How to optimally care for Bettas?

Question

I know I've been asking a lot of questions concerning my fish but I have not been precise enough.

I'd like to know everything I need to know about caring for a single male Betta. Including what snails, plants, food, lighting, tank size, and anything else you guys know about them.

Or companions (Other fish)

Though I do know Bettas are aggressive.....

I know they can do well with gold fish as my friend has had them with 4 others in a tank for over a year.

Answer 1

I have a number of bettas (although not as many as I once kept, at one time I had 14 adults and was breeding them). I've liked the 2.5 or 5 gallon mini-bow tanks like this one: http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=3635107 I think the colors are a nice way to complement the colors of the fish (or just black if none of the colors looks right). They can be kept in larger thanks though if you want. The tank comes with a filter, and I get some natural color of gravel, a small piece of driftwood, a few either live or silk plants (they shouldn't have plastic, this can sometimes have rough edges which can catch and tear their fins). Also a heater, and I keep the water around 76-80o unless I'm breeding. Since they have trouble swimming against a strong current, the filter needs to be adjusted so the flow rate isn't as strong (this also preserves a bubble nest better).

The kit shown above comes with a hood and light, but I usually change the bulb with a compact fluorescent you can buy ar WalMart as well: http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5839358 - better spectrum and more energy efficient, doesn't produce as much heat and last longer

The plants you get will be largely dependent on your lighting. For live I like Anubias, banana plants, or Java fern. I have one with a little Java moss growing on the driftwood as well. I could probably go for more light-intensive plants, but these grow well and the betta seems to like the floating leaves of the banana plants to make the bubble nests.

I use betta pellets as the staple food, and add bloodworms and daphnia as treats. Sometimes live mosquito larvae if I can get them from a source where I don't have to worry about pollutants in the water. I've got two ponds of my own, so I can sometimes find them there, as well as live bloodworms if I leave some plant debris.

Nerites are a good choice for bettas. They can't reproduce unless they're in saltwater, so no population explosions are possible. I've also used adult ghost shrimp with some, but with mixed succes. Some bettas are fine with them, others attack them. If the tank is large enough for tankmates, African dwarf frogs or corydoras catfish are options. Bettas tens to stay in the upper part of the tank, so bottom fish are the best. I would imagine kuhli loaches would work as well, but I haven't tried these yet. Basically, and fish that won't eat them or nip their fins, doesn't resemble another betta with long flowing fins, and can stand up to some bullying by the betta and will let him be the boss. Bettas are individuals, so what species works with one, may not work with others.

Think that's about as much as you're asking. If you'd like more info, this is a good resource: http://www.bettatalk.com/

Answer 2

ask you pet store for snail.
I use real plants not fake plants. Plastic one hurt the fins.
I give them blood worms (they stink a lot)
I turn the light on at 8 in the morning, and turn it off at 9 at night
I have 2 in my 15 gallon tank, and 1 in my 5 gallon tank. (i have a divider so.)
keep the water level at about 8 inches make sure there is more then 3 inch left cause it can jump out

Matt M

Answer 3

it depends on how big of a tank you put him in. he pretty much has to be alone in a 2 gallon -- but a 10 or 20 gallon you can make a fish community. they are better with other fish than most people think.