlorinator brand "Seachem Prime" which is a little more expensive ($10-$12) BUT it's highly concentrated which means you use less to treat the same amount of water. It's way cheaper over time because one tiny cap full will treat FIFTY gallons of water! It removes chloramines and stuff too, which is a bonus. you should try it!

All that said, you'll find it a lot cheaper to look for deals on craigslist, especially if you live close to the city. A 10 gallon would be way easier as a starter tank because they tend to be more stable than smaller tanks, though honestly if I could I would give all newbies a 20-30 gallon because they're so much easier to deal with.

Thanks I both have used seachem prime and also suggested it when I replied to this topic when it was first posted in the general chat... wow, a month ago? Time flies. haha.

Or, if that was RE the part about using spring water: that was more for when someone is very first setting up a tank, since it 'idiot proofs' it a bit, until the person get a better idea of water chemistry. It's usually a good enough base to work from and removes one possible issue when new people are first setting up.

I mostly wanted to give a bunch of general ideas about what it actually takes to keep that little impulse-buy animal happy and alive and hopefully encourage some actual research on the subject, (since keeping animals is ultimately up to the owner, not random, internet people on a non-aquarium related site).

I’ll also vouch for Seachem Prime! It’s worked so well for me. One thing that’s useful to get familiar with is the nitrogen cycle. This will give you a better understanding of bioload and how it affects your water.

My betta’s tank has a heater and thermometer strip to maintain tropical temperatures. Live plants have also been added to help with the bioload (bamboo, moneywort, and marimo) and a nerite snail is in the tank also as algae control. I’ve been considering adding tetras, but I’m hesitant since I have such a nice little ecosystem going on right now. LEDs are also lining the top of my tank, though I rarely use them since I get a natural cycle of indirect sunlight from the window.

Maintain your water weekly. Get some test strips for it’s parameters— if you haven’t set up or cycled a tank yet, Petsmart & Petco can test your house water for you for free if you provide a sample to see what you’re starting out with.

My setup is pretty decent, but I know other hobbyists who do soooo much more. Captain Hook likes to hang around the heater when I do the weekly gravel vacuuming, 1/3 water change, and maintenance. Otherwise, he’s somewhat active, but normally lazy and loves to sleep on, or in, the plants.

P.S. I also keep succulents and a few other potted plants around the house. Conveniently, I’ll give them the aquarium water I change out. If you have plants of some sort too... they respond super well to the nutrients nurtured in your aquarium.

Geeze, I was half asleep when I responded to this so I probably managed to miss that you had used it. It's one of my favorite water treatments so I'm always hype to suggest it. :P

I usually mention the water treatment stuff because having to rely on water jugs is way more expensive over the long run, plus if the owner just has jugs of water I don't think they'll be as likely to change the water when they're close to running out. While with water treatment they can just mix more.

Other than that I didn't have any gripe about your remarks, I just wanted to add a further range of ideas for anyone who happened to check this thread for advice.