Pickle Jar Aquarium
 

I have had a thought, and have acted on it,...sort of. I was at the
corner grocery store earlier this evening, purchasing some roast beef,
and what do I see, but several one gallon jars of Dill pickles sitting
up on the counter over the meats, cheeses, et cetera. Long story-short,
just how good an aquarium would a well washed-out one gallon jar be for
a single Betta splendens/ Siamese Fighting fish? I figure that it could
be a wee bit better than the plastic containers that I spoke of in an
earlier post. And not only that, the store's owner said that when ever
a pickle jar at his store becomes empty, that I can have it for free.
If utilizing these pickle jars is a safe, economical way for the
housing of single Bettas, not only will I purchase some Bettas for the
elderly Lady that I spoke of in the earlier posts, one at a time, there
are some families in the area with kids who have seen my three Bettas,
who I'm sure would love to have one for a pet, to help their children to
learn not only about responsibility, but also the love of the Earth's
other creatures, from having a pet in a family who, because of having
little money, wouldn't of had the experience of having a pet.
One more question. Some time ago someone told me something about
some metal being toxic to aquarium fish. Is this true? I ask because
the lids of the jars are all metal, and in transporting the fish, the
jar lids would be securely closed. And I'm thinking that it would also
be a good idea to keep the lid on so the jars, so that the fish don't
jump out, something that I have been told can happen. In the Army they
always told us that there are no dumb questions, so I ask these
questions, though they may sound dumb.
I am so wanting this to work so much, that I even paid $10.00 for a
whole gallon jar of Dill pickles,...Ever had a dinner consisting of
Roast Beef and Dill Pickles? It should last me a couple of daysLOL.
Quote for the Week:
"You should be
the change
you wish to see in the world."
~~~Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

Papa Red wrote:

I have had a thought, and have acted on it,...sort of. I was at
the corner grocery store earlier this evening, purchasing some roast
beef, and what do I see, but several one gallon jars of Dill pickles
sitting up on the counter over the meats, cheeses, et cetera. Long
story-short, just how good an aquarium would a well washed-out one
gallon jar be for a single Betta splendens/ Siamese Fighting fish?

It would work fine.
Assuming that you could get the pickle smell out :)

I kept my first two bettas in a pair of one-gallon plastic cookie jars.
The lids kept the bettas from jumping out (which may not actually be a
problem, but I was being cautious). I even drilled holes in the upper
'shoulder' of the jars to run airlines in for small internal filters.

As with any smallish container, of course, regular water changes are
important. And, luckily, very easy. I recall you mentioned that it
stays pretty warm in your area, so heaters aren't a concern, but
depending on the exact measurements of the jar in question, you might
even be able to fit a small, 25 watt submersible heater in it.

I am so wanting this to work so much, that I even paid $10.00 for
a whole gallon jar of Dill pickles

Woof. That's a lot of pickles to eat.

--
Eric Schreiber
www.ericschreiber.com

Subject: Pickle Jar Aquarium
From: (Papa Red)
Date: 9/19/2004 10:02 PM Central Daylight Time
Message-id:

I have had a thought, and have acted on it,...sort of. I was at the
corner grocery store earlier this evening, purchasing some roast beef,
and what do I see, but several one gallon jars of Dill pickles sitting
up on the counter over the meats, cheeses, et cetera. Long story-short,
just how good an aquarium would a well washed-out one gallon jar be for
a single Betta splendens/ Siamese Fighting fish? I figure that it could
be a wee bit better than the plastic containers that I spoke of in an
earlier post. And not only that, the store's owner said that when ever
a pickle jar at his store becomes empty, that I can have it for free.
If utilizing these pickle jars is a safe, economical way for the
housing of single Bettas, not only will I purchase some Bettas for the
elderly Lady that I spoke of in the earlier posts, one at a time, there
are some families in the area with kids who have seen my three Bettas,
who I'm sure would love to have one for a pet, to help their children to
learn not only about responsibility, but also the love of the Earth's
other creatures, from having a pet in a family who, because of having
little money, wouldn't of had the experience of having a pet.
One more question. Some time ago someone told me something about
some metal being toxic to aquarium fish. Is this true? I ask because
the lids of the jars are all metal, and in transporting the fish, the
jar lids would be securely closed. And I'm thinking that it would also
be a good idea to keep the lid on so the jars, so that the fish don't
jump out, something that I have been told can happen. In the Army they
always told us that there are no dumb questions, so I ask these
questions, though they may sound dumb.
I am so wanting this to work so much, that I even paid $10.00 for a
whole gallon jar of Dill pickles,...Ever had a dinner consisting of
Roast Beef and Dill Pickles? It should last me a couple of daysLOL.

Aside from you have one heck of a belly ache, it should be ok for a male.
The only thing is the temp at night that would concern me.
There would also need to be 1-2 times weekly water changes of 100% of the
water.
After you get the pickle jars home, you would simply soak it to remove any
outer paper and scub off any remaining glue from the label.
After that's off just wash it out really good, paying extra attention to the
inside. Rinse extremely well and then just give it an extra one to be safe.
The dish soap will rinse clean off the glass, so it's ok to use. (there's no
rubber silicone for soap residue to stick on).
I quaranteen Bettas this way and keep my large mayo or pickle jars.
I've cleaned them like that for years, but just make sure you rinse them out
very well. Making sure you get into the grooves around top of the jar.
Since the Bettas will nothave filtration, I advise feeding Hikar Bio Betta Gold
pellets. The water will stay cleaner longer than if you fed flake.
I would feed frozen Bloodworms as more of a treat right before the water
changes.
Feeding B.W.'s is wonderful for them on a daily basis, but since the jar won't
be filtered feeding them would pollute it very quickly. Stay away from freeze
dried B.W.'s as they will cause constipation in Bettas. = O

TYNK 7 wrote:

Feeding B.W.'s is wonderful for them on a daily basis, but since the
jar won't be filtered feeding them would pollute it very quickly.
Stay away from freeze dried B.W.'s as they will cause constipation in
Bettas. = O

Or, if you (Papa Red) live in an area anything like where TYNK and I
live, just stand outside for 30 seconds a day and catch all the
mosquitos that try to desanguinate you. My bettas have been getting
frequent meals of bloodsucking insects lately :)


--
Eric Schreiber
www.ericschreiber.com

||One more question. Some time ago someone told me something
|| about some metal being toxic to aquarium fish. Is this true? I ask
|| because the lids of the jars are all metal, and in transporting the
|| fish, the jar lids would be securely closed. And I'm thinking that
|| it would also be a good idea to keep the lid on so the jars, so that
|| the fish don't jump out, something that I have been told can happen.
|| In the Army they always told us that there are no dumb questions, so
|| I ask these questions, though they may sound dumb.

Only dumb question is one NOT asked...

The metal lids usually will have a rubber sealant over them to prevent the
metal coming in contact with the pickles, so you should be fine...

You lucked out, they'll be great for the bettas...

--
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The only thing is the temp at night that
would concern me.

I used to clean houses for a living and from my limited experience, the
elderly keep their homes on the very warm side. Now I do not know
PappaRed's friend, but if she is anything like the 95% of the elderly I
know, her home is plenty warm enough for her bettas.

Vicki


"It is well that war is so terrible, else we would grow fond of it."

~ Robert E. Lee~

Visit me on line at
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Subject: Pickle Jar Aquarium
From: "Eric Schreiber" ericat ericschreiber dot com
Date: 9/20/2004 2:02 PM Central Daylight Time
Message-id:

TYNK 7 wrote:

Feeding B.W.'s is wonderful for them on a daily basis, but since the
jar won't be filtered feeding them would pollute it very quickly.
Stay away from freeze dried B.W.'s as they will cause constipation in
Bettas. = O

Or, if you (Papa Red) live in an area anything like where TYNK and I
live, just stand outside for 30 seconds a day and catch all the
mosquitos that try to desanguinate you. My bettas have been getting
frequent meals of bloodsucking insects lately :)

= O
Oh my Eric, it's a nightmare out there with the skeeters!
The other night my son (18 yrs old) and his friend were over using the puter
and my son swatted a skeeter on the floor and I pounced on it and yelled "Ooo,
fish food!"
I expected to get at least a weird look from his buddy, but he didn't bat an
eye lid, lol.
The fish have been having some tastey snacks. Yum. = )

Subject: Pickle Jar Aquarium
From: (Vicki S)
Date: 9/21/2004 4:04 AM Central Daylight Time
Message-id:


The only thing is the temp at night that
would concern me.

I used to clean houses for a living and from my limited experience, the
elderly keep their homes on the very warm side. Now I do not know
PappaRed's friend, but if she is anything like the 95% of the elderly I
know, her home is plenty warm enough for her bettas.

Vicki


Hehe, must be what side of the pond you live on. = )
The elderly I know like it too darn cold.

Hehe, must be what side of the pond you
live on. = ) The elderly I know like it too
darn cold.

Tynk, my friend, it must be. LOL!!! It was almost a guarantee for me
to walk into a new clients home, break into a profuse sweat and then
find out that an elderly person lived there. Even my folks keep their
home to warm for me any more. If our elderly liked it on the cool side
I might have stayed in the housekeeping biz a little longer.

Vicki


"It is well that war is so terrible, else we would grow fond of it."

~ Robert E. Lee~

Visit me on line at
http://shamrock4u.250free.com

To send e-mail delete webtv.net and add msn.com
(put to Vicki in subject line or my spam filter will discard)