One of my absolute favorite types of fish is the betta fish. Recently, my nephew won a betta fish in a school carnival and he gave him to me as a gift, and so I brought him home.
Well, not home exactly. I brought him back to the LittleThings office to be our official office pet, Kevin. In an effort to create a great home for Kevin, I decided to make him a beautiful DIY Mason jar fish tank — a project I had seen recommended in various pet stores. This project was so simple and the results were really lovely, just like when I made a Mason jar photo holder.
All I needed was a liter-sized Mason jar, aquarium gravel, some decorations, betta fish food, special betta fish drops for the water, and Kevin himself. Male betta fish actually enjoy small spaces as long as they are at least one liter in size, making the jar a perfect choice.
This simple DIY project took no time at all. It is the perfect project for yourself, or something fun and easy you could try with your niece, nephew, or any other kids in your life.
Scroll through below to see just how easy this Mason jar fish tank is to make.
When choosing the items to put into my Mason jar fish tank, I made sure to do my research about what exactly a betta fish looks for in a good home.
I used a small artificial plant to imitate undersea plant life. I didn't want anything too bulky, so as to still leave plenty of room for Kevin to swim around.
I used aquarium-safe gravel to cover the base of the jar and to hold the plant decoration firmly in place. I chose bright, vibrant colors to complement Kevin's beautiful, bold, blue skin.
I decided to decorate the base even further with small plastic jewels. I made sure to verify with the pet store that all of these items were safe for Kevin's tank.
With the Mason jar decorated, the tank was ready for water. It was very important to ensure that the water was room temperature so I let it sit out for a bit before pouring it in the jar.
It is fine to use regular, clean tap water. I left room at the top of the jar, because betta fish have a unique way of breathing. Not only do they breathe underwater with their gills, but they also breathe from the water's surface with their labyrinth organ.
At the pet store, I purchased special drops that improve the quality of the water for a betta fish. The tank was now all ready for Kevin.
While I might have been inclined to include another betta fish friend in the tank with him, male betta fish do not actually play well with others. They can never be kept in a tank with a betta, and they can only be in a community tank if they are the only betta.
Kevin quickly took to his new home and began to swim around happily. I knew he was nice and healthy because he was active and alert, and his colors were quite vibrant. Loss of color and inactivity would be a sign that something was not right.
When I moved the jar, even though I was being careful, Kevin began to flare his fins. Male betta fish do this anytime they are either threatened or disturbed. Now that his Mason jar home is in a permanent spot, Kevin is swimming around calmly and happily.
Now I get to hang out with Kevin at the office everyday. Luckily, betta fish don't need to be fed every single day. They only eat about three times per week, due to their small size.
I don't have to worry about Kevin outgrowing his home, as betta fish only grow to about 2 1/2 inches long, not including the tail.
This super simple DIY project is perfect as a beautiful compliment to your home, or as a first pet for a child.
These Mason jar tanks are an easy and unique take on the ordinary fish tank!
Please SHARE if you like simple and gorgeous pet DIY projects like this.
