New Betta first time parent :)

[jm1212]

I'm sorry, but from what I know of bettas, some of the regular rules of fishkeeping don't apply here!!!

Bettas... natural in-the-wild bettas... live in steaming rice paddies and marshy bogwaters that are soft, acidic and often full of decaying vegetation. Part of the reason bettas and other labrynth fishes adapted to breathing surface air was because the natural water conditions were so harsh on normal fish's gills and was generally stagnant and had little to no oxygen content. They also deal with heavy rains, flooding, and monsoons which cause the water conditions and depths to fluctuate during different times of the year.

They are also used to cramped living conditions due to the low water levels forcing bettas into encounters and struggles for territory in shrinking tropical pools. And when the betta was being domesticated for the generations, it was natural to keep them in nothing more than a jar or other small container until it was to be taken to a fish fight or bred for more bettas.

Granted, today's betta is a much softer, frillier fish than it's tough-as-nails wild counterpart, but a lot of that same sturdiness and adaptability has remained in the species. It can handle rough water conditions, no filtration, and cramped living spaces because this is how this fish has lived and been kept and domesticated over the generations.

I get so tired of people treating the betta like it's as long-suffered as the goldfish. Yes, keeping a goldfish in a bowl is inhumane and terrible treatment... but not all fish are created equal. The only thing inhumane about the 'betta bowl' is the lack of controlled temperature (since bettas like it at least 74 degrees F or warmer!) and the myth that Bettas with those Calla lily plants don't need to be fed. Now THAT is a crock of crap! Bettas are carnivorous and only eat vegetation when they are STARVING.

So there. That's the truth about the betta. My opinion? If you want filtration, go with a sponge filter or something that doesn't aggitate the water's surface. Bettas make their bubble nests best on stagnant water surfaces where the surface tension is thick with dust and particles and not broken up by constant aeration. That's correct. Just don't let it get so stagnant it makes a skin over the water. That can get kinda gross.

As long as you keep the water fairly clean, there's no need for anything other than what you're doing. Just make sure and feed him a varied and protein rich diet and if you want, add some blackwater extract to the water. It has a water chemistry that is most like what bettas naturally experience in the wild. He'll LOVE you for it.

I respect a lot of opinions here and many of them go off of years of practical fish keeping and enjoyment of this hobby. But you can own a fish for its entire lifespan and never know the real nitty-gritty about it's preferences, tolerances, and origins. Most people think they can have a betta in a tank for a few years and know everything about how it should be treated. But not all 'fad fish' are created equal. Yes, goldfish in bowls swim in their own waste which eats at their already starved gills until they slowly suffocate to death in a bliving space that would be like stuffing a 6'6" man in a broom closet and asking him to thrive. But that's goldfish, people... not bettas.

Granted, it's not bad treatment to keep them in large, filtered tanks... but some of the 'insisted requirements' around here are honestly over-the-top in my opinion and to insist them on anyone interested in keeping a betta is so unecessary, especially given the information above-mentioned.

I sincerely apologize for ranting in your thread, but this is an issue I feel rather strongly about in this community. And I'm backed by years of breeding, caring, and researching bettas. It was my top hobby and first love as a teenager.

PS: Yes, this is reposted... but it's too long a rant to have to rewrite it. ^_^;;

even those pools are much bigger than some of these "cramped quarters." they dont live in little holes in the ground that are ¼ of a gallon during the "dry season." the low water levels arent that low. there is at least 2 feet of water on the ground in these pools, not and inch and a half. the betta will sue his labarynt organ as much as he wants regardless of the ammount of oxygen in the water.

you need some current in your water to allow for the betta to build up his strength. there have been countless threads of people that are discouraged after they placed their bettas, which were in a bowl or other container without filtration, into a filtered, clean, ten gallon tank; their bettas were not strong enough to swim around the new, spacious tank because the fish lacked the strength after being in the bowl for so long.

when you add a sponge filter to your tank, you are allowing for surface agation, for the water is pulled down into the sponge and out the output, creating water movment. a regular HOB filter would be a much better choice for the overall health of the system.

 

[Kyohti]

HOBs provide a heck of a lot more current than a small sponge filter would. The sponge agitates the water's surface less. This means there's better surface tension on which he can build a bubble nest. Male bettas are happier when they can have a bubble nest to rest under. A) because it's a natural defense to disguise them from above-water predators and because it makes him feel more macho to have a bubble nest to show to any potential mates... even if he'll never be used as a breeder fish. It's a mental health thing. All my bettas seemed happier with their nest built up in one corner... some built a nest covering 80% of the water's surface!! And all of them got quite distraught when I changed their water and got rid of their 'masterpiece'

And I never said that keeping any fish in an inch and a half of water in a tiny cup was humane... but most people here at this Forum don't keep them like that, now do they? But some people here seem to think anything smaller than 5 gallons is inhumane treatment or something, which is ridiculous because single bettas have been kept in quart-sized jars and containers throughout their domestication. As long as you keep their water fairly clean and they have room to swim around and have good coloration, a full round happy tummy, and seem contented... who's to judge that they aren't honestly happy right where they are?

Not everyone can afford to drop everything and run to buy a big fancy 10-gallon set up with the filters and heaters and this and that and fuss and frills just so they can keep a betta the way everyone else seems to think they should be kept. It's ridiculous. Part of what is great about bettas is that they are beautiful and HIGHLY ADAPTABLE fishes. They can live happily in a lot of different conditions. I'm just saying that in the wild, they prefered slow-moving or stagnant water because it allowed them their bubble nests, which is a part of investing toward their mental health as a fish. Just like providing mbuna cichlids with rock caves... or plecos with hiding places. It's not vitally important, but it contributes to a more contented state of mind for the fish.

 

[RiVerfishgirl]

you need some current in your water to allow for the betta to build up his strength. there have been countless threads of people that are discouraged after they placed their bettas, which were in a bowl or other container without filtration, into a filtered, clean, ten gallon tank; their bettas were not strong enough to swim around the new, spacious tank because the fish lacked the strength after being in the bowl for so long.

Yup, the betta in my 5g eclipse hex looked like he was in a whirlpool when I first put him in and you know how little flow the filter on a 5g eclipse puts out.
My first betta could barely swim in most of the tank when I put him in his 10g, now he's in a 20g long that is WAY overfiltered, 2 penguin 150s, and he's very healthy and handles the current just fine. He can get to the top to gulp air whenever he wants. He also comes to the top to get food off my finger with no problems.
This is right after I got him and despite his lack of strength he was still swimming in the bubble curtain, which wasn't turned on all the way. Now he swims in it with the valve all the way open.


A betta in a cup is getting absolutely NO exercise. It's like if someone locked you in your room for months with nothing but a few pieces of furniture. When you finally got the chance to go outside you probably wouldn't be able to walk very far without running out of energy.

I'd also like to say, despite what some think, bettas CAN and will breathe with their gills when there is a sufficient amount of disolved oxygen in the water. A betta in a well oxygenated tank doesn't need to go to the top near as much as one in stagnant water.

 

[Becca3711]

Also, what are good betta plants? Ive got some fake ones in his tank now, until I figure out what kind of plant I would like. I think I would like to put a single real live plant for my betta (whom of which I still cannot decide on a good name ) Also, I have my UGF going for the past 15 hours or so, and the tank is clear, but i gave in and orderd the Red Sea Nano filter like someone mentioned earlier. I got it brand new on ebay for less then 9 bucks His water temp has been at a steady 79-80*. He seems fairly happy, for only being in the tank for about a day.

 

[Becca3711]

So here's a couple pics of him, I tried to find a smaller betta, so that he would hopefully get to spend a longer life with me His fins are fairly small, and his body is slender and small, so what do you guys think? Does he appear young? His color actually has drastically improved since yesterday. He is much more irridescent (sp?) and has colors that I have not seen on him yet. His fins are dark blood red, and his body in regular daylight is shiney green, and at night his body looks purpleish blue. Any name suggestions?

 

[Kyohti]

Small suggestion... it is possible for him to split and tear his long fins on those plastic plants. A small anubias nana or anubias petit would be a good live plant to add... if not, then go with silk aquarium plants. You can find a great variety of them on thatfishplace.com and they are much easier on a betta's trailing finnage. ^_^;;

 

[Kaiyah]

Wow he's beautiful Becca! I love the look of the crown tails. I've been following your thread and learning a lot, but I had to post after your pictures since a name randomly popped into my head, so I thought I'd share it hehe.
*ahem*
Bartleby the Betta.

Yeah, it's not majestic and lovely like other betta names, but at least I tried right? :dance2:

 

[platytetrafan]

Yes a filtered tank is great for your betta one that doesn't create too much water aggitation I was told. I have a blue fantail male named Haley. He loves his 3 gallon eclipse tank. It has a filter and biowheel and the light acts like a heater. I keep the temp about 80 degrees. I feed him freeze-dried bloodworms he isn't thrilled with brine shrimp I tried it and he spits it out lol. I just adore him he is so pretty when he swims. I used stress-zyme too for my other tanks but was just told that cycle is better. I am in the process of cycling a 36 gallon corner tank. Will see if the cycle works better I still use stress-zyme for the betta tank and for my 5 gallon it worked fine to cycle my 3 and 5 gallon tanks so will make a comparison and see. Don't want to waste a new bottle of stress-zyme that I had bought. Good luck with your betta and enjoy him.

 

[NinjaPirate]

Can't go wrong with java ferns / java moss in betta tanks either. Mine particularily love to sleep in the moss. They're also low maintenance plants.

 

[anaerobe]

So I have been doing some research into owning a Betta for a few weeks now, and I have read in many places that bettas do not like bubbles or currents caused by filters. So today, I bought my crowntail betta and tank. I have purchased a 1.7 gal hexagon tank with some smooth rocks and a nice sized fake plant. I have a heater to keep the temp at about 78*. The tank came with an air pump/undergravel filter system, that I currently am not using. I am worried that my betta will not like the air pump because it causes too much disturbance in the water. I prepared my water like you're supposed to, I used the stress coat, bullseye 7.0 ph regulator, stress zyme and also aqua-sol preventative and cure for ick for new fish. Question is, Im reading on here though how many people do use filters and air pumps for their fish. My betta is the only one in the tank, and I am pretty much clueless as to wheater I should use the undergravel filter or not. Thank you, I appreciate ANY comments, suggestions, etc. as I am new to this whole betta mom thing.

Hi becca! I've had my betta for over a year now, I think I can give some tips
You don't need an airpump if you think it's disturbing your betta. It probably is because it's only 1.7 G. The betta can live in less oxygenated water because he gets extra air from the surface (and whatever else he gets from his gills). Just make sure the surface is free so that he can go up for air.
You don't need the ph. 7 if u already have neutral tap water.
Although I've never had experience w/ undergravel filters, I've been told by many to avoid them in small tanks because it's hard to clean. I think it is best to stick with small filters w/ low current (u'r right, bettas dont like much current. it adds stress).
For me, when I do water changes all I add would be the de-chlorinator and a bit of aquarium salt. My betta seems to really like the tiny bit of salt in his water. Don't know why. I think it's a teaspoon per 10 gallons? Not sure, but I put a pinch in my 2 gallon.
The best de-chlorinater I've ever used is Jungle's Start Right. It works instantly and it also has stress-coat and other goodies in it. I've used some others like AP's stress coat, tetra's and nutrafin's dechlorinators and for some odd reason my betta seems to react differently to each of them. When you have your betta for a while, you will begin to notice his reactions to different things you add to his water. I find that he seems to like the Start Right, looking bright & healthy. Anyway, I do think the best ever water you could give him is stale water. The one that is left out for 2-3 days... given that your tap water aint weird in pH or chemicals, etc
I have recieved alot of information from this site, www.bettatalk.com > you can look under Betta Care for his housing info. HTH =)

Oh another thing, the filter is not necessary because you have a small tank. If you do a water change every 1-2 weeks, it will be fine. But it is up to you if you want a filter or not. I havent had a filter all this time (except a tetra whisper mini filter, that I threw out cause it was causing more trouble than good).