Best plants for a betta tank?

[biofish]

Hello everyone! Due to the great prices on tanks right now, i was considering finally building a female betta sorority. I know a fish store that sells female bettas that already are used to living together, and I will absolutely NOT get female bettas that live in the cups for my sorority in order to avoid unnecessary risk. (Though seeing betas in cups at petsmart and petco never fails to murder my heart and want to buy them all individual tanks. If only any betta could live together )

I would get a 20 gallon high tank and plan on getting about 7 female bettas. And I know one of the most important parts in maintaining this safely is to have tall decorations and plants that block their views. Right now I have a heavily planted 10 gallon holding one female betta (who will NOT be going in the sorority because I got her in a cup and she’s a meanie). Im not 100% sure what plants I have with her…. But would this kind of setup work for a sorority? I included a picture of my current Betta’s tank. Whatever that stringy plant is that takes up the majority of the top middle I hate with a passion bc it breaks off way too easily and clogs my filter. I have a small sleeve over my filter which helps.

 

[OliveFish05]

Betta sororities are controversial. You may go for something larger than a 20 high, maybe a 20 or 29. The more plants and hardscape you have to create “territories” the better!

Some good plants

Floating -
Water sprite
Hornwort
Anacharis
Duckweed
Azolla
Frog bit
Salivinia
Red root floaters
Water hyacinth
Water lettuce

These have varying leaf types and root lengths. You may consider a variety


Rooted -
Anacharis
Crypts
Red ludwigia
Water sprite
Water wisteria
Dwarf sag
Amazon sword
Other swords
Vallisnarias
Banana plant
Red tiger lotus


Glued to hard scape -
Java Fern
Java moss
Anubias - tons of varieties

 

[Circus]

You would want to look at length over gallon amount. A 29 gallon (a 20 long MIGHT work) would be what I consider the minimum for a sorority of 5. For a sorority of 7 to 11, I would look at a 4 foot tank.

As far as plants go, anubias is a good one. I like anacharis/elodia, it is really easy to grow and it grows fast. Javafern is another easy one, as well as hornwort and guppy grass. Sword plants get big with proper car, and look really nice as well.

 

[bettafishlover86]

I have a betta fish tank. My betta fish seems to really enjoy java ferns.

 

[biofish]

Thank you for your replies! I might need to put more thought into it. I don’t think I have enough room for another 29 gallon… it wouldn’t fit where I was planning on putting the 20 gallon. Length over height for betta… got it.

Also another question actually because I just thought about it. Is there anything I can do to help stimulate my current betta? She seems kinda bored. When I was a more inexperienced fish owner I had her in my 29 gallon tank with my female guppies and Cory catfish. She was a busy body, always watching the other fish and swimming everywhere. She had no issue with the female guppies…or she she couldn’t catch them… but I had to take her out after a couple months because she bit one of my baby cory’s eyes out (The Cory is ok! Living happily and healthy with one eye! Watched the attack happen so I was able to get the Cory to a medical tank immediately) This was a few months ago… and in her new personal 10 gallon she’s not as energetic. If you come up to the glass she pops out and swims in front of you, she likes following your finger if you trail it along the glass, and swims up to the door in the lid for food when you lightly tap the glass, but other than that she’s not nearly as energetic or explorative as she used to. I’m not sure if this is more true to bettas personally and with the guppies she was just stressed. She just seems kinda bored. Her fins are still a brilliant blue and fanned out with no trouble swimming. She has no issues eating at all and no hesitation swimming around my fingers or “defending” her territory (my poor hangnail- having one ripped off by a betta is a painful experience). So is she just finally relaxed?

 

[Fishmanic]

Anubias nana is a good plant for Bettas. They like to rest on or under the broad leaves.