betta care

[superjalami30]

I've been reading all kinds of posts about heating, filtration, cycling, using cycled water, using cycled gravel etc etc etc for beta bowls and/or tanks.

I've had a devilish looking red and green male betta for nearly 3 years now and was wondering how others have their's set up.

heres my modest set up:

1Gallon bowl.
A beautiful, bright green peace lily suspended in the bowl, roots in the water.
Fluorescent lighting provided from an end table lamp.
Located away from a window, but lotsa indirect light is still provided.
Regular small sized green rock.
Two 100% water changes per week are done, aqua plus and a drip of "Plant gro" is added with each change.
Temp ranges between 72-76 in the winter and 76-80 in the summer.

I've never had fin rot, parasites, fungal infections....hrmmm......
I've never had anything go wrong with this brute.
He hates our cat and wants to kill it I'm sure, sometimes I think he wants to get at me too!!

I've been wanting to relocate him to a 3 gallon "filtered" tank more for an "esthetics" reason, but I'm worried that it'll kill him.

I know many keep them in filtered tanks with or without other fish, and that there are quite a few methods of housing them, but when I got mine this is the way I was told to keep him.
the LPS said its a simple and effective way to keep them as pets.
And to their defence it has worked for nearly 3 years now.
Anyone have any input on this?

 

[Skylar]

If he's been it for 3 years or so, I would keep him in it so as not to stress him.

Skylar

 

[MegTheFish]

My 3 year old guy is an a 1 gallon circular tank with river rocks and a smooth pastic plant that floats at the top of the water for him to rest on. The temp doesn't drop below 70 degrees, its usually in the 72-74 range. I must be doing something right because he has never had an diseases, and he always has a very hearty appiteite. All my other bettas are in 1 gallon tanks and all seem to be doing fine.

 

[superjalami30]

Thats what I figure I'll do.
I'd really like to give him more room to swim and glare at me and my cat, but dont want to stress him either.
I 'spose I could just buy another one for the 3 gallon tank.

 

[superjalami30]

Sooooo many of my friends have bought beta's only to have them die within a matter of weeks or months.
I have no idea what they are doing to have such terrible success, as its pretty simple to keep them healthy and "alive".

 

[Mariah]

I have my 4 guys in 1/2 gallon tanks with a plant (water sprite) and a light on top. I have been told to up grade to a bigger tank (1 gal or bigger) but for now there going to be in the 1/2 gallon. They are happy so Im not going to disturb that
I have a 2 1/2 gallon - Would that be suitable for 2 male bettas (with a divider) or 2 females?

 

[superjalami30]

I cant see why you couldnt put two males in it with a divider.
Does anyone think that'll stress the males out being side by side?

I see them that way, that is side by side in cups by the dozens at the LPS and they seem "ok".

 

[Skylar]

If the divider is a solid color or is the kind of material which you use for cross-stitching, then the bettas won't get stressed.

HTH,
Skylar

 

[cla55y19]

i keep my male in a 4ft tank on his own i think he gets lonely coz hes always following me when i move and come to see me at the top of the tank prob begging for a white worm he has grown extremly big now after i have bred him so im guessing it must all be ok in there? and i think one way to know if there happy is if you see his little bubble nest hes built

 

[Bettaman]

i keep my male in a 4ft tank on his own i think he gets lonely coz hes always following me when i move and come to see me at the top of the tank prob begging for a white worm he has grown extremly big now after i have bred him so im guessing it must all be ok in there? and i think one way to know if there happy is if you see his little bubble nest hes built

you would be better off putting you fry in there and putting the male in the fry tank they will grow then and if you got whit worms feed them to the fry,,,,,,,,,,

 

[cla55y19]

wont they get lost? it seems massive for such little guys

 

[LuBear]

when you're talking about green rock. Do you mean a rock that's intensively covered in algea?

 

[Bettaman]

were they going to go......its a ttank and if you have whit worms why are you not feeding them to the fry.....

 

[cla55y19]

i thought white worms would be to big like blood worm!? as i said im a complete novice i didnt even think id get any fry i just need pointing in the right direction

 

[Bettaman]

white worms ive had in the past have never been as big as blood worms and are a good fry food,i thought you said they were quite large fry, 6 weeks old