New To Betta Keeping

[carrera]

hi

ive always thought bettas were gorgeous fish, so ive dug my very first old tank out of the loft and im gonna divide it up to house some males.

i already have a female (only had her a few days) in my main tank and my long term goal is to breed some bettas (eventually.. ive read its difficult).

but, anyhow, short term im just planning on keeping them happy and healthy.

i would like to keep 4 males in their tank, dividing them up evenly gives them over 1.25 UK gallons each and around 6"x8"x8" swimming space, i think that should be sufficient?

ive been thinking also about equipment options.. im swaying towards an undergravel filter (fishlessly cycled previously). this seems to make the most sense (to me) as it doesnt create much current and will filter the water from all compartments equally.

ive also thought about getting a 4th divider plate and sectioning off about an inch at one end and putting the heater and uplift in it. this will keep the heater aside to prevent any burns and also lessen any current created by the uplift tube. it will also be more asthetically pleasing this way.

so, i just wondered what the experts opinions were on my plans so far. comments and criticisms mucho welcome

one last thing. ive noticed that my female completely rejects flake food. she even tastes it, and spits it right back out. the one thing ive found in my cupboard that she enjoys is freeze dried bloodworm, however, im pretty sure freeze dried foods should not be used as a main food. what do you guys feed yours? (id prefer to not use live food if at all possible )

 

[_cRaCkEr_]

I never feed my bettas with pellets and flakes. I only feed them with live feeds and sometimes frozen blood worms or if I'm out of stock (but this is very seldom) I feed them with freezed dried tubifex.

My Bettas doesn't know what Pellets and Flakes are.

 

[Rynoah]

Freeze-dried foods aren't good for the fish as a staple food, since it can cause constipation. I'd use them as occasional treats.

It's common for bettas to not eat for the first few days after being put in their new homes. She may just be going through her "getting-to-know-you" phase.

I feed my betta mini-pellets, and I had to condition him to take them, because he just wouldn't at first (he was fed on granules at the store). Keep feeding her the flakes (only one or two at a time) until she stops spitting them out. Stop feeding the bloodworms during this time. She'll eventually realize that the flakes are the food that she gets, and she has to take or leave them. If she refuses them for more than a week or so, switch to a different food.

Alternatively, you can go back to the store you bought her from and ask the fishkeeper what they feed their bettas. Some stores have the food they use on display. Buy a bottle of that and try it. She may be more receptive to a familiar food item.

By the way, welcome to Betta Planet! They're a very addictive fish to keep.

 

[_cRaCkEr_]

Freeze-dried foods aren't good for the fish as a staple food, since it can cause constipation. I'd use them as occasional treats.

- I've been feeding my bettas with these for more than 20 years and I never encountered any problems.

It's common for bettas to not eat for the first few days after being put in their new homes. She may just be going through her "getting-to-know-you" phase.

- I definitely agree with you on this.


I feed my betta mini-pellets, and I had to condition him to take them, because he just wouldn't at first (he was fed on granules at the store). Keep feeding her the flakes (only one or two at a time) until she stops spitting them out. Stop feeding the bloodworms during this time. She'll eventually realize that the flakes are the food that she gets, and she has to take or leave them. If she refuses them for more than a week or so, switch to a different food.

Alternatively, you can go back to the store you bought her from and ask the fishkeeper what they feed their bettas. Some stores have the food they use on display. Buy a bottle of that and try it. She may be more receptive to a familiar food item.

By the way, welcome to Betta Planet! They're a very addictive fish to keep.

 

[carrera]

thanks for the advice so far guys

 

[corydoras]

yeh iv read freeze dried foods r a no no...im sure the bettas will love live and frozen bloodworms instead!