Betta Question On Home

[atmmachine816]

Ok guys got a discussion here. A guy at one of the petstores I went to yesterday said bettas do better in larger tanks but without filteration or heat. He says as long as the heat stays around 70 it will be ok and when you put in a filter they go cook coo because they are bred so much without it they aren't used to it,(at least the store bought ones) He also said his have always been happier that way and when you add filteration they get confused and have shortened life spans. Now do you guys agree with this.

Austin

 

[starrynightxxi]

i don't think it's because they're bred without them and aren't used to them so much as usually their fins make swimming in currents difficult (think running against the wind with a jacket that keeps catching it). That said, I have heard some people say their bettas will spend all day next to the filter or in the bubbles playing, but i don't think that it's common.

They likely do better in larger tanks because they can get some exercise and stimulate their minds better (fish have memories longer than three seconds), not to mention it takes longer for one fish to build up waste to a potentially toxic amount in more water. Then again, some fish are agoraphobic and prefer small spaces.

 

[Mertus]

My betta always stays next to the filter he only ventures out to breathe or feed, and sometimes on very rare occasions

 

[atmmachine816]

So with that in mind would I be ok to keep a store bought betta (rescue it from the incy wincy bowls) and keep it in my 2.5 gallon and keep it at 70 F and no filter or should I keep the temp. higher or use a small filter (lee's corner filter) it's similar to a sponge filter? And change say one gallon of water every week and test it every week too.

 

[soritan]

I'd do 100% water changes on that tank volume if it were me. You could get away with less than half the water volume... but changing it all out isn't much more work, and ensures the water conditions in your uncycled tank.

I'm getting a bit of a chuckle, was your LPS implying that 2.5g is "large"?

*Edit: Just realized how abrasive that sounded, wanted to amend that. 2.5g isn't 'large' by my perspective, although I could see how the word 'larger' could apply to them, if you're comparing them to those tiny .5g tanks they sell specifically for bettas at the pet store.

 

[atmmachine816]

No he was saying large as in 10 gallons and saying that they do better in a 10 gallon no filter, 70F

this filter Thats a filter I could use or really small sponge filters, and I don't think my parents would like me doing full water changes.

 

[soritan]

Well, yeah. They probably Would do better in a 10g with no filter, 70f. They'd do even better in a 10g with a gentle filter, 84f. Bettas are curious little buggers, generally, and love larger spaces. I had a heavily planted 10g with a single betta in it for a few months, and found it to be quite enjoyable.

Most people feel like they're "wasting" their tank if they put a single betta in a 10g, though. Personally, if I was able to do it all over again, that's exactly what I'd do.

 

[atmmachine816]

Well I plan on planting my tank after I get rid of the baby guppies and I have been considering that, but what could I put in it with him/hers, my mom won't let me get a adf. The reason I asked this is because if I can put a betta in it without hurting it then I'd put the tank in my 5 year old sister's room so I can get her hooked on fish because she keeps asking me for one because my last one died and If I can get her hooked then somebody can take care of my fish when I go to college if I can't take them with me.

never mind on the tankmates, just read the link.