I was wondering if any one has used pop bottles as jars for there bettas?

are you talking about the 2 liter ones? I don't think they would be very sturdy. I did use an empty 1 gallon spring water bottle with the neck cut off when I was out buying my betta a new vase once

yes the 2L ones. I was thinking i could use them. What do you think? Im looking for containers at the $1 store but they are just the same....

Perhaps for juvies as a temporary home. But for a long term permanent home I think it's way too small and inadequate.

Im geting my grandma to get Huge gars that they use in restoronts. I thinks its at least a 1g tank. But that may take a bit.

What would you recomend?

I know someone that uses them when she is growing out. She hot glues styrofoam to the sides, and drill or heats holes in the sides of the bottles, they have their necks cut off I assume.
These go in bins that are filled with water, and as she jars the males, shepulls from the community tank, and plops them in there.when water changing, she just lifts them out, they mostly drain, she does the whole bin, and puts them back in.
I have to talk to her, and get some details on her method exactly.

Yes pleas Bella :)

Well as soon as I see her, I'll get more info.

now thats a great idea ... i was thinking of doing something like that myself .. and we get through millions of pop bottles.. (well not quite) .. and i had thought about useing them as temp baby jars too!! ...

:)

mmm .. restaurants .. i wonder if they throw away all those big jars ... i'll have to go ask some i think!!

Any updates belle?

poke poke

I started out using the 1 gal "pickle" jars. They worked great!

I remember seing a post somewhere about a method of using 2L "pop" bottles like Bella referred to. They used a storage bin for the bottles, drilled or melted holes in the sides and near the bottom of the bottles so they would pretty much drain themselves when removed from the bin. Then to do a waterchange, all they had to do would be to lift the bottle and let drain and then put it into another bin w/ clean water. Repeat until all had been switched over. The one I saw had a heater and HOB filter on the bins too. I think the filter was more or less to circulate the water so the guys closest to the heater wouldn't "cook", but if it was the bio-wheel type, it would help w/ water quality too and maybe stretch the water changes intervals out a day or two. You would basically need two bins, two or three inches deeper than you wanted the water levels in the bottles to be, and a bunch of 2L bottles. I imagine that the heater and filter could be optional depending on your situation. Just measure your pop bottle's diameter and choose a bin(s) that best fits the amount of bottles you want to use.

The only problem I can see w/ this system is being able to observe the individual bettas daily as far as keeping an eye on their health and being able to start treatment as soon as symptoms appear.

I've used them before. If you cut them up in the necked down area so the opening is not full size they will be much stronger and harder for the fish to jump out. If you are going to use them without having to put them in a bin to keep them warm they work pretty well. I didn't really like the bin method because they are very hard to see in the bins. I now use 32oz deli cups with my barracks system. The last time I got some I think I spent $50.00 for 500 with lids. They work great for me, but if you use them plan on doing 100% water changes every other day. I've used 32oz containers since 1993 to raise my bettas.



RC

I use 1 gal rubbermaid storage jars with full water change every 2 to 3 days i like em work good for me just plan on adding more shelving lol lol.

I use Rubbermaid 1 gallon jars as well. I do water changes twice a week on them.


I used to use glass quart jars (and have lots in storage) and then beanie baby boxes (which I do use some for temp jarring and LOTS in storage). I tried using pop bottles with holes, but I just didn't like it, it wasn't as easy as you would think and they are flimsy when filled with water and the tops cut off.

Christy

Interesting ideas here.

RC, since 1993? Boy, you know how to stick to a method. I'm always trying new ideas myself.

I have never seen the Rubbermaid 1 gallon jars....

I use 1 milk/apple juice jugs and I do water changes on them every other day.

I bought mine at Wal-Mart in the tupperware/food storage area.

Christy

Yes, they have them at my WalMart too.

I just don't find them cost efficient myself.

Ill just keep looking around...

I only use them for my breeding males especially my half-giants. So I have 10 of them right now. They were about $2.00 for each one so I didn't think they were too bad. But I do believe if you kept a lot of bettas that it wouldn't be very cost effiecent.

Christy

Back in 1993 I was using 32oz glass gatorade jars. Now I'm using 32oz deli cups in my barracks system. The method has changed, but the container size works great for me.



RC

Well, I only recently discovered the Deli cups and I'm really happy with them too. Guess I should have known you in 1993 huh!? ;)

I have tried this.. With my juvies, I have put some of them in 1 liter bottles.
I don't cut them open or anything, they slide right into the bottle, esp. with the help of a funnel.
And I just put them in a new bottle the next day, rinse the first one, refill, and it is ready for use the following day.
After a week or, toss the bottle, start using a fresh one.
The main problem, is of course, the constant water change can stres the fish, but most of my babies are pretty hardy buggers. And honestly, if you aren't I don't want or need you, as I firmly believe that ability to handle stress, and not break out in disease because of it is at least in part genetic.
The other problem is that you can't se the fish very well, even though I had mine on shelves. There is something about the curve of the bottle that makes getting a good look see at the fish difficult.
However, I will say this, they make excellent transports, ask newdayrising, lol. And they are convient.. I drink a LOT of Sam's Choice White grape water.. in fact that is all I drink, so there are tons of bottles I have access to if I need them.

At one point I had 300 fish in jars and an extra set of jars for them all so I had over 600 gatorade jars that I had drank myself over a 5 month period. It's about a gallon of gatorade a day for 5 months straight :) I don't drink it anymore.


RC

Lolol. Well, I am OCD about the stuff I drink. I drink anywhere from 4-6 bottles of this water. And I haven't gotten tired of it yet (it's been about a year, and it takes me about 2 years to get sick of something).
So... Should I chose, I would certainly have enough bottles, lol.
Funny though, JD Ewtuch was telling me convention last year, you can raise a show fish in as little as a cup of water, as long as the water is clean..
I just don't feel comfortable using as little water as a liter.. but I think it is because the bottle is tall. Maybe a more shallow area, but the same water volume, I would be more comfortable with.

You can used almost any size container. It just the smaller the container the easier it is to screw up and wreak the fins. It's all just a matter of working everyday to keep your fish's fins in top shape if you use smaller containers.


RC

Most definatetly.. I just like longer, more shallow containers.
I was thinking of making my own tanks, they would hold at least a gallon, maybe two, I forget what the calculator said.
They would be 5 wide, 8 long, and 5 or 6 high (I forget what my measurements were, lol).
My fish have always looked more comfortable in longer, rather than taller tanks. Even know, I have a couple 1 gallon tanks, one set are tall, bow front type tanks, and the others are shorter, wider critter keeper type tanks.
All the fish are happier in the critter keeper tanks.
Maybe it is just me, though.

I agree. The surface area seems to be as important as the amount of water as long as the water is deep enough for the fish to be comfortable.

Same here. Deep tanks and containers just seem to be a waste for me. I found some excellent containers for temp housing for quarantine on new arrivals. I like them muchly. They were inexpensive too. Found them in the markdown department at walmart and went to every walmart close to me and scooped them all up.

Umm... pictures??
These should be easy.. they stand still

:Panic :Panic :Panic :Panic :Panic :Panic

You can't run fast enough to escape me woman!

::ZAP!
I have a long reaching whip!
::ZAP!

Ok, so I don't get whipped I won't ask about pics, ;) but could you describe them? I would prefer to get a long and more shallow container than the vertical beanies myself. Maybe my Walmart might have some if you just describe them for me?

I will later.. gotta go get three shipments ready.

I have been patiently waiting...
I guess you forgot about those pics. :(