Lardeelion
Aquarium Advice Freak
Morning, all.
I haven't had a lot of experience with bettas in the past, aside from doing what everybody does when they first get a betta - stick it in a bowl where it eventually dies. Since then, I've smartened up about fish and had my 55 gallon, and other tanks, for almost 10 years. Haven't had a betta, though.
Anyway, I am cycling the Petco 6.6 bookshelf and was going to put a betta in it. Way before the cycle was complete, I fell in love with a little guy at the store and bought him because he was the betta of my dreams. I brought him home and put him in my community 55 gallon in a large netted breeder basket up in the corner where he was safe, and gave him some water sprite to hide under. He kept escaping though, so I finally just let him swim free.
Nobody bothers him in the tank. He doesn't flare at anybody. He spends at least 50% of his time swimming around, and the remainder lurking under plants or around the heater or pipes. No fin nipping from him or on him. My question is, for you experienced betta folks, is he happy? I make sure he gets fed and has hiding spots. The 6.6 is almost ready to go, but my son has a betta of his own who is rather anti-social and would benefit from living alone. (My son calls him "Jerkface" for a reason. Putting him with other fish was a long shot at best that didn't work out. I've got a tank divider coming in the mail.)
I haven't had a betta in years and have never had one in a community tank, so I want to be sure he is "happy" if I'm going to consider leaving him in the big tank. Are there any indicators of a miserable betta that I should be aware of?
Thanks, betta lovers.
I haven't had a lot of experience with bettas in the past, aside from doing what everybody does when they first get a betta - stick it in a bowl where it eventually dies. Since then, I've smartened up about fish and had my 55 gallon, and other tanks, for almost 10 years. Haven't had a betta, though.
Anyway, I am cycling the Petco 6.6 bookshelf and was going to put a betta in it. Way before the cycle was complete, I fell in love with a little guy at the store and bought him because he was the betta of my dreams. I brought him home and put him in my community 55 gallon in a large netted breeder basket up in the corner where he was safe, and gave him some water sprite to hide under. He kept escaping though, so I finally just let him swim free.
Nobody bothers him in the tank. He doesn't flare at anybody. He spends at least 50% of his time swimming around, and the remainder lurking under plants or around the heater or pipes. No fin nipping from him or on him. My question is, for you experienced betta folks, is he happy? I make sure he gets fed and has hiding spots. The 6.6 is almost ready to go, but my son has a betta of his own who is rather anti-social and would benefit from living alone. (My son calls him "Jerkface" for a reason. Putting him with other fish was a long shot at best that didn't work out. I've got a tank divider coming in the mail.)
I haven't had a betta in years and have never had one in a community tank, so I want to be sure he is "happy" if I'm going to consider leaving him in the big tank. Are there any indicators of a miserable betta that I should be aware of?
Thanks, betta lovers.
