How can I get my Beta to have beautiful long luscious fins?

Question

I just bought a Beta and I have it in my tank, with very little bit of plants and smooth small rocks, almost polished to a smooth glassy surface. I was wondering, what can I do to give this male beta beautiful long healthy fins. Almost sounds like a hair commercial, but I want it to be awesome looking. I have a 1.5 gallon tank. Its not the biggest but its bigger then what it was in, I also have a small place.

Food?
Water Temp?
Fish Mates?
Water purifying kits?

Just whatever information you can give me would be great!

By the way, since my fish is red with long red flowing fins. I decided to name it "SPARTAN!!!" Thought it would be appropriate due to the Beta's fighting nature and the movie 300! haha ;)

Answer 1

First, some types of bettas have longer fins than others. Some are very carefully bred for long fins, some for shorter but fuller fins, some for extensions on the fins... you get the idea.

To get the most out of his genetics, you should have no tank mates, very slowly moving water, but filtered. A warm temperature (lower 80's) and feed a wide variety of foods. A quality flake or pellet should be the staple of his diet and add to that brine shrimp, blood worms, daphnia, mosquito larvae and other similar small meaty foods. Keeping his water very clean will be of serious importance as well since ammonia even at low levels will cause splits in their fins.

Additives such as stress coat etc, will not help fin growth , nor protect normal fins. Some people do report faster fin healing after a split using such products.

MM

Answer 2

What he ends up with as fin length will be determined mostly by his genetics. The best we can do as owners is to make sure they stay in good shape by giving our fish a good, balanced diet, good water quality, and keeping sharp, pointed objects (plastic plants, ornaments) and fin-nipping fish out of their tanks.

For food, a good quality betta pellet is a good staple, with some bloodworms and occasional brine shrimp as treats. I also give an occasional cooked pea with the skin removed.

The water temps where I find they're most active is 76-80, although a littler higher is good if you're spawning them. Tank mates will depend largely on the size of the tank in which you're keeping the betta - corydoras catfish, snails, and African dwarf frogs (not clawed frogs) seem to be popular choices for smaller tanks. In larger tanks, pretty much any peaceful fish that doesn't nip the fins of others.

Best way to keep the water good is with frequent water changes and use a larger (2.5-5 gallon) container - around 25% of the water changed each week and don't overfeed. Chemicals just bind other chemicals - they don't remove them from the tank. You can get test kits for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate and test for these until the tank cycles - at that point, only nitrate should be detectable.

Here's one of the best betta websites on the net - you can get even more info on betta care from it: http://www.bettatalk.com/

Answer 3

Food- Hakari betta pellets are best, but you need 2-3 different kinds of food. I've found that all of mine like Freeze Dried Blood Worms.

Water Temp- Get a thermometer.

Tankmates- Bettas CAN be with other fish, but not in your 1.5 gallon tank. : ( Not enough room.

ANd also, your betta will get a lot bigger in a bigger tank.

Answer 4

You said your fish is red with long flowing fins, what more do you want out of the fish?

Answer 5

go to persmart.com and find a store locater and then browse thier fish food i don't remember exactly what kind it was but i used to have a beta and there was this food i got from there that helped with the color

Answer 6

put a mirore agenest the tank, and only feed it beta food.

Answer 7

I would try the new beautifying fin-defining mascara, from Maybelene. and for shiney scales dont forget the scale gloss.
now with more fiber for a crunchy goodness your family will love!