First Betta

[Squirrelbuddies]

Every time I'm at the lfs, I can't help but check out the bettas and I come so close each time to bringing one home!

My house temp is normally around 69-70 degrees except in the summer it's warmer. I would need to heat the water, right? I've read that 76-78 degrees is good -- but this seems to vary from website to website.

What about a light? Would one betta in a five gallon with a heater but no tank light be ok?

Also, if the tank has no filter, do I change the water every day? every other day? Or should there really be a filter in there?

I've been researching this to death but there's so much conflicting information out there...

And last but not least -- if I finally do get a betta, am I going to become addicted and want a dozen more??!!

 

[WILDER]

http/www.mushi.petfish.net/bettacare.html

 

[eudielynn]

Wilder's link will answer the first questions. The answer to the last question is YES< YES< YES>

 

[WILDER]

Betta deseases.
http/www.mushi.petfish.net/bettadisease.html

 

[Kiarra]

Heat the water to about 76-78 degrees. Even heating it up to 80 wouldn't hurt any. Anything in that range is wonderful.

No light necessary, but you can add one if you want.

One Betta in a 5 gallon with a heater and no light is excellent.

No filter necessary. Some Bettas can't stand the current. If you do decide to use a filter, go with one that has little to no current, or find some way to block the current. But, if you go without a filter, a large partial water change...say 50% a week...would be more than adequate. And then maybe change all the water out once a month or so, more if necessary.

 

[Squirrelbuddies]

I was at the lfs again today and almost did it! They had two "wild" bettas. They were boys and their fins are not like most male bettas. They almost looked like females.

Is there an advantage (or disadvantage) over "wild" bettas vs. domestic raised bettas?

 

[Kiarra]

Those are Plakats.

(Sorry about the fish bum...I think he was scared of the camera)

These are two of my Plakats. They aren't "wild." Their colors clearly mark them as domestically bred---they're quite fancy, considering one of them is purple.

If the ones you saw are colorful like mine (especially the purple one!), then they aren't exactly "wild." They ARE domestically bred. But Bettas are short-finned in the wild, so these are technically closer to their ancestors.

There aren't really any benefits to Plakats over the longer-tailed versions, except that, due to the shorter fins, they're less likely to catch their delicate fins on things and tear them. They also tend to handle current better, because there are no long fins to get caught in the currents and blow them around. Other than that, they're pretty much the same.