Getting my first Betta....???

Question:

Do I need a filter for my 1.5 gallion tank with which I want to put my first betta in??

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3804454&lmdn=Fish+Aquariums+%26amp%3B+Bowls

Here is a link to what I have and it shows a filter for it, ours does not have the filter so I went ahead and bought the filter that comes with it (its for 3 gallion or less tank) but if I dont need I would like to return it, so I wanted to found out from people who have had these little tanks and bettas for years, if I really do need one.

Thanks and hope to hear back, have a wonderful day :)

if you change the water once or twice a week, you should be fine. depends on how much food you put in there, they dont eat alot. and if you could use purified water it would stay cleaner and you wouldnt have to use chemicals

You don't have to use a filter if you can dedicate yourself to doing 100% water changes twice a week. You can use dechlorinated tap water or you can get Natural Spring water at your grocery store. Bettas are very prone to fin rot in dirty water so it's a no no. Also when feeding remember that there stomachs are only as big as there eyeball. If you are using those store pellets you can safely feed three in the morning and three at night. Another thing Bettas are prone to is bloat which is caused from over feeding. Also remember that Bettas are carnivores and love meat so you can give frozen foods as a treat a few times a week if you want. Also don't ever use plastic plants in Betta tanks. They tear there fins. If you want plants use silk ones and a male Betta will rest on the wide leaf ones because there fins get heavy as they get older. Good luck.

Good question. my son took my wife to the store tonight and I got a phone call from my son all excited because he just got a 1.5g with a betta. The wife use to have one in that setup years ago. I normally just changed the water about once a week, and he stayed healthy for years. I think I ended up moving him into a 10 gallon with a few other tropical fish.

When you do your water changes take the fish out, then pour the water out, Then if you have gravel or sand in the tank pour some water in it and swish it around and pour that out. You 'll smell the strong ammonia trapped in the gravel. Do this two or three times to get all the ammonia out. Then refill with your treated water and add the fish back into it. Bettas do not need cycling.

whisper wrote:

Bettas do not need cycling.

I didn't know that! I love learning fishy things!

I had bettas set up in that exact same tank for a couple of years. I did use the filter but I still did 100% water changes once or twice a week. They really are nice small tanks but they do scratch easily. I didn't think the filter worked all that well.

Can you use a live plant with them, like bamboo or a short broad leaf type?