Question about my special girl Reba..(female beta)

HI as ya know a while back I had a very bad experience when starting fish keeping. So its become my own personal choice to start coming here for advice BEFORE purchasing anymore fish. (But to give a quick update my last remaining dalmation molly (f) is doing very well and has a whole 10gal tank to herself! She is starting a bit plump but not sure if she is really pregnant or not. 2 weeks from now when my sister moves I am getting a 50 gal tank set up that she will be moving into once it has cycled properly etc. Now on to my female betta Reba and my reason for posting. I have had her in a 5gal tank all to herself now for roughly 3 weeks or so. All levels are good she eats well and LOVES to come up to the glass when ever I approach flipping her two side fins like a wild woman lol...I think she is SO pretty when she does this...But it also makes me feel bad. I know it sounds crazy, but it almost seems as if she is lonely and wants interaction and attention. I thought at fist maybe it was because she wanted food but even when I give her food unless she is hungry she won't eat but will still seemingly become very excited when she see me. So my question is, with her tank size and her specific species of fish is there any other types of fish that I can place with her so that she is not all alone in her tank? If so what and how many can I get per my tank size. (I'm sure its not many). Thanks in advance for the advice!!! LOVE this forum!!!:;rudolph

 

Bettas are very personable fish.
She was reacting to you.
She will not have that reaction to other fish.

I prefer keeping my bettas alone and really 5g's isn't enough for anything else.

We just never know if a betta will accept tank mates.
Even if they do we can never be sure it will last.
Sometimes it's the other fish stressing or picking at the bettas flowing fins.
Sometimes it's the betta being aggressive and stressing the other fish.
Sometimes none of the above.

 

I think bettas generally don't "like" the company of other fish and such, but I'm not an expert so really wait for someone else to address that. My reason for posting is to instead offer something else to consider: where do you have the tank set up now? Is it possible you can have the tank on a computer desk or some such thing, a place where you spend most of your time? I ask because if getting her extra friends doesn't work out, something I have noticed in my (albeit limited) experience is that social fish such as bettas really like people watching, and can become noticeably happier if they are in a position where they can be close to and watch you or any other traffic that goes by. For instance, I had my frog on a bookshelf for a while, but after he got put on my computer desk, where I spend most my time when I'm home, he became much more active and generally seemed happier.

Best of luck with Reba!

Edit: I type too slowly! Basically, what Lucy said, haha.

 

You just got 'd

 

Bettas are very personable fish.
She was reacting to you.
She will not have that reaction to other fish.

I prefer keeping my bettas alone and really 5g's isn't enough for anything else.

We just never know if a betta will accept tank mates.
Even if they do we can never be sure it will last.
Sometimes it's the other fish stressing or picking at the bettas flowing fins.
Sometimes it's the betta being aggressive and stressing the other fish.
Sometimes none of the above.

I couldn't have said it better. Your betta will likely be happier alone, and interacting with you, rather than with other fish.

 

LOL, thanks all for the quick replies...She sounds more and more like my cat haha..Its so sweet to know that its because she likes me and not because she is lonely I am glad that you mentions her tank spot Mmbrown, because I just moved her to my tall dresser tonight because of outlet issues...So I guess I'm gonna go downstairs now and dig out an electric cord so I can move her back. Lucy, you mentioned her tank prob not being big enough for anything else. So was wondering, is it big enough for her? Or should I think about moving her to the 10gal once I get my 50gal up and going? (I promised this one to my son to use for a frog he has been asking for forever! lol) Thanks again for the quick pleasnt replies

 

Imo 5 is big enough for a betta.
She may enjoy the room that 10g's gives her.
Mine have.