View Full Version : Betta question
billsdixie
02-27-2005, 11:40 PM
I'm addicted to bettas, what can I say. However, it seems that whenever I get them, they succomb to tail rot. Is it just two major pet stores that shall remain nameless? I have a 2 gallon tank and I treat the water and everything, but I lose them. Any tips? I have sanitized the tank according to the way mentioned on bettatalk.com....but does anyone have any luck with bettas from major pet chains?
tel0004
02-27-2005, 11:51 PM
I have a betta in my 29 gallon community tank that I got from petsmart. At that location, they have the bettas plumbed, so it was constantly giving them freshwater. Ive only had him for about 1.5 months, so I cant declare success right now, but he seems to be happy. Welcome to Aquariacentral.
Red Tailed Wonder
02-28-2005, 8:09 AM
you would get better response in the general freshwater forum rather than coldwater.
fantail
02-28-2005, 6:41 PM
bettas need a bit more room than 2 gallons. try and get him a 5 gallon with a heater and filtration.
bblboy54
03-25-2005, 4:04 AM
I have a betta in a 1.5 gallon aquarium... no heater but has a makeshift bubble wall (this is actually the SpongeBob Square Pants aquarium sold at PetSmart). This betta came from PetSmart in Greensburg, PA and not only have I had him for at least 6 months now he survived a four hour drive to my new apartment in Virginia. We (me and all my fish) have been living here since the end of january and my betta seems to be doing just as well as ever.
Sarasvati47
03-25-2005, 1:55 PM
I've had my betta in 1 gal. for about 3 years now. I do regular water changes. The tank has an under gravel filter with an airstone tube for circulation. He is quite happy and alert, and seems to recognize my movement near the tank as meaning it's feeding time. He's doing well so far...
2 gallons isn't too small for a betta. Niether is a one gallon really, as long as you are very good about keeping the water clean and the tank tidy and you have it in a place where the temps aren't fluctuating too much.
I have some very happy healthy betta in 1 gallon tanks. their color is good and they are very lively and active. I do keep them near one another so they have another fish to interact with. They flare at each other a bit when first introduced, but quickly settle down once they get used to the fella next door.
I also have betta in a 5 gallon tank and a 10 gallon divided for 4 betta...both have a filter and heater. I love these fish and take very good care of them. I collect them because I enjoy the many varieties of color and finnage that you find in the betta. I have to chuckle when I read folks getting all incensed and outraged with bettas being in anything smaller than 10 gallons.....but I also think it's a bit much to pile on someone who does have them quite content in smaller tanks....as long as they are keeping the water quality up. Of course, betta most certainly do make a very nice show fish for any larger tank, as long as the tank mates are compatable.
Sorry, enough of my rant, if you want to call it that..........Dixie...check the PH level of your water. I have found that higher PH can effect the health of bettas fins. I had one in perticular that no matter how clean I kept the water....and took EVERYTHING out of the tank thinking he was possibly snagging his fins on the plants....his fins still would tatter for no apparent reason. I put him in a tank with peatmoss underneath a plant substrate...got the PH down to 7.6...(it was 8+ !)...and I haven't had a problem with him since. Also, be very careful about how much water conditioner you add to the water....and do let the water sit for a few days at least before you use it for a change.
When you buy your bettas, make very sure they are healthy and active...with no signs of fin damage or rot. If you find out when the store gets thier bettas in you could go and buy them on that day. Then you know they havn't been sitting there for days and weeks before you buy them. Better chance of getting a healthier betta...and also an unusually colored one. The nicest ones go pretty fast. I totally understand your betta obsession....lol....
Also, carefully and slowly acclimate them to their new home..adding a bit of your water to the water they came in...helps too
Lauren
03-25-2005, 4:41 PM
I agree that you dont' need 5 gallons to keep a betta. Let me tell you about my little betta.
We bought him three years ago. For the first two years he lived in 1/2 a gallon with no filtration or heating and infrequent water changes. Then I got into fish, bumped him up to a 2 gallon with a UGF where he lived happily for a year. Two months ago he was moved to a 5 gallon with a sponge and heater.
He's four years old, lived most of his life in unheated, unfiltered water. He's old now, not very active, but still has all of his color.
Betta-Gurl
03-25-2005, 4:57 PM
I agree considering i have 4 males in my 25g spearated by betta barracks which are less then 1g each
By the way heres a link to what "Betta Barracks" are just in case you were wondering
Betta-Gurl
03-25-2005, 5:20 PM
Heres the link to what a Betta Barracks is.
http://www.hagen.com/canada/english/aquatic/product.cfm?CAT=1&SUBCAT=122&PROD_ID=01109390010101
WinterWind
03-25-2005, 7:56 PM
I want to get a male betta for my 10 gal. Would the male betta be compatible with a group of cories and 2 dwarf puffers?
He'll be fine with the cories...but I'm not sure about the puffer. I have never had one but everytime I read something about them I hear how aggressive they are. I would worry about the puffer chewing up the betta's fins.
No way will a betta and dwarf puffers survive together long. Thos yummy fins will become a target sooner rather tahn later.
I have found my most succesful bettas to have been in heated tanks with live plants and weekly water changes of at least 50%. Of course I have a heavily planted 5 gallon tank. If the tank were 2 gallons then I would be doing a water change of 50% twice a week (that is only 1 gallon at a time so not too much work for you).
A heater may be hard to get in a smaller tank, so either find the most stable heated spot in the house or maybe look at getting a heated reptile mat or sometimes you can buy heated mats to grow seedlings at garden stores.
Ideally a 5 gallon tank with a heater and small bubble type filter would be best if you have the space and money (though they are pretty cheap).
knashash
03-26-2005, 11:35 AM
Yeah definatley dont do the beta with the DPs. I have my beta in with 5 cories and some amano shrimp in my 10 gallon and everything is groovy. In fact the beta likes to rub up against and sleep next to one of the bigger cories in particular......ive caught them like that a few times and i think its the funniest thing. Im gonna get a picture of it to post. He does flare up at another one occasionaly...but thats all ive seen. Granted ive only had him for a month now so take my advise cautiously....... but he is really showing some personality....i am definatley turned on to these guys.
Bettas have a way of doing that......sort of like potato chips...can never have just one...lol :rolleyes:
knashash
03-26-2005, 9:01 PM
I got a pic of the Beta and Cory hanging out like as was talking about:
http://www.directcustomer.com/FishTank/BetaAndCory.jpg
Harlock
03-26-2005, 9:05 PM
Ha, very cool! Too bad that leaf was in the way. Rather a good shot though.
suby7272
03-28-2005, 12:20 AM
Betta-Gurl !! Do you really have 4 male bettas in a 25 G ??? :bowing:
Harlock
03-28-2005, 10:45 AM
Betta-Gurl !! Do you really have 4 male bettas in a 25 G ??? :bowing:
I'm not betta-gurl, but I believe she does. She uses tank dividers to keep them separated.
Betta-Gurl
03-29-2005, 8:19 PM
Yup i do i use Betta Barracks they are simply Amazing you can have up to 4 males in one betta barracks and i have 3 in mine right now but 4 males total because my oldie is in the community tank with all the other fish. they all get along great i suggest them to anyone who enjoys the company of male bettas or females for that matter!!!
squeek
03-30-2005, 5:49 AM
umm...id like to say something...
Bettas are alot happier in a larger ammount of water.....In pet shops they are put into jars...I bought mine home and put him in a 10 gallon....I can assure you he swims around non stop, his bubble nest is rediculously huge!
Bettas don't really need an airpump...they have the labyrinth organ whick allows them to breath from the surface.......The only air pump i have is actually running my sponge filter in the 10G betta tank....
Betta-Gurl
03-30-2005, 2:16 PM
ok????
knashash
03-30-2005, 3:51 PM
umm...id like to say something...
Bettas are alot happier in a larger ammount of water.....In pet shops they are put into jars...I bought mine home and put him in a 10 gallon....I can assure you he swims around non stop, his bubble nest is rediculously huge!
Bettas don't really need an airpump...they have the labyrinth organ whick allows them to breath from the surface.......The only air pump i have is actually running my sponge filter in the 10G betta tank....
You are preaching to the choir
Holly9937
03-30-2005, 3:57 PM
I'm not sure if I am seeing the pic right, but those betta barracks look even smaller than the dixie cups that they are sold in from pet stores... :(
bblboy54
03-31-2005, 1:08 PM
Sure, any fish is going to make use of a larger aquarium. If you put a beta in a 10 gallon, he'll swim all over the place. This doesnt mean that he will suffer in a 2 gallon or even a one gallon.
Holly9937
03-31-2005, 2:54 PM
I think this is a never ending debate :rolleyes: !!! I have one in a 10g, I moved him into it from a 2.5g. However the only reason I did that was because I got 2~ 10g tanks and 3~ 2.5g tanks for 20 bucks! Plus he was my first betta I ever had, so he's spoiled!! I am still debating getting 2 more bettas for 2 of the 2.5g tanks, but I have no where to put them :( . If I did that, I would have 5 tanks set up :eek: !!! But I would not go smaller than 1g, way to small IMHO.....
Post on :rolleyes: !!!
I have 2 males each in one of those dual betta hex things....temporary situation as I need the 10 gallon they were in for a growout tank for some baby rams I have. I set up each little tank with peat moss underneath Echo-Complete substrate and a few small baby plants...water sprite, amazon swords and crypto plant...(no, they were NOT in the 10 gallon without a divider ;) )
Here's a couple of pics to show you....
http://wetwebfotos.com/usermedia/high/4/6434_71.jpg
http://wetwebfotos.com/usermedia/high/4/6434_70.jpg
This is NOT cruel to my fish...they have room to swim, the water is kept clean, they are happily blowing little bubblenests and doing just fine, thank you...lol...They will be in here for a bit until I find homes for my ram fry who are only about 6 weeks old now....and then I am going to redue the 10 gallon divided with Echo-Complete and LOTS of plants instead of the flourite and smooth stones I had in there before.
It is possible to keep betta in smaller homes, though I myself prefer not to have them in anything smaller than 1 gallon....but I do like to collect these little fellas and see no reason why I shouldn't just because I don't have room for endless 10 gallon tanks all over my house...lol....the one gallons I have take up enough room. And I do give my bettas very good homes, they are well cared for.
Holly9937
03-31-2005, 10:50 PM
Emg, you have very pretty fish :bowing: , and its obvios you are doing something right, how many do you have exactly? Where does your family live? LOL
Lol....um...let me see.....oO(one...two...three...) 17....7 females and 10 males....I live in Ct and I'm am soooo anal about clean tanks....I can't stand to look at them if they aren't sparkling. ;)
cougarman_us
07-19-2007, 2:12 AM
if you want to ensure your betta has the best chance of survival just take a clean container, even on of the cheap "betta bowls" from walmart that are jsut bigger than the fish, add room temperature water from a 46 cent gallon of spring water from walmart and walla. instant happy betta. also be sure to feed bettas only a few little betta pellets at a time twice a day or less to keep water clean.