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I am making a set of instructions for my roommate to take care of my betta over winter break. She knows very little about fish. The betta lives in a bowl with a java fern. So how does this instruction sheet look?

Betta Care Instructions

Feeding: Feed two or three pellets once a day. If you miss feeding that is fine. He can go for up to a week without food. Too much food will pollute the water which is not good.

Water Change: Change water once a week (so about twice when you have him over break). Make sure the water you put in the bowl is about the same temperature as what was in it before, and make sure you put the dechlorinator (Stress Coat) in the new water. That chemically removes the chlorine/chloramines from the water to make it safe for the fish.

Where to put the bowl: Don’t put it above a radiator because it will get too hot. Someplace that gets indirect sunlight is good for the plant, but it will survive even if it’s dark for a couple weeks.

I have already showed her how to do water changes.

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Maybe have a couple of gallons of spring water on hand in the room for water changes. Won't need to dechlorinate the water and will make water changes easier for your roommate. The instructions sound pretty good to me.

She's taking him home with her to Chicago. I don't want to make her take more than the fish, bowl, dechlor, and food...

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Actually if the fish is moving to a new location she should reaclimate the fish to the new water when she does a water change.

You have a good point.

My roommate ended up leaving without the fish But it's ok. I caught a friend before she left and she was really happy I let her take her fish home with her (she knows I love my fish). She said she was going to tell her mom she was taking home a pet so she'd flip out until she found out it was just a fish over break I think he's in good hands.

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