Tips, Tricks, and Cheats
For all your fishy needs, even when your budget and time are small!
Use these suggestions to save money, time, and much more! This section will be constantly updated, so make sure to check back now and again!
Cuppin'
To get your fish in the cup for a water change, try a sneak attack! Before they can even realize what's going on, swoop them up. Be careful not to hurt any fins!
Or, bribe them over to a good spot with food and then nab 'em.
If your fish is wary, slowly dip the cup in and wait until they get close to swoop, or if it's near the glass, hit the glass to make them swim into the cup.
Or, bribe them over to a good spot with food and then nab 'em.
If your fish is wary, slowly dip the cup in and wait until they get close to swoop, or if it's near the glass, hit the glass to make them swim into the cup.
No Dechlorinator in a pinch
We've all been there- halfway through a water change you realize you're out of conditioner to make the water safe! Darn it! Here are a few things to do if you're in a pinch.
Please note that these are not long-term solutions!
Sit-out method: If you fish can safely wait this out, fill up your bucket, etc. with water and allow it to sit out for at least 24 hours. Chlorine evaporates quickly and after the waiting period, will be chlorine-free. However, there are still heavy metals and the possibility of chlorine in the water, which is why you should not use this long-term! Please get conditioner or dechlorinator.
Bottled Water: If you have it, you can use regular bottled water in a pinch. Chances are you don't have enough to fill the whole tank with this type of water, but you probably have enough to add to the cup/bowl it is being held in to freshen the water until you get more conditioner the next day. If you can go out and get more water, you can also go out and get dechlorinator!
Please note that these are not long-term solutions!
Sit-out method: If you fish can safely wait this out, fill up your bucket, etc. with water and allow it to sit out for at least 24 hours. Chlorine evaporates quickly and after the waiting period, will be chlorine-free. However, there are still heavy metals and the possibility of chlorine in the water, which is why you should not use this long-term! Please get conditioner or dechlorinator.
Bottled Water: If you have it, you can use regular bottled water in a pinch. Chances are you don't have enough to fill the whole tank with this type of water, but you probably have enough to add to the cup/bowl it is being held in to freshen the water until you get more conditioner the next day. If you can go out and get more water, you can also go out and get dechlorinator!
No AQ salt, what to do?
Waking up to a sick fish is frightening. Even scarier is having a sick fish and not having anything to treat it with.
It is wise to have a small stash of aquarium salt as a just-in-case for your fish. If you are lacking or have run out, you can use an alternative until you can get more:
Check your pantry! Look for non-iodized, non-caking salt. It must be both of these in order to be safe for you fish. If you are not sure, do not use it. It is used at the same ratio of water to salt as AQ salt.
It is wise to have a small stash of aquarium salt as a just-in-case for your fish. If you are lacking or have run out, you can use an alternative until you can get more:
Check your pantry! Look for non-iodized, non-caking salt. It must be both of these in order to be safe for you fish. If you are not sure, do not use it. It is used at the same ratio of water to salt as AQ salt.
Drafty room, chilly fish
Winter in many places means chilly toes, plummeting temperatures, and drafty windows, walls and doors. Our fish feel our chilly pain- even with the best heaters, on very windy or especially cold days, their tanks may be below an optimal level. To keep the heat in the tank and a draft out, take a shirt or towel and lay it over the top of the tank, focusing especially on any areas that have holes.
If the tank has a light that gets hot, please be careful! You do not want to start a fire.
This is a great example of why your fish needs a heater- it gets cold! Having your tank covered but without a heater will do little to keep your fish warm. Please invest in one- it is essential.
If the tank has a light that gets hot, please be careful! You do not want to start a fire.
This is a great example of why your fish needs a heater- it gets cold! Having your tank covered but without a heater will do little to keep your fish warm. Please invest in one- it is essential.
Encouraging fluffy, big bubble nests
Please allow me to be the first to note that bubble nests do not mean a fish is happy nor does it mean they are healthy. Super healthy fish may refuse to nest, while a sick and dying one may have an enormous nest!
It should not be used as an indicator for health.
However, it's certainly nice to come home to a nest made by your little friend. Here are a few ways to encourage nesting:
- Keep it humid! Tanks that are humid above the water make a great place to nest. Males are able to make their nests thicker and fluffier when it is more humid since the bubbles they create are less likely to pop. Adding a layer of plastic wrap to your tank keeps the humidity in- but be sure to add a number of holes to keep air flowing. A lid in general is also a means to keep humid air in, and should be used at all times to prevent fish from jumping out.
- Have places to nest on: Who doesn't enjoy a comfy place to rest while they work? Your betta sure does! Consider having a tall plant or leaf hammock that's near the surface for the fish to rest on while nesting. Being nice and close to the surface may mean your betta will do it more frequently and for a longer amount of time.
- Have a place to nest under- Building under something makes nesting easier. Add a few floating plants (fake or live) to allow for you betta to nest under and around. Tall decor that breeches the water's surface is also a good idea. Many fake plants, so long as they do not have a weighted base, can be removed from the base and will float. Live plants that are easy and good for nesting are anacharis, frogbit, and water sprite.
- Little surface disruption- Nesting is tough to do when the surface of the water is wobbling about. Consider having your filter turned low or your bubbler's airline tubing kinked to reduce the bubble output. Still water is easier to make nests in, and generally more comfortable to live in for bettas.
It should not be used as an indicator for health.
However, it's certainly nice to come home to a nest made by your little friend. Here are a few ways to encourage nesting:
- Keep it humid! Tanks that are humid above the water make a great place to nest. Males are able to make their nests thicker and fluffier when it is more humid since the bubbles they create are less likely to pop. Adding a layer of plastic wrap to your tank keeps the humidity in- but be sure to add a number of holes to keep air flowing. A lid in general is also a means to keep humid air in, and should be used at all times to prevent fish from jumping out.
- Have places to nest on: Who doesn't enjoy a comfy place to rest while they work? Your betta sure does! Consider having a tall plant or leaf hammock that's near the surface for the fish to rest on while nesting. Being nice and close to the surface may mean your betta will do it more frequently and for a longer amount of time.
- Have a place to nest under- Building under something makes nesting easier. Add a few floating plants (fake or live) to allow for you betta to nest under and around. Tall decor that breeches the water's surface is also a good idea. Many fake plants, so long as they do not have a weighted base, can be removed from the base and will float. Live plants that are easy and good for nesting are anacharis, frogbit, and water sprite.
- Little surface disruption- Nesting is tough to do when the surface of the water is wobbling about. Consider having your filter turned low or your bubbler's airline tubing kinked to reduce the bubble output. Still water is easier to make nests in, and generally more comfortable to live in for bettas.
The Poop Police
We've all been there- you clean the tank spotlessly, add your little fish back... and then the ungrateful butt takes a poop right after! Argh!
Consider this trick for spot-cleaning. Now, you certainly don't need to get every present your fish leaves as it's, erm, delivered, but it's a good way to keep the tank looking nice and keep the ammonia down between changes.
Get a baster! It doesn't have to be anything fancy or expensive. I got one for a dollar at a Dollar Tree store and it works well in my QT tanks to get rid of poo that will foul the water fast in such a small area. Make sure you give it a good scrub- no soap; only hot water and maybe a soak.
It may seem simple, and it more or less is, but using the baster well takes a bit of practice. If you find yourself a bit un-awesome at the practice, keep at it! It gets easier, no doubt about it.
Consider this trick for spot-cleaning. Now, you certainly don't need to get every present your fish leaves as it's, erm, delivered, but it's a good way to keep the tank looking nice and keep the ammonia down between changes.
Get a baster! It doesn't have to be anything fancy or expensive. I got one for a dollar at a Dollar Tree store and it works well in my QT tanks to get rid of poo that will foul the water fast in such a small area. Make sure you give it a good scrub- no soap; only hot water and maybe a soak.
It may seem simple, and it more or less is, but using the baster well takes a bit of practice. If you find yourself a bit un-awesome at the practice, keep at it! It gets easier, no doubt about it.
Water, Water, everywhere... Like on my floor.
Water on your arms. Your hands. Your floor. Your desk. Everywhere!! Especially when changing tank water or moving a decoration, am I right? It's annoying and using papertowels is wasteful.
You might think, a towel! Yes! Perfect!
However, towels get mildew-y very fast, often because they are thick and tend to take a long time to dry out. And then, well, I know my house doesn't have too many towels to spare for fishy things, so what's a fish parent to do?
T-shirts make a great water mopper-upper-thingy-majiggy! Old shirts, ripped, stained, ugly, too small, anything- They're perfection for cleaning up spills or having on hand to dry your arms. I use them exclusively, and have no fish-y towels!
Why they're great: Old t-shirts are wonderful for a lot of reasons. First, they're in your house! We've all got at least one that we loathe and can spare to never use again. Second, they're thin, which allows them to dry faster than a towel would. This is nice for two reasons: your shirts ward off mildew smells, and they dry faster for use only a few hours later, which is great if you take a break. Third, you can wash them readily with other clothes. I'm not too picky about my laundry (who am I kidding, lights and darks? It's a free-for-all!) but don't wash towels with clothes to avoid fuzzies and the like. A tee can be washed with anything you please- and not ruin the load.
To wash, either run in with other clothes or devote a load to fish towels. Having more than one is a good idea, especially for big messes or use to cover tanks to keep heat in. Wash on warm when possible, to kill stinky bacteria. Use detergent for the same reason.
You might think, a towel! Yes! Perfect!
However, towels get mildew-y very fast, often because they are thick and tend to take a long time to dry out. And then, well, I know my house doesn't have too many towels to spare for fishy things, so what's a fish parent to do?
T-shirts make a great water mopper-upper-thingy-majiggy! Old shirts, ripped, stained, ugly, too small, anything- They're perfection for cleaning up spills or having on hand to dry your arms. I use them exclusively, and have no fish-y towels!
Why they're great: Old t-shirts are wonderful for a lot of reasons. First, they're in your house! We've all got at least one that we loathe and can spare to never use again. Second, they're thin, which allows them to dry faster than a towel would. This is nice for two reasons: your shirts ward off mildew smells, and they dry faster for use only a few hours later, which is great if you take a break. Third, you can wash them readily with other clothes. I'm not too picky about my laundry (who am I kidding, lights and darks? It's a free-for-all!) but don't wash towels with clothes to avoid fuzzies and the like. A tee can be washed with anything you please- and not ruin the load.
To wash, either run in with other clothes or devote a load to fish towels. Having more than one is a good idea, especially for big messes or use to cover tanks to keep heat in. Wash on warm when possible, to kill stinky bacteria. Use detergent for the same reason.
DIY IAL, lots of letters, lots less money
Indian Almond Leaf is a natural tannin (darkener) of water, which, when used in a betta tank, makes the fish feel better, safer, and can help promote wellness. However, IAL is hard to find if you are not in a country where these leaves (literally) grow on trees. Never fear! A lot of the goodness of tannins, namely the darkening, comforting effect, can be maintained cheaply and easily.
Decaffeinated green tea, when steeped in warm tank water, releases tannins that make the water dark and natural. This option is cheap- head to Walmart and get their version of decaf green tea for $3/50 bags! Make sure the tea is decaf and green tea only. Like any tannin, there is a chance the pH of the tank is altered (lowered) take caution if your pH is low already, and don't darken the water too much all at once.
*It is not recommended to constantly use the decaf green tea method for tannins, whereas actual IAL, Cattapa leaves, or driftwood tannins are fine. The reason is because long-term use is not tested. Use long-term at your own risk!
Decaffeinated green tea, when steeped in warm tank water, releases tannins that make the water dark and natural. This option is cheap- head to Walmart and get their version of decaf green tea for $3/50 bags! Make sure the tea is decaf and green tea only. Like any tannin, there is a chance the pH of the tank is altered (lowered) take caution if your pH is low already, and don't darken the water too much all at once.
*It is not recommended to constantly use the decaf green tea method for tannins, whereas actual IAL, Cattapa leaves, or driftwood tannins are fine. The reason is because long-term use is not tested. Use long-term at your own risk!
Mirror, Mirror...
We all know that showing our fish will make them puff up and flare at us, but did you know it can also get them to poop?
"Well what exactly does that help with?!", you may be asking (and I can't blame you)- well, this is a great trick if your fish is a bit bloated and needs help passing some waste.
Remember, never feed your fish a pea. There are many other methods to passing a blockage including this method, fasting, and using epsom salts. That said, if your fish got hold of a few too many pellets and is bloated a day later, show them their reflection. Males often poo when flaring, and within a few hours, the swelling of their stomach will lessen. Do not feel the need to show your fish their reflection to pass waste right after meals- most fish, especially double tails and crowntails, show a round belly after eating a good meal.
"Well what exactly does that help with?!", you may be asking (and I can't blame you)- well, this is a great trick if your fish is a bit bloated and needs help passing some waste.
Remember, never feed your fish a pea. There are many other methods to passing a blockage including this method, fasting, and using epsom salts. That said, if your fish got hold of a few too many pellets and is bloated a day later, show them their reflection. Males often poo when flaring, and within a few hours, the swelling of their stomach will lessen. Do not feel the need to show your fish their reflection to pass waste right after meals- most fish, especially double tails and crowntails, show a round belly after eating a good meal.
Betta Travel Cozies
Traveling with bettas is stressful, there's no doubt about that! However, there are a few tricks to keeping your ride with less flaring and a little less water spillage!
If you're the type of owner who travels with their fish in tupperware or baggies (and you should be!), there's no greater frustration than seeing your fish in their containers in their carrying box flaring at each other. An easy fix is to take one of your cruddy mop-up t-shirts (see above) and cut off the sleeves. The sleeves are usually just large enough and tall enough to go all the way around the cup.
This keeps the cup dark, which keeps the fish comfy; keeps them from seeing each other, which keeps them unstressed; and helps keep you dry in the event the lid leaks a little bit! How awesome!
It's also a good idea for water changes with more than one fish- Darkness, a bit of warmth, and protection from stressing at seeing the other. Perfection.
If you're the type of owner who travels with their fish in tupperware or baggies (and you should be!), there's no greater frustration than seeing your fish in their containers in their carrying box flaring at each other. An easy fix is to take one of your cruddy mop-up t-shirts (see above) and cut off the sleeves. The sleeves are usually just large enough and tall enough to go all the way around the cup.
This keeps the cup dark, which keeps the fish comfy; keeps them from seeing each other, which keeps them unstressed; and helps keep you dry in the event the lid leaks a little bit! How awesome!
It's also a good idea for water changes with more than one fish- Darkness, a bit of warmth, and protection from stressing at seeing the other. Perfection.
