Newbie craving info about Bettas!

OrandaRookie

OrandaRookie

It's not just orandas now
May 21, 2007
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UK
Hi all! As some of you know I keep orandas but for a while I've been interested in keeping a betta. Also my bedroom needs a fish tank, it's calling out for one.

Is this tank suitable for a betta? http://www.petsathome.com/find/cate...ums/category-is-3a03+premium/product-is-17923
I've seen "betta bowls" in petshops but I'd feel uncomfortable housing a minnow in those things let alone a betta!

I've done my research but does anyone here have any extra special advice on keeping a male betta healthy and happy?

Also does anyone have any pictures of their betta tanks I could be inspired by?
 
my beta's got his own 5 gallon tank which he loves! lots of plants and a battle ship for him to swim around. id post pics but cams battery is chargin so ill post them for ya some other time :thm:
 
Bettas come from rice paddies, which, contrary to popular myth, are large, shallow ecosystems. There is a lot of controversy in the hobby as to how to house a betta. I, along with many members of this site, feel as if they should be housed in a 3 gallon tank and up-in fact, most of our members say 5 or 10 gallons. Smaller betta bowls with 100% water changes every 3 days have been long used by betta breeders, and have helped create the variety of bettas that we now have. However, I(as many) feel as if a betta should have a larger home than this when kept as a pet, as they are curious, intelligent, and active animals. They each have their own personalities and love exploring. Many even like to play in the current of the filter, after they adjust to having a current in their tank. You do get the odd betta that prospers in a smaller space vrs a large one, but the vast majority will prosper from a larger aquarium.

Bettas like a warmer temperature from 79 to the mid 80s. A hotter temperature can also mean a shorter lifespan from aging quicker, so I would reccomend a temperature of 79-80.

Bettas can be fed bloodworms, blackworms, mysis, cyclops, daphnia, etc(I have a bias towards frozen food). Many people feed betta pellets and bloodworms. Some bettas refuse to eat naught but bloodworms after being fed them-starve the betta for a few days and soak its other food in garlic. Due to its high protein diet, bettas are prone to constipation, and many people feed them peas on a weekly basis. Daphnia is also a mild laxative.

Crowntails are much more aggressive in general. Halfmoons tend to get blown fins from current. Adding a betta to a community really depends on the betta, though most bettas will bite long, flowing, colorful fins(guppies!) and fight with gouramis.

Most betta-specific products are not worth it.
 
Last edited:
SchizotypalVamp said:
Bettas come from rice paddies, which, contrary to popular myth, are large, shallow ecosystems. There is a lot of controversy in the hobby as to how to house a betta. I, along with many members of this site, feel as if they should be housed in a 3 gallon tank and up-in fact, most of our members say 5 or 10 gallons. Smaller betta bowls with 100% water changes every 3 days have been long used by betta breeders, and have helped create the variety of bettas that we now have. However, I(as many) feel as if a betta should have a larger home than this when kept as a pet, as they are curious, intelligent, and active animals. They each have their own personalities and love exploring. Many even like to play in the current of the filter, after they adjust to having a current in their tank. You do get the odd betta that prospers in a smaller space vrs a large one, but the vast majority will prosper from a larger aquarium.

Bettas like a warmer temperature from 79 to the mid 80s. A hotter temperature can also mean a shorter lifespan from aging quicker, so I would reccomend a temperature of 79-80.

Bettas can be fed bloodworms, blackworms, mysis, cyclops, daphnia, etc(I have a bias towards frozen food). Many people feed betta pellets and bloodworms. Some bettas refuse to eat naught but bloodworms after being fed them-starve the betta for a few days and soak its other food in garlic. Due to its high protein diet, bettas are prone to constipation, and many people feed them peas on a weekly basis. Daphnia is also a mild laxative.

Crowntails are much more aggressive in general. Halfmoons tend to get blown fins from current. Adding a betta to a community really depends on the betta, though most bettas will bite long, flowing, colorful fins(guppies!) and fight with gouramis.

Most betta-specific products are not worth it.
Click to expand...

This is a great post.

I'm going to go ahead and suggest real plants. Wisteria seems to be good, so I've found. My betta likes to retreat into the dense leaves of the wisteria so he can rest; The current doesn't push him around in there, and he can just sorta "lay" on the leaves. He is also able to hide in the plants, and in general they will give him the sense that the tank is larger.
 
I'd say that the tank in the link is just fine for a betta. :evil_lol:


Good post Schizo!!:thm:

Saved me the time that it would have taken to create it & I agree wholeheartedly that most betta products are sooo not worth the money. I've even herad of "betta water" being sold now. :swear:

ljx/gjx
 
I keep my boy in a community tank, and one thing he LOVES is my water lettuce, so I'd add a floating, cover-providing plants to the list. Not a necessity, but it's fun to watch them explore and he's definitely claimed mine as his turf. The roots are like a forest, and he's always playing in them, popping his head out when he thinks I'm coming over to feed him. Here's a pic:

007.JPG
 
After more research I've now got an Arc Tank (35 litres) setup ready and waiting. It's the first tank I've got that's in my bedroom. This is an internet example of the Arc Tank http://www.petstation.co.uk/arc1.jpg. It doesn't look it, but the tank does have a glass lid (well mine does anyway). May post some pictures later in the day!
 
OrandaRookie said:
After more research I've now got an Arc Tank (35 litres) setup ready and waiting. It's the first tank I've got that's in my bedroom. This is an internet example of the Arc Tank http://www.petstation.co.uk/arc1.jpg. It doesn't look it, but the tank does have a glass lid (well mine does anyway). May post some pictures later in the day!
Click to expand...

Cool looking tank ...
 
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