Betta fish

Betta fish (NOT Beta), also known as Siamese fighting fish for their propensity to attack each other. are a very popular fish because unlike most fish, they can live in fairly small bowls without any sort of continuously running filter/oxygenator. They are able to survive in an environment that most fish would find deadly because they actually come to the surface and take a "gulp" of air which they store and use as they need it. Then they come up and get another gulp. This makes them particularly popular in offices as it means that you don't need to have a large tank with a running filter.

I almost consider the "Office Betta" as it's own unfortunate breed. Why? Well these poor little guys seem to die in less than a year, whereas with proper care a Betta fish can live for many years. I cleaned offices as a job for a while and would often see the fish that occupied these offices change color overnight. One evening a fish would be red and another evening a month down the road it would suddenly be blue. I asked around and found out that the fish had died. This was a scene that was repeated over and over throughout the offices I cleaned. The fish would last a year if they were lucky and then a new one would replace it.

Why do office Betta die so soon? Several reasons; first there is a myth that bettas can go days without food, for the office bettas that means every weekend they go without food from Friday to Monday, and on holiday weekends, until Tuesday. While it is true that you should not overfeed any fish (so doubling up on Friday night to "get them through the weekend" is not healthy), going for several days without food is not any better for a Betta than it is for you. Three to four pellets each day, preferably around the same time, seems to work best.

Now, while bettas can live in small tanks without pumps to oxygenate the water, their water still needs to be changed regularly. If your Betta is in a small tank it will need water changes often, once a week at the least, sometimes being too busy with your work prevents the water change from happening. But remember, they don't have a toilet to flush.

Bettas need water temperatures of between 68 and 75 degrees to survive. Winter black outs can be a problem, even a hour period of no power in the winter can kill your fish, and your company might have the temperature set lower on the weekend to save energy. It is uncommon for companies to set the temperature down to 62-64 degrees. While your Betta will probably survive this, it does not promote a long life.
Here's a little helpful hint from personal experience - if your Betta is lying on the bottom of the tank and not moving, and the water is below 55 degrees, he may not be dead. Bettas go into a sort of hibernation mode when they get too cold and can sometimes be brought back. Get a cup of water that is about 10 degrees above the water temp of the tank, make sure you condition the water to take out the chlorine.

Using a net, very gently and slowly place your fish in the warmer water. Keep him near the surface and watch for any mouth or fin movement. Then move him into another cup of conditioned water that is about 10 degrees warmer than the first, and so on until you reach water that is around 68 degrees. If you get no movement after putting them in the 68 degree water, then there isn't anything to do but have a little funeral. However, if he is only hibernating then you will start to see movement once he warms up to the low 60's. But for crying out loud DO NOT JUST DROP HIM IN 68 DEGREE WATER RIGHT FROM COLD, THE SHOCK WILL KILL HIM. Believe me this technique works, we had two bettas in our downstairs living room. The heat went out one winter night and when we woke up they were both lying on the bottom and the water was 50 degrees, they were about 2 years old at the time. Three and a half years later they are still fine at the ripe old age of about 5 and a half.

Other things office bettas have suffered are painters, carpet cleaners, janitors or others knocking the tank to the ground. Cleaning solutions can accidentally find there way into there water. If children are around, like in a reception area, little hands tend to go in tanks quite often. Not to mention the soda, juices or food that finds its way into the tanks.

The poor office Betta, maybe you should think twice before decorating your office with this beautiful pet. Instead, keep him at home where he can get the love and attention he needs and can live a much much linger life. As I mentioned earlier in our home we have 2 bettas, and have had them now about 5 1/2 years