First Water Change Today, have a few questions

[New2Betas]

Today will be Master Bettas first water change and I want to make sure its done right.

I kept his cup from the store so plan to have him in that white cleaning his home.

1. Do I add salt to his tank every time I do a water change? (100% water change once a week)

2. When I first brought him home I floated his cup in his bowl for a white, then added a little of the new tank water to his cup, waited 30 min. Added a little more water, waited 30 min, then released him. Do I need to do this every time I do a water change?

[BettaxFishxCrazy]

I add a little salt but some people think that you shouldn't. It gives them some electrolytes, so it's up to you. How big is the bowl? I put them in the temp bowl (that's the same temp as what they were in) and clean the tank, add the water and water conditioner into the tank and then put them back in. Make sure you have water conditioner because it cancels out all the bad chemicals in your tap water.

[eMel]

Something tells me, after reading your posts, that I'm an absolute heathen because I leave my fish in the tank while I siphon water out, vacuum, and add water back in. Should I be netting them and keeping them elsewhere while I play their janitor?

[Jupiter]

Originally Posted by eMel

Something tells me, after reading your posts, that I'm an absolute heathen because I leave my fish in the tank while I siphon water out, vacuum, and add water back in. Should I be netting them and keeping them elsewhere while I play their janitor?

It's really up to you. Some people say removing them to clean stresses them out, while others (like me) do it as a safety precaution. Either way is fine...

Salt is great, and I add some each time I do a water change. I normally try to get the temp from the cup they're in and the temp in the tank the same. If you don't, though, you'll need to float it.

[vaygirl]

I leave my guy and the cories in when vacuuming. Shrimp too. Tango likes to watch me vacuum. He's right next to the tube, watching the whole thing. I think you have to evaluate which stresses them more, leaving them in or removing them.

[kelly528]

My betta never flips out when I vacuum, but he goes nuts when I put him in a cup so I just leave him in the tank. I only do 25% wcs anyways.

[lilyrazen]

I leave them in unless i need to remove my divider, but when I do I leave Evan in because he is less stressed by me moving the tank decor around.

[eMel]

My concern has always been about hurting their eyes by netting them, since they don't have eyelids, know what I mean?

[BettaxFishxCrazy]

No you won't hurt them. I usually try to make it as stress free as possible. I take all of the plants out and catch them quick with the net so they don't stress out too much and then I put them in their temp bowls.

[New2Betas]

I have to take him out because I do 100% water changes weekly. But he is so laid back, nothing seams to bother him at all. I would describe his personality to be like a puppy. If you tap on the glass he comes “running” to you. So cute!