A betta Myth Collection

Ok since I couldn't find one of these I thought it was about time we started a collection of all the Betta Myths and Falsehoods that we've heard over the years. I'll start.

Betta Myth:1) Betta's prefer cold water.
Betta Fact: Betta's originate from an area of the world where unheated water sits near a balmy 80*F (26*C)

REMINDER: Let's keep this fun. If someone gets a little mixed up give them a hug and point them to a link in the right direction ok? No wrong answers, just mis-read questions alright?

 

Betta Myth: 2) Betta's like to be in small spaces, because they live in puddles.
Betta Fact: Bettas DONT come from puddles, they come from rice plantations and ponds. Bettas appreciate a roomy environment

 

Betta Myth: 3) Bettas make good community fish.
Betta Fact: Bettas prefer and do better in a tank alone.

 

Betta Myth 4) Bettas are immune to ammonia.
Betta Fact) No fish is immune to ammonia they can all get gill burn and die from it.

I read that on a random betta forum....lol

 

5.) Bettas don't need a filter.
6.) Bettas can live in a cup with a plant on top with no water changes.

 

6.) Bettas can live in a cup with a plant on top with no water changes.

I cringe when I see this one! Bettas are surface breathers! How are they supposed to breathe if the plant is covering the entire surface of the water?!?!

Here's my myth:

7) Bettas will eat off the roots of the plant you put on top of their vase.
Betta fact: They might pick at it, but they won't get the nutrition they need. Look at a bottle of betta flakes/pellets. What's usually the protein content? Usually 38-46%. Yeah, how much protein is there on the root of a plant?

 

Betta Myth 8) Female bettas can live happily together.
Betta Myth 9) Female betta and one male betta can live a happy life together.
Betta Fact: Attempts at either of these generally end in disaster!

 

Betta myth 10) My male Betta is bubble nesting I should breed him!

Betta fact 11) Bettas enjoy making bubble nests...It is a sign of maturity not a sign they need to be bred...

Betta myth 12) Breeding Bettas is easy and they don't take much time to raise

Betta fact 13) Here is my kitchen every Tues. and Sat. Yes, the cups are floating in the beanie boxes as the water settles and gets to the right temp...This is only a few of my 100 water changes I do in an average week..Still thinking about breeding? lol

 

Betta myth 12) Breeding Bettas is easy and they don't take much time to raise

Betta fact 13) Here is my kitchen every Tues. and Sat. Yes, the cups are floating in the beanie boxes as the water settles and gets to the right temp...This is only a few of my 100 water changes I do in an average week..Still thinking about breeding? lol

That's a great pic, MM! Do you think you could post it on the breeding bettas sheet? That would give potential breeders and excellent idea of what they'd be getting into.

Just a thought

 

Yes, I'll post it there as well...A couple more photos of what a dedicated Betta breeders home looks like..

Let's not forget about the retirement center at the end of Mommy's bed.and the show shelf...OH wait, an entire fish room!

OK, I'm done lol

 

Hehe I was always kinda curious what you did with your parents after you spawned

 

Red, Shawnie owns 1/2 of them lol....

 

ROFL spoiled So Shawnie's place is the nursing home eh? lol

 

14) A new betta tank does not have to be cycled because bettas can survive the initial ammonia poisoning. (heard it from a Petsmart guy)

FACT: Very few bettas survive this; those who do suffer extreme internal injuries, stress, and have a dramatically shortened lifespan.

 

MYTH 15: Bettas are stupid and can't remember anything.

FACT: My guys still ask if MM is ok... and if we have heard from their brother Wriggley.

 

Ted! lol....YES, they remember everything!

Myth 16) Bettas are just fish they don't need anything but food and clean water

Fact 17) Bettas are more like people...They interact like dogs and LOVE their humans..

 

Myth) Bettas are boring as pets.

Fact) Bettas can be the most entertaining pets you will ever have if given the chance to thrive. Mine constantly keep me amused.


Myth) Bettas only live about a year (my lfs...sigh).

Fact) If given ideal conditions and care, bettas can live several years.

 

Hey MM what all is in the big tank in your bedroom?

 

The tank is in my living room the pics are pasted together...That is my 55 gallon grow out tank...

Here's what's in it..

 

Beautiful MM! What a breathtaking sight.

Betta Myth) Betta fish are all the same and have no individual personality.

Betta Fact) Bettas can have more personality than most humans! and they are all different.


Betta Myth) As bettas are fighter fish, they are programmed to hatred and will never bond with or like anything.

Betta Fact) Bettas are capable of forming the strongest of bonds with their owners, they can show affection and are capable of love. Given half the chance of loving a betta will overcome even their own ailments to try and show their owners that they love them.

 

Myth 17) Bettas never get any diseases (By my LFS guy :mad

Fact 18) There is no one who cannot admire a betta

 

O_O looky at all the colors....*drools* lol Awesome fish MM.

 

Betta myth 19) Bettas can live for 7 - 10 years. (One of my local fish stores, although this seems like optimism, when my betta Achilles aged at 2 1/2 - 3 years I clung to this theory as false hope, it hurts when they tell you something that just isn't possible).

 

Pet store Splendens average 1-2 years it seems and 7-10 is like the record set in laboratory conditions I think. I wish it were true..

 

I know they probably thought it was encouraging to give me this information but it made me think I could get him to live for that long. It was kinda torturous of them. It also made me think I could have done more for him to prolong his life.

 

Wow MM...I just had to tell you I love the color on this one!

 

Critter, she's a little dark blue/lavender MG....

 

she is gorgeous!

 

I am amazed you could pick one out of all those stunners!

 

She's a beauty!

Wow MM...I just had to tell you I love the color on this one!

 

I have heard on several accounts on fishlore of people saying that if you keep a male and female together in a tank that is divided that she will probably become egg bound. Is this true? If so than why not do this instead of putting the male and female together and running the risk of the female getting killed? Any info would be great. Thank you.

 

She becomes egg bound, but the eggs are not fertile.

The same way a chicken lays an egg every day, with or without a rooster to fertilizer her.

 

Than it would be ok?

 

Nope. Egg bound means she is not able to expel the eggs. It's the wrap of the male betta that squeezes the eggs out of her. Being egg bound is a bad thing for females.

I'm sorry if the chicken example was misleading. I was only referring to the fact that both can develop eggs within them without them being fertile. A chicken can force the egg on her own, while a female betta cannot.

 

Ok, thanks so much for the reply.+1

 

Good morning,

I have moved your thread from Betta Fish to Betta Breeding section of the forum.

Thanks!

Ken

 

When a female is eggbound she can't get rid of the eggs. Being eggbound is a condition that can kill a female, they will keep filling up with eggs and eventually their egg sack will rupture. But it can happen with females any time, not just female who live near males.