Science Project

Question
I have an urgent question for a science project due tomorrow. I was assigned to keep a fish alive in a closed enviornment for as long as possible. In other words, I have to create an enviornment for this fish so it can survive without any outside air. Any suggestions at this point?
Also I have a few of my own questions.
1. I bought a betta fish already because according to the pet store lady, it survives a long time and can live off of plants. Yet, I came home and read that bettas need a large tank (like 5 gallons), are carnivores and need alot of oxygenation of the water. Is this true? Will my fish survive for 2 weeks or more with only plants in the water?
2. Do I need to provide a snail to clean out the algae for the fish? I'm not allowed to clean it.
3. Will regular gravel work for the bottom of the jar? Does it need to be disinfected at all?
4. Are there any vitamins that I should be putting in the water?
Thanks so much for your help. As soon as you can respond, I would appreciate it!

Answer
Hello Laura -

Personally, I hope someone in your class reports whoever assigned the project to the RSPCA for animal cruelty. I doubt this will happen, though, as fish are not often viewed as living creatures that deserve respect and humane treatment. Ah well.

Here's how you care for a betta. I've kept some of mine alive for nearly 5 years, (I have an 8 year old Gourami as well) but there's no way anyone will ever be able to accomplish that by keeping them in a vase like a plant.

1.) Buy your betta a 1-5 gallon tank.
2.) Buy a heater or small desk lamp to keep him warm. Bettas are tropical fish and need water temperatures in the 70-80 range to survive.
3.) Bettas are indeed carnivores, so buy proper betta food for him (usually in pelleted form.) He cannot eat plant roots, despite what uneducated pet store people may tell you.
4.) Bettas are anabantoids (air breathers) and need a constant supply of fresh air at the water's surface to breathe. They do not need as much oxygen in the water, because they breathe air from the surface, sort of like dolphins. In regards to your project, I have no idea how you will be able to supply this fresh air to a closed system.
5.) If you keep the tank out of the sunlight, there should be little algae growth, so there is no need to add a snail or pleco.
6.) As long as you rinse the gravel, any kind will work.

PLEASE read this website about the nitrogen cycle and if possible print it off and show it to your teacher as well. I have a feeling most of the fish involved in this "project" will quickly die of ammonia poisoning if the tanks are not properly cleaned and cycled.

http://fish.orbust.net/cycling.html

Your message has me feeling rather hopeless because there's no way I can help you make sure all of these fish survive. It's a shame living creatures have to suffer for the sake of your teacher's "project."

Good luck to both you and your betta,
Amber Worman