Ideal environment for a Beta?

Allow me to also make the recommendation, so you can judge for yourself, to research taxonomy, funtionality and preferences of the species.

Though out little captive bred critters may come from store stock, it is important that we understand that their evolution occurred in a specific setting, making those associated traits compatible with a specific ecological type.

K. Blane.
 
I think there is a huge problem with too much current. Different bettas handle it differently, but I think the short finned (placats and females) do much better in current than long-tailed males. Since every betta is different, some may have more trouble than others. Mine couldn't handle hardly any current at all.

For filtration, I would use either a sponge filter or an air-powered undergravel filter.
 
Strong currents will also upset their bubble nests in some instances, therefore, less current is better, imo. I'll also add that you shouldn't put plastic plants in there, it will rip a bettas fins, they prefer java moss, and shrimp will often make a snack of the bettas tail or become a snack themselves. A 10 gallon or 5 gallon with a hob that has a current control knob on it would be suitable. Under gravel filters are worthless, imo. No sharp rocks either.
 
obviously, there is no need to have the tank water going through a never ending whirlpool, but the tank should also not be under filtered with a weak undergravel, sponge, or HOB filter. my point was that the betta will be fine if you have adequate filtration on the tank.
 
I like the little 2.5 gallon Eclipse Explorer tanks. They have a bio-wheel filter that isn't fast moving.
 
Yup, 10gal is perfect for Bettas. I have one set-up that's just Bettas - 1 male/ 3 females. I have some floating plant (sorry, I have no idea what it is) in there that they love to wiggle through and float around on =)


A word about water current - I think healthy Bettas can handle any current. Example - when I bought the Betta mentioned above, he was very healthy, lively, energetic (becuase I bought him from a good store) and was just fine when I put him in my 29gal community with UGF (I hate it though.) He had no problem swimming or maneuvering through the current.


Last night I bought another male Betta. I "rescued" him from a store that I didn't even know carried fish. He was lethargic from being in his tiny bowl and, when I put him in my 29gal, he just lodged himself in my floating plants. He couldn't swim for very long without having to stop. I'm sure he'll get better after awhile, all he needs is exercise. :dog:


BTW, they will eat snails, but I think its only when they're hungry. When I brought the females home, they fought over the baby snails, but now that I feed them regularly I haven't seen them touch a snail since.
 
i tell you what, bettas might do 'better' in low flow environments, but mine quite often throws himself into the small area of high flow that the HOB puts out near the surface in the 20G long that he is the sole inhabitant of, and seems almost to play with it, going back into it and swimming as hard as he can. perhaps it is his treadmill. :p:
 
I have a few betta setups in smallish 2.5 gallon tanks that I keep very clean for my betta friends. I also have filters running on these tanks. I can't stand the idea of no filter for any fish especially one as beautiful as the betta. I do not understand how anyone can do the no filter thing to a fish and expect them to live and be beautiful. I do not have heaters in the small tanks because they are kept in a part of the house that is generally very warm and keeps the temps. in these small tanks at 79-80 degrees. I also have live plants in with them such as java moss which they happen to love. I also have a ten gallon tank that is fully planted and filtered with two hob filters and heated. This particular betta is living with a bristlenose pleco and a few brilliant rasboras. Everyone seems happy and content and gets along well. I guess it just depends on the particular betta and his personality as to weather or not he will get along with other fish for tankmates. As far as the current or flow of water in the tank is concerned, mine do fine with quite a bit of flow and current. Once they get used to it and build up thier strength to it, I generally find they do very well in this type of setup.

Marinemom
 
So it sounds like some localized water current in the tank is fine and probably beneficial as long they can go off and get away from it. That makes sense.

Thanks for the advice everyone. :)

It's amazing how the accepted wisdom regarding some fish and advice you get from various sources sometimes can be so wrong. Gotta wonder how many Bettas are wasting away in tiny bowls. :(
 
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