Bettas...

[hcgirl80]

I'm Going To Give A Betta As A Present To Someone. I'd Also Like To Get One For The Community, But Which Ones Are Females? Are They Livebearers? I know Someone who has a female Beta In Her Tank, And She Gets Along Really Well With A Few Tiger Barbs. A Little Info Here?

Thanks!!!

 

[silentskream]

the females are the less colorful shorter finned version of the mails. (but be careful! there ARE shortfinned males!)

they are NOT livebearers.

 

[hcgirl80]

Not That I Would Try To Breed Them (EEK) or anything, But will they live in a tropical aquarium?

 

[aquariumfishguy]

Ermm.. they are tropical fish. So yeah, they would like (need) a heater in their aquarium ASAP.

 

[hcgirl80]

I'm Confused. Don't Most People Keep Bettas In BOWLS? As In Like, Coldwater Bowls?

 

[kikuchiyo]

Bettas are not cold water fish, they are tropical. They are incorrectly kept in bowls by people, but thats why bettas do not last very long (the only reason they last as long as they do is because they are very hardy). They are NOT coldwater fish. They need temps of at least 74+ degrees. Mine are kept at 78. They need a steady temperature, which can not be achieved without a heater.

Just because most people do it, doesn't mean its correct. No betta will thrive in conditions like that. Nor will an owner enjoy the fish as much; a betta in even a 2 gallon heated tank will display real betta behavior, including building a nest, flaring at reflections or neighbors, sleeping in plants, etc. Bettas like to swim and need space. Seeing a betta in a real tank, happy and swimming is enough for many people to be sworn off bowls. A betta would be far happier in a tropical aquarium than in a bowl.

Paradise fish, related to bettas, can withstand lower temperatures and temperature flucuations and worse water conditions (they should be kept in at least 2 gallons or ideally 5 gallons individually).

Bettas are egg laying fish. They build a bubble nest and the female lays eggs which the male picks up and puts into the nests. He tends to it, chasing away other fish, including the mother untilt he fry hatch.

To the original poster: much of this info is on google.

 

[vaheelsfan]

Yes, most people keep bettas in bowls. This is supposedly acceptable because "they live in footprints left by oxen in the wild," or because "bettas have special organs that let them breathe air. However, in the wild, there is water moving through these almost constantly. This doesn't happen in bowls. Most people probably don't change the water at all. Bettas can in fact breathe air from the surface of the water, but they are fish, and need clean water. You could live in a closet for your whole life, but would you like to? I've never personally kept one because all of the pet stores around here keep them in little cups, and half of them are dead, and the other half look like they could die at any time, so I've never bought one. From what I've read on here, bettas kept in larger (and more humane) aquariums have a lot of personality and move around a lot. You can get a ten gallon tank with a filter, heater, hood, and light at WalMart for like 35 dollars. Spend maybe ten more on some gravel and a couple of fake silk plants, and your betta would be much happier and you wouldn't have to worry (as much) about it getting ill and dying. As far as them living in a community tank, they will. I don't think tiger barbs are the best tankmates though, as they can be nippy. Due to the long fins, nippy tank mates aren't the best. A ten gallon tank with a betta, five white clouds, and three cories would probably work very well.

 

[kikuchiyo]

Rice paddies are huge bodies of water. And I've been in that part of the world, it rains constantly, there is a constant renewal of water.

Tiger Barbs don't get along with bettas, barbs like to nip and bettas are shy with other fish and their fins are too attractive to other fish.

In one gallon of water (not nearly enough) with one betta needs water changes every three days at least. I keep my betta in a 2 gallon tank and I feel even that is rather small.

One 10 gallon tank with a divider in the middle makes for a good home for 2 males. Most of the males you'll see at the pet store have larger fins than the female. Bubble nests and flaring are good (but not foolproof) way to judge the sex of a betta.

 

[vaheelsfan]

If you put a divider into a 10 gallon tank, wouldn't it have to be tinted or something so the bettas couldn't see each other? Wouldn't the sight of another male betta be enough to make it flare all of the time, which is somewhat stressful? (Kind of like putting a dog on a chain and then putting a big hunk of meat 2 inches further away than it can reach)

 

[kikuchiyo]

No, the two of them will get used to each other and not flare nearly as much. Males do end up getting used to other males and it bothers them a lot less. They'd still tear into each other if they got the chance, but they won't flare nearly as much unless the situation changes. But in a set up like that you want to provide a hiding place on both sides so if a fish is feeling stressed they can hide out, out of view of the other fish.