My daughter got herself a red splendor, I think thats what is is?
Anyway its in 1 and 1/2 Gal, no filter yet. I just put in a heater today. We got food so thats ok.
What kind of filter can I put in there? I read they do not do well in a curent so do I got undergravel filter or a box filter? I have seeded filter medium to use aswell if that helps.
My daughter is prepared to change water every week or twice a week....how often should she do so? and how much?

Box filter is ok, but quite frankly u don't need any filters if ur daughter is prepared to do twice a week water changes.

Oh, get a lid for the tank bettas are jumpers

and one more, piccie pls!!

ok cool thanks for the reply mate..I can always count on you
I made a home made cover see this thread with pics:

http://www.kokosgoldfish.invisionzone.com/...showtopic=45785

so he has heater, cover, nice home, food.
anything else I need to know? My daughter relys on me for fish info but hey this is first betta ever I am a newbie in this area.

By the way she named him Lucifer as he all red like the devil LOL

LOL stocking! Nice one, mate!

I'd give some silk/real plants in there like hornwort. Just something for the fish to hide amongst

Oh, and also some bloodworms as treats. Don't forget to feed him peas also just like u do goldies

And a heater and a thermometer! How wonderful to see people treating bettas like the tropical fish they are.

If you put a bucket outside in the sun, your daughter will be able to net some mozzie wrigglers to keep Lucifer going on fresh food.

The main thing is treating the water with chlorine/chloramine remover and keeping up the water changes.

If the container is about 5 gallons you should be ok with weekly water changes. Do 100% and wash all gravel and decor really well.

I personally really advise some sort of filter/ These guys are'nt really piggies,but seem to do better with them for me.ox filter's work great for small tanks.

Thanks for all the great advice. We put in a box filter.
Unfortunately Lucifer passed away after a few days
The water params were fine so we could not work out what went wrong My daughter was most upset.

I decided to try and cycle it further with a tiny feeder (tetra feeder) before getting her another betta and he died too!
I worked out the problem after that...the glass wishing stones!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The substrate was natural black/brown river pebbles mixed with wishing stones to add a nice sparkle and close inspection of them proved the bottom of them was painted/glazed It seems the glaze is giving off toxins.

We removed them and re-set the whole thing up again with another feeder and so far this one seems very perky and happy. If my theory on the stones proves correct and he keeps going fine then she can get another betta.

Just goes to show you have to be so careful with what stones you put in a tank, a hard lesson learnt by my daughter and myself.

I'm so sorry that you lost your Betta's.Just happens that way sometimes,and we just don't know why.
Good luck with your new one.It sounds as if he's alot healthier.

Thanks Dev
The new one is not a betta actually, as my daughter does not want to try this tank with a new one incase the same thing happens.and at $10 from her pocket money!!

Its actually a tiny feeder fish (bout 1cm big), not a goldfish feeder. Our LFS feeder fish are some sort of tropical tetras, they are a yellow color with a black spot near the tail. I have got them before and they grew huge in my trop tank, so if these pebbles are safe now and he lives he will go in the lounge with my tropicals and she will get a new betta, a red one of course LOL

Aww, good luck with it. Bettas are great fish - they have such personalities. My girl is a diva and my boy is just an attention hog!

The only thing that no one mentioned - be very careful with feeding. Bettas have tiny stomachs. One betta pellet (soaked) per day is plenty for them. And a tiny bit of pea if they will eat it. Bettas can be very picky eaters, so don't get nervous if he refuses to eat for the first few days.