Miniature bettas???

[Coral Dolpfin Cove]

Alright, I've had numerous bettas, but the past couple that I have bought are smaller than the others. They are males, and are in good condition, but they stay small. I know that when I got my first pair of bettas, they were small. When I put them in their new homes, they got bigger. After about a year in their homes, I decided to put them in something bigger. As soon as I put them in their larger aquarium, they grew even more. Now I don't keep them in anything smaller than the bigger aquarium. Anyway, after Faith died in October, I got Kai, who lives in Faith's side of the aquarium. He was, and remained, smaller than Hope. Faith's tank mate. Unfortunately, Hope passed away on Friday from an injury, , and yesterday I got Clyde, who is even smaller than Kai. Obviously Kai grew a little after I'd had him for a while, but he has never gotten as big as my other males. Clyde is even smaller than Kai. So here's my question. What influences the size of a betta? Is it possible to spawn miniature bettas?

 

[lovebuzz]

I guess there could easily be a line of little bettas, as they go have "giant bettas" that grow larger than the average betta.

The females from a miniature betta line...they must be TINY!

 

[GuppyDude]

minature bettas are a very real posibility, the only reason that trait is not pursued is because in the world of bettas, bigger is better id like to see mini bettas one day thogh, that would be awsome

 

[SuckerLove86]

Well, at least if someone somewhere along the line decides to market mini bettas, the betta cups they're sold in would be a little more humane. That is, unless they sell these guys in shotglasses.

 

[wuvmybetta]

No, they're just unusually small. Out of nearly every spawn there will be a few who are fully developed,but teeny tiny. I've read of experiments where these small fish were spawned to each other and the results were average sized fry.

'Giants' are originally formed from wild giants such as betta pugnax and so on.

 

[BettaMomma]

I've had 5 bettas.
I have one pretty large one (Jasper). His body reminds me of a torpedo. He was also shimmery gray when I got him.

Then there's Harvey - he's kinda medium - sized, good and round but he's still flat (if that makes sense)

Then I had Amos - he was very sleek and slender.
And Then we got Archie. He reminds me of some skinny little freak that is a drug addict - he's SOO very hyper and he eats all the time but he stays SKIIIINNY. lol

And now we have Jack. He's a pretty big boy - they're all in about the same size tanks - and they just grow to be whatever size their genes predict them to grow to. Kinda like us

NOW.... my friend's daughter has a betta, blueberry, I swear he's an android. When I first saw him I thought he was a mutant. HE's a MONSTER and he's only lived in a little 1 gallon unheated bowl. (until they met me) now he's in a great heated 2.5G tank with plants. If I had to quantify his size (i'll try to get over there and take a pic of him one day) I'd say he's probably close to 1.5 inches top to bottom and 3 inches (his body only) from front to back. He has grown so big, in fact, that some of his scales have started growing in weird patterns. it's WEIRD.

So, I guess all in all it's probably in the genes cuz nothing that has gone on with any of my fish correlates with tank size. I guess in some cases it could be that the bigger the tank, the more exercise they get and get bigger and buffer? Do they even have muscles that would get bigger?

As they say....
it's not the size of the tank - it's how ya use it
heh heh

 

[cation]

. He's a pretty big boy - they're all in about the same size tanks - and they just grow to be whatever size their genes predict them to grow to. Kinda like us

Not true. Bettas (like most fish) have indeterminant growth, meaning they continue to grow their whole lives. There are general maximums a species will grow to, but this is often determined by lifespan - the longer the lifespan, the bigger the fish. Now, Giant bettas are genetically mediated, but although these fish will be bigger then their non-giant couterparts, they still grow indeterminantly.

 

[BettaMomma]

Really...
interesting. I never knew. There I go handing out bad info again. lol

That's really interesting to know.

Does that mean then that when there's a relatively big betta on the shelf in a store somewhere he's not a young little guy, but he's been around a while??

 

[Dorkhedeos]

mini bettas would kinda suck dont you think? when they flare, theres nothing to see. and they wont be able to eat frozen bloodworms or anything that size

 

[BettaMomma]

You know what would be really sweet?
Is mini bettas, but with regular sized flares.

LOL

 

[cation]

Does that mean then that when there's a relatively big betta on the shelf in a store somewhere he's not a young little guy, but he's been around a while??

That's usually exactly what it means. Could be a giant or half giant too, but there aren't that many of them making it onto lfs shelves quite yet.

 

[BettaMomma]

Hmm...
so um, this may be a really stupid question - if they're well on their way in life when they finally make it to a store shelf, where the heck have they spent the beginning of their life at?

 

[wuvmybetta]

Usually as the floor of a breeding area If anybody can find that pic,please post it.

But most lfs and definitely Walmart fish are already well over a year old before they're sold. People want big bettas I personally think there's nothing cuter in the world than watching a small betta grow up and get big Which reminds me....it's time for more adoptabettas

 

[BettaMomma]

adoptabettas?
OooOooh, explain.

GOD - what a borrrrring life those guys must lead, then the get dumped on the shelves at WalMart. No WONDER they're so nosey and excited when they get to come home with us and watch us bringing food over. sheesh.

I would LOVE to get ahold of a baby betta. I would in time train him to say "mama".

Yeah, I'm completely normal.

 

[cation]

Usually as the floor of a breeding area If anybody can find that pic,please post it.

There you go