Am I giving my Beta fish too much space?

Question

I keep my male Beta in a pretty big bowl, probably 8-10 inches in diameter, and I have a big shell and a plant in there too. But I just found out that apparently your supposed to keep them in a very small space because they like it. I don't want to buy a new bowl, but would it be a good idea to put more stuff in it so it'll be more enclosed?
Or would it be an idea to get another fish, would that make it seem more enclosed as well? I know fighter fish will kill most other fish, but I think there is a certain species which they will tolerate. Which species is it? Please make sure, because I am really squeamish around blood and dead stuff and that, and I also have a really soft heart for animals, so I would probably be traumatized if one of them died if I got another fish.
Please explain! Should I put more stuff in the bowl, should I get another fish and if so, which type, or is my fish fine how he is? Thanks!

Answer 1

I had my Beta in a really huge glass vase with shredded jelly like stuff in the bottom. He loved it. I wish I could remember what that stuff was called, it comes in a little pack and you soak it in water and it fluffs up like jello. You can get in all kinds of colors, but anyways, he loved it. He would wiggle himself down into it till he was completely buried, the shoot back up and swim around and around the bowl then shoot back down into the stuff. He really liked it. Later when I took it out and put glass marbles in the bottom he would got down and push his nose against the rocks like he wanted to play. It was sad. So I bought him some more of the jelly. When I was telling the guy at the pet store about it, he said the fish probably liked it cuz it felt good rubbing against his body. It was really entertaining watching him burrow in the stuff.

Answer 2

Okay, first of all, who is the idiot that told you Bettas like small spaces? They DON'T!!! Bettas will do much better in a 10 gallon aquarium with a heater and filter. Little bowls (like yours) is not at all good for the fish. No fish can be happy in such a tiny space. If you had a real tank (10 gallons), you could add some Neon Tetras and Corry Cats, but you don't. Neons and Corrys both need filters and heaters, and a bit of space. Also, somebody said to add a Betta of the opposite sex, well, that is only the case if you want to see the male Betta get torn to peices. Female Bettas are very aggressive in small spaces, the only chance for that would be a temporary 10+ gallon breeding situation.

Nosoop4u

Answer 3

OMG! Please don't get him a smaller tank! If anything, think bigger. A fish can never be given too much space. Just because fish can LIVE in tiny spaces doesn't mean they like it or can thrive there. Think about it. Would you like it if someone put you in a bowl you could only turn around one way in?
Well fish are the same way. Ignore the false information you were given. And don't add any other fish. Your tank is too small to sustain the other schooling fish that the beta will not kill.

Answer 4

Too much space? Umm I'm going to say too little!

Betta's are so often mistreated because pet stores sell these fish and display them in bowls, when they should be treated just like any other tropcial, in a heated filtered tank!!

It's not expensive by far. I have mine in an eclipse filtered three gallon set up with a group of white clouds to boot, even a plant as well. He's doing just fine, a little picky on his diet, but please if you want to do anything, get him a small filtered tank.

JV

ADDITION:
Whoever told you about only certain other fish is misleading you. Betta's basically just can't be housed with other Betta's and other fish that have flashy big fins and tails, like male guppies. Fish that have big fins and tails that are colorful maybe mistaken as another male Betta causing him to defend his territory. Other then that, you can have many other fish. One thing that will be bad for him are a good selection of the barbs and some tetras, they are fin nippers and he would get harassed by them. If you need suggestions I'd be happy to give some, but please get a filtered heated tank set up first.

Answer 5

there is no such thing as having a fish in too big of a bowl. the more space the better. betta dont need to be in smaller spaces, they just could be. thats way so many people like bettas because they can be kept in small bowls.
do not put another fish in with a male betta. male bettas are agressive and will fight. males need to be kept alone. females on the other hand can be kept in groups because they are not agressive.
bottom line: your fish is fine.

Answer 6

A betta's natural habitat are in shallow waters of Southeast Asia (ponds, rice paddies, etc). They were never meant to be confined into small spaces, but since they are a hardy breed, they will tolerate it.
When deciding to introducing your betta to other fish, you can consider certain small cat fishes, or even snails (which will help keep the tank as well) . Bettas usually like to float around on the top of the tank while cat fishes generally stay on the bottom.
Don't worry about putting too much in the tank, what you have should be fine for the current size of your tank.

Good luck!

Answer 7

Kylie this is one of those questions lol. I am so with MM and Kylie and Jon V. Who is the moron that told you that you should keep them in a small bowl? That is so incorrect. Betta's are shoved in those tiny cups because most stores do not have enough room to place the males in seperate tanks. Males will fight with other Betta males. That is the only reason they are kept in such a small space. I have a Betta in my 36 gallon tank and he thrives in it. At times when I am breeding him I still keep him in a heated, filtered, half filled 10 gallon tank. People complain that their Betta is boring..well give it more space and they are just as active as any other fish.

Answer 8

What you have is just about right for your Betta, the more space (water) you have the more stable the water condition will be (temp, pH, etc.) and the more stable the water condition is the better for your fish. If your only reason of wanting to add another fish is because of "having to much spae" DON'T, thereis no need for that. BTW, Bettas are aggressive only to other bettas and are not to other species, with a few exceptions.

Answer 9

It really doesnt matter if your tank is 2 gallons or 10, a betta will be fine. it is true they are found mainly in shallow puddles in the wild but most of the bettas we buy are captively bred. my bettas are in 2.5 gallons and i have one really expensive one in a five gallon (im breeding him). so if you want you can but some ghost shrimp but i wouldnt advise buying another fish because of the size of the bowl not the temperment of the fish. the truth is when it comes to bettas you can keep them with just about any other type of fish besides fish that are fast moving, have long flowing fins, or are related to the betta (i.e gouramis are in the same family)

Answer 10

There is nothing wrong with keeping a Betta an a large bowl. They seem to be able to live quite well in a confined environment, but also live quite well in larger ones as well.
I kept one in a 10 gallon community tank with a plec, some neon tetras and glass catfish. As long as its tank-mates are not colorful, large-finned fish, one male Betta will get along just fine with them.

Answer 11

Hi, first of all however told you they are happier in small tanks is sadly mistaken. Betta are happiest in larger tanks of about 1 to 5 gallons in size. They also should be filtered and heated with a small heater. So it sounds like you might have him in the right size tank you maybe need to think about adding a sponge filter and air pump, and perhaps a small heater.