Do Betta's really prefer solitude?

[12Voltking]

I would love to keep a Betta but the idea of keeping it in a 1-2 Gallon tank all by itself troubles me a little. I just can't help but feel it needs company.

So, is it really ok to keep them in such a small tank by themself?

What is the IDEAL enviroment for them? re: plants, water temp, tank size.

Thanks for any info guys...

 

[Hannys_Papa]

Well i have a betta in a 10G by himself and he seems really happy - constantly swimming all over the tank - not as "lethargic" as the bettas you see in really small setups.

I also have (some) life plants (and some silk) - temperature is 81 degrees. He seems to like the floating plants a lot - for bubble nest building and every now and then he actually "crawl" on top of them... no idea why. He also seems to like the big leaves of some plants to sleep on.

IMHO bettas shouldnt be treated any differently than other fish the same size - most other 3 inch fish you wouldnt put in a 2G either. Of course this is a hot topic so as you can imagine the opinions on this issue vary.

In the end there are some tankmates you could try with a betta... otos, corys... but let some more experienced keepers tell you more. In the end every betta is different so what works for one might not work for another.

 

[redstar8]

Keep in mind this is just something i heard...

Someone at my LFS told me that bettas are transported and kept in such small containers because they are originally from the shallow rice patties found throughout the orient. He said that they actually feel more safe and "at home" in smaller bowls and containers.

Again, I'm not sure if this is true, just something I heard.

 

[Roan Art]

Keep in mind this is just something i heard...

Someone at my LFS told me that bettas are transported and kept in such small containers because they are originally from the shallow rice patties found throughout the orient. He said that they actually feel more safe and "at home" in smaller bowls and containers.

Again, I'm not sure if this is true, just something I heard.

Myth.

Yes, they come from shallow rice paddies, however the rice paddies are HUGE, not small.

These paddies are domestically irrigated (and have been for centuries) via slowly moving river water. During the dry season the bettas are often cut off from the main paddy and are forced to survive in small bodies (read puddles) until the rains start again.

It's a survival tactic, no more, and, unfortunately for the betta, people feel they are supposed to be kept that way.

Bettas are survivors. The domestic betta today bears little resemblance to its wild ancestor and has been kept and bred in small containers for many many many generations. Ergo, they have adapted to living that way just as they adapted originally because of nature. (thank you to TMQP for pointing this out to me).

That doesn't mean they should be kept in a cup or a small bowl, it just means that they can tolerate bad conditions more than what a normal fish can, and can thrive in a small tank. However, bettas usually end up living in water that would kill any other fish outright, even if the tank were large enough for the fish.

A good tank for a lone betta is one that has a large footprint, but little height. The height is not needed, just the length. Lots of room to swim. They love to swim around.

As an aside:
This same "forced to survive" thing happens to some rainbowfishes in Australia. During the dry season they are often cut off from the freshwater where they originate and are forced to live in a eustrary. Because there is no longer any source of fresh water, some of these get to near marine conditions. Anything true marine (over 17ppt) will kill the rainbowfishes. Once the wet season starts again, the water rises and the rivers are joined with the sea again. The fish swim back into the freshwater. There was a misconception for years that rainbowfish were supposed to be kept in brackish water, but we've since learned that that's not true. Like the betta, it's a survival mechanism.

Roan

 

[Roan Art]

I would love to keep a Betta but the idea of keeping it in a 1-2 Gallon tank all by itself troubles me a little. I just can't help but feel it needs company.

So, is it really ok to keep them in such a small tank by themself?

What is the IDEAL enviroment for them? re: plants, water temp, tank size.

Thanks for any info guys...

You have to remember that fish are not people and therefore are not governed by the same rules and emotions that we are. It helps to try to distance yourself from how you feel versus what your fish needs.

Yes, it's okay to keep him by himself. Many bettas will attack and kill tankmates, especially in a small tank that is only 1-2 gallons. Some won't do that.

Most of us add tankmates for two reasons:
1) we feel they need a "friend", which they really don't, but it makes US feel better
2) gives them something to do

Ideal environment for a betta -- my 2 cents

1) A CYCLED 5 gallon, or larger, tank, filtered with a sponge filter or a filter that has had the intake and out flow "blocked" with sponges so that there is little turbulence
2) A heater, with the temperature set between 79* and 82*
3) lots of live plants to hide and play in
4) lots of space to swim in
5) something floating that they can build a bubble nest with -- real plant, fake, plant, even half a styrofoam cup will do
6) regular water changes of 25-50% per week
7) a *varied* carnivore diet. In the wild bettas mostly eat mosquito larva, which is why many of us feed bloodworms, frozen or freeze dried
8) YOU. Bettas love to interact with people, that's a fact, Jack. If you can put the betta's tank where he can see you and you can talk to him a lot, he'll be more content

Roan

 

[bobandfiona]

I feel Bettas are one area I can speak with some authority. I have had mine for 10 months and done everything from the small 1/2 gallon container to the 26 gallon community tank. There are a few key steps to betta happiness in my opinion: mimicing Roan
1) Bettas LOVE their humans. I keep mine in the kitchen in a 6 gallon tank with heater set at 80 degrees, lots of live plants, and a few hiding spaces (like a treasure chest). Low current from the bio filter and I do turn on the bubbles from the treasure chest once a day - he has fun playing for a few minutes.
2) I DO have tank mates. But, each Betta is different. Mine was very happy in a 26 gallon community tank, so now he has an albino cory and a striped cory. They get along great and the betta seems happier to watch them play around. Just stay away from bright fish and flowy fin fish. IMHO cories are the best tankmates for them.

 

[12Voltking]

All your responses have been great.

Roan, you hit the nail on the head with the comment about it being ME that think he needed company which is exactly why I asked this question. Humans need interaction so it's naturall bred into us that so does every other **** creeature.

Don't worry, my tank will be CYCLED for at least a week if not more.

I was considering using one of those mini tanks but now after reading that I know they wouldn't be ideal as the tank is quite tall without much surface area (read the article on this site as well ) So, I will shop around for something long and low.

I'm capable of working with glass and plexiglass so I may even consider building a tank for it. If I had a tank about 12x18x6-8 would that be sufficent for it?

 

[echoofformless]

That sounds like a nice tank.

Though I do still wonder if they would be happier with friends. My bettas in 2.5g standard tanks are always swimming back and forth along the front panel, as if in search of something or someone. Then they'll stare at you once you put your face up to the tank. Kind of makes you wonder if they either want you to go away, or if they want you to jump in and play with them.

Yellow Gal and I have staring contests. This is where I admit to how weird I am: I swear she's a philosopher fish and she's thinking all of these deep ideas while she's staring at me. As though she's theorizing as to what I am, what I'm thinking, what I'm doing, and maybe if I think the way she thinks.

I know I am thinking those things about her...

 

[TKOS]

If I were to keep "friends" with my betta I would have at least a 10 gallon tank. To that I woudl add either khulie loaches or cory catfish. I tried mine with white clouds as well and while they did fine togther I was always worried that the white clouds ate the food too quickly and IME bettas are a little slower eaters (mine have always been). Bottom feeding fish and bettas don't tend to share food choices so this isn't a problem.

Right now mine is in a 5 gallon planted, heater, filtered, tank in the kitchen. He is very interested in watching me at feeding time and very interested in me leavijng if I stare too long.

 

[Roan Art]

I have Mark in an All-Glass 2.5g nano tank atm. The footprint is pretty good for bettas:12x6x8, but if I were going to order a custom tank (making one is beyond my time limitations atm, but something I'll probably try in the future) I would have it built as 14x8x10 -- roughly 5 gallons. The 8" depth gives you more room to hide a heater, the length more room to swim, and the height, depending on the substrate depth, just enough to put some java ferns and small anubias in.

Roan