I don't think this is gonna work!

[Craftlady]

NO NO NO!!! Bettas are carnivores!!! They can't eat plant roots. Yours may have died because it went without food for so long and then got a lot at once.

Those vases are VERY unsafe for bettas, as the roots can actually cut off their oxygen supply if they get too plentiful. Keep the roots trimmed so that the fish can come to the surface to breathe.

CUTE pictures! I'm glad mister fishy survived the night!

It turned out to be a real pain to keep clean etc. Sorry to say I wasnt sad to see the fish die, I'm not a fish lover.
I've had the plant for 8 years in the water. Hubby got me the fish/plant for our 1st anniversary.

[Maya & Inka's mommy]

Funny pics!!!
My RB-Sydney loved to "go fishing" too


This fish was staying with us, while his humans (our neighbours) were on vacation!! We had to put it in my daughter's bedroom, as Sydney didn't give up fishing one second

[catnapper]

I just wanted everyone to know that Mr. Betta is still alive and well. Funny thing is that 3 other people who bought Bettas the same night had to return theirs because they died! and mine is living quite well despite feline intervention! Actually, they completely ignore him now, its no longer exciting

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

Love the paw dipping.

[Randy_K]

Betas breathe like other fish through their gills. They are comfortable in small bowls as their natural habitat is puddles and small ponds. A plant will consume the oxygen in the water starving the fish. The bubble nest they create at the top of the water isn't an effort to breathe but instead trying to attract a mate. Go to the pet store and get beta food. They are tiny pellets and feed him carefully so as not to overfeed him. Too much food is deadly to a beta.

[QueSarah]

My brothers betta lived for a veeeeeery long time, 3 or 4 years I believe (betas often live at least 3 years), in a vase with a plant topper. But I do believe he got the betta already in the vase and didnt have to transplant a fish or the plant. And in the end he was shocked that it lived so long.

I had a betta that lived in a small bowl, and he lived for a good 8 months before hurling himself from his bowl in a desperate cry for attention and commited suicide on my birthday. A very sad little 19 year old I was that day.

One thing to remember is that Walmart fish will general go belly up much quicker than fish from pet specific stores where they take better care of them, employ staff which are interested in animals and not just assigned there for Thursday night shifts. Imagine buying a cat from Wal-Mart from a 17 year old who is disgruntled and hates his job and isn't interested in scooping litter or helping them learn good cat skills.

I would advise you to spend a little time surfing the internet...check out this site... http://www.betta-fish-care-breeding.com/ and consider checking out a book on betta care, if not at the library, I'm sure you can find one where you got Mr. Fish.

All animals deserve a good shot, great and small.

[QueSarah]

Oh...and...forgot....a good cat pet is a turtle. We put our turtle on the floor with the cats and he charged the cats and scared them half to death. There was mutual respect after that and Dodger and Teirza spent plenty of time just watching him and Speedbump (yes my husband picked the name) didn't have to worry about being bothered.

[Flatcoatluver]

ahhh those pics are so cute!!!

My cat tried ONCE to get the fish with her paw adn the betta attacked her!!! She hasn't gone back to that tank sence.

[Uabassoon]

They are comfortable in small bowls as their natural habitat is puddles and small ponds.

This is a HUGE myth. Bettas live in rice patties. If you've ever seen a picture rice patties don't have small puddles, they are flooded! Tons and tons of room for them to swim. However their gills have adapted to allow them to survive during the short periods when the patties are drained. Just because they can survive doesn't mean that is how they should always live. I would sugggest getting your betta something larger, they really need at least a gallon. A 1 gallon tank with a light and fliter runs around $12 at Petsmart.

[Don Juan's mom]

I just wanted everyone to know that Mr. Betta is still alive and well. Funny thing is that 3 other people who bought Bettas the same night had to return theirs because they died! and mine is living quite well despite feline intervention! Actually, they completely ignore him now, its no longer exciting

Maybe it's all the exercise Mr. Betta is getting...

Liz

[Denyce]

We have had our Betta for over a year now with the 5 cats. They pretty much ignore him now for the most part. Every now and then they will watch him for a while and Trouble will dip his paw in the back of the tank near where the filter is. We have a 2.5 gallon tank with a light and filter for him. I would suggest getting something heavy enough that the cats couldn't push it off of whatever furniture it is sitting on. Ours is named Stick. It was when Brian was working at the bank and they all had bettas. The customers would ask what his fishes name was...he would reply "Stick". Some would get it right away and some would start to walk off and then get it....Fish...Stick.

[jackie]

This is a HUGE myth. Bettas live in rice patties. If you've ever seen a picture rice patties don't have small puddles, they are flooded! Tons and tons of room for them to swim. However their gills have adapted to allow them to survive during the short periods when the patties are drained. Just because they can survive doesn't mean that is how they should always live. I would sugggest getting your betta something larger, they really need at least a gallon. A 1 gallon tank with a light and fliter runs around $12 at Petsmart.

I agree 100%, that betta needs a bigger tank, hopfully one with a lid to keep him safe from those cute sharks!

[catnapper]

I agree 100%, that betta needs a bigger tank, hopfully one with a lid to keep him safe from those cute sharks!

Then you've never met Pouncer. Those will remember my last attempt at a fish tank with him. Lets just say he's smarter than the average cat because he got the lids/hoods/tops off the tank within seconds. He got the lid off of this new bowl in half a second. The more I put up to deter him the more he's going to be determined to get at it. Trust me on this one. He's a stinker!

As it stands, everyone is quite happy to leave Mr. Betta alone. He gets fresh water and food per instructions. He's got lots of swimming room and is probably the most active Betta I've ever seen. They watch him swim but no longer poke at him, but they do occasionally stick their heads in for a little drink Its big excitement around here when I give him fresh water but other than that they ignore him

[Jessika]

I thought beta fish had to have a plant in the water so they could survive (food)? Have a plant and it's roots in the vase the furry kids wouldnt see the fish right away but the plant and might leave it alone.

That is a big myth and actually will end up killing the betta since Bettas are carnivorous and not omnivorous at all

They CAN, however, live in a vase with a plant so long as the plant does not cover the entire surface of the water because Bettas are surface breathers

[catfamily]

Looks like Mr.Betta is going to do fine in your home We had fish in a big tank when we lived in Ma. and the cats didn't even look at it after a while.