Beta fish help/advice- I will be fish sitting

[MommyBird]

I have agreed to fish sit for a week for a little boy's beta he has had awhile. They said they would bring it over in a small tank.
I know they have even taken it along to their condo when they go skiing, but this trip is overseas.
So here I am watching YouTubes ......and starting to worry........
should I ask them about cleaning the tank or will a fish be OK for a week? (They said all I have to do is feed it in the morning.)
I also learned they like temps around 78, which my livingroom reaches on a warm sunny day, but at night it goes to 68. Is this going to be a problem?
The last thing I want is for the fish to die on my watch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Shezbug]

I doubt you’ll need to clean the tank or do any water changes etc for a weeks visit.
Fish are sensitive like birds so same rules about no aerosols or cleaning sprays anywhere near the tank applies.
Small amount of food each day should be all you’re really required to do as long as they set the tank up right I’d be thinking.

It’s easy to overfeed fish as they tend to always eat like they’ve been starved, I have to stop myself from adding “just a little bit more” than the amount I initially give that they’ll finish in about a five minute period.
As they’ll know how much their little guy eats just have them show you the amount you’re to feed each day- my fish are goldfish and some are quite a decent size so I feed a good handful for all my fish but you’re likely to be only needing a small pinch of food for one little fish.

Good luck! I hope you enjoy having a fish to watch- I find them quite mesmerising to watch.

 

[Finchbreed]

Both of my (grown up) kids have had Bettas in the past.
They do not need cleaning weekly. Fortnightly is fine, so the owners will not be expecting you to do this.
Bettas are fed on special pellet food, the owners will tell you how many pellets and how often.
As Shez said - stick to the instructions and you can;'t go wrong. Do not let the fish tell you it is starving - they are notorious for telling porkies about hunger.

 

[Emma&pico]

I can feel your worry I hate looking after other peoples pets I have to wait my friends four cats for 2weeks and dreading it

good luck with the fish no advice you will be fine

 

[Sparkles99]

I agree that you shouldn’t need to clean the tank. I always did weekly when I had aquariums.

Write down what they say & never feed the fish even a little bit more. More so than other fish, overfed bettas are notorious for dying & they need very little.

Remember to fuss over him. Bettas have great self esteem & are saucy little fish. He’ll be sad if no one bothers to talk to him. Wiggle your fingers & greet him when you pass by the tank.

 

[atomicfriday]

I’ve had bettas for years. I have an open top tank so honestly since my tank is established, I just top it off when it gets low. I feed my fish every other day, he gets a variety of mysis, daphnia, and bloodworms. I also go through a cycle of ghost shrimp, he eventually eats all of them too but it takes a little while. Bettas are very hardy and I have confidence you will be just fine at fish sitting. Do they not have a heater for the tank?

 

[MommyBird]

I’ve had bettas for years. I have an open top tank so honestly since my tank is established, I just top it off when it gets low. I feed my fish every other day, he gets a variety of mysis, daphnia, and bloodworms. I also go through a cycle of ghost shrimp, he eventually eats all of them too but it takes a little while. Bettas are very hardy and I have confidence you will be just fine at fish sitting. Do they not have a heater for the tank?

I don't know if they have a heater for the tank. But they are neighbors so I am supposing their house temperature is similar to mine.
The little boy (Kindergarten) will teach me how to feed him. He really does like his fish a lot!

 

[Respect]

If it turns out the tank doesn’t have a heater, it should still be okay. As far as I’m aware most fish are fine with gradual changes in water temperature

Good luck!

 

[Finchbreed]

Bettas are more temperature sensative than some fish. But they will almost certainly have a heater (under substrate or standard)
Like my kids did with theirs. Bettas are frequently kept in smaller aquariums than most fish - to mimic their natural environment - where each fish claims a rock pool along the river.

 

[Sparkles99]

It really depends on where this is. It was interesting the day someone on an aquarium forum really lit into someone else for not having one, then everyone piled on. Turns out the OP lived in the tropics.

 

[Finchbreed]

It's like some people are OMG - about the size enclosures that Betta's are kept in - but they are actually happier with their own "mini pool" than in a shared aquarium. Cause if they are sharing, they have failed to rule the pool.

 

[Shannan]

If it's any consolation, I had a Betta in college and that poor fish survived so much. I moved constantly, In the dorm, he was illegal so I put him in the closet anytime we thought the RA was coming by, he almost got knocked over by a thrown object and yet despite the abuse, he lived to about six. My youngest also had a betta who was treated much better and though they were only 6 when they got it they took good care of it. I don't remember how old it was when it died but it was by no means young. We did not have any heater on it but the house was kept in a decently warm temperature (after all we had Walter, a TAG). No problems with no heater. For a week I think the fish will be just fine..... relax and remember it has been cared for by a kindergartener....,.

 

[MommyBird]

Swirly is here! They did bring a heater along and Simon showed me how to feed him.
He's on a table by where I go in and out to the deck and gardens so I will be going past and saying hi frequently.
Simon was excited to see my birds, except I think the combined noise from my Hahns, Jenday, and Blue Crown Conure all yelling "stranger danger" was a bit much for him.
He lasted longer in the room with my 2 Amazons and took home a couple pretty Amazon feathers.

 

[Emma&pico]

Swirly is here! They did bring a heater along and Simon showed me how to feed him.
He's on a table by where I go in and out to the deck and gardens so I will be going past and saying hi frequently.
Simon was excited to see my birds, except I think the combined noise from my Hahns, Jenday, and Blue Crown Conure all yelling "stranger danger" was a bit much for him.
He lasted longer in the room with my 2 Amazons and took home a couple pretty Amazon feathers.
View attachment 462015

Hello little swirly

 

[Emma&pico]

Swirly is here! They did bring a heater along and Simon showed me how to feed him.
He's on a table by where I go in and out to the deck and gardens so I will be going past and saying hi frequently.
Simon was excited to see my birds, except I think the combined noise from my Hahns, Jenday, and Blue Crown Conure all yelling "stranger danger" was a bit much for him.
He lasted longer in the room with my 2 Amazons and took home a couple pretty Amazon feathers.
View attachment 462015

I feel for you if hanhs and jenday louder than blue crowned because Blu can give it some

 

[Finchbreed]

He is a very dark little boy. My kids had lighter coloured ones than that.