Betta Setup
- Thread starter nickmcmechan
- Start date
I do think that bettas are better off if they have more room to spread out so to speak and get thier exercise. However, I do also think that a 2.5 gallon tank is fine for them as well. I have three of my betts in such a set up and they are living long and happy lives in them. I do have these small tanks filtered which I believe is best for them but the ambient room temperature is quite warm so they do not have heaters. One of my bettas is in a filtered and heated ten gallon tank complete with live plants and tank mates and I don't think he is any more happy then those in the 2.5 gallon set up. I do not think the bettas should not be kept in a bowl with unfiltered water though.
Everyone has thier own way of doing things when it comes to bettas. As long as they get frequent water changes, a varied diet, and lots of love and attention they should be fine.
Marinemom
Everyone has thier own way of doing things when it comes to bettas. As long as they get frequent water changes, a varied diet, and lots of love and attention they should be fine.
Marinemom
Regular exercise of your betta does the same thing. I would 'flare' my males against a mirror or against other males for 15 minutes 1-3 times a week. It kept their fins fuller so even in their old age they didn't develop 'cimped fins' nearly as bad as my very first betta did when he got older.
As for personality, that's arguable as well. I had some bettas who would swim into my cupped hand for water changes, some that would jump out of the water to get food from between my fingers, one that curled up on his tail like a dog at the bottom of his 'cube' when he slept.... and some that were kind of nervous and jumpy or just lazy and aloof. Bettas have personality no matter how you keep them... some more than others.
This is my exact sentiment, Marinemom. And I'm not trying to say my method was the ultimate in betta care. It's simply what I had to do for my fish in order to ensure the best care I could give them, given my living arrangements. I had to have them as portable as possible and still give them as much living space as I possibly could. And though my fish went through 2-3 moves every year and they still lived long healthy lives for what I could offer them. And I did my very best to make up for what I couldn't offer them and that is why I insist that their living space and conditions varies according to how much time and attention you're willing to invest in them.
Obviously, putting a betta in 4 inches of water or a vase with a plant and ignoring it for weeks or months on end except to toss some pellets in when you remember to isn't good fish-keeping no matter who you are or what you heard about keeping bettas. I'm staunchly against such practices.
My next betta I will purchase when I return from my hiatus from keeping them will be kept in a 2.5 gallon, heated setup because I don't have to move around anymore, but that doesn't make the lessons I learned with keeping my bettas like I did before any less helpful or relevant to those who keep their fish in a similar fashion. Because not all of us fish-lovers have the means, the money, or the lifestyle that allows for anything bigger or fancier.
I understand this more than most. ^_^;;
Dangerdoll
Global Moderator
*blushes* I've thought about it... but I worried that my advise would be considered too controversial by most of the people here.
I just help those that PM me for advise for the most part... ^_^;;
I just help those that PM me for advise for the most part... ^_^;;
I wouldn't call it controversial. I'd call it informative.
I see that you adapted for the conditions you were in, and provided reasonable, healthy care of the fish. I just don't think we should recommend it as a viable way to maintain them.
The expense you talk about in maintaining a betta in a 5 or 10 gallon tank is really unfounded, and the vast majority or not faced with the conditions you had to adapt to. Just as the vast majority of bettas have never experienced the rice paddie as living conditions. Why settle for conditions that never existed for them and justify it?
I see that you adapted for the conditions you were in, and provided reasonable, healthy care of the fish. I just don't think we should recommend it as a viable way to maintain them.
The expense you talk about in maintaining a betta in a 5 or 10 gallon tank is really unfounded, and the vast majority or not faced with the conditions you had to adapt to. Just as the vast majority of bettas have never experienced the rice paddie as living conditions. Why settle for conditions that never existed for them and justify it?
Guys,
Absolutely amzingly informative and fascinating responses.
Thank you all very much and I'm just so pleased that you've all taken the time and effort to get such a lively debate going.
Please keep it all going, especially Kyohti!!!!
So, more opinions please....what I'm getting from all this is....
- the bowl might not be so great and my Wife says I would be cruel to put any wee fishy in there
-I'm edging towards a heated (I live in a cold country), lit, lightly filtered, planted (probably heavily) 10G set up
-it seems important that I take probably more care and attention over this setup than my 35G community (I dont want to put the Betta in the community tank beacuse my filtratin creates a strong current and I dont think he would be happy)
-I do frequent water changes, possibly 2/3 times per week, using well treated water, possibly something to make it slightly acidic (would pH down be OK with pre treated water)
-I'm still unclear about putting a female in there too?
Please get back to with more opinions and feedback if I'm picking all this up right, in your opinions and experiences?
Fascinating stuff!
Absolutely amzingly informative and fascinating responses.
Thank you all very much and I'm just so pleased that you've all taken the time and effort to get such a lively debate going.
Please keep it all going, especially Kyohti!!!!
So, more opinions please....what I'm getting from all this is....
- the bowl might not be so great and my Wife says I would be cruel to put any wee fishy in there
-I'm edging towards a heated (I live in a cold country), lit, lightly filtered, planted (probably heavily) 10G set up
-it seems important that I take probably more care and attention over this setup than my 35G community (I dont want to put the Betta in the community tank beacuse my filtratin creates a strong current and I dont think he would be happy)
-I do frequent water changes, possibly 2/3 times per week, using well treated water, possibly something to make it slightly acidic (would pH down be OK with pre treated water)
-I'm still unclear about putting a female in there too?
Please get back to with more opinions and feedback if I'm picking all this up right, in your opinions and experiences?
Fascinating stuff!
A lot of people speak of keeping fish in water that is as close to their native habitat as possible... I figured I did a very good job of simulating this. I not only conditioned their water, but also added blackwater extract or the water from steeped almond leaves. I fed them a variety of high-protein foods... live, frozen, pellet, etc. I allowed them to 'compete' with other bettas (from the safe distance of their containers or with their own reflections, of course) to simulate their natural need to protect their territory (and help them to create and maintain proper betta social skills) I also encouraged the males to make bubblenests, which is also natural and healthy behavior for male bettas as it helps them to have a 'headquarters' for their territory.
Bettas make their bubblenests for the same reason male deer have antlers. The size of their bubblenest and how well they maintain it is a sign of their vitality to rival males and to interested females. It shows they can provide a big, thick nest of bubbles to protect their babies in and it also shows that this is a big, tough, healthy male to any rivals. They can live without it, but give a healthy male a chance to make one and he'll usually dig in with a great amount of zeal!!
Usually, a good bubblenest can only be created when the water current is slow and gentle enough for the water to be slightly or fully stagnant. The thicker film on the water allows better surface tension for the bubbles to cling to. I've had breeding males that covered 30% of the surface water of a 10-gallong tank with a nest that was at least 1.5 inches thick at the core!!
This is part of why I'm so hesitant about filtration. It's so hard for a male betta to do what he does naturally when the water isn't still enough to support a nest. I literally would go through the pains of trapping part of their nests in a measuring cup when I'd do their water changes so they'd have something to build off of when they went back into their new water. I think this actually did have a positive effect on their overall well-being... and it made it easy to know when something was wrong with them as they'd let their nests get shabby if they weren't feeling well or were unhappy.
This is a great thread, and I appreciate the information. Thank you in particular Kyohti for sharing your experiences.
I have a Betta in a 3 gal nano. Good filter, heater and lighting. Live plants. Because I'm a guy who cares, it will get tremendous attention. The fish seems to be thriving. Loves the current of the filter. Eats well and builds his bubble nests. At least for now, this is where he will stay.
I have a Betta in a 3 gal nano. Good filter, heater and lighting. Live plants. Because I'm a guy who cares, it will get tremendous attention. The fish seems to be thriving. Loves the current of the filter. Eats well and builds his bubble nests. At least for now, this is where he will stay.
