Betta Questions

[matchstickgeezer]

Hi all

I am very much attracted to Bettas.... I already have a tropical set up for my other fish but would be interested in keeping a few bettas in smaller tanks/fish bowls.

I was wondering, does the water need to be cycled... also, do you need a heater for these fish, and also do you need a filter.
I have read in some topics 100% water changes are possible, but surely this would make it normal water and not suitable for such a tropical fish??

So, could you put a betta in normal tap water??

Excuse my ignorance I am just confused.

I wouldnt buy any of these magnificent fish until I knew everything needed.

MSG

 

[fishboy619]

well, firstly the tank, many people may say you can keep bettas in 1 gallon jars, personally i think this is wrong, a 3- 5 gallon is much better. a 5 gallon tank usally can be bought compleate with filter and heater.and is much easier to look after.
the water does need to be cycled, again people will say different, but in a 5 gallon tank, the water can easily be cycled, compeared to a 1g jar, a heater is a must. bettas are tropical fish that NEED warmer waters. filters are also helpful, one is needed that dioesnt create much water movement, but does the job well.100% water changes arent nessary in larger tanks, depending on the size of tank, and other fish that live in there, about 30% will be fine.all tap water need to be treated with declorinator, i use tetra aqua safe, and it does the job well.
a simple set up would be a 5 gallon tank, with heater, filter and a light, sand or gravel substrate, a few live or fake plants, maybe a cave, and a lovely betta of your choice, after the tanks been set-up for a while and compleatly cycled, maybe a few pygmy cories could be added, then a few ottos, possabily even shrimps or aquatic dwarf frogs.if cories are bought, a sand substrate will be needed.live plants are also benefitial to the water.bettas dont have to live alone, just with carefully selcted tank mates.
please note, a tank can not be cycled with a betta, they arent hardy enought and will probally die. if fish cycleing is the choice you choose, a live bearer or other hardy fish would be better.
any other questions, please ask.

p.s what ive wrote are my personaly experences and choices, some people will disagree with what ive said, and other wont. keeping bettas is a largly debated topic in the fish keeping world with every betta keeper having different opinions and views.
to back my points up though, with the set-up ive spoke of, has worked for me, and still is working for me with no problem happening.

 

[zoekin8yg]

2.5 gallons would be ok, with a sponge filter and a heater, and thats not very large so easy to find room for. The water isnt what is cycled, the filter is, cycled means that the filter is colonised by beneficial bacteria.

 

[girl4God81]

I had my betta in about a gallon, but he didn't seem to happy and after more knowledge of bettas, I moved him up to a 2.5 gallon. Huge difference in his behavior! He swam around happily and made bubble nests all the time. After awhile I decided to TRY him in my 10 gallon with mollies and platies...didn't work. He is way too aggressive, so I moved him back to the 2.5 and now (it's been about 4 days) he hardly swims around and just seems flat out bored. I've added more plants and tnd things so he has no reason to not like it as much. it's funny because he got a taste of the "good life" in the 10 gallon and is no longer satisfied with the 2.5 anymore!

On the other hand, I have 3 pregnant girls with mollies and platties as well as another male betta, all in the 10 gallon, with no problems so far. He hasn't showed aggression so far so he's ok in there (although I wouldn't suggest that unless you have an alternative place for him if it doesn't work out). Sometimes girls are ok with other fish, but I have to watch one of mine, she gets kinda aggressive (and didn't until I added more female bettas)...now she has competition! let us know what you decide!

 

[zoekin8yg]

Dont add males and females to the same tank.