long vacation issue

Question
I inherited a betta last year, and have been keeping him in a 2 gallon fishbowl with a waterlilly & a small heater.  Temp is around 80.  Feeding 2x/day 3 betta gold things/feeding.Changing water & cleaning gravel every 7-8 days, and keeping ph around 7.

I'll be away for 7 weeks.  Housesitter does not want to do more than feed the fish.  I'm wondering if I can get a small aquarium (5 gallon), a small filter, and have him last for the 7 weeks with just partial (2 cup/wk) water changes.  I do note that the bowl, plant and gravel get a lot of brown alge by the end of the week - is this harmful?  Will he be ok?

Answer
Pat,

They need 25% water changes every week even with a filter. If you get the 5 gallon then that means 1 and a quarter gallons will have to be replaced every week. You are quite possibly the ONLY person I will say this too. He would be better off in the bowl, if the house sitter does not want to take care of him. I say the bowl because Betta's do not belong in any bowl, but in this case it might be better. The only problem is the bowl does not have a filter. If the house sitter is only willing to change 2 cups of water, then the less water he is in now will be closer to the right amount needing to be changed. Personally, I would find someone that is will to keep your fish alive while your gone. If the right amount of water is not changed weekly, while you are gone, you will come home to either a very sick fish or a dead one. It is very important that the water gets changed and conditioned properly in order for him to survive. I wish I could tell you he would be ok, but I cannot. If he is not taken care of properly he will die. Maybe find another house sitter that will do as you want and need them to do instead of what they want or don't want to do. I am sorry if this sounds harsh but I am a Betta breeder and i am very partial to them and do not like them to be wrongfully treated or not taken care of properly. I hope it all works out for you.