I had originally wanted a 10 gallon tank so that i could potentially add another fish or two later but the guy at petsmart said bettas "freak out" in large spaces and that they need small tanks with lots of hiding places. The betta "tanks" he showed me were basically expensive water glasses/jars so I opted for the 2.65gal "goldfish" set up. (this is the tank btw http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441813899&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302030056&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023693&bmUID=1177354089240&itemNo=42&Nao=24&In=Fish&N=2030056&Ne=2 ) So I have a new betta. I bought him yesterday from Petsmart (he was in a tiny little cup!) and i bought a 2.65 gallon tank with a filter. I also bought 2 silk plants and a cave like thing for him to hide in. I bought him the same day as my tank because the fish guy at Petsmart said bettas were the only fish in the store that could be put in the tank without having to have it running for a week before hand. I set up my tank, added water conditioner and floated him in it for about 2 hours and then put him in the actual tank. He seemed to really liek the space, at first he was swimming from place to place exploring everything and checking ou the filter. Now he is kind of just hiding behind the plants or the rock. Did I do something horribly wrong? Is this normal for bettas?
new betta fish
- Thread starter purple_fishy
- Start date
kjr928
Go fish yourself.
I wouldn't worry about it. Different bettas have different personalities. Some are nasty, some are friendly, curious, or shy. Maybe yours is just shy or maybe he's just a little insecure about his new environment. Give him some time and let us know how he comes along!
You really need to read a sticky about cycling... that tank needs to be cycled and your friend is going to have a hard time until it's fully cycled... you should be doing 50% water changes everyday or every two days.
*Agrees* They would much rather be in a 10 gallon tank than a <5gallon. They just tell you those things to so that you won't be worried about price and you'll buy stuff.
Actually, for starters bettas don't have a hard time with cycling because they take the majority of their oxygen from the water's surface and can handle high levels of ammonia and nitrites for the short period that it takes for a tank to cycle. So technically the guy was correct... and doing 50% water changes would slow down the cycling process, so it's unnecessary and detrimental to the process if you ask me, but this is just my opinion.
As for bettas needing small spaces... I personally agree at least in-part. Bettas can be kept in just about any size or shape of aquarium, filtered or unfiltered. They prefer temperatures no colder than about 75 degrees, so you might want to add a small heater if your ambient house temp is lower than that for some or all of the year. Bettas can be housed in larger tanks, but it's not necessary and it doesn't really make too much of an affect on their general happiness, from what I've seen of people who keep them in their 20-50 gallon community tanks. So more space can be nice... but isn't necessary.
He should be fine. Bettas are intelligent to some degree from what I've noticed of them and they don't like to be 'bored'. So providing stimulus in the form of a mirror placed in front of the tank for 5-15 minutes at-random throughout the week... varying diet to a few different foods... or, in larger tanks, providing other fish or animals for them to be involved with is good. Without this, they get 'bored'... they become sluggish, discolored, or generally inactive and unresponsive. Or else they attack the tank walls, wiggle their bodies without swimming, clamp their fins, or rub themselves against the objects in their tank for no reason.
I kept my bettas for years in 3x3x8inch lidded cubicles. My sister and I involved ourselves just about every day with my bettas. Though kept in small and unadorned quarters, they were healthy, active, robust, and colorful because of our constant interaction. So maybe keep some of that in mind when it comes to your new friend. ^__^
As for bettas needing small spaces... I personally agree at least in-part. Bettas can be kept in just about any size or shape of aquarium, filtered or unfiltered. They prefer temperatures no colder than about 75 degrees, so you might want to add a small heater if your ambient house temp is lower than that for some or all of the year. Bettas can be housed in larger tanks, but it's not necessary and it doesn't really make too much of an affect on their general happiness, from what I've seen of people who keep them in their 20-50 gallon community tanks. So more space can be nice... but isn't necessary.
He should be fine. Bettas are intelligent to some degree from what I've noticed of them and they don't like to be 'bored'. So providing stimulus in the form of a mirror placed in front of the tank for 5-15 minutes at-random throughout the week... varying diet to a few different foods... or, in larger tanks, providing other fish or animals for them to be involved with is good. Without this, they get 'bored'... they become sluggish, discolored, or generally inactive and unresponsive. Or else they attack the tank walls, wiggle their bodies without swimming, clamp their fins, or rub themselves against the objects in their tank for no reason.
I kept my bettas for years in 3x3x8inch lidded cubicles. My sister and I involved ourselves just about every day with my bettas. Though kept in small and unadorned quarters, they were healthy, active, robust, and colorful because of our constant interaction. So maybe keep some of that in mind when it comes to your new friend. ^__^
Also, for the record, I believe bettas should be kept in no less than 1/2 gallons at the smallest size. They need the room to grow and develop proper finnage. But again, 10 gallons or more is nice... but not necessary.
I'm importing a Thai black orchid crowntail direct from Asia and I intend to keep him in a 5-gallon mini bow... only because I intend to propagate plants and keep other fish with him in said aquarium. Otherwise, I'd have chosen something more in the 2.5 gallon range.
I'm importing a Thai black orchid crowntail direct from Asia and I intend to keep him in a 5-gallon mini bow... only because I intend to propagate plants and keep other fish with him in said aquarium. Otherwise, I'd have chosen something more in the 2.5 gallon range.
Our betta hangs out in a ten gallon, with the company of 5 neons and 1 cory. The betta LOVES the cory, he actually wraps his body around him/her and the cory is all too happy to let it happen (I think this is typical courtship behavior). Never any aggression. Pure love. I agree with the boredom factor: our betta is much happier now that he has the company of the other fish, so either play with him a lot or provide some sort of entertainment!
My neighbor keep two male bettas in a 2 gallon, with a lot of places to hide (well, how many places can you have in a two gallon..). I personally think it is cruel, but even these guys are ok and have been around for more than 2 years now..
L
My neighbor keep two male bettas in a 2 gallon, with a lot of places to hide (well, how many places can you have in a two gallon..). I personally think it is cruel, but even these guys are ok and have been around for more than 2 years now..
L
understand this about water cycle
Probably about 99.9 percent of the nitrifying bacteria lives on surface area so taking water out doesnt mean taking the bacteria out. Second, no matter how much water you take out, fish will always poop!
Did you chemically aclimate (adjust them to all water parameters like ph and stuff) the fish, or did you just get the temperature the same? You said you floated a bag but did you add some tank water to the bag every once and a while or a drip method?
Probably about 99.9 percent of the nitrifying bacteria lives on surface area so taking water out doesnt mean taking the bacteria out. Second, no matter how much water you take out, fish will always poop!
Did you chemically aclimate (adjust them to all water parameters like ph and stuff) the fish, or did you just get the temperature the same? You said you floated a bag but did you add some tank water to the bag every once and a while or a drip method?