No prob! =]
If I had the scratch I'd get the 5.0 Aqueon Bowfront! Those are soooooo stylish! <3
The 10 gallon kit at walmart is long and not tall. It's actually about the same height as the 5 gallon. It's just 4 or 5 inches longer and a 2 inches wider/deeper (distance from front to back). =]
Lol sorry! My bad. I'm not good at explaining. I meant to say that if you get a sponge filter, most of them require an air pump to operate. the air flows up the tube and out the sponge which draws water into the sponge and traps gunk like waste and food. =]
If you get a sponge filter for a betta though it's strongly advised that you get a gang valve with knobs that let you adjust airflow, as the current from a sponge filter when it doesn't have a gang valve can be too strong. =[
Yes bettas have a labyrinth organ that works in a similar way to our lungs so they do breathe from the surface. They still use their gills just not as much. =]
If you get a critter tote/ kritter keeper
The purpose of the air pump in my post though was so that the sponge filter would work; because although some sponge filters are sold with airpumps, most of the time the pump is sold separately or they expect you to already have one. =P
In truth you could actually make your own sponge filter (I have and it works well) but it probably doesn't work as well as a pre-made one.XD Then again I didn't use the complicated plkan I just stuck an airstomne connected to airtubing into an aquaclear fiter sponge for 30 gallon tanks then ploped it into my tank and voila. I had a cheap sponge filter.
A tetra whisper, pennplax small world, or Azoo palm
http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=9821 filter would all be great for either a critter tot/ kritter keeper. Or even for a 5.5 gallon if it didn't come with a filter. =]
Forgot to mention the palm. It getsgreat reviesw! =]
You only need to worry about this if you don't get one of the kits though. =] If you get a kit it'll come with a filter. =]
If you get the 5 gallon walmart kit then put some sponge over/in the intake. It basically gives you another stage of mechanical filtration, baffles your filter to an acceptable level, and prevents your bettas fins from being sucked up all at once. =] It's awesome. =]
Hoods are highly reccomended and even if you get a kritter keeper or critter tote it'll still have a hood on it. =]
Yes is you get a lid/hood it needs holes to let oxygen in. They don't need lighting but it certainly makes seeing the fish easier and makes the tank look nicer. Also they're required if you want to grow plants in your tank and the tank is away from the window. =]
If you get a tank without a hood/lid then just keep the water level two or three inches from the top. =]