HELP! i'm thinking of buying a Betta (Siamese Fighting Fish) need help with tank set up?

Question

What do i need to put in the tank? rocks down the bottom? Plants? if so what type?

Also can i put a male and female in the same tank together?

Answer 1

A 5 to 10 gallon tank is wonderful for a single male Betta. You cannot CANNOT put a male and female in the same tank together unless you are breeding them. And breeding Betta's is somewhat time consuming.

Rocks are good. The reflection from the bottom of the tank will bother fish. Plants are nice because betta's tend to like to lay on "something". Java ferns are nice with Betta's, they grow slowly and can tolerate some salt and low light.

Rinse your gravel really well before you place it into the tank. Add your water (treat it with water conditioner to remove chlorine). Don't buy you fish or plants until you have cycled the tank.

Answer 2

I have my Betta in a bowl, but this isn't recommended, and it is hopefully temporary until I can get a tank. A thermometer is good to have, as well as a water heater, so that you can control the temperature of the water. You don't need an air filter, since bettas can breathe from the surface of the water, but that is something else you can get for it if you wish. It would probably help keep it cleaner. I have large rocks that came with the bowl in the bottom *I bought a betta bowl kit* and it looks pretty, but I'm afraid his tail may get caught on the sharp parts, since I have read about this occurance. If your tank is big enough, I would get a plant. The only thing you have to worry about is that it won't take up the whole tank or bowl. I would not put a male and a female in the same tank, unless for short periods when you are trying to get them to mate. He can hurt her.

Good luck. Here are a few sites that I have found helpful.

Answer 3

Atleast a 5 gallon tank with a filter and a heater. You want the temp to be set at 78 degrees. A thin layer of gravel is fine. You want silk plants because rough plastic ones will shred a bettas delicate fins. You definatly want decorations so the betta can feel secure.

No, a female and a male cannot be placed together. If one is not ready to breed, one will kill the other.
In a 5 gallon tank i had 3 neon tetras in with a male betta with no problems. I let my tank cycle for 6 weeks before adding the neons tho because they are sensitive fish. Read this on cycling.
http://fins.actwin.com/mirror/begin-cycling.html

Answer 4

no -- leave males alone -- you can put females together though. there are lots of things you need to do from the start -- decide if you want one fish or more -- usually bettas are good with at least a gallon of water. you can get a 5 gallon tank a divide it for 2 bettas and they will be happy and flare at each other all day. you need rocks and lots of plants. they like plants. get real plants if you can. java fern is easy to grow and one of my bettas LOVES to sit on the java fern. you just tie it to a rock and drop it in. you can do the same with java moss or any plant in the anubias family. you need some rocks in the bottom. if you are going with a tank you want small rocks you can clean with a gravel vacuum. if you are going with a bowl you can use big rocks. big rocks are easier to wash out too if you change all the water all the time.

male and female bettas are both territorial and it helps when you decorate to remember this. i give mine small asian cups for little hang outs. some like them some don't. its like the java fern -- you don't know what they like til you try it.


undergravel filters are kind of worthless. i strongly suggest the eclipse system tanks or the tanks at walmart called aqua tech -- they are made by the same company and good filtration for the money. the 5 gallon split in 1/2 is great for 2 male bettas. you can also put like 5 females in no problem.

the only tank mate i suggest for bettas are ghost shrimp. they are cheap -- i get them 3 for $1.00 -- so if they get eaten i don't care that much. nothing else really wants to live in the same space a betta does. bettas like to chase them around.

you need to buy some food -- i suggest small floating pellets like hikari -- you feed a betta six a day (split into 2 or 3 meals) and even though the pack is small it last a long time.

you need a dechlorinator

you need a bacteria stablizer like stress zyme or cycle.

you need a tonic like bettafix or melafix (bettafix is melafix at 1/4 strength -- i use melafix at 1/2 strenth on bettas). its good for fin loss and most fish in transit have fin loss.

i suggest you pick up some general medication like maracide too -- and familiarize yourself with betta diseases -- look up pics of sick bettas on the internet.


lots of research is good -- one of the most complete sights i have seen is www.nippyfish.net.

Answer 5

Tip one: ensure you have 2.5+ gallon tank for it. opposite to the favored concept, they do unlike small enclosed bowls or something. Tip 2: A heater is a might desire to, especially interior the wintry climate, except that's water is often 80 ish stages, which isn't likely. Tip 3: on no account carry out a hundred% water ameliorations. this might tension the fish out and eliminates healthful, popular micro organism interior the water. Tip 4: while appearing water ameliorations, do 20-30% water ameliorations each and every 2 weeks. faucet water is great. do not boil it. Get water conditioner at your interior reach puppy shop. It eliminates chlorine and chloramine from faucet water. Tip 5: A filter out is a plus.

Answer 6

Bettas are great by themselves. Special tanks are not neccessary. These fish originally came from the far east in small bodies of water, some just mudholes so they're by nature used to small bowls. They do like to hide under root formations of swamp like plants. The local pet store will have such plants. Filtration for the water is also not neccessary. You do however need to change the water periodically. Rocks at the bottom are more for the fish owner than the fish. Male Bettas are very territorial and don't do well with other males. They do prepare themselves for mating seasons by blowing a bunch of bubbles that remain at the waters surface. That's the time that you would want to introduce a female in the bowl. He will try and sweep her off her fins or if he's not impressed he'll just attack the poor thing. It's kind of a crap shoot. they are probably the most deeply colored fish you can keep. beautiful reds, blues, aquas, greens. You'll enjoy them in any color. Good Luck and have fun. Peace out.

Answer 7

Ok Betta's like small almost tiny tanks and are solitary creatures unless you have a mate, with which you keep them seperate but get a Betta breeding tank for when you want if thats your plan. Betta tanks are simple set up, a small 2-3.5 cm (1-1.5") thick layer of gravel on the bottom, a small plant and a few small marbles to interest the fish. Don't buy 2 males and put their tanks so they can see each other, it will just stress them, don't put Betta's in with goldfish, the gold fish nibble at your Bettas fins and kill it. Don't put two males in the same tank.

Answer 8

I'm not sure what Bettas need, but what ever you do, DON't put 2 male bettas together! They'll start fighting like crazy!

Answer 9

rocks in the bottom and water.
Betta's live in mud puddles in the wild. Do not mix unless you ask the guys at the pet store as some fish may be OK if they are the right size but, not OK if they aren't. Unless you are planning on breeding them you can put them in a vase and let plat roots feed them ask them what kind are not poisonous. There is a reason why they are in little cups at pet stores they are hard to kill.

Answer 10

really anything its hard to kill them. you can use a bowl. In the wild they live in puddles of mud so whatever put them in is going to be better