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From the desk of Dave Ratner, owner of Dave's Soda and Pet City
I bought one of those betta kits with the plant
on top. The instructions say I don’t need to feed the betta,
as it will feed on the roots, or change the
water. Is this true?
No, absolutely this is not true, and bettas kept in
these bowls or vases with the plant on top must be fed
and water must be changed. Bettas are carnivores and
only should eat a meat diet.
They will not feed on the roots of a plant. It would be like putting a lion
in a cage with only lettuce to eat. Even if they were
starved enough to actually eat the lettuce, the lion
would grow weak and die because their digestion cannot
properly break down plant matter. The same is true
with the betta.
So it is best to feed them bloodworms,
brine shrimp, or any food that is specifically made
for bettas. In fact, it is best to mix up the diet,
feeding one food one day and a different one the next
day. Variety is important in their diet.
When there is very little water in a container, such
as a bowl or vase, it is best to change a small amount
of water frequently than a lot of water at one time.
The plant’s roots will take up a very small amount of
the waste the fish gives off, but not enough to keep
the water clean enough for the betta.
So if the fish
is in a gallon of water, the best bet is to change one
cup of water every day and then every three weeks or
so take the betta and half of the water, put it in
another container, and then clean the gravel and the
betta vase or bowl out. Then fill it half way with new
water, add water conditioner (which must be added to
any fish water before the fish comes into contact with
that new water) and pour the betta and the water in
the container back into the vase or bowl.
Try not to
change more than half the water at once with any fish,
as it will strongly stress them out.
www.davessodaandpetcity.com
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