I don't think this is gonna work!

**prechrswife** · 03-11-2006, 12:47 PM

Maybe a small aquarium with a lid? We actually had Alpha on a shelf that the cats couldn't get onto, but for awhile he was temporarily relocated to the kitchen counter. The cats pretty much ignored the aquarium.

**catmandu** · 03-11-2006, 05:54 PM

I will have to find the Photo of Pouncer when I visited a Cat Friend of mine probably close to Twenty Years Ago.
I had Two Goldfish Once.
Pouncer had Filet O Fish,Live.

**Randy_K** · 03-13-2006, 10:59 PM

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** · 03-13-2006, 11:20 PM

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** · 03-13-2006, 11:22 PM

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** · 03-13-2006, 11:28 PM

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** · 03-14-2006, 02:14 AM

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.

**jackie** · 03-14-2006, 03:41 PM

Originally Posted by Uabassoon

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!

**Denyce** · 03-14-2006, 03:06 PM

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.