Reddit reviews Zoo Med Laboratories AZMBL20 Betta Hammock

Are you kidding me?! That’s ridiculously small, he can barely turn around!!!

Jokes aside, it’s a great water volume for him, but it might be a tad deep. They need to reach the surface to breathe with their labyrinth organ, and while they can process air through their gills as well, they do need to reach the surface since most of their air intake is through their labyrinth. I would be concerned with his ability to reach the surface expediently if down low. He will probably spend most of his time near the surface, so I would recommend some floating plants, floating decorations, or they even make fake leaves on suction cups specifically so bettas have a place to rest near the surface.

Nice little tank.

A few things that helped my betta in his 3 gallon were a leaf to rest on and also something to swim around/hide in.

I thought the leaf was an odd idea at first, but if you put it about an inch below the waterline it works well. My betta didn't use it at first, but once he got acclimated to it I could catch him resting on it quite often. I think it works well because they have to get up to the air to breathe, but sometimes enjoy resting, this gives them an area to perch and easily get air.

The vase took a little longer for the betta to get used to it, and I was worried about it being sharp and cutting him. However, he swims in and out of it no problem now, but I don't think he uses it to hide much, he's pretty bold. Still gives him something more to do since the tank is so small.

Hey Phantomsgf! I also have a fluval tank and man those filters are strong! I hunted around for ages and I found a really easy, really cheap solution: buy a pre-filter sponge and pop it onto the filter output. Make sure, of course, that the filter motor is at the lowest setting, but even that is too strong for a betta. You really need the sponge.

If you're having trouble with the filter intake, which are the vertical cuts in the plastic, I guess you could put some mesh over it to, again, slow down the flow. I don't have my betta yet so I'm not sure if this will be a problem.

You might also want to get a thermometer and verify your water's temperature. If it's always about 100 degrees inside your house, even at night, then yes, I'd believe that the water is warm enough for your little guy. But it has to be really really really hot to keep a fish tank at 80 degrees.

As for cycling, you're basically going to have to do a lot of water changes really often. My instinct, which is amateur, says to do 50% a day every day. I also learned from experience that you should let water sit for a while to warm up before putting it in the tank or the temperature drops like crazy.

You can check out products like this that claim to add the bacteria to your tank that eat fish waste. Do they work or is it a myth? I don't know. But for tiny tiny tanks like the fluval you have, you will definitely need a water dropper that can measure a tenth of a millimeter to put this stuff in your tank.

Anyway. Those are my tips. And when you do get a heater, you can fit it where the filter output plastic tube is! So cool!

Oh: look at this leaf. So cute.

Most likely just a birth defect, defects are common among fish but usually breeders will cull fish that have very obvious deformities.

Give him lots of spaces to rest near the surface so he can breath air if he wants, try large-leafed plants like Pennywort or Banana Plants. A Betta Hammock works too.

Try Hikari Betta Bio-Gold, the pellet size is very small and it will be more nutritious than flakes. Most flakes have a lot of filler ingredients (usually wheat) so that it can be made into "flake" form and thusly aren't very nutritious for Bettas, who are carnivores. New Life Spectrum Grow 0.5mm pellets are a good choice too.

Here ya go! :)

I got mine on amazon! Here's the link.

He's a little slow at using it. He kind of just uses the suction cup and not the leaf haha.

One thing you can get that your betta will love you for is this. I have a 10 gallon tank that I use for rooting houseplants that I have made trimmings of, and I have a betta and a golden mystery snail that live in it. Gilbert (that's the betta) loved twining into the roots of the plants once they started rooting out, but when I would take the plants out to pot and start new trimming, his resting spots hear the top of the water disappeared. I put three of these around the tank, and he spends more time on them than anywhere else. To get them used to the hammock, put their food in the water directly over the leaf so they have to almost rest on it to eat. I keep mine about an inch to an inch and a half under the water surface, and he LOVES them.

Edit for: I could put some small community fish in there, but Gilbert is way too possessive of his tank for even the most drab small fish to enter it. He gets pissed at me for walking by it on my way to feed him, and even though there are multiple hiding spots in the tank for him to claim as his own, he chased the 2 danio fish I tried to house with him until I thought he or the danio fish would keel over from exhaustion. Sometimes betta fish are just happier being by themselves.

I ordered this one tonight: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0027IZ6KW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I should be out tomorrow, I'll hit petco and look for that one. Sounds nicer than this one.

Give him something to rest on that's closer to the surface.

http://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Med-Labs-Betta-Hammock/dp/B0027IZ6KW

Make sure your heater is at least 20 watt. If not, try to get a more powerful one ASAP.

Otherwise, looking good! You could get a betta leaf for your betta to rest on if you wanted :)

I have this betta leaf hammock, which apparently bettas like to sleep on! I'd love to put it in my betta's tank! It's in my Under $5 list. Thanks for the contest!

[Anubias] (http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/plantfinder/images/Araceae/Anubiasbarterivrnana.jpg) are the easiest ones to care for--I've had mine for years and until recently they've never had any special plant lighting. There are tons of different types but most sold in the pet stores are easy. With proper light they will grow bigger and more lush, but with regular light they will survive just fine. Tie the rhizome to a rock or even a decoration and that's literally it. The roots will work their way down eventually. If you can get some floating plants that is great for them, too (frogbit, dwarf water lettuce). Plants take in the nitrates so they look pretty, provide shelter and hiding and help keep the water clean. If you don't do that, do silk plants. They are a bit more expensive but zero maintenance. I have both types in one of my tanks and the betta likes them both but hangs out in the floating plants more.

If you see your betta laying down on a leaf (silk or live) he's probably just resting. [Betta hammocks] (http://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Med-Laboratories-AZMBL20-Hammock/dp/B0027IZ6KW) are great for that, too. It gives them a resting spot when they go to the surface for air. some bettas ignore them, others love them like crazy.

Ah that's good! I think just keep an eye on him, if you're really worried, you could get him something like this http://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Med-Laboratories-AZMBL20-Hammock/dp/B0027IZ6KW to sleep on. (Also, if you're happy with the baffled filter I would keep it. Otherwise you'll have to cycle the tank again) I hope I've helped and good luck :)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001B4KG2Q/ref=pd_aw_sbs_2?pi=SY115&simLd=1&dpPl=1&dpID=51cgOhWUtTL

Tank


http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B006JVQ67K/ref=s9_top_hm_b3FMi1z_g199_i2

Heater

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0027IZ6KW/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1419281694&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SY200_QL40&dpPl=1&dpID=51A5Tlq5o1L&ref=plSrch

Hammock (optional, I have one for all 3 of my betta, it gives them a nice spot near the surface for resting, I think it would be a nice pick-me-up for a sick betta)

This tank is cheap and I cannot recommend it enough. I got it because a friend had it and I saw how awesome it is. My only suggestion is to move the tube with the filter toward the edge of the tank, as it is kind of obstructive in the middle and you really don't need the little prop thing it comes with.

http://i.imgur.com/FQgJjqP.jpg

My setup with all of the above, including the filter modification. Comes in about $20 under budget too, which id suggest spending on a first aid kit. You never know when your fish could get sick, and it is much better to have everything you need on hand than have to make an emergency pet supply run.

So something like this for example? https://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Med-Laboratories-AZMBL20-Hammock/dp/B0027IZ6KW/ref=zg_bs_2975453011_1#customerReviews

Hello! I love bettas! They are awesome fish to upkeep! They also have the most interesting personalities! (I swear the one I have in my bedroom stares at me sometimes when he's extra hungry)

1. Bettas like pretty normal temperatures (76-82ºF/24-27ºC), but with a 10G you will need a heater. When you go look at filters you will see that the size you get depends on your tank, so you will get a 10 gallon filter. I suggest an Aqueon, you can't go wrong with that.
   
2. Try something this heater, it has a thermostat so you have more control. You can find a cheap thermometer at the pet store that will suction to the side. I have my bettas in a 5 gallon and they do rather well.
   
3. Do you want live plants? That's a whole other level of tank. It's fun and challenging sometimes. Java Ferns, anubias, marimo balls and java moss.
   
4. Bettas love themselves and playing, I'd avoid mirrors though that could stress them out from trying to protect their territory from themselves. You can get a betta hammock for it to nap in, a snail for it to flare up at every once and a while, I even put ghost shrimp in the tank for mine, and when one dies he plays with it and eats it (circle of life)
   
5. I've gotten all mine at Petco.
   
6. The substrate depends on if you want to plant your tank.
   
7. Yes yes yes yes yes yes!
   
8. Here's this easy guide if you want to read it

Basically Guppy isn't great at catching food. If it's in the surface it tends to float away from where I feed and it sinks near the back of the tank. Sometimes Guppy can't see the food floating until it sinks, then she chases it but if she isn't fast enough it hits the bottom and she ignores it. So I've devised this little setup.

Basically just a floating feeding ring and a betta leaf hammock. The floating ring keeps it from floating off and the leaf catches any bits that sink. The brown granules are easily noticed by Guppy on the green leaf and she knows where exactly to stay when she's being fed!

Betta Feeding Ring https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GP2PTVZ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_OgZTDbQWF49TT

Zoo Med Laboratories Betta Hammock https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0027IZ6KW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_hhZTDbJHHB604

(I swear I'm not sponsored but this has been a real frustrating thing for me so in case anyone else is in this situation)

If it is sold for fish, it is probably fine. The only thing I would watch for is sharp edges, bettas tend to have long delicate fins that snag easily. Feel all around, and if there are any sharp places, just sand them off, and rinse off the sanding dust.

Also, not sure if that is floating or sinking log? Betta's sometimes like to explore/hide low, but mostly like to hide high, near the surface, so they can come up to breathe. I have this type of floating log, (it floats like this and my betta loves hiding and sleeping in it. I did have to sand off a bunch of rough areas though.

If it is a sinking log, you might want to also add something near the surface, like a betta hammock or float a live anubias plant.

I had a similar issue with needing a small footprint, and I went with this tank So far, I'm really happy with it! The filter has an adjustable flow, and I have it on its lowest setting, and my betta seems fine with that (even with very long fins.) I've even had some success so far with low-light plants with the stock light that comes with it. I did add one of those betta hammock leaves so that he had a place to hang out when he goes up for air. I think it's fairly affordable compared to Fluval's tanks, myself.

Hi there, it's lovely that you want to help this fish! It's sad that a school is willing to set such a poor example of animal care to kids.


Would your parents be willing to help? If so, a letter from them to the school saying something along the lines of "We feel it's important to teach our children compassion and responsibility when it comes to animal care, and the fish in the library doesn't have a proper set up for a betta fish. Please lead by example and use this as a teaching opportunity by setting up a proper small tank for the school fish. Thank you".


If they wouldn't want to get involved, then a Betta leaf hammock (link) would be more useful for him than a moss ball, and they only cost $3-4. If it's placed a few inches below the surface of the water, Bettas like to lie and rest and sleep on them, but also be close to the surface so they can breathe (Bettas can breathe oxygen from the surface, which is why people feel okay about keeping them in small bowls that would kill a fish that can't do that much more quickly).


https://www.amazon.co.uk/zoomed-Floating-Betta-Leaf-Hammock/dp/B0027IZ6KW/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3VIYPUOID4VKB&keywords=betta+leaf+hammock&qid=1566918613&s=gateway&sprefix=betta+leaf%2Caps%2C186&sr=8-2

Sorry to say, but I'm a bit new to this. Can you explain the first paragraph like I'm 5 or something? Everything else I pretty much understand. Is [this heater] (http://www.amazon.com/Changeshopping-Submersible-Adjustable-Aquarium-Thermostat/dp/B00KXXV1GQ/ref=sr_1_sc_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1411764389&sr=8-2-spell&keywords=adjustable+heater+fish+tank) any good? Also getting this leaf and this hiding spot, is there anything else I need besides gravel?