Bette Fish

Question
QUESTION: I keep my Betta's in individual vases. I clean them out every three days. Should I be doing this, or do I need to change only a percentage of the water?

ANSWER: If they are in something as small as a vase it is best to completely change out the water. If you get them into something like a 2 gallon, then you can do only a percentage (about 40%) once a week. The reason being is to leave enough beneficial bacteria in the tank to help eat the ammonia and keep your fish healthier. But this bacteria also needs a lot of aeration, and something so small with hardly any surface area is not going to be sufficient. A vase is honestly not a good choice for a betta, unless it happens to have a very wide top, because bettas are labyrinth fish. This means they have an organ on top of their head that allows them to get air from the surface. But if there is not much surface, it is possible they could suffocate. Just something to think about.

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QUESTION: Brit Brit, your answer helped a great deal,thanks! My fish did not make it and I have two others. Could a divided 10 gallon tank accommodate them? What would you recommend?

Answer
Walesca,
Sorry about your fish.
A ten gallon tank would be a great idea. The bigger the better. Just be sure to put a divider in the middle, preferably one that allows water to flow throughout the entire tank for better gas exchange.
You'll want to do around 30% water change EACH week. It's really important to always do your weekly water changes.