I think I'm ready for a betta...

[juliethegr8t]

I think I'm finally giving into my urges and I'm going to get a beautiful betta boy. I've always wanted one, but now I feel I know enough and can take care of one properly. Though I must admit, I've been swayed completely now because I saw the most gorgeous bettas a week ago in a lfs - one was white and bright sea foam green, and the other was a beautiful purple and pink. I just have to have one. Anyways, here's my questions.

I would like to buy a kit (probably one from Petco or Petsmart since those are the only 2 types of lfs around that stock that type of stuff), but most of the ones I've found come with a undergravel filter. Are these really so terrible I should avoid any kit that comes with one? Or would it be ok with one betta?

I am not going to be able to afford to get another heater - and I don't think I'll really need one since my mom's and sister's bettas live quite happily in their bowls. So if I can get a tank with a filter I should be set. I'm looking into getting an Eclipse Explorer 2 Gallon System by Marineland which comes with a bio-wheel filter. However, it's a little expensive for my college student price range! Anyone have any other suggestions? I'd prefer to keep him in something at least a gallon.

I plan on setting this up sometime this week before my school starts, wish me luck. I'll let you all know what type of boy I end up bringing home. I can't wait!

 

[jaywings19]

Great to hear that you want to rescue a betta from the clutches of Petco. Both of mine came from Petco.

I have my first male betta in an Eclipse System 3 tank... just a slightly larger version of what you spoke about. The tank is great... easy to maintain, that's for sure. Also, you probably won't need a heater for a tank that small anyway... the light on the Eclipse tanks seems to keep the water warm enough as it is. This betta doesn't seem to always enjoy the filter's "current," but he sometimes plays in it... otherwise, he finds the calmest part of the tank and hangs out there... I think he gets tired of "chasing" his flakes in the current though. I just got him 3 new cory tankmates that help me keep the tank clean.

My second betta is happy as a clam in his 2.5 gallon (unfiltered) acrylic tank. No complaints from him... eats happily... flare a ton. It's just a little more effort to make more frequent water changes.

By the way... check Petco.com before you go to the store. I've discovered that their online prices are MUCH cheaper than the store prices... even if you factor in shipping costs.

Good luck.

 

[wuvmybetta]

I have several 2.5 gallon tanks that came from Petsmart. They're your basic glass rectangular tank (only shrunken) and they come with a glass lid all for....9.99 , then you can add one of those little sponge filters that you put on a air pump, if you want, some of mine are filterless because the bettas hate bubbles,others don't mind. They also have little notches where you can add a divider. I personally don't like the ug filters because they get all kinds of debris caught under the "grate" that goes on the bottom.
So glad your going to get a betta, prepare to fall in love

 

[Scarab]

I too have also heard from other posts the Eclipse (either the Explorer or the Three jaywings mentioned) is good for bettas. I was thinking about getting one for Solomon....but the 2.5 gallon Minibows are on sale right now at Petsmart. The Whisper filter it comes with is great...plus it's adjustable so you can set the flow very low, perfect for a betta. And from what jaywings said, you must not be able to adjust the flow on the Eclipse. But that's up to you...some bettas are fine and play in the current.

I've never had an UGF. And from what I've read, I've decided never to get one. Not because they're totally bad filters...but some have complained about their maintenance/cleaning. And I personally don't want to deal with the hassle.

wuvmybetta Posted on Sep 16 2003, 02:27 AM
So glad your going to get a betta, prepare to fall in love

I SOOOOOOO agree! They're so addictive. I just bought my 3rd this weekend.
Welcome to wonderful, magical world of Bettadom.

 

[juliethegr8t]

Oh my goodness I'm so excited! I just can't wait to get another fish... lol I'm already addicted, just not to bettas... yet. Needless to say, my mom is FAR from happy that I'm getting yet another tank. Oh well, I neeeeeed a betta! I have been doing lots of research on what tank to buy for him, and I'm going to look at prices at the stores, hopefully Wednesday - I'm going to check out the Eclipse Explorer 2, and the Mini-Bow 2.5 (thanks Scarab!). The adjustable flow sounds really great - that's tempting, plus I can pick a color to match my betta! (Haha I'm already pathetic...)

One more question - is it really important to get silk plants instead of plastic? I of course don't want to tear my betta's fins, so I don't want to get the wrong type. However, one of the kits I'm looking into comes with 2 free plastic plants and I don't want to spend more money if I don't have to.

EeeeEEEE I wanna go out and rescue my fishie right now!! *Glues herself to her chair* Ok ok... I can wait... hopefully.

 

[canis_lupus]

i would definatly go with silk plants for him........mine got a huge rip in his tail from a plastic plant! i had a minibow 5gallon it was $20!!!!!!but i had 2 keep it in my sisters room and i didn't like that so i didn't keep it......i worked nicely tho......the filter is really quiet have fun with your betta....i really want another but i'm gonna wait until i find the right one......possibly a rescue from a cup....o i keep my bettas in unfiltered betta kits and they do really well! i'm thinking of upgrading their tanks to 1 gallons soon

 

[BettaBoyz]

'hi. my name is bob, and i'm a betta-holic'



congrats on falling for a pretty-boy betta =) the eclipse or mini-bows are what i wanted to buy, but alas, my local pet stores and wal-mart stink if you want a cheaper tank though a 'the betta kit' 'water-world' 'penn plax smallworld' or 'small pals pen' is a good choice. they're acrylic/plastic, 1 gallon for TBK and penn-plax's, water-world is 2 gallons and small pals pens go from a half-gallon up to 10 i think. you can buy a cheap little smallworld sponge filter for 15 bucks (with the air pump too!) =) they're quite good! i've got my boy pierce living in a smallworld with a pound of black hagen gravel, three assorted silk plants, a sponge filter, thermometer and his new ADF compadre =)

go out there and rescue a betta! or two... or three ^^

 

[BlueJeanGirlNC]

By the way... check Petco.com before you go to the store. I've discovered that their online prices are MUCH cheaper than the store prices... even if you factor in shipping costs.

Good luck.

Here's a hint that I use all the time for price shopping..

I found out that the prices on aquarium filters at petsmart online are nearly HALF of what they are when you go into the store. If you print out the online page for the filter you want and take it with you to the store, they'll match the online price! I would imagine they do it for everything that's online, but so far I've used it to buy my Penguin 330s for $24.99 compared to the 46.99 they list them for in their store. I don't know if Petco does the same thing, but it wouldn't hurt to ask.