[BettaFishLuver]

So my sister got this betta fish... It is a huge veil-tail male! He hasn't eaten in 3 weeks since she's got him! I don't know if he is sick or depressed. Even though he is not mine I feel so bad for him! For one, he is in a one gallon tank, no filter, no heater, and it is jammed with so much cheesey decorations he doesn't even have space to fan out his fins! Number two is, she does no water changes. At all! I end up doing the water changes occasionally behind her back! I tried to convince her to buy a heater and a small filter and to take out some decorations but she just ignores me! Anyways the fish is always in his "cave" and never comes out except for air. He looks at the food and ignores it. (I even tried brine shrimp which I feed my betta for treats!) My sister does not feed him unless I remind her so he is not full, just refusing to eat. He does not flare at his reflection or even my male next to him!

 

[callistra]

The fish is stressed and will not survive without some changes. Bettas can last about a month without food, but starving is not the only problem here.

First off with a 1 gallon the water needs to be changed 100% by day 3 max, but I find additional 50% changes on the second day in addition is needed or ammonia can build quickly and even then your betta will live in small amounts of ammonia. Also bettas need to be kept between 76-82 degrees and the temp needs to be kept constant. Large dips like when the house drops cold at night are really hard on their immune system and will eventually lead to illness. The 1 gallon is very difficult to heat, the quick ammonia build up, and the small space make it not a good choice to keep long term. 2.5g is really minimum for keeping bettas healthy for a long time, but if you can at least get him heated and change the water frequently he can live a couple/few years.

Your sister is killing her betta.. Maybe your parents will listen if she's too young to understand.

 

[BettaFishLuver]

My mom thinks I am crazy because I tell her all this stuff and all my dad thinks of is how much money a filter and heater will cost (or even a bigger tank for that matter) I try to do the water changes but I don't have time and my sister flips out when she finds out. I even offered to let her have a small live plant from my tank to replace her corny decorations to give her betta room but she just says "it's my fish, leave me alone!" If her fish lives until March 19th I am going to buy her a 5 gallon tank for her birthday with all the accesories so hopefully she will pay more attention to her fish! I don't know what else to do.

 

[BettaFishLuver]

Oh and I forgot to mention she filled half of the tank with gravel! Which cuts off tons of space!

 

[callistra]

That's just plain sad I'm sorry. I guess your parents and sister will figure it out when the betta dies in a week or few.. maybe try linking to this site?

 

[BettaFishLuver]

I feel so helpless Because I know what is going to happen, it'll die then she will get a new one and the cycle will start all over again! *crosses fingers* hope it hangs in there until march 19!

 

[callistra]

Is that when her birthday is? That's 4 weeks away.. He won't make 7 weeks without eating and no water changes in a 1 g

Only thing I can suggest it point your parents to this thread. Tell them exactly what to expect and when it happens they'll have to believe you.