Question
hi. we recently placed a beta fish in a large bowl with a peace lily. i rinsed all the soil before placing it in the bowl, placed de-chlorinator in it and then the fish...i have a couple of questions: do we need to feed the fish at all? do we need to add water as it gets low or replace the water each time? a few bottom leaves are turning yellow; do is this normal? thanks for your help! h sweet, texas

Answer
Dear HS,

First I am not a fish expert, I think it needs a little food once in wahile but not often. You said bowl so without seeing it I'm not sure how you have it set up. It needs to be in a vase with a narrow neck. The peace lily needs to be on the top of the container with it's roots hanging through the narrow neck. The roots need to have some air space between the bottom of the plant and the top of the water. That is so the lower portion of the roots can absorb water and the upper portion can absorb carbon dioxide out of the air.  Then you will not get the yellow leaves. Being totally submerged in water is too much for them.

Here are a couple of websites with more info:
http://scsc.essortment.com/betafishvase_rhpv.htm  

http://www.aquariumfish.net/information/betta_fish_vase.htm

Good luck.

Darlene