Is your betta splendens bored of his aquarium?

HI guys and gals,

This is more of an open question that I wish to explore, rather than firm opinion. I purchased a betta about 3/4 months ago. He is my first betta splendens - dark blue veiltail. I immediately liked him out of all the other male bettas in the shop because he would quickly dart away to the back of the tank whenever I put my finger on the glass. I thought he had a lot of energy - all the other male bettas just remained still in mid-water looking incredibly dull and bored. Something about him just seemed charming.

Anyway, there was a good deal going on that day at the pet shop - a marine 360 10litre aquarium, with light and heater was going for really cheap and the shop assistant recommended it for the betta, and said that large tanks stress them out.

So I purchased my first betta. About 2 months ago I moved house and decided to upgrade my betta tank for one that I fell in love with in another pet store - a 25 litre aquapendant by Aqua One. I really liked the space it had.

As soon as I put my betta in the new tank I noticed he immediately started exploring everything very busily. He did this in the smaller tank also - actually he seemed quite content in his 10litre, but it was really crowded with lots of plants that I bought - like a jungle. I'm a plant fanatic and really like the seemingly natural environment it creates. I think it's healthy for the fish and water quality.

So he's currently in the bigger tank (along with 2 clown kilifish that I added later on from my main community tank - the water flow is too much, although they seemed content).

So, here's the thing:

Lately I've been thinking that he needs a new tank! Lol - this is so strange because not only can I not really afford it, but I really do not have the space. I watch my betta quite a lot when I'm at home, because the tank is right next to my bed. I feel like he's an explorer.

Is this just his nature or are most male bettas like this?

I feel like it's something I'd give to a child - as he outgrows one of his more simpler toys, I get him/her something more challenging and appealing, as well as new to discover.

I'd love to put him into a 35-40 litre that has lots of natural plant features and other interesting things. Then even a 60 litre!

I may be wrong? - But I think this short journey so far with my betta has really put me in tune with him, and I feel like I know what he would enjoy (for now).

But the problem I'm having is this: if these are the natural feelings that I'm developing for my betta, how does this correspond to the general treatment of bettas in the aquarium trade?

Their aquariums are so tiny, and most of the time they are still and not doing much...Well, how much can a fish do inside a 5 litre cup?

Any thoughts?

 

What the pet store guy told you about large space stressing them out is NOT true. Imo, it would take a TON of space to actually harm them/stress them out. He probably enjoys more plants and more space in the newer, larger tank.

If I were you, I personally wouldn't keep upgrading the tank due to the stress of having to keep moving him AND the large amount of money it would take. Instead, why not get him the biggest tank you can afford (within reason) and lots of new things to do in there? You can even switch things up every now and then to keep it interesting!

Just my opinion.

 

I find that feeding them live brine shrimp gets them excited. They go into hunting mode and chase down the shrimp. I wonder if putting a female in with him once in a while would liven him up.

 

yeh - I give them live food maybe once a month. Anything more than that is not possible at the mo - as it's a nightmare to get to the pet store after work and i'm really busy during the rest of the week.

How does the female betta thing work exactly? Would I need to rehouse her?

Thanks

 

I find that feeding them live brine shrimp gets them excited. They go into hunting mode and chase down the shrimp. I wonder if putting a female in with him once in a while would liven him up.

yeh - I give them live food maybe once a month. Anything more than that is not possible at the mo - as it's a nightmare to get to the pet store after work and i'm really busy during the rest of the week.

How does the female betta thing work exactly? Would I need to rehouse her?

Thanks

Um, I strongly discourage adding a female "every once in a while". Unless you're ready to deal with hurt bettas, tons and tons of fry (which will soon all have to be housed separately), then I really don't recommend trying this. They will either mate or beat each other up, quite possibly both though.

So no, please don't.

 

Are there any. Mirrors in the room?
It seems the killifish is stressing your betta!


Sent from your local fish expert

 

I find that feeding them live brine shrimp gets them excited. They go into hunting mode and chase down the shrimp. I wonder if putting a female in with him once in a while would liven him up.

No. Just no. If you want to put a female next to his tank that's fine, but not in it. Your tank is only a foot square and there's really no room to run.

Are there any. Mirrors in the room?
It seems the killifish is stressing your betta!


Sent from your local fish expert

There's a killifish?!

 

Excuse me?

 

Yes, there are killifish.....
You did mention them right here, and you can see a killI in the corner of the pic.

So he's currently in the bigger tank (along with 2 clown kilifish that I added later on from my main community tank - the water flow is too much, although they seemed content).

But yeah, the killis could be stressing the betta. Especially with how small the tank is.

 

Lol. That is hilarious!

Nope, he's fine

I'd say it was more the other way 'round, but they're fine with eachother now. The male killI is usually chasing the female, and the betta just does what he wants - he's king of the tank. He's a happy bunny.

 

Geez, must have skimmed right over that bit. Must stop surfing the net before I'm properly awake

But yes, having 3 fish in a tank that's only a foot square is really pushing it, especially as one of them is a betta. 8 gallons is all well and good, but footprint is at least as important if not more so than volume.

 

Sorry, I completely disagree. A 25 litre aquarium is a happy size for a betta with enough space. The killifish are small enough to not pose any crowding problems. They're fine.

It's so easy to turn a perfectly agreeable topic into something else lol. When did I ever say my betta was stressed?

Maybe you're seeing things?

 

Sorry, I completely disagree. A 25 litre aquarium is a happy size for a betta with enough space.

me too, that's like five gallons, the tank I have at home is 7 gallons (30 liter)

 

me too, that's like five gallons, the tank I have at home is 7 gallons (30 liter)

I agree, it is big enough for a Betta. It is not big enough for a community.

 

I agree, it is big enough for a Betta. It is not big enough for a community.

Agree with this.

We keep 3 bettas in their own 10 gallon in my house. Anything less just looks tiny and cramped in my eyes.

 

Yeah, Aquaphobia was saying a 25 liter was fine for a betta, just not enough for a community. If you were to try a betta community, and I don't recommend you do, a 20 gallon would be the min imo.

But back to the original question, my betta is probably bored of his aquarium.....

 

This is where being a gardener comes in handy. I can't keep my hands out of the soil outside or in. I'm constantly changing the layout and trying new plants. My poor bettas don't get much rest with all my mucking about!

 

I change up my bettas tanks every so often. Rearrange the driftwood and plants and the hardscape, too. The fish think they've moved house without actually, moving house.

 

Geez, must have skimmed right over that bit. Must stop surfing the net before I'm properly awake

That's good advice for me too.

But I do agree that the killifish should probably move. If you're seeing absolutely no issues in either though, then just keep a very, very close eye on them whenever possible. Not for just injury either, but for stress in any of the fish.

Oh, to answer the original question, mine lives in a 3 gallon and he's very happy with his tank and décor. In fact, he's been building a humongous bubble nest and always greets me very happily when I come into the room/up to the front of the tank. Of course, once he's been in there longer I may switch up the decorations and move things around a little, maybe even change some stuff out if I find something new I like.

He has no tankmates, btw.

 

me too, that's like five gallons, the tank I have at home is 7 gallons (30 liter)

I will upgrade...

Yeah, Aquaphobia was saying a 25 liter was fine for a betta, just not enough for a community. If you were to try a betta community, and I don't recommend you do, a 20 gallon would be the min imo.

But back to the original question, my betta is probably bored of his aquarium.....

At what point of my original post did I say my betta's new tank was a "community tank"?

But I do agree that the killifish should probably move. If you're seeing absolutely no issues in either though, then just keep a very, very close eye on them whenever possible. Not for just injury either, but for stress in any of the fish.

Well, thank you for the advice: but it wasn't asked for.

 

When you have more than one kind of fish in a tank, that's a community.

 

Just wanted to throw in some suggestions for the killis. Clown killis are small, shy, and social. Being with a predatory betta in such a small tank is probably stressful for them, and they would prefer to be in a tank without a betta, and with a larger group of their own species.

 

The OP has been advised on the stocking it's now up to them whether to take that advice or not.
Thread closed