For these coming holidays some students will be selected to look after the Betta Splendens (fighting fish) and the Stick Insects at home. To be selected you must have permission from your parents before you can take the fish or stick insects home. The other fish will be remaining at school on automatic feeders.
For the Stick Insects I will provide the small glass terrarium, container for the leaves and water and a spray bottle. Euycalyptus leaves will need to be replaced every 3 days so you will need to have a local supply. Your mum or dad will need to come and help take the small terrarium home.
The Betta Kit to take home contains:
- A container to house the betta
- Betta food (Hikari: Betta Bio-Gold)
- Water ager (removes chlorine and chloramine from tap water)
- Indian Almond leaf (Helps to keep them healthy)
- Straw (for cleaning tank)
- A betta fish
Instructions for looking after your Betta Splendens for the holidays
First Day
- Once you have the fish at home you need to quickly prepare some water in the provided container with some of the water ager and add the tea bag.
- Float the small container with the fish in the container with the new water.
- Every now and then for the next 20 minutes add a little of the new water to the container with the fish.
- After about 20 minutes you should be able to release the betta into it’s larger container.
The Indian Almond leaf will need to remain in the water until you bring it back to school. The leaf will colour the water and help strengthen the betta’s immune system so it won’t get sick.
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Feeding
Using the provided Hikari food you need to feed your betta twice per day, once in the morning and once in the early evening or late afternoon. The Hikari pellets are quite big so you only need 2 or 3 pellets per feeding. If you see lots of food at the bottom then you are feeding too much.
Cleaning (Using a straw)
Removing waste and excess food is very important and needs to be done every 2 or 3 days. This can be easily achieved by using a straw, no you don’t need to suck on it :).
Step 1.
Before placing the straw in the tank you need to cover the other end with your finger.
Step 2.
Keep your finger on the end and place the straw near the food and waste.
Step 3.
Remove your finger and the food should fly up into the straw.
Step 4.
Quickly place your finger over the top end of the straw again and remove the straw from the tank.
Repeat this process until the tank is clean.
Changing the water
If you keep the tank clean using the straw method then you should only need to change half the water once or twice during these holidays.
Before you change the water you will need to prepare some more water.
Step 1.
Prepare a 1/2 Litre of water in another container the day before you plan to change the water, don’t forget to add the water ager (read the bottle for directions). If the container has been cleaned with any type of soap then you will need to wash it clean with salt water and then rinse with plain water.
Step 2.
The following day, when both containers are around the same temperature, pour out half the betta’s water and then slowly replace it with the prepared water.
Bringing it back to school (any day in the first week)
In the morning scoop the betta up into the small container you first had him in. Put enough water in so that you can put the lid on tightly and still see the top of the water. Bring it straight into class and I will then do the transfer back into it’s home.
Tags:
betta,
fighting fish,
Fish,
Stick Insects
Today we visited the Life Education Van and Healthy Harold. We learnt about being healthy and safe at school and at home.
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