Smooth Decorations for Betta?

[maryalice81403]

I have read numerous times that you shouldn't have anything sharp around Bettas fins. I have looked and looked and all the aquarium decorations I have found are rough and feel like coral. Are these okay for Bettas or does anyone have any advice on what they put in their Betta tank? I would like to give the little guy a place to hide and rest if he wants. Right now he spends his down time in the back of the tank with his fins wrapped around the filter intake valve...pretty sure that's not good for his fins!


MaryAlice

 

[Aussie_hippie_2]

How about going with plants and smooth rocks instead?

 

[emmaS]

I bought some silk "fake" plants for my betta tank--afraid the regular plastic might be too sharp.

As for rocks, there are smooth rocks out there--may be sold outside of aquarium section--maybe gardening? You might have to double check what kind of rock is acceptable in an aquarium.

 

[NinjaPirate]

IME when worrying about "rough" decorations, it's more a matter of making sure the betta has enough clearance. Stay away from caves/rocks with small, tight entrances that the betta will have to wedge it's way through, because at some point (s)he will try to fit through it and end up with damaged fins or worse, get stuck. Never had fin damage issues with plastic plants of any kind, but I don't use them much. Never had problems with fake cave type decorations either because I was mindful of the above.

 

[jm1212]

bettas are really resiliant fish, and a plastic plant isnt going to hurt him unless its the same plastic that they make plastic knives out of.
if you want to be really safe, silk plants will work fine

 

[NeonJulie]

These are what I have, in various colors (blue/red/green) and sizes (6" and 8"). I have a total of 9. I couldn't be happier. They look beautiful, and since they are real, they feel real, and they are soft, just like sea weed.

http://www.petco.com/Shop/Product.aspx?R=10781&Nav=1&N=0&Ntt=aqua+fern&sku=989282&familyID=13735&

Oh and how about a nice sized clay pot? The one I have is the smallest they sold at Walmart (for $1.50?) but seems more than plenty of room for a Betta, fins and all. It also doesn't appear very jagged, it's pretty smooth.