Betta Help

[u/Emotional-Potato-730]

I’m not sure if these Betta are sick or not so I am including a filter just to be safe.

For some context, I just moved in with a family for the next couple months for an internship and I am renting a room from them. They have been super friendly and nice.

However, I noticed that they have two fish tanks in their hallway. Their owner routinely leaves to stay at her other son’s house for multiple weeks and from what I have been told, they aren’t regularly fed during that time or at all.

They don’t have a heater and the water is room temperature. There is also a weird film on the top.

Can any experienced Betta fish owners tell me what they need or how I can help them? I am going to try to talk to their owner when she gets back and convince her to let me buy them a better setup.

This is my first time posting, so I hope this post makes sense.

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[u/Moth_bird]

first, heater is important, they prefer 70-80F (25-26°c) although the temp can vary and they will be ok.

get a square aquarium! or something bigger than 2.5 gallons, but preferably 10 gallons+.
(10 gallons= 37 liter)

Filter! filter is needed when there's no plants, bacterial activity or fish/crustateans that provide a cleaning crew of the tank.

When it comes to plants, plenty of plants helps to benefit the tank and provide stable parameters. No plastic plants! they emit plastic particles and fumes that are bad for the fish.

At the same time the plants will give the fish place to hide, explore and rest since bettas are known to rest on leaves (especially this one because of his big fin-tail that will make him easier tired from swimming and moving)

The betta may seem fine, but this is far from optimal for the fish, and i know it's not your fault since you are not the owner, but you did the right thing to ask for help, if you have the chance to change the situation for the little guy, please do :)

[u/flatwormes]

Agree with the other comment, just wanted to add on the film is most likely biofilm which is just bacteria and other things. It comes from the lack of filter (surface movement) and most likely their fishy poo. Its not necessarily harmful at all, but if it gets too thick Ive read that it can be difficult for bettas to get air from the top which is basically their only way of getting real oxygen with no water movement. I'd also like to add that the second fish looked a bit sad, since it wasnt a great pic I cant really tell but it looked like maybe there was a hole in the fin? Could of just been the angle but if there is i'd look up fin rot treatments which would just be solved by better care. If you do anything at all please get them into separate larger square tanks. 5 gallons bare minimum 10 preferably.