Setting up a tank for a Betta

[Mariah]

Hi,
Ive had betta before but that was when I was younger. Im intrested in setting up a another tank for a betta. What things should I know/do?
I currently have a betta tank. It does not have a filter or heater or airstone but thats how I kept my betta before and he was fine.
For adding water can I add normal tap water and than add water conditioner? Also what temp should I put the water in at?
Any other advice/suggestions would be great too

 

[Betta_man]

What size is the tank? and what volume is it? Make sure the water is thr right temp and make sure you add conditioner.
This is a good website for info:
www.bettatalk.com

Any other questions and me and the rest of the people here will be only too happy to help

 

[Mariah]

Im sure not what size the tank is but it is small. Like its not a tiny bowl that they keep them in at the lfs but its not a "fish tank" either. Less than 1 gallon I would think.
And they dont need a filter/heater or airstone? I want to make him as comfortable as possible
Im going to add a tiny plant (probably some water sprite) for him to hide in or rest in. What about food? I remember when I had my betta before it said it was betta food but can they eat normal flakes?
I will check out that website as well.
Thanks!

 

[BettaMomma]

I would pick up some pellets made especially for bettas. Like Hikari Bio-Gold or something similar to that. They also love live of frozen food - if you can do that for them. Mine all go completely nuts for the frozen blood worms. I think they're quite but they go ballistic for them. I get them in little cubes. I just cut one cube off and defrost it in a tiny bit of warm water, then drop the worms into the tank using a toothpick - but be careful, if they see them coming, they'll jump - and we don't want anyone losing an eye with the toothpick...

A nice little plant would make him really happy. If it's a fake plant, get a silk one as opposed to plastic. They'll get snagged on the plastic ones. They really like real ones, too...and with a tank that size, you should plan to do 100% water changes a couple of times a week.

You can just use tap water and use dechlorinator. I really like to use Stress Coat - that not only conditions the water and removes the chlorine, it adds additional slime to their bodies to promote health.

 

[FishEnthusiast]

I feed my bettas HBH betta bites. They also get shelled peas once a week, and bloodworms every 3 days. The way I feed them is to dangle the worm in the water. My boys are tame enough, they will take the worm from my hand. I don't have a heater or filter on my little tanks. I do 100% water changes every 2 or 3 days on my little tanks. HTH

 

[Mariah]

Ok so I will pick up some "betta food" and I already have blood worms so thats good. I am going to have a real plant in there - water sprite. I think he will enjoy it.
No one has said what temp the water should be when I first put it in or do water changes??
For the conditioner would it be ok to use - multi purpose water conditoner? Thats what I use on all my other tanks. It says it replaces the natural slime and removes chlorine from the water and other things as well.
Thanks, you guys are very helpfull Thats why I love this board so much

 

[eudielynn]

The water conditioner you have will be fine. We all have our personal favorite brands, the main thing is just to condition the water for them. I keep my temp about 78 degrees in my betta tanks. Both my bettas in their own tanks seem to like that temp pretty well. My community tank is a little cooler at 76, but the betta in there also seems to do fine with that temp. Just be sure to get a thermometer to keep an eye out that the temperature doesn't fluctuate too much. That is probably more important than the exact temp.

Good luck with your new betta and keep us posted!!

PS - you won't be able to stop with just one.

 

[BettaMomma]

Also make sure that you exactly match the temp of the water they're going back into with the water they were taken out of

 

[FishEnthusiast]

The boys in my smaller tanks are not heated, their bowls sit around 72. My heated tank is about 78.

 

[Booboo puppy]

I bought a tank last weekend so that I can eventually get a betta. I thought it was 2 gallons, but I measured by adding water last night, and it's 6 gallons. It has a filtration system which I may or may not use--understand that bettas prefer calm water.

What other fish can go in with the betta? I was thinking maybe 3 corys and 3 small fish. Any recommendations? I will have an abundance of young platys--could I put two or three in with the betta? Or will they be too large as adults? Or just cories with the betta?

I haven't found the betta I want yet either. The ones at my favorite pet store didn't look very healthy--I'm afraid to look at the chain pet stores. I was looking on-line but haven't ever ordered fish before. There's a lot of talk about "betta rescues" but I'm not sure I'm up to that yet.

Any suggestions regarding accommodations or betta choice will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Mariah]

Well I set up my tank and went out and got a betta! ) They were all so pretty so it was a hard decision but I finally decided on one that has a blueish/purpleish body with red fins I am going out to get a light later on so I can get a better look at him. He seems healthy and im just so glad I could save one of these guys from the small container he was living in.
I also bought some "top fin betta bits". He has some watersprite in his tank as well. Do you think he needs a tiny ordamint? His tank seems abit boring. Is there anything else I should be doing that I forgot?
Also are "freeze dried bloodworms" the right worms for my betta?
Thanks!

 

[Kiarra]

He'll eat freeze-dried bloodworms most likely, but they can be a little too dry and lead to digestion problems like constipation. If you feed him peas once a week, too, then it should combat that.

It'd be better to give him live or frozen foods, in addition to his pellets, like adult brine shrimp, blackworms, bloodworms, daphnia, krill, and other similar foods.

 

[Mariah]

Does my betta really need the live foods or can he live off his his betta food? Also my betta does not seem very active. Hes just sitting in his plant and I really want to see him. I picked up the light tonight and hes wont come out from hiding. Hes not really hiding but hes on the other side of the plant where I cant see him that well. Is this normal? Is is also normal that I fed him and he didnt eat?

Also what are the different types/colors of bettas? Mine has a purpleish/blueish body with a red bottom fin and a light purple top fin. (I got a better look at him) Is there a name for this color?

When I went back out tonight I saw this white betta. How common are white bettas? I also saw this other betta with a red body and half red than white fins. Im kicking myself now because I really should of bought him! I think I may go back tomorrow and get him. Hopefully hes still there. But im still debabting with myself which one out of thoese 2 I want because I can only have 1 more at the moment.

eudielynn - You were right when you said I wouldnt be able to stop with just one.

 

[Kiarra]

There are a bunch of different types of Bettas. There are the tail types, then there are the color designations. Yours is a Multicolor Veiltail. At least, I'd pretty much guarantee he's a Veiltail.

It's very normal for him to be a little shy right now, and to not be eating. Many Bettas have a hard time dealing with the stress of being moved to their new home, so it takes them days and sometimes a week before they're ready to eat. Give him time.

It is possible for him to live entirely off of his pelleted Betta food, but it comes with a fairly high risk of constipation. I'd suggest feeding him frozen peas, but another way to reduce the risk of constipation is one day EVERY week where you DO NOT FEED HIM A SINGLE THING. It is no way as sure a way to prevent constipation as frozen peas are, and, if he gets constipated, then fasting him may or may not help relieve his constipation.

 

[xanthianacid]

I second the fasting for one day a week, and a shelled pea. I often feed them the pea before any other food the next day after the fast day. My bettas all seem very healthy (sheen to their fins, quite slinky) so the fasting and pea does them good. If you want to see him more active, put a mirror against the side of the tank for a little while every day. It might help him to get more active, but don't leave it up all the time. There's a chance he'll exhaust himself or it he'll just get used to it and get bored.
Sometimes though, the little guy might need a companion. I find my loneliest do better in a larger community tank. Only a peaceful tank would I recommend. But this is contraversial, and if done would suggest you watch the tank like a hawk for some time to make sure everyone settles.
If this doesn't appeal, a second male in another tank might be what you might need. Sometimes this helps encourage them to be happier/livier, just make sure you can 'hide' them from each other's view from time to time same reasons as the mirror.
Hope this helps.
xan