Can Fish Live in a Vase of Bamboo?

Bettas get sold at pet shops in a variety of novelty tanks and bowls, including vases with "lucky" bamboo. However, these various vases and bowls are probably not the best arrangement for bettas. Bettas need a real aquarium in order to thrive.

  1. Diet

    • Bettas will not eat bamboo. These fish are dedicated carnivores. In the wild, they eat tiny crustaceans and insects. Pet shops sell special food for bettas that contains meaty ingredients that mimic their natural diet. You can also feed bettas the occasional live or frozen food like bloodworms or brine shrimp, also available at pet shops. However, bettas will not eat bamboo and cannot survive on a diet of bamboo.

    Heat

    • The biggest problem with keeping bettas in vases or bowls, is that bettas need heated water. Bettas come from Thailand -- formerly Siam -- near the equator. Bettas have adapted to this environment and need water of at least 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Bowls and vases can't usually accommodate aquarium heaters. Worse, some are made of plastic, which can melt in contact with a heater.

    Aquariums

    • Aquariums make better homes for bettas than vases. Despite bettas' reputation for aggression, males only fight other males. A group of females can comfortably share a fish tank, and males will not bother other fish. In fact, bettas are so peaceful that other fish may pick on them. Avoid larger or more aggressive fish. Above all, do not keep bettas with fish with a reputation for fin-nipping. Such fish often find bettas' long fins an irresistible target.

    Bowls and Vases

    • Some aquarium hobbyists have had success keeping bettas in larger bowls and vases. The secret to pulling this off seems to be to keep the betta's home in a warm part of a house and perform weekly water changes. Always use dechlorinated water when performing water changes.

    Bamboo

    • The betta isn't the only potential problem with keeping bettas in a vase with bamboo. Aquarium plants are harder than they look. Plants like bamboo have their own requirements, including powerful lighting and supplemental carbon dioxide. If their needs aren't met, plants could die and rot, fouling the aquarium water. This is even more of a problem with bamboo, since it has a woody stem that could mask poor health and rot.