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I really enjoyed this video. I never realized the importance of the eco-system, living plants, creating food. This was very educational and I learned you just don't go down to the pet store. You rock Father Fish! You inspired me to change my beta tank up!
In the wild, male bettas typically claim a territory equivalent to 30-40 gallons. Most bowls fit less than 3 gallons. Maybe snails and shrimp can live in there. No fish.
Bettas sold in stores aren't raised in the wild. Even though they have genetic history, they haven't lived in anything other than a tiny cup and they deserve better.
This made me feel better about my tank, I’ve got my guy in a 3 gallon. I haven’t pulled the trigger on setting up a deep substrate, but I’ve got about an inch of sand and some live plants so far. He seems super happy, always active and interactive, eats well, flares at his reflection, and makes bubble nests every couple weeks. He loves swimming through the plants, sits on his betta hammock, picks at random roots, such a cool dude.
Thanks! I finally got courage to bring a betta fish home. I collected some water plants like pennyworth, water cabbage and another planet that was close to water. Collected some soil and sand then made a around 3 inch laler substrate planted those plants in almost 3 litter vase. Then placed a halfmoon Betta and also attached a hob filter. The betta doesn't look unhappy like most of them say.
Hi Father Fish, I had purchased 2 female bettas to help with my over populated snail problem. I then purchased 1 more 2 weeks later. They were put in a 10 gallon tank with 9 other fish. The 2 bettas were healthy and thriving great. When I introduced the 3rd betta it was hiding and seemed not to eat for 4 days. Then all of a sudden it was swimming and eating wonderfully, it grew quite large rapidly. Unfortunately one of my 2 bettas who was much smaller was always hiding and seemed scared around the larger betta. I found her dead within 2 weeks of purchasing the larger betta. She was eating, but hiding right after, then the 2nd betta started doing the same, and her tali and fins were destroyed. I put the larger betta in a large net inside the tank and within days she made a bubble nest. The smaller fish started swimming in the tank again and eating regularly. As I did not have a male betta, I decided to clean out the bubble nest. She then seemed quite agitated so I took her out and put her back into the population of the other fish. I took the smaller betta and put her into the large net. She is now doing great, she eats well and I am hoping her fins grow back in time. I have now purchased a 3 gallon cube rimless tank with a heater. I will be putting 1” of your dirted substrate and 2” of sand as well as a few plants I have purchased for the smaller betta. I was wondering if I should put the larger betta in another 3 gallon instead of the community tank? She seems fine with the other fish and spends time swimming around. Her tail and fins are beautiful. What do you recommend?
So glad you are surrounded by love of all kinds! Sent a link to my o’l brother - the last one ‘all about bettas’ - sorry if I’m repeating myself but one of my fondest memories as a kid-o was Sonny telling me - when he was stationed in Saigon- walking the streets and in the puddles were these bettas! Hoping this may spur him to get a bowl and give it a try!
4:23 A bit of a nit-pick, but the phrasing can lead people to misunderstand, including experienced fish keepers; I'm sure FatherFish knows this (I assume, even though he flat out said "they don't grow in dirt"), but for anyone reading, Anubias CAN grow without soil, but in nature they grow in soil (and out of the water) more often than naught, which is true with most amphibious plants.
For people who argue about wanting to give bettas bigger tanks, please for the life of god, focus on longer shallow tanks. Bettas don't do well in deep water cos they have to go up to the surface a lot. Just make shallower tanks and use the rest of the 'air space' for surface plants that drinks from the tank
My opinion may not be the popular one, but I think Father Fish is 100% correct. I’ve kept bettas for over 30 years and always in 1-2 gallon no filter glass jars. I recently set up an awesome 5 gallon for one of my prize males and he hated it. Water parameters were exactly the same and the new tank was cycled. He went pale and sat at the bottom so I moved him back to his jar. One day later, he’s back to normal. 🤷♀️ I really feel like the same thing has happened in the reptile world. I have hognoses and have had great success with them for 20+ years. All of the sudden, these huge bioactive enclosures are popping up with fancy lights and such. People are constantly on posts wondering why they won’t eat and have failing health. Again🤦♀️ The product manufacturers have figured out the sales angle of “if you care about your animals”-and we all do- then you need to buy all the gear. 😂 Beleive me. Sometimes less is more. 😊
You were severely mistreating your fish. Bettas are tropical fish so they need heated water and they need a VERY minimum of 3 gallons. They need places to rest, hide, and explore. They are not decorations, they are real live animals. You wouldn’t keep a dog in an empty 5 foot pen all it’s life, would you? Live plants and 5-10 gallons are amazing for bettas. They also need regulated water so they don’t die slow and painful deaths. Abusing animals for 30 years is not something to brag about.
i am from malaysia..we do put our betta or "ikan laga" in malay ,in very small tank..1-2 gallon water is enough for them..still can live 3 years.. we can find them many places here in the country..they really lives in cramped space.. father fish tank setup is EXACTLY the right environment for them to survive.. the only thing is, blue longtail betta is very aggressive and they can JUMP..i mean really jump out far and high..so, a lid is must..
I respect you and you have taught me a lot father fish, but this is something I’ll have to disagree on, I believe the absolute minimum should be a 5 gallon, especially for a newer keeper, however I’m sure you have the skills to keep a beta happy in a bowl.
@@LMat_MX if you know what you’re doing but it’s easier to keep things stable in more water, also some Betta fish prefer to swim around more, I have one of mine in a 10 gallon all to himself other than a couple snails and blue dream shrimp, he leaves them alone and swims around the tank all day, the way I see it if they don’t want the extra space they wont swim around a lot.
Father Fish, Thank you for your wisdom and knowledge.. I will convert my 55 gal tank to a natural aquarium.. Quick question. can i build up from the rock substrate i already have in the tank? like put soil on top of the rocky substrate then sand on top of soil?
What do you mean by rocky substrate? Actual large rocks? Grevel? pebbles? Drain water if you are going to add dirt. Otherwise simply cvap with 3" of sand.
@@FatherFish rocky substrate meaning gravel sorry for not being clear.. My plan of action was to take out my aquarium water convert the tank to a natural eco system using your tactics .. I was thinking to add dirt on top of gravel that i already have an inch of .. Add 1 inch dirt and 2 inches of sand on top of dirt.. then reuse my aquarium water thats 2 months old back into the tank.. Would that work?
I’ve been keeping fish with your method for months now! I’m almost to the rank of shark in the shoal! Revisiting this lovely video because tomorrow I’m taking my beautiful wife to buy her first betta fish! She is very excited to start!
i like to wash my sand and it gets all the crapy dusty shit out. and i also like to rut around in the sand once its clean get out all the bubbles and put some kind of dirt at the bottom a bit. put some plants in. you know this you love your tanks. though i do hope she gives her beta a upgrade on its tank. mabey start a planted tank
One thing i do now is use a chopstik to push into the substrate and move around almost like a vibration. Just enough to move the soil without disturbing it. But it’s enough to allow the air pockets to rise. I’ve found that the larger the aquarium, the greater the need to “burp” the soil.
How often and how do you clean this type of habitat? Could you do a video on cleaning up this type of tank and replenishing the debris that provide the food?
Thanks Father Fish for all your video about the betta. I prepare my 5 gallon tank long time ago for my son with gold fish,but eventually they die. After your videos I realized how wrong I was dealing with the set of my tank. So I followed your tips and now my tank have mud in the bottom covered with sand ,even from a stream close my house. Also I picked up couple of rocks and a good flat one. I also put 4 anubia plants and something else and a bunch of plant from a stream. Finally this week I had a courage to buy my female betta. I'm happy how she interact and how she hunting around the tank for small flies attracted by the light. She love a lot the fruit flies.thanks again
I honestly still think that 5 gallons is best so its more forgiving to new aquarists when dealing with parameters Controlling ammonia in a 1 gallon is harder than one in 5 Im currently custom building a 5 gallon shallow tank for my betta
The natural ecosystem of a betta comprises rice plants in a puddle ! I wanted to do a similar ecosystem in a tank ! Given rice plants have a short lifespan, i want to grow some similar plants with a longer lifespan , like some thick dense grass and see if the betta likes it !
Use a small net for surface skimming. I use natural dirt at the bottom of my substrates and sand on top, and pieces of wood regularly float up when I fill a new aquarium with water
There's a lot of minerals in my water too which is great because then I could add lots of plants and leaf material and I don't have to worry about the water getting too acidy
I hope you wouldn't mind me giving you a few tips instead of FF. See your bowl should be atleast 2gallon. Make sure the glass is not too thin or weak. Setup the bowl 1,2 weeks before getting the betta. Or if in case you've and aquarium, you can use 50% aquarium water and 50% fresh water for the bowl, then you can add the betta right after setting the bowl as well. Once you've set the bowl and you've added the fish too, then you just need to do either regular 10% water change or 20-30% water change after every 2,3 days. Incase of live plants, atleast 5 hrs of lighting is a must but provide hiding spaces for the fish as well so they can hide whenever they don't wanna be in light. If the bowl is planted, try not to change it's place time to time. Do not uproot nd re-root the plants again nd again. Just do water changes nd if in case there's alot of debris on the gravel floor, then siphon it once in a week. That way, your betta is gonna live a long and healthy life.
To all those who are telling they cant live in small places , i have a betta , i have experimented with their behaviour and patterns... First i kept him in a small container smae as shown in the video which was very much established had micro organisms and had 100% of the substrate covered with plants big plants on one side and one side had carpeting plant .... The betta was there... It ate properly , it hid in the plants if he got spooked and also exhibited all types of natural behaviour namely foraging , flaring and many other things ! Now recently i have got a 15 gallon tank and i planted it walstad style and then after a month or so i let him in there .... He was not at all happy ... He didn't exhibit the natural behaviours , and he was stressed that he had to constantly had to come up to the top again and again where as in the small container it was easier for him ... He did not eat properly not as much as before ... So in conclusion i would say since bettas in fhe wild live in small ditches they are much more happy in a small container ... Its not cruel its what i have come to conclusion after this experiment ! He is way happier in that small container than in a huge water tank!
Once my little Casper passes away, I'm gonna redo the jar into Father Fish style. It's 2-3 gallons and tall. Plenty of room for a food web. Then I'm gonna buy a brand new baby betta.
My bettas swim actively around the tank, some bettas are less active it all depends on its personality, if my betta wants to chill they can they got plenty of hiding spots, but I think to have an environment for them to explore, because my bettas swim around and explore when I’m not at the tanks glass.
What we saw here is a great Betta Splendin ecosphere where the use of pond soil innoculated with beneficial bacteria and microorganisms complimented with live plants. A food web will be established, which is great for the Betta. This is not the same as the little tubs you buy Bettas in at the big box stores. Betta Spledins are not huge swimmers, tgey are anatomically structured for short burst and rest. Betta Splendin do not need deep large tanks.
He is very beautiful and vibrant. And that's awesome you have your family there it's a family affair😂 Father Fish you are leaving behind such a precious thing bringing nature back into the aquariums😂😂 God knows very well what he's doing and he knows very well the Wonders that can come from a handful of mud😂
The first lesson of fish keeping is "Fish are not terrestrial mamallian bipeds." The second is "Fish are prey animals. Their primary impulse is to seek security. Large open spaces are stress inducers."
Hey father fish fam ❤️my only problem with this setup is the Anubias roots in the 🐚 shell 🤔that's not good for the Anubias even though the Anubias is epiphyte plant that plant has roots that need soil keep Anubias near by the substrate that helps to grow out roots in the substrate 🤔 but here Brenda's tank Anubias roots didn't get out from the shell 😥 🐚
I think you are probably correct. Good catch! The tendrils will probably grow out of the shell. Brenda has decided to move the plant in the round shell to a piece of driftwood.
This is actually pretty good information. While I would prefer having my betta in a larger, shallower tank with room to explore and mimic the amount of space it would have in the wild, betta bowls also seem interesting and really nice looking, but maybe when I decide to sell them and have hundreds without proper tanks. Thanks, Father Fish!
I have a fiddle leaf. It fell off a house plant that my mother owns. Fell off naturally after it died. It’s been a house plant for many years. Tap water only. Can I put that fiddle leave into my fish tank? Like others do with oak leafs, almond leafs etc. Thank you for the help.
What do you recommend if you don't live near these natural resources (creek dirt and sand)? I live in a desert and bodies of water are few and far between.
Id recommend getting atleast a 5 gallon tank, father fish is experienced in fishkeeping and bettas are not necessarily beginner fish, they have their challenges. I have a few reasons as to why a 5 gallon is much better than a bowl setup. 1. It is much easier to maintain water parameters with more water which is obviously crucial to your bettas survival. 2. While father fish is correct that bettas do prefer smaller spaces, they do not necessarily like to be trapped in them, it’s better to provide small hiding spots within your 5 gallon or larger tank. 3. I have witnessed myself the change my betta went through when upgrading from his little cup to his own 10 gallon all to himself stocked with plants and rocks to hide in. He went from inactive and not so impressive color, to actively exploring, swimming through plants, and changing where he sleeps occasionally. 4. Bettas have been proven to be fairly intelligent and can even be trained to do some tricks believe it or not, so I believe if it’s more intelligent, it’s much more painful to watch it die due to being unprepared. Besides that, it’s much more interesting to watch a betta explore, in a small bowl all they can do is observe you and the room they’re in, which will bore them significantly if it’s not an active room.
hey father fish, i recently setup a 4 gallon aquarium with a little over 1 inch of dirt and 2 inches of sand. For some reason, I keep getting bubbles coming out from underneath every once in a while, and im not exactly sure why it's happening.
@@FatherFish How many liters does this bowl hold? It really does look small. I just hope Brenda just bought a 10 gal tank, its cheap and its much better than a bowl. The fish can live better and you can apply the walstad method there properly.
@@Calebsfish23 We all transpose our sentience onto our fish. All I am saying is that a betta can be maintained in perfect condition in a tiny amount of water. It is done by the millions every day by breeders. What we do with one fish is not the same as what those whose lives are dependent upon bettas do with their fish. It is simply not appropriate to criticize someone for keeping a betta in a tiny container when they are guaranteeing its health, its growth, and its perfect condition, Face it, the number of bettas that are kept in large containers is miniscule. if you consider every betta miserable that is not in your care or the care of someone who agrees with you it would be better for you to never keep a betta and instead oppose the breeding of bettas for trade. Your position is, to be generous, extreme.
@@Calebsfish23 yes let’s argue with a fish expert, you are pretty much the same calibre of person that gets upset with us when they one of horses with a coat on in summer, it’s a cotton coat is scientifically designed to reduce heat and sweat, making the hot days a lot more bearable, perhaps do some research before trying to argue something you have no knowledge about
@@SubiKinubi never said i was upset and honestly have no clue what a cotton coat is or anything about a horse. All I’m saying is just cause one person dose it dont mean it correct or should be how it’s done. Thats like saying just cause people keep arowana’s in 30 gallons tanks when they get the size of a 75 gallon length wise is okay cause 1,000 other people do it. A proper diet dont make up for the lack of exercise. Father fish say’s betta are lucky to swim a certain amount distance in their life but mine never stop swimming. Just cause you breed betta and sell them outta cups fully healthy dont make what your doing correct. Betta come from more than rice paddies. Betta come from river system like the Mekong river. One the biggest fish farms in the world betta live in this highly important ecosystem that is 3,000 miles long. Now we are trying to justify a glass cup is all they need? Another issue is everyone scared to question the “Experts”
@ father fish. ???. I received the leaf system that you sent to me I put it in a jar and added water and sat in the Sun for a week or two. I've added some of the leaves and some of the juice from the jar. My question is how often do I add leaves and or the water from the jar. and do I leave the old leaves in and let them deteriorate or do I remove them over time? Father fish might be busy and unable to answer so if anyone else can chime in if they like if they have the answer thank you
As someone who's mostly forced to be vegetarian (apart from fish & poultry, due to a severe allergy that's spread by ticks of all things...), I found that comment funny since it's so hard to find good vegetarian meals anyway. 😂 Love the cute, little set up. It's pretty much what I had for my bettas for years & people moaned about the smaller bowl instead of the tank, but my fish were healthy & happy. =)
Thank you for showing the quarantine jar system in the video, very useful for me, I'm at this stage of my tank's new setting. I just have a question concerning the microfauna taken in nature: if the parameters in the tank are the opposite, can they still survive in it?
I don’t know why there aren’t more subscribers. Father Fish’s videos have literally helped me a newbie to the hobby create tanks for my mollies and they are thriving and having babies. He has a lot of amazing knowledge that we need to share with other fish keepers
Father Fish, you are very knowledgeable and I enjoy your channel (sometimes). I understand their ability to survive in extreme conditions in the wild but if we have the ability to provide them with a larger enclosure, why wouldn´t we? I´m pretty sure we could all survive in a 4ft x 6ft cage if fed and watered but not sure we would thrive. Would like to see small bowls abolished.
Abolishing small containers for bettas will also aboliish the species. It is impossible to keep a llarge collection of male bettas each in its own large tank. Are you suggesting fish keepers should be limited to no more than 1 male betta?
For the folks so upset to see a Betta Splendins in a bowl... And for those who keep them in larger aquariums... 1) if you own a Betta you supported a Betta breeder who houses them in one gallon jars their whole life. And on the higher end, culls the ones that don't make the standard. 2) the natural habitat of a betta is water that is 3 inches deep. And in that 3 inch depth they hold a territory of 8 inches by 8 inches. I'd take a Betta in a bowl where it will thrive over seeing a goldfish slowly die in one like when I was a kid.
Betta breeders raise their prize bettas in 1/2 pint containers with nothing except water and daily daphnia or brine shrimp. They change 100% of the water, many of them daily. The most spectacular bettas raised by breeders keep them for 6 months to a year in extremely tiny containers. They are kept healthy, are free from fin damage, and are stimulated by other bettas surrounding them in similar size containers.
Thank you for linking me to this video. I was watching your other video about how to choose the fish. Another quick question, why every one of your fish tanks have the translucent light above it? I'm not a fan of them. What do you recommend instead?
I have a tank that I put driftwood in and the water is a beautiful reddish brown color. I set the tank up like a forest. I LOVE it! It's my 2nd tank in a month. I want to keep the water dark, you always talk about using nature in tanks...so my question is.... Can I use tea bags to keep the water that color? I have 3 cardinal neon tetras I want to put in there. Can I put like two bags in the water for a day or something? I saw other videos saying you can use tea bags, but boil them first. But I trust you, so I'm asking if tea bags are ok to use and how I should use them.
I would not use tea leaves, not on a continuing basis. Tea is picked green. The leaves are dried containing all of the sugars and organics that a naturally dried leaf does not contain. In time there will be an organic buildup. That is why we drink tea, not hust for the color. Use dried leaves or peat moss instead. It will leech tannins and give you that rich brown color with the added benefit of providing mineral content for micro organisms.
@@tessw9744 Tannins are not as important as humic substances. They have health benefits for your fish and will give about the same colour as tannins. You will find humic substances from decaying (brown, and not black and rotten) leaves from a healthy body of water.
STEM PLANTS BUNDLE SALE - Over 75 plants - 15 Species for $59! Limited Time OFFER so HURRY!
father-fish-aquarium.myshopify.com/
For Special Soil Supplements, Plants, FIsh & Merch in your country:
fatherfish.fish/
I really enjoyed this video. I never realized the importance of the eco-system, living plants, creating food. This was very educational and I learned you just don't go down to the pet store. You rock Father Fish! You inspired me to change my beta tank up!
In the wild, male bettas typically claim a territory equivalent to 30-40 gallons. Most bowls fit less than 3 gallons. Maybe snails and shrimp can live in there. No fish.
Not true! I ve seen Bettas survive in puddles less than 4ft in diameter in the wild. It seems they are masters of survival in minimal spaces.
Survive but not thrive.. we humans can live in 4 walls all day but I mean look what quarantine did to a lot of peoples mental health and development
@@shannabennett9517 Very good point.
@@rajeshbista2690A puddle?! That is survival as oppposed to living.
Bettas sold in stores aren't raised in the wild. Even though they have genetic history, they haven't lived in anything other than a tiny cup and they deserve better.
This made me feel better about my tank, I’ve got my guy in a 3 gallon.
I haven’t pulled the trigger on setting up a deep substrate, but I’ve got about an inch of sand and some live plants so far.
He seems super happy, always active and interactive, eats well, flares at his reflection, and makes bubble nests every couple weeks. He loves swimming through the plants, sits on his betta hammock, picks at random roots, such a cool dude.
Yes good on you. Dont let the betta fish hivemind community ever shame you.
@@nicholass.4224exactly the fish community is so stupidly toxic I keep my bettas in 1 gallon and there perfectly healthy
3 gallons is perfect for a regular sized betta. My guy did well in a 1 gallon but I got tired of it and upgraded to a 6
3 gal is a fantastic size
Thanks! I finally got courage to bring a betta fish home. I collected some water plants like pennyworth, water cabbage and another planet that was close to water. Collected some soil and sand then made a around 3 inch laler substrate planted those plants in almost 3 litter vase. Then placed a halfmoon Betta and also attached a hob filter. The betta doesn't look unhappy like most of them say.
That is awesome!
Thanks
Betta is just fine in a large tank. Along with other fish.. mines just as happy other fish are no problem
Hi Father Fish, I had purchased 2 female bettas to help with my over populated snail problem. I then purchased 1 more 2 weeks later. They were put in a 10 gallon tank with 9 other fish. The 2 bettas were healthy and thriving great. When I introduced the 3rd betta it was hiding and seemed not to eat for 4 days. Then all of a sudden it was swimming and eating wonderfully, it grew quite large rapidly. Unfortunately one of my 2 bettas who was much smaller was always hiding and seemed scared around the larger betta. I found her dead within 2 weeks of purchasing the larger betta. She was eating, but hiding right after, then the 2nd betta started doing the same, and her tali and fins were destroyed. I put the larger betta in a large net inside the tank and within days she made a bubble nest. The smaller fish started swimming in the tank again and eating regularly. As I did not have a male betta, I decided to clean out the bubble nest. She then seemed quite agitated so I took her out and put her back into the population of the other fish. I took the smaller betta and put her into the large net. She is now doing great, she eats well and I am hoping her fins grow back in time. I have now purchased a 3 gallon cube rimless tank with a heater. I will be putting 1” of your dirted substrate and 2” of sand as well as a few plants I have purchased for the smaller betta. I was wondering if I should put the larger betta in another 3 gallon instead of the community tank? She seems fine with the other fish and spends time swimming around. Her tail and fins are beautiful. What do you recommend?
Pay attention to your fish, if she is doing well, then all is well
Oh I know that beta is going to enjoy that well water for sure
betas like to have space to swim, like any fish
You know this how?
@@FatherFish ok sry, didnt wana sound like an asshole. but i think this because i see betas swim through all the space they have
@@jackisperu9766 check the way bettas live in the wild
Do bettas normally jump out of the bowl? Should I put a screen on top?
They can jump about an inch. Just keep the water level an inch below the rim
So glad you are surrounded by love of all kinds! Sent a link to my o’l brother - the last one ‘all about bettas’ - sorry if I’m repeating myself but one of my fondest memories as a kid-o was Sonny telling me - when he was stationed in Saigon- walking the streets and in the puddles were these bettas! Hoping this may spur him to get a bowl and give it a try!
4:23 A bit of a nit-pick, but the phrasing can lead people to misunderstand, including experienced fish keepers; I'm sure FatherFish knows this (I assume, even though he flat out said "they don't grow in dirt"), but for anyone reading, Anubias CAN grow without soil, but in nature they grow in soil (and out of the water) more often than naught, which is true with most amphibious plants.
Absolutely. Thanks Miso.
For people who argue about wanting to give bettas bigger tanks, please for the life of god, focus on longer shallow tanks. Bettas don't do well in deep water cos they have to go up to the surface a lot. Just make shallower tanks and use the rest of the 'air space' for surface plants that drinks from the tank
And the little fishy has himself a decorated little studio apartment. Lol😂
My opinion may not be the popular one, but I think Father Fish is 100% correct. I’ve kept bettas for over 30 years and always in 1-2 gallon no filter glass jars. I recently set up an awesome 5 gallon for one of my prize males and he hated it. Water parameters were exactly the same and the new tank was cycled. He went pale and sat at the bottom so I moved him back to his jar. One day later, he’s back to normal. 🤷♀️ I really feel like the same thing has happened in the reptile world. I have hognoses and have had great success with them for 20+ years. All of the sudden, these huge bioactive enclosures are popping up with fancy lights and such. People are constantly on posts wondering why they won’t eat and have failing health. Again🤦♀️ The product manufacturers have figured out the sales angle of “if you care about your animals”-and we all do- then you need to buy all the gear. 😂 Beleive me. Sometimes less is more. 😊
Thank you Holly. Absolutely true. I LOVE hognose but do not have one. Need to get on it.
You were severely mistreating your fish. Bettas are tropical fish so they need heated water and they need a VERY minimum of 3 gallons. They need places to rest, hide, and explore. They are not decorations, they are real live animals. You wouldn’t keep a dog in an empty 5 foot pen all it’s life, would you? Live plants and 5-10 gallons are amazing for bettas. They also need regulated water so they don’t die slow and painful deaths. Abusing animals for 30 years is not something to brag about.
i am from malaysia..we do put our betta or "ikan laga" in malay ,in very small tank..1-2 gallon water is enough for them..still can live 3 years..
we can find them many places here in the country..they really lives in cramped space..
father fish tank setup is EXACTLY the right environment for them to survive..
the only thing is, blue longtail betta is very aggressive and they can JUMP..i mean really jump out far and high..so, a lid is must..
@@darkkerry3806 nice insights. Thankss.
@@ellajellyfishieanimal “lovers” like you make
Me loose brain cells.
I respect you and you have taught me a lot father fish, but this is something I’ll have to disagree on, I believe the absolute minimum should be a 5 gallon, especially for a newer keeper, however I’m sure you have the skills to keep a beta happy in a bowl.
I would consider 2.5 being the minimum.
@@LMat_MX if you know what you’re doing but it’s easier to keep things stable in more water, also some Betta fish prefer to swim around more, I have one of mine in a 10 gallon all to himself other than a couple snails and blue dream shrimp, he leaves them alone and swims around the tank all day, the way I see it if they don’t want the extra space they wont swim around a lot.
Father Fish, Thank you for your wisdom and knowledge.. I will convert my 55 gal tank to a natural aquarium.. Quick question. can i build up from the rock substrate i already have in the tank? like put soil on top of the rocky substrate then sand on top of soil?
What do you mean by rocky substrate? Actual large rocks? Grevel? pebbles? Drain water if you are going to add dirt. Otherwise simply cvap with 3" of sand.
@@FatherFish rocky substrate meaning gravel sorry for not being clear.. My
plan of action was to take out my aquarium water convert the tank to a natural eco system using your tactics .. I was thinking to add dirt on top of gravel that i already have an inch of .. Add 1 inch dirt and 2 inches of sand on top of dirt.. then reuse my aquarium water thats 2 months old back into the tank.. Would that work?
I’ve been keeping fish with your method for months now! I’m almost to the rank of shark in the shoal! Revisiting this lovely video because tomorrow I’m taking my beautiful wife to buy her first betta fish! She is very excited to start!
He is a lovely man!!
This video is a lie bettas don't live in puddles they live in big rice ponds people just day that to justify fish abuse this is to small
Awe that's so precious❤ Thank you for getting her all set up. They look so happy!
I’m assuming you do water change on this bowl due to no filter. I’ve just set a bowl up, should I do a 10% water change every week.
Brenda is feeding natural food. She will not change the water for many months.
i like to wash my sand and it gets all the crapy dusty shit out. and i also like to rut around in the sand once its clean get out all the bubbles and put some kind of dirt at the bottom a bit. put some plants in. you know this you love your tanks. though i do hope she gives her beta a upgrade on its tank. mabey start a planted tank
One thing i do now is use a chopstik to push into the substrate and move around almost like a vibration. Just enough to move the soil without disturbing it. But it’s enough to allow the air pockets to rise. I’ve found that the larger the aquarium, the greater the need to “burp” the soil.
I do not feel the need to do so although I am certain it does no harm.
I argued on a reddit forum that a large planted bowl is fine for a betta. They lost their minds and banned me
Reddit is home to the most self righteous "experts" you will ever come across. They love the anonymous nature and being able to cosplay as smart.
Reddit people act like an expert yet their sub is full of dying bettas
How often and how do you clean this type of habitat? Could you do a video on cleaning up this type of tank and replenishing the debris that provide the food?
if done caringly, never.
Thanks Father Fish for all your video about the betta. I prepare my 5 gallon tank long time ago for my son with gold fish,but eventually they die. After your videos I realized how wrong I was dealing with the set of my tank. So I followed your tips and now my tank have mud in the bottom covered with sand ,even from a stream close my house. Also I picked up couple of rocks and a good flat one. I also put 4 anubia plants and something else and a bunch of plant from a stream. Finally this week I had a courage to buy my female betta. I'm happy how she interact and how she hunting around the tank for small flies attracted by the light. She love a lot the fruit flies.thanks again
Having a creek near you is a HUGE advantage. You can save so much money.
Would a beta do well in a larger tank of it had a shallow section for it to hang out in? Or is it better just to keep it small no matter what?
I honestly still think that 5 gallons is best so its more forgiving to new aquarists when dealing with parameters
Controlling ammonia in a 1 gallon is harder than one in 5
Im currently custom building a 5 gallon shallow tank for my betta
agreed. If you are maintaining a breeding operation with many male bettas 5 gal tanks per fish is impractical.
Eh I would consider 2.5 gallons being the minimum for a betta, since doing a water change or testing the parameters isn’t that hard…
The natural ecosystem of a betta comprises rice plants in a puddle ! I wanted to do a similar ecosystem in a tank ! Given rice plants have a short lifespan, i want to grow some similar plants with a longer lifespan , like some thick dense grass and see if the betta likes it !
rice fields are flooded only during the early phase of the rice plant after which they are drained and the plants grow terrestrially.
@@FatherFish yes for sure ! Do the bettas survive in the puddles after the rice plants are transferred to fields ?
Use a small net for surface skimming. I use natural dirt at the bottom of my substrates and sand on top, and pieces of wood regularly float up when I fill a new aquarium with water
good suggestion.
i have no plants can I use only soil and sand?
sure. then get some plants
There's a lot of minerals in my water too which is great because then I could add lots of plants and leaf material and I don't have to worry about the water getting too acidy
I loved this! Thank you for showing your family and a little bit of your home life! 🐟
Glad you enjoyed it!
What does maintenance on a bowl like this look like? I'm excited to say I'm prepping for a similar set up!
I hope you wouldn't mind me giving you a few tips instead of FF.
See your bowl should be atleast 2gallon. Make sure the glass is not too thin or weak. Setup the bowl 1,2 weeks before getting the betta. Or if in case you've and aquarium, you can use 50% aquarium water and 50% fresh water for the bowl, then you can add the betta right after setting the bowl as well.
Once you've set the bowl and you've added the fish too, then you just need to do either regular 10% water change or 20-30% water change after every 2,3 days. Incase of live plants, atleast 5 hrs of lighting is a must but provide hiding spaces for the fish as well so they can hide whenever they don't wanna be in light.
If the bowl is planted, try not to change it's place time to time. Do not uproot nd re-root the plants again nd again. Just do water changes nd if in case there's alot of debris on the gravel floor, then siphon it once in a week. That way, your betta is gonna live a long and healthy life.
How to siphon? @@udaysharma8149
Father Fish I’m so happy to have found your channel!! You and your knowledge of fish are well appreciated and relaxing to watch!!…Ra
To all those who are telling they cant live in small places , i have a betta , i have experimented with their behaviour and patterns... First i kept him in a small container smae as shown in the video which was very much established had micro organisms and had 100% of the substrate covered with plants big plants on one side and one side had carpeting plant .... The betta was there... It ate properly , it hid in the plants if he got spooked and also exhibited all types of natural behaviour namely foraging , flaring and many other things ! Now recently i have got a 15 gallon tank and i planted it walstad style and then after a month or so i let him in there .... He was not at all happy ... He didn't exhibit the natural behaviours , and he was stressed that he had to constantly had to come up to the top again and again where as in the small container it was easier for him ... He did not eat properly not as much as before ... So in conclusion i would say since bettas in fhe wild live in small ditches they are much more happy in a small container ... Its not cruel its what i have come to conclusion after this experiment ! He is way happier in that small container than in a huge water tank!
They don’t all live in small ditches. Secondly, a 15g isn’t needed, but at the very least a 3 gallon is way more humane
@@Lbllrll yeah 3 gallons is good !
Should we use sponge filter for betta bowl??
really not necessary. bettas [prefer perfectly still water/
Once my little Casper passes away, I'm gonna redo the jar into Father Fish style. It's 2-3 gallons and tall. Plenty of room for a food web. Then I'm gonna buy a brand new baby betta.
Longfin bettas stay is small areas in the wild this is fine only exeption would be a shortfin
My bettas swim actively around the tank, some bettas are less active it all depends on its personality, if my betta wants to chill they can they got plenty of hiding spots, but I think to have an environment for them to explore, because my bettas swim around and explore when I’m not at the tanks glass.
What we saw here is a great Betta Splendin ecosphere where the use of pond soil innoculated with beneficial bacteria and microorganisms complimented with live plants. A food web will be established, which is great for the Betta. This is not the same as the little tubs you buy Bettas in at the big box stores. Betta Spledins are not huge swimmers, tgey are anatomically structured for short burst and rest. Betta Splendin do not need deep large tanks.
Thanks for sharing
Keep in mine every bettas sold has grown out in a tiny jar
No heater required?
He is very beautiful and vibrant. And that's awesome you have your family there it's a family affair😂 Father Fish you are leaving behind such a precious thing bringing nature back into the aquariums😂😂 God knows very well what he's doing and he knows very well the Wonders that can come from a handful of mud😂
As tropical fish, do bettas do better in a heated tank?
prefer stable 78-82
People: This is too small.
Men just send your betta back into nature.
The first lesson of fish keeping is "Fish are not terrestrial mamallian bipeds." The second is "Fish are prey animals. Their primary impulse is to seek security. Large open spaces are stress inducers."
Hey father fish fam ❤️my only problem with this setup is the Anubias roots in the 🐚 shell 🤔that's not good for the Anubias even though the Anubias is epiphyte plant that plant has roots that need soil keep Anubias near by the substrate that helps to grow out roots in the substrate 🤔 but here Brenda's tank Anubias roots didn't get out from the shell 😥 🐚
I think you are probably correct. Good catch! The tendrils will probably grow out of the shell. Brenda has decided to move the plant in the round shell to a piece of driftwood.
@@FatherFish yes 😉 nice
This is actually pretty good information. While I would prefer having my betta in a larger, shallower tank with room to explore and mimic the amount of space it would have in the wild, betta bowls also seem interesting and really nice looking, but maybe when I decide to sell them and have hundreds without proper tanks. Thanks, Father Fish!
No filter or aeration 😮???
the art of simplicity
loved it!!!!
Hello Father Fish, you make a good job! I'm come frome Germany. Habe deinen Kanal abonniert! Vielen Dank! Thank you very much. ❤❤❤
Du bist herzlich Willkommen!
Hi sir, I want to know why my plants dying. Pls let me know. Tq
Join us on the Father Fish Shoal discord.gg/vQJvcQge
we will help you figure it out.
Can I put the dry up, feel off naturally on its own fiddle leave into my fish tank?
no idea what you are on about
I have a fiddle leaf. It fell off a house plant that my mother owns. Fell off naturally after it died. It’s been a house plant for many years. Tap water only. Can I put that fiddle leave into my fish tank? Like others do with oak leafs, almond leafs etc. Thank you for the help.
What do you recommend if you don't live near these natural resources (creek dirt and sand)? I live in a desert and bodies of water are few and far between.
Create your own outdoors.
@@FatherFish just organic potting soil and peat?
This looks so easy I want to keep one myself one day
Id recommend getting atleast a 5 gallon tank, father fish is experienced in fishkeeping and bettas are not necessarily beginner fish, they have their challenges. I have a few reasons as to why a 5 gallon is much better than a bowl setup.
1. It is much easier to maintain water parameters with more water which is obviously crucial to your bettas survival.
2. While father fish is correct that bettas do prefer smaller spaces, they do not necessarily like to be trapped in them, it’s better to provide small hiding spots within your 5 gallon or larger tank.
3. I have witnessed myself the change my betta went through when upgrading from his little cup to his own 10 gallon all to himself stocked with plants and rocks to hide in. He went from inactive and not so impressive color, to actively exploring, swimming through plants, and changing where he sleeps occasionally.
4. Bettas have been proven to be fairly intelligent and can even be trained to do some tricks believe it or not, so I believe if it’s more intelligent, it’s much more painful to watch it die due to being unprepared.
Besides that, it’s much more interesting to watch a betta explore, in a small bowl all they can do is observe you and the room they’re in, which will bore them significantly if it’s not an active room.
hey father fish, i recently setup a 4 gallon aquarium with a little over 1 inch of dirt and 2 inches of sand. For some reason, I keep getting bubbles coming out from underneath every once in a while, and im not exactly sure why it's happening.
Air
nothing to worry about.
@@FatherFish just to confirm, it's been setup for about a month now with no fish in it yet, and i will still get bursts of bubbles all the sudden
mine kept belching and making bubbles for a few months it will stop
it's normal - all of my tanks bubble too
Do betta bowls need a lid or is plant matter on top enough to stop them jumping? Thanks!
They can jump 1". Keep the level below that.
@@FatherFish oh only 1" ! Okay great ! Thank you so much!
@@FatherFishany any videos on your opinion of filter vs no filter for them? I know they live in puddles.. not very filtered I suppose !
So the water isn't harming the mud an beneficial bacteria???
Sand separates the water column fron the substrate.
Wen I bury plant do they go in the the sand or mud!!!? I'm looking to doing a natural tank, thanks to u an your videos.
Hi father fish, Isnt that bowl too small for a betta?
No the bowl is larger than anything the bettas has ever experienced.
@@FatherFish How many liters does this bowl hold? It really does look small. I just hope Brenda just bought a 10 gal tank, its cheap and its much better than a bowl. The fish can live better and you can apply the walstad method there properly.
@@Calebsfish23 We all transpose our sentience onto our fish. All I am saying is that a betta can be maintained in perfect condition in a tiny amount of water. It is done by the millions every day by breeders. What we do with one fish is not the same as what those whose lives are dependent upon bettas do with their fish. It is simply not appropriate to criticize someone for keeping a betta in a tiny container when they are guaranteeing its health, its growth, and its perfect condition, Face it, the number of bettas that are kept in large containers is miniscule. if you consider every betta miserable that is not in your care or the care of someone who agrees with you it would be better for you to never keep a betta and instead oppose the breeding of bettas for trade. Your position is, to be generous, extreme.
@@Calebsfish23 yes let’s argue with a fish expert, you are pretty much the same calibre of person that gets upset with us when they one of horses with a coat on in summer, it’s a cotton coat is scientifically designed to reduce heat and sweat, making the hot days a lot more bearable, perhaps do some research before trying to argue something you have no knowledge about
@@SubiKinubi never said i was upset and honestly have no clue what a cotton coat is or anything about a horse.
All I’m saying is just cause one person dose it dont mean it correct or should be how it’s done. Thats like saying just cause people keep arowana’s in 30 gallons tanks when they get the size of a 75 gallon length wise is okay cause 1,000 other people do it. A proper diet dont make up for the lack of exercise. Father fish say’s betta are lucky to swim a certain amount distance in their life but mine never stop swimming. Just cause you breed betta and sell them outta cups fully healthy dont make what your doing correct. Betta come from more than rice paddies. Betta come from river system like the Mekong river. One the biggest fish farms in the world betta live in this highly important ecosystem that is 3,000 miles long. Now we are trying to justify a glass cup is all they need? Another issue is everyone scared to question the “Experts”
Why does your dirt have a bigger container then a living creature 🧐😂
Can I use black sand over aqua soil to mentain the same color ?
yes
Question can you use leaves from your yard for your aquarium
yes but not picked off a tree.
I have a lot of old magnolia leaves and oak leaves off the ground can I use that for my aquarium
Hello Father, is it better to setup a betta bowl with just sand or the dirted method?
Thank you.
dirted is better
Hi father fish,can I use any type of sand and soil? I have my first Betta
discord.gg/father-fish-shoal
LOVE FROM INDIA❤️
Bharath
@ father fish. ???. I received the leaf system that you sent to me I put it in a jar and added water and sat in the Sun for a week or two. I've added some of the leaves and some of the juice from the jar. My question is how often do I add leaves and or the water from the jar. and do I leave the old leaves in and let them deteriorate or do I remove them over time? Father fish might be busy and unable to answer so if anyone else can chime in if they like if they have the answer thank you
the leaves will deteriorate from the activity of microfauna, continue adding dried leaves from your yard, a few a week.
As someone who's mostly forced to be vegetarian (apart from fish & poultry, due to a severe allergy that's spread by ticks of all things...), I found that comment funny since it's so hard to find good vegetarian meals anyway. 😂
Love the cute, little set up. It's pretty much what I had for my bettas for years & people moaned about the smaller bowl instead of the tank, but my fish were healthy & happy. =)
Would we great a second video showing how the bowl went and the betta . Also if it needs cleanning of water.
since it got dirt in it, she wont be changing water?
correct
Thank you for showing the quarantine jar system in the video, very useful for me, I'm at this stage of my tank's new setting.
I just have a question concerning the microfauna taken in nature: if the parameters in the tank are the opposite, can they still survive in it?
Yes. They are extremely hardy. You can add tank water to your resurrection jar to help acclimate.
@@FatherFish Thank you, I needed some advice.
How’s the bowl heated?
Room temperature.
@@FatherFish ah ok must be hot there I’m in uk so think betta would get cold.
@@FatherFish. Oh really, you must live in a greenhouse. Betta need temp between 78 and 82, that is not a comfortable room temperature.
maybe I'm too soft but I couldn't bear to keep a fish in something this small
You do not understand the needs of the betta. They are a hiding, lyurking fish that only swims when necessary. they prefer tiny sheltered places.
I agree. 3-5 gallon would be minimums I think. I generally love this channel and agree with it but not on this one.
I couldn't bear it either...5 gallons is the smallest I'd go.
@@mimiru1995 1.5 gallon with a filter works just fine
@@HysteriaCraft-fp9mdexcuse me do you do any research on betta fishes?
Baba 🖒Süper bilgiler .Sana sağlıklı uzun ömür diliyorum .İyiki seni tanıdım.❤
Teşekkür ederim. Kibarlığın için müteşekkirim.
So I can just use stuff from local streams?! Holy cow 🤯
Just in time for me to get my first betta haha
what do the fish like this eat ?
I don’t know why there aren’t more subscribers. Father Fish’s videos have literally helped me a newbie to the hobby create tanks for my mollies and they are thriving and having babies. He has a lot of amazing knowledge that we need to share with other fish keepers
Mollys were the hardest fish for me.
Because we see videos like this where an old man with dementia thinks it’s ok to put a betta in a bowl. That’s why he doesn’t have more subs
If a Betta is in a dirted tank, do you need to do weekly water changes?
not unless there is a problem
Father Fish, you are very knowledgeable and I enjoy your channel (sometimes). I understand their ability to survive in extreme conditions in the wild but if we have the ability to provide them with a larger enclosure, why wouldn´t we? I´m pretty sure we could all survive in a 4ft x 6ft cage if fed and watered but not sure we would thrive. Would like to see small bowls abolished.
Abolishing small containers for bettas will also aboliish the species. It is impossible to keep a llarge collection of male bettas each in its own large tank. Are you suggesting fish keepers should be limited to no more than 1 male betta?
@@FatherFish Thanks for your reply and I respect your view.
What is food web? I'd like to do that for my betta
ruclips.net/video/7GT-BItFHiI/видео.html
Thank you!!!
Mother fish 😮😮
For the folks so upset to see a Betta Splendins in a bowl... And for those who keep them in larger aquariums...
1) if you own a Betta you supported a Betta breeder who houses them in one gallon jars their whole life. And on the higher end, culls the ones that don't make the standard.
2) the natural habitat of a betta is water that is 3 inches deep. And in that 3 inch depth they hold a territory of 8 inches by 8 inches.
I'd take a Betta in a bowl where it will thrive over seeing a goldfish slowly die in one like when I was a kid.
Betta breeders raise their prize bettas in 1/2 pint containers with nothing except water and daily daphnia or brine shrimp. They change 100% of the water, many of them daily. The most spectacular bettas raised by breeders keep them for 6 months to a year in extremely tiny containers. They are kept healthy, are free from fin damage, and are stimulated by other bettas surrounding them in similar size containers.
@@KermitAdventures then never buy a betta
hmmm what about a heater? don’t people forget about a heater for betta? im not sure what the temperature where you stay
Hi how do you keep bowl warm i wouldnt mind doing same thing can you put small heater in the bowl?
You can or you can place it in a warm place
IF they are big enough at least 2 gallons
Thank you!
Hey love your videos making the change from water changes and measuring levels to a natural eco system. Can you use dirt from outside?
yes
@@FatherFish thank you!! Hitting some rivers tomorrow
2:38 woops, some disaster here haha
Hi fatherfish, don't these bettas need heater ?
they need warm water, yes.
Can I use it as a breeding bowl for breeding betas? I have a male and female beta that I want to breed and I’m trying to find a good tank to do it.
Yes you can!
@@FatherFish thank you!
You're right, my betta lived in 120 liters aquarium and moved just to catch guppy fries! He mostly hided between plants. I called him Ghost. 🙂
I'd love to have a Betta small tank like this but all the Bettas I had in the past were good jumpers. I am afraid of losing him if he jump.
keep the level 1" below the edge of the container. They cannot jum[ more than an inch.
This is the sweetest video ever!!!! , thank you ror showing uw how to do this !!!! What are some good fish to keep in a 2-3 gallon tank 🙏🏻💙💙💙💙💙
small tetras, shrimp, snails, and more tiny critters.
Awesome set up. What do you do when the water evaporates , do you just top up with well water? Also, what about heating ?
Yes and yes
It's a studio 😊
Thank you for linking me to this video. I was watching your other video about how to choose the fish. Another quick question, why every one of your fish tanks have the translucent light above it? I'm not a fan of them. What do you recommend instead?
Absolutely love your channel., amd all freshwater fish...been in the hobby 48 years...honored to be a subscriber.
What kind of sand can I use?
any
I need to see part 2 of this video.
I like this approach for new fish hobbyists. Show it and don't just say it 👌🏾
We will do that!
Yes! Part 2 let’s go!
I love those beautiful little setups
I have a tank that I put driftwood in and the water is a beautiful reddish brown color. I set the tank up like a forest. I LOVE it! It's my 2nd tank in a month.
I want to keep the water dark, you always talk about using nature in tanks...so my question is....
Can I use tea bags to keep the water that color? I have 3 cardinal neon tetras I want to put in there. Can I put like two bags in the water for a day or something?
I saw other videos saying you can use tea bags, but boil them first. But I trust you, so I'm asking if tea bags are ok to use and how I should use them.
I would not use tea leaves, not on a continuing basis. Tea is picked green. The leaves are dried containing all of the sugars and organics that a naturally dried leaf does not contain. In time there will be an organic buildup. That is why we drink tea, not hust for the color. Use dried leaves or peat moss instead. It will leech tannins and give you that rich brown color with the added benefit of providing mineral content for micro organisms.
@@FatherFish
Thank you! Glad I asked you.
@@tessw9744 Tannins are not as important as humic substances. They have health benefits for your fish and will give about the same colour as tannins. You will find humic substances from decaying (brown, and not black and rotten) leaves from a healthy body of water.
Indian almond leaves, alder cones etc will produce tannins. I boil Indian almond leaves, let it cool and add to my tanks for blackwater