are bettas suicidal?

[goin_all_out]

i was eondering if bettas tend to be suicidal? i have my stanly in a tiny bowel and was thinking of getting a 2 and a half gallon aquarium, would i need a top for it? also what are nice plants i can put in this tank for him?

 

[pjfish]

I've heard about bettas jumping out. I've never seen my betta above the water line, but I have a top just in case.

 

[goin_all_out]

hmm thing is i dont believe there is a top that is made for a tank of that size so what do i do?

 

[goin_all_out]

ohh and what are some good little plants that could i could put in there for him? i have him in a bowel with some regular plants in it and he seems to love to sit under the roots of them so ithink he'd love live water plants.

 

[FishEnthusiast]

Java fern, Java Moss, and Cabomba are all great aquatic plants that will grow well in a betta tank. You can get 2 1/2G tanks that have lids on them. For my 1G bowl, I use a cd case to keep the hole almost covered. I had a betta that jumped once while I was on vacation. Needless to say, I came home to a dried betta. Always use a lid. My 5G tank has a mesh top made for reptile tanks. I think I paid $10 Canadian for it. There are endless possibilities when it comes to bettas, you just have to be creative.

 

[goin_all_out]

well they sell 2-1/2 gall. tanks at my work, like clear glass ones, i can get one for like 10$ just dont sell the lids, but maybe there are lids, have to look into it

 

[Styx]

To answer as best as I can and give my two cents:

i was eondering if bettas tend to be suicidal?
I would say no, based on personal experience. It is my informative opinion that bettas jump to escape undesirable situations. This can be anything from water conditions they don’t appreciate (doesn’t even have to be dirty), other fish, too small a container, and so on. However, some may jump for the sake of jumping, like people running for the sake of running.

i have my stanly in a tiny bowel and was thinking of getting a 2 and a half gallon aquarium, would i need a top for it?
That would be advisable. In case they’re one of those “runners”.

also what are nice plants i can put in this tank for him?
Java fern. I think everyone will tell you that. Bettas love ‘em and they last for a fairly long time.

 

[Kiarra]

Judging by all the random splashing that goes on in my room at night...yep, they jump. Sometimes just because they're bored.

 

[AlexsDaddy]

I have made a couple lids out of some plexi glass, but I made sure to cut 2 of the corners out for the heater and filter power cords and for air circulation. I had to re-inforce the plexi with some wood trim though cause the plexi kept bowing in the middle from the weight.

 

[abstract]

they SHOULD sell the lids for the 2.5 gallon tanks...the are basically just a piece of glass cut to the size of the tank with a little handle you attach with 2-sided tape...you could even BUY the piece of glass (for less than a few dollars i am sure) and use anything for a little handle - since it doesn't weigh much...over time plexi could be an issue with the light on top of it - plus it's more expensive than glass!

 

[FalconStorm]

If it's a bowl that you've got, you could do what I did, especially if you have a heater or filter power cord coming out. I have a heater power cord coming out of my little betta bowl, so I cut a circle of plastic canvas that is about an inch wider in diameter than the opening of the bowl, then I cut a small hole for the cord. The lid 'snaps' around the cord, which holds it in place and there's plenty of space for air to get in for the betta to breath since the plastic canvas is just a bunch of holes. If you want a pic of what I did, I can take one tonight and post it. Another thing I've thought of is, if you have any sewing talent at all, and if you don't have any cords in your tank, take some netting material, cut a large circle from it. Sew a casing around the edge and run some thin elastic inside that is narrower than the opening of the bowl. That should be easy to put around the rim of the bowl, it will keep the betta inside, but still allow air movement.

The idea of all glass lids bothers me, because it seems like if there isn't a lot of openings available, the betta would potentially suffocate since not much fresh air would be able to get in.

 

[BettaMomma]

abstract is right - I have 5 of those little tanks, each one of them has a glass lid. I think they were each in the range of 3 bucks. You just have to make sure that when you put the glass down on top of it, it doesn't seal it off. All but 1 of the tanks I have like that have a small piece cut out of the moulding on the side for air tubing, etc.

They really should have a glass lid, or something that will catch the condensation and heat and hold it in the tank.

They will most likely jump. Mine always jump when I have them in their little "holding pens" - i.e. solo cup - while I'm cleaning their tanks. I always have something over top of the cups, and it never fails - I always hear some head bonking going on.

 

[FalconStorm]

*sigh* I hate it when logic doesn't quite work for me. I had forgotten about the need for condensation. I guess it's a good thing that particular bowl is a temporary measure until my split tank is up and running.

 

[lilfishie]

Well mine was he jumped out but luckily i noticed his was missing and he recovered.