I've Had Plenty Of Bettas..but...

[tamara]

Well i have a 2.5 gallon tank and am planning on buying a betta tomorrow or the next day...
i would like to know though besides rocks and i have a plastic plant what else do they like..
OR i don't think i can...but could he go in a 10 gal. with some guppies? or horrible idea because of the colorful fins
which would result in death right?
and also what temp. and so on do they have to be in..
my past with them weren't so good..so i would like to know how to do it right this time.
and YES my tank is cycled and i know everything about the cycling process.

 

[jollysue]

Guppies are not recommended for the reason you state.

mid to upper 70's

Make sure the plastic plant is soft and won't be rough on the Betta's fins. Most recommend cloth/silk plants. They like to have a cave or dense plants to hide in--with a filter a cave is nice to get away from the current. As a matter of fact, I would hang a plant or put something in front of the filter to break the current, Make sure the intake is not too strong for him to keep his tail from being damaged by being sucked in.

Give him a soft plant with leaves/petals that reach the surface for him to lay on. He will make a hammock.

Add a little salt to his tank (non iodized)

Be sure to post a pic for us to admire when you get him

 

[tamara]

thanks!
also..i was wondering if they do like gravel/rock opposed to none?

 

[liz2]

I use the glass pebbles in all my betta tanks as you can clean them easily. But I dont think they are fussy.

 

[DarkEntity]

Dont use plastic plants with Betta's, only use real plants. With all the trailing fins plastic plants will catch and tear fins. As long as the tank has a heater and filtered water he should be fine. Feed him good quality Betta pellets or Frozen foods.

 

[jollysue]

It is not necessary to use real plants. Cloth/silk will be fine. There are some plastic that are very soft and will do. Don't get me wrong, as you grow in the hobby, live plants are a great thing for you and your fish. But it is not necessary to start with them or even ever to go there. There are lots of conciderations to make plants thrive.

As far as substrate, I have gotten where I add a little in the unplanted tanks just for asthetics. But it is not at all necessary to do. I don't make it deep, and I don't necessarily even cover the bottom. As I said, it is for asthetics not practicality. Too mush substrate in an unplanted tank makes it more work/difficult to clean.

This is purely personal and individual Betta preference, imo.