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You are doing this perfectly.That is how I have always done this.Bettas don't need algea,but they can live with or without it.

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betas are used to living in really dirty water so leaving it a bit dirty isnt that bad.....when i clean mine i just put him in totally new water i have 2 tanks at all time one hes in and one that just has clean water then when his tank needs changed i just pick him pu and if he doesnt slide out of my hands hes in the new water right away never had a problem with him.

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when u clean the rocks u dont get all the poop out and it murks up the water as the nitrate levels rise also its important when doing water change to not change more then half the water as u need a certain amount of ph and nitrate levels u lucky u got fresh water fish they are alot stronger then salt water, water temp must remain consistant unless u have a heater u should not remove to much water call a fish store its tricky stuff u will end up killing alot of fish till u get the hang of it

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If there's 1 or 2 fish the rocks don't get dirty that quickly.

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When I was cleaning my Beta for the first time, I put it in a glass of COOOOLD water. Oops. Damn thing went stiff as a board. Pulled it out of the cup, put it in my hand and breathed on it til it started wiggling again, then put it in some slightly warmer water.

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fish killer^^^

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Nope. It didn't die until I moved away and left it with my brother. He's got his big fish tanks going just fine, but couldn't take care of one tiny little fish bowl.

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On 10/2/2005 12:35:27 AM, Schquirt wrote: when u clean the rocks u dont get all the poop out and it murks up the water as the nitrate levels rise also its important when doing water change to not change more then half the water as u need a certain amount of ph and nitrate levels u lucky u got fresh water fish they are alot stronger then salt water, water temp must remain consistant unless u have a heater u should not remove to much water call a fish store its tricky stuff u will end up killing alot of fish till u get the hang of it that is how i did it.... bettas are not as bad as cleaning a full 75 gallon tank...

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For a betta bowl, I would remove the betta into a small cup with some of the tank water. Clean bowl out, fill with fresh conditioned water of the same temp, then return the betta to the bowl.

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this topic is of definate interest to me as i just got a betta last week. I just cleaned out its tank on saturday doing what my friend who has a couple of them herself as well as works at an aquarium. She told me to scoop the fish up into a cup using the cup to scoop up the fish so it is in some but not a lot of water from its tank then clean out the whole tank including rocks and then refill the tank with room temp water and add water conditioner then pour fish into the newly cleaned tank... my fish was really jumpy about all this but as soon as he was back in his tank he was fine and ate soon after. I was a little worried that this might be stressing him out. So was that an appropriate way to clean the tank or should i look at going about it differently... she says i should clean it at least once a week.

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Hi,How often you change the water depends on a couple of things. How big is the tank? Are they are any live plants? What is the temperature of the tank? Does it have a filter? Substrate? When doing a water change you should always make sure the water is exactly the same temp as in the tank. You also need to use a Water Conditioner to prevent the betta from being Burned by Chlorine and Chloramine.

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On 10/2/2005 12:22:34 PM, Martin wrote: Pulled it out of the cup, put it in my hand and breathed on it til it started wiggling again, then put it in some slightly warmer water. What people will do for thier pets Anyways, about the cleaning. You seem to be doing it right. The fish isn't dead yet! That's a good sign! Just kiddin... I'm pretty sure betta's are meat-eaters, so I don't think you need to save the algae from the rocks.

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hey..i just got a betta...and i was wondering..do i pick up the betta with my hand?? or do i like...pour it into another cup??

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Hi Mike, i have 5 show betta's and many pet store betta's because everytime i go to the pet store i feel compelled to save one.I see them in these tiny cups swimming around in this dirty water,i just have to do something.I keep mine in 10 gal tank's with seperator's and a filter running.I think just because they require less oxygen doesn't mean they are happier in smaller bowl's.If you keep your betta in a bowl what i would do is fill up a milk judge with tap water and keep it in a place where there is not much dust and you can leave the lid off .You will alway's have good declorinated water ready for your fish,then every fourth day when the water evaperates fill it up with this water and your fish will love it.They love there water refreshed it is like giving them a breath of fresh air everytime you add a cup of water.I don't use gravel or rock only because you can never see just how dirty the water is,it is just my opinion that this is more for look's and the fish could care less.I alway's have a nice piece of bamboo in your bowl it will give him a little more oxygen and it look's nice.Betta's only live 2 to 3 year's and by the time you buy one in the store they are already a year.So if you fish dosn't live long it is normal and most likely nothing you've done.I just enjoy them well there here and try to give them a good live and when one passes on i go save another.Take care

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I just got a beta yesterday, i tried cleaning the water but the gravel was too dirty . It took like half an hour to do the whole thing

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I as it looks as some of you have stated have just bought my first betta and was curious after reading all comments, what do you clean the tank/rocks and other stuff in the tank with? A guy in the "pet store" said not to use soap. So what then?

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my mothers beta blows bubbles in the rocks.. he is sooo cute.. had lookin for a female.. it just isnt going to happen... poor harpo...... { she loves opra)lol umm cleaniong vinager...... thats what my mom used it isnt toxic,..... and it rinses clean really well just dont forget to rinse!! but i am not 100% if this is the " Right" thing to do i bought a 66 gallon tank from a guy in north van... when he moved his fish over he washed the whole tank and rocks in vingar..... he recommened i do it too..... i have a hedgehog... so cleaning a little more complecated....