Fairfax County uses Chlorimines:

Do I need to treat the tap water in any way before I place fish in an aquarium?

The chlorine that Fairfax Water uses for disinfection can be harmful to fish if not dechlorinated before placing in your aquarium. Fairfax Water uses two types of chlorine: free chlorine from April to June as part of our annual flushing program and chloramines the rest of the year, which is a chlorine and ammonia mixture. Free chlorine and chloramine dechlorination is performed differently. Chemical additives with directions for dechlorinating either free chlorine or chloramine from water for use in fish tanks or ponds are available at pet/fish supply stores.

One 5% water change with water left out to stand for 48 hours but not treated with a chlorimine/ammonia buffer killed our pet betta of 3 years. Beware.

3 years is pretty good for a Betta. btw leaving water out will dissipate the chlorine but not the chlorimines - you need to treat.

The average lifespan of a betta is three years. The biological maximum is around five. Betta males are typically mature (a year old) when sold. Females would likely be a little younger.

You should always test and treat tap water before adding it to any aquarium. You should regularly test and treat the water that is already in your aquarium, changing out 20-25% of it weekly. The water should be kept near 72 degrees at all times.

The Realist Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The average lifespan of a betta is three years.
> The biological maximum is around five. Betta
> males are typically mature (a year old) when sold.
> Females would likely be a little younger.
>
> You should always test and treat tap water before
> adding it to any aquarium. You should regularly
> test and treat the water that is already in your
> aquarium, changing out 20-25% of it weekly. The
> water should be kept near 72 degrees at all times.

The Temp range for Bettas is 76-82 degrees F. 72F is too cool.

tempY Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The Temp range for Bettas is 76-82 degrees F. 72F
> is too cool.

At 76, you will wear them out. At 82, you will boil them.

The Realist Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> tempY Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > The Temp range for Bettas is 76-82 degrees F.
> 72F
> > is too cool.
>
> At 76, you will wear them out. At 82, you will
> boil them.

I appreciate your concern - I love bettas. My information is as follows:


Quick Facts
Size 2''-3"
-Temperature Prefers 78-82 F
-pH Range 7 is best, but can handle 6-7.5
-Life Span 3 years or more with good care
-Food Carnivorous- picky eater
-Water Clean freshwater
-Temperament Males are aggressive to other males


http://bettacare101.com/introduction/

This is true of municipal tap water everywhere I've ever lived--not sure what your point is? Or is it just a PSA, for those who might have fish but no clues?

SorryUWrong Wrote:

> -Temperament Males are aggressive to other males
>


Theoretically, would it be bad if you were to purchase several Beta males and put them in a big fish tank together, and bet on who would live the longest, with a large group of friends, all while consuming large quantities of adult beverages?

Would it make it better if I treated the water and kept it at 78 degrees?

Greybeard Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> This is true of municipal tap water everywhere
> I've ever lived--not sure what your point is? Or
> is it just a PSA, for those who might have fish
> but no clues?

I posted because I kept the fish healthy for 3 years and made one slip putting 1/10th water change only letting the water sit for 48 hours but not treating. I thought that would be okay but I did learn chlorimides do not dissipate like chlorine and even a small amount can kill (an older fish).

chlorimines

just as a safety test to see if the fish was poisoned....

hold the fish over a bunson burner and tell us the flame color !

thou cannot access water safety online. it must be ordered using gov funds.

SorryUWrong Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I appreciate your concern - I love bettas. My
> information is as follows:
> Quick Facts
> Size 2''-3"
> -Temperature Prefers 78-82 F

Written by people who are interested in selling you more bettas soon. Bettas will overeat, become hyperactive, and thereby overtax their systems at such high temperatures. This leads to an early death. If you are so loving of the species, keep the tank at 68-75 degrees with 72 being the ideal. Otherwise, boil away as you will.

won't all tap water kill your fish?

Gs7xu Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> won't all tap water kill your fish?


pretty much

I had a friend that once made the mistake of putting a goldfish in with a Beta over a weekend. When we came back in on Monday morning the Goldfish was missing almost all its fins.

chlorimines Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> chlorimines

chloramines

The Realist Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> SorryUWrong Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I appreciate your concern - I love bettas. My
> > information is as follows:
> > Quick Facts
> > Size 2''-3"
> > -Temperature Prefers 78-82 F
>
> Written by people who are interested in selling
> you more bettas soon. Bettas will overeat, become
> hyperactive, and thereby overtax their systems at
> such high temperatures. This leads to an early
> death. If you are so loving of the species, keep
> the tank at 68-75 degrees with 72 being the ideal.
> Otherwise, boil away as you will.

Again I appreciate your input but would love to know your sources. I dont care who gets credit for being right I just want the best information. You offer that there is a conspiracy by those selling bettas to give misinformation so as to increase the mortality of their product. You assume this leads them to believe that they will sell more fish. Fine. Where did you ascertain that? Where did you source the temps you deem ideal?

http://www.petco.com/caresheets/fish/Betta_Male.pdf

OPPy Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Again I appreciate your input but would love to
> know your sources. I dont care who gets credit
> for being right I just want the best information.
> You offer that there is a conspiracy by those
> selling bettas to give misinformation so as to
> increase the mortality of their product. You
> assume this leads them to believe that they will
> sell more fish. Fine. Where did you ascertain
> that? Where did you source the temps you deem
> ideal?

I don't owe you anything. It was asked, and I answered. Otherwise, Google is your friend. Read from 6 or 8 or 10 sources and make up your own mind. As might have been done to begin with.

BULLSHIT.

My pet goldfish lived for over 10 years and only died when I went off to college and my sister forgot to feed him and the poor little fellow went for over a month without eating until he finally died.

The Realist Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> OPPy Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Again I appreciate your input but would love to
> > know your sources. I dont care who gets credit
> > for being right I just want the best
> information.
> > You offer that there is a conspiracy by those
> > selling bettas to give misinformation so as to
> > increase the mortality of their product. You
> > assume this leads them to believe that they
> will
> > sell more fish. Fine. Where did you ascertain
> > that? Where did you source the temps you deem
> > ideal?
>
> I don't owe you anything. It was asked, and I
> answered. Otherwise, Google is your friend. Read
> from 6 or 8 or 10 sources and make up your own
> mind. As might have been done to begin with.

angry much? Your ascertations that bettas 'boil' at temps below 82 is a paranoid fantasy based upon nothing. Thanks for nothing idiot

paranoid fantasy based upon noth Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> angry much? Your ascertations that bettas 'boil'
> at temps below 82 is a paranoid fantasy based upon
> nothing. Thanks for nothing idiot

Grow up.

^trolled harD

Bettas can live 64-85 degrees F. Most online sources cite mid 70's as optimal with some saying 78-82F is best. None say cooler is better. Ive had mine in temps as low as 67 and they were sluggish but fine. You cannot feed them much at low temps because thier metabolism slows down quite a bit.

Go with what works for you - watch your fish and he will tell you. Seems like you cannot go wrong with mid -to-high 70's but you wont kill them between 65-72F they will just be slow and dull.

PS I have gotten away with minor tap water infractions but you screw up the tank cycles as the chemicals in the tap kill beneficial bacteria and harm the gills.

Use spring water and use a water conditioner. I always use spring water and I have a betta that has been alive for 3 years.