I'm so sorry, Bettas, for overlooking you these past 20 years.

[ConcentratedPassion]

Just as the title says. Over 20 years in the hobby l, and I've kept everything from giant danios to polypterus -- and a lot in between.

I have found myself absolutely infatuated with certain types of Bettas recently. Right now my favorite fish i own is a platinum silver/black dragon halfmoon that i named Drago. The majesty and predatory nature of them is just awesome, once you get past the "pretty, long-finned, colorful fish you can get everywhere" stereotype that i had been trapped in for so long.....


Any others have similar experiences or feelings?

 

[FreshyFresh]

I agree. They are a fun fish to keep. I like their personalities, how they act and behave.

 

[fishorama]

We haven't kept bettas in 30+ years. But you're right, they are interesting fish. So many varieties these days!

You might want to try breeding them, if you haven't bred fish, it's time to try something new!

 

[OrionGirl]

Or...get into the wild types. Not as flashy as the domestic lines of hybrids (if you are getting a store bought betta, it's a hybrid, real splendens looks nothing like even the plakats). People tend to forget that there are tons of fish in the betta family, ranging from tiny to huge (b patoti and b ocellata both get 4-6 inches and are amazing).

 

[ConcentratedPassion]

Or...get into the wild types. Not as flashy as the domestic lines of hybrids (if you are getting a store bought betta, it's a hybrid, real splendens looks nothing like even the plakats). People tend to forget that there are tons of fish in the betta family, ranging from tiny to huge (b patoti and b ocellata both get 4-6 inches and are amazing).

Agreed! I'm already into them, as well. Just don't have any yet.

 

[MontytheDog]

I kept pearl gouramis for many years in a 20 long, with a shoal of zebra danios. I loved those fish! Now, my daughter was just gifted a betta at Christmas, and his personality is so unique! I second the "get a wild type" though. I just can't get over the "selectively by humans to be beautiful, but oddly conspicuous to predators" look. To be fair, I feel the same way about certain dog/cat breeds that we shall not name. Fainting goats though? Now those are just funny. But I digress.

 

[ConcentratedPassion]

If they weren't so pricey, I'd have a tank for some macrostomas right now. They are quite awesome to me.

 

[MontytheDog]

Yes! They are beautiful. They are also on the list of threatened species, which explains the expense. Are they bred in captivity?

 

[ConcentratedPassion]

I'm not sure what to believe. They are sold in pairs, which sounds promising, at the very least.

 

[Suzisuzisuzi]

I have 2 female crown tails adding a much needed spot of color I'm my community tank. I think the girls are also drastically under appreciated. Here's one. Not as peacock flamboyant as her male counterparts but calm and social and lovely in her own way