How-To Guide: Betta Splendens Tank

First off, Betta's do NOT belong in bowls, and under NO circumstances should they be in there. How would you like to be stuck in an outhouse your entire life with food shoved under the door once a day? You wouldn't, so your Betta won't either. Also, although I usually don't like the "inch per gallon" "guideline" in general, I do like it defending Betta's Your average Betta bowl is under 2 gallons (I'm being generous), and a Betta gets what, 3"? It just doesn't make sense. Finally, Betta's are TROPICAL fish. This means a HEATER and a FILTER! Well, if you're still with me, here's what I like in a Betta tank.

TANK SPECS:

Tank Size: Absolute minimum in my opinion is 2.5 gallons! However, personally I wouldn't stick it one in anything other than a 5.... It also must be a tank, a bowl is hard to attach a filter and heater to. I prefer a 10 myself so I can put in a few tankmates. My "perfect" tank would be a 15 with a school (4 or 5) Cory's. A really popular tank is the 6.6 Gallon Bookshelf Tank from Petco. I have no experience with one however, as I'm in the Great White North. Also, go for a long tank over a high tank for reasons typed about later. BE SURE TO CYCLE!!!

Filtration: Filtration is a must, there's no ifs, ands, or buts. You need to be careful selecting a filter however. Betta's from a cup aren't used to a current, and when a filter is throwing them around the tank, it is bad for the fish. My recommendation is a filter with flow control (I.E. Eheim Liberty and Aquaclear series). I have also had good luck with a Hagen Elite Stingray 10 in my 10 gallon.

Heater: Not even a decision, Stealth But seriously, a Betta needs the temperature between 78-80. Lower than 78 and the Betta becomes sluggish, higher than 80, and the lifespan is shortened.

Substrate: Although gravel is the "standard" substrate, I much prefer flat glass marbles. The thing about gravel is Betta's have sensitive/fragile fins, and they swim around the bottom, they can easily rip their fins which can lead to infection. So if you go with glass marbles, go to a Dollar Store/Buck or Two/etc, the same thing at your LFS will cost at least twice as much. Although I am a huge fan of sand, it's not for Betta's. A few people who have had sand ended up with dead little buddies due to the Betta's eating the sand and choking.

Decorations: Before even THINKING about putting anything in with a Betta, run a nylon stocking or similar over the entire thing, and if it snags, that means your little friend's fins could get caught. My recommended betta decor is hamster tubs, pvc caves, flower pots, etc. Silk plants are excellent too. One little hint I have is buy a broad-leafed fake plant with a suction cup end, and put this about 2 inches or so under the water surface. Betta's have the labyrinth organ (means they breathe air), so when they "sleep", they can easily reach the water surface.

FISH & TANK MATES

The Debate, Male vs. Female

Male: Males are what you usually see looking up at you from inside a little cup anywhere. They have the long, flowing beautiful fins often associated with the Betta's. They are arguably one of the most handsome freshwater fish in the world.

Females: Contrary to popular belief, sorority tanks do, more often then not, fail. Although they don't have the long flowing fins of the males, females are beautiful in their own way.

No matter which sex you pick, please only keep one Betta.

Tankmates: Cory Cats, Otto's, and Pleco's are the only fish I would suggest to go with Betta's. Of course, each Betta is different and has their own personality, so when thinking of adding tankmates, always have a back-up plan in case it doesn't work out. Cory's and Otto's are schooling fish, and need, at a minimum, 2 of each kind. A 10 gallon will fit a male with 2 Peppered Cory's quite nicely. One thing to know about Otto's is put only in a WELL-ESTABLISHED tank as they are very sensitive about water conditions. The Pleco species of course depends on your tank size.

Feeding: Betta's will eat pretty much anything, but stay away from freeze-dried bloodworms as once they get inside their stomachs, they expand , which can cause bloating or death. However, if you soak them first, this is okay. I feed my guy flakes or pellets, and peas once a week to help with constipation.

Hope this helps out people who are starting out a Betta tank, and if anyone has any suggestions, I will definitely take them into consideration

Also, in my humble opinion, a Betta is better in a heated, uncycled tank rather than a cup at Wal-Mart or PetSmart, so if you fall in love with a little guy, grab'em But get that tank cycled as soon as you can. You could be like me and run an extra filter on a established tank so if you somehow brought one home, you'd be all ready

 

Well said.

 

great job again! and you man is handsome!

 

Thank you for your kind words both of you

 

HI Cory...you have really done your homework!! Your bettas are pretty neat looking as well, as is that cory!!

Do you have them in TB or FF??

Oh yes, and don't forget the nitrogen cycle!!

How's the job going??

Val

 

Great advice for Bettas!
I have had to give the tropical fish speach to my husband about our betta when he asked why he has to have the tank like it is instead of a bowl. That is a stigma that needs to be published in newspapers, and in petstores everywhere, that they need a tank.

 

HI Cory...you have really done your homework!! Your bettas are pretty neat looking as well, as is that cory!!

Do you have them in TB or FF??

Oh yes, and don't forget the nitrogen cycle!!

How's the job going??

Val

Right smack dab in the middle right now...Atikokan And I can say I've had better jobs....

I know SteveAngela1, I get that all the time from my friends. But they also don't understand stocking rules very well :| I have 5 Zebra Danio's and a W.C.M.M in a 10 and they were going to buy me more fish, "a sucker fish that hangs on the side"

 

Excellent article! One thing though...

Feeding: Betta's will eat pretty much anything, but stay away from freeze-dried bloodworms as once they get inside their stomachs, they expand , which can cause bloating or death. I feed my guy flakes or pellets, and peas once a week to help with constipation.

Freeze dried bloodworms are my guys favorite and they are his main food source. He gets a small amount twice a day generally. I do, also, feed him peas once per week, though. No issues so far! MorI doesn't like flake food at all.

 

Feeding: Betta's will eat pretty much anything, but stay away from freeze-dried bloodworms as once they get inside their stomachs, they expand , which can cause bloating or death. I feed my guy flakes or pellets, and peas once a week to help with constipation.

if you soak the worms for a while before hand, swelling isn't a problem. Soak in Garlic Juice for a real treat

 

Ok, thanks for that Angel and Tzqng, I'll fix that

 

First off, Betta's do NOT belong in bowls, and under NO circumstances should they be in there.

AMEN!!

A really popular tank is the 6.6 Gallon Bookshelf Tank from Petco.

I use this for my little David Bowie -- we both give it five stars! I would, however, consider upgrading the water filter (though the one it comes with is not bad).

Thanks for the great post on betta-keeping. They are amazing, intelligent, and inquisitive little creatures, with great big unique personalities! It hurts me to see people keep them in tiny bowls with no heater or filter. What a miserable life that is for them.

 

This is some excellent reading material for the new Betta owner......I agree with everything but the freeze dried bloodworms...My boys all love them...What I do is dip them in the water for a minute and drop them in one at a time.....HakarI betta pellets are their dinner.....And Peas are a must!

Great job! Your devotion to our Betta kids shines through on this one!

 

I have so many betta kids, that I break off a piece of the bloodworms, put into a small dixie cup of hot water, then walk around to each boy and feed...I agree peas are a must but my kids are spoiled on the shrimp n bloodworms that they snuff their noses at pellets unless I fast them HAHA ...total snobs they are

 

That's a good idea Shawnie

 

Updated picture July 14, 2008

 

Wow, what a pretty tank!! I love the colour scheme, and those sparkly rocks are nifty.

 

Thanks, not are they nifty, but they're cheap

 

I divided a 10 gal. for my 2 male bettas. And on a female betta note - what about the female bettas that are in a community tank at the fish store?

 

LFS don't care as much about their cheaper fish as we do for ALL of our fish..not to mention, females don't sell as much as males...so just cause they are in there, doesn't mean they are happy or not picked on..or that they don't pick on others...its a hit or miss with betta's in communities..just have a back up plan if it doenst work

your tank looks awesome btw!!!!!! love the deco

 

Despite the possibility of failing miserably, I got a couple of Black Neons last weekend with the intention of putting them in with my betta... though, I already have another tank set up in case he tries to pick on them. -_-
Congrats on a successful grouping with yours!

 

Despite the possibility of failing miserably, I got a couple of Black Neons last weekend with the intention of putting them in with my betta... though, I already have another tank set up in case he tries to pick on them. -_-
Congrats on a successful grouping with yours!

I have nothing against trying combinations, and I applaud you for thinking ahead and having a backup plan in case it doesn't work. I really hope it works out for you

Also, sorry abotu editing your post, I hit EDIT instead of QUOTE

 

Kona, I like it very much and I like the idea that you have of running an extra filter in an established tank. It has saved my life many times that I keep sponge filters running in my tanks all the time. I never know when I will need them for hospital or quarantine tanks or even to start a new tank. Good idea. Another excellent recommendation was the EHEIM Liberty filter for a tank choice. I have used this filter and find it one of the finest available and the easiest and best for adjustability. It can be easily set to accomodate any betta and allow them to acclimate themselves to the flow rate slowly without being tossed all over the place. They are also very easy to maintain with their "paddle" style filter media and ease in cleaning and changing media. I love them personally. They are fine and inexpensive filters for the HOB type.

Thank you for the efforts you took to make this thread a resource for those with new betta tanks.

Devon, with respect to the black neons, it is not the betta you need to worry about being aggressive, but the neons being aggressive toward your betta. They will have his fins in ribbons as he does not see them as threats and will allow them to come and nip them. Be careful as they will do it so quickly no one will notice and a lot will be done under the cover of night when the lights are off.

Rose

 

Bettas without tankmates

Once my 10 gallon community tank moves into its new 40 gallon space, I plan to make the 10 a Betta tank with flat glass marbles, silk flowers - totally pretty & feminine. I think I like the delicate female bettas even better than their showy male counterparts. I want two. If I put a divider in the middle to separate them, do you think they will be happy in their adjacent solitary cells without other tankmates?

 

Yes, I would think so Catlady

 

I have nothing against trying combinations, and I applaud you for thinking ahead and having a backup plan in case it doesn't work. I really hope it works out for you

I float the Neons in his tank in a bag... Bowie took one look at them and said, "Aww... HECK no!!" and started flaring and throwing himself against the plastic to kill the poor little things... who were terrified... heh, so they are going in the other tank. @_@

By the way, I just noticed the bit about the blood worms... my boys get freeze-dried blood worms every night and it is their absolute favourite... I do soak them in water for a few minutes before feeding, and keep them small portions, to keep them from bloating though... those little pigs would eat themselves to death otherwise. ;P

 

hI I'm new to this not sure how it works!!!!!!!!!! but I have a new tank 4 my babys ive got around 80 5wk old bettas,when will I be able 2 sex them? is there an early way of knowing?& wat age will I need to find um homes??????????