How to Put Betta Fish in Plant Roots
Most betta fish come home from the pet store in a small plastic bag or glass jar filled with water. They'll adapt to aquarium water of a pH anywhere between 6.5 to 7.5, as long as the water is free of chlorine and soap or detergent residue. A floating water plant makes the ideal accent in a betta tank, providing the fish with opportunities to hide in the plant's root structure, which may encourage the fish to be more active.
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Instructions
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Place the betta, still inside its plastic bag or glass jar, in the tank water next to the plant. You may need to push the plant or its roots aside to make room for the bag. Don't worry; this arrangement is temporary. Let the betta float for at least half an hour.
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2
Cut a small slit in the upper portion of the betta's bag, or uncover the jar slightly, and pour in enough aquarium water so that the betta's bar or jar now has 25 percent aquarium water. Let the betta remain in its bag of mixed aquarium and store water for another 30 minutes.
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3
Add more aquarium water to the bar or jar; it should contain about 50 percent aquarium water at this point. Wait another 10 to 15 minutes, then add another, similar portion of aquarium water to the bar or jar; it should now contain about 75 percent aquarium water. Wait another 10 to 15 minutes.
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4
Gently empty the jar or bag into the aquarium, sending the fish with it. Make sure to hold the plant aside so that the betta can slide safely into the water.
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5
Trim the plant's leaves or roots back, as necessary, to ensure the betta unrestricted access to the water's surface. Bettas are surface breathers and will drown if they cannot get to the surface to gulp air.
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Tips & Warnings
If you need to transfer your betta to a new tank with a tropical plant and it's already acclimated to your water--and no longer in a small jar or bag--just pour some water from the old tank into the new aquarium, capture the betta with a small fish-handling net and place it in the new aquarium, then add the water plant. As always, trim the plant back as necessary to ensure that the betta can access the water's surface.
