Betta beginning

[JurassicRIP]

I just wondered if anyone has any advice on how to keep bettas in tip-top condition? :? I have a 5 gallon tank coming free in a week or so, and laid eyes on this beautiful blue male in the LFS.There was also a female there(rather lovely herself!!). Is it better to get a pair? or would it be betta (ha ha!!) to put them (or him?) in my coldwater community tank? The temperature is overall 20degrees c in the 5G tank. I'm good on goldfish, but new to this whole betta thing, my other half has experience of them ,( unfortunately this included watching them die within 24 hours ),and i certainly dont want that to happen!!

 

[loganj]

Betta's

The Betta is a member of the family Belontiidae. These fish have an accessory breathing organ called a labyrinth organ. This allows them to breathe atmospheric air. Not only can they breathe air, they have to have it to survive. A Betta that cannot get access to air will literally drown. Partly because of this, they are able to tolerate most types of water. PH can range from slightly acidic to alkaline. As long as the fish is properly acclimated to the water, it will adapt and be fine. Temperature should be maintained at about 78-80 degrees F. Bettas will become listless and inactive at any temp much below 76 F. They do not do well in a tank with a lot of current. If you use a filter at all, I recommend an air driven sponge filter. If you must use a power filter, get one with adjustable flow...the smallest one you can get...and set the flow at its lowest setting. Also, although Bettas can adjust to most water conditions, they need water changes like any other fish and will succumb to ammonia and nitrite poisoning. In a 5 gallon tank, you should be fine changing a gallon every week. You'll need to monitor ammonia/nitrite until the biological filter is established. Do not, under any circumstances, mix the Betta or any other tropical fish with your coldwater fish. Goldfish, koi, and other fish of this type have different temperature requirements than tropical fish. One or the other will be miserable and extremely stressed which will lead to disease and death. Bettas have a relatively short lifespan also. A 2 year old Betta is a very old and tired fella. Fins will begin to droop and you will notice a roundness in to top of the body. Your Betta is a carnivorous fish. It will not do well on just flakes. Hikari makes some pellets that are just for Bettas. Also, supplement its diet with bloodworms, whiteworms, daphnia, and even some small bits of fish or meat. Remember when you feed it that its stomach is about the same size as its eyeball...feed accordingly. Hope this helps...they really are neat fish. You can house the female betta with the male also. Have a place to put the female when and if they spawn though. If you don't remove her after the eggs are laid, the male will most likely kill her.
Logan J

 

[Thaiboxer]

I have a few bettas also... I keep a male at work to brighten up my cube, he's in a 1 gallon and I do water changes every other week or so. He seems pretty happy!

My roommate keeps a male betta at home as well, same setup as my 1 gallon at work.

I have a third in a tropical community tank, 55 gallons, and he gets along very well. Right now it's cycling with him and 7 danios and they all seem friendly.

We have a female, tried her in both tanks at home and she didn't get along with either male. She got Ich two days ago so now she's in her own bowl being treated. If she recovers, I don't intend to re-introduce her to either tank because of personality problems.

I don't think I'll get another female in the future, but the males have been great! Just my $.02

 

[nikki]

betta

I added one male betta to my community tank about 3 weeks ago (I've got rasboras, kuhlis, ancistrus and a couple of colisa lalia (dwarf gouramis). Up to now, everything is fine. They get along well together.