My First Betta

[walkers101]

well he has proven you wrong ive not changed anything in the tank he is darting around coming close to when i walk by the tank and coming mid to bottom to check out the other fish

 

[Honeythorn]

No he hasn't because I did not state every single betta on the face of the earth will sulk when placed into a larger space, only that many do, which is quite true .

We advise for the majority, not based on the activities of the odd fish or two.

 

[loraxchick]

if he is investigating and active hes doing well. many bettas sulk and hide when you first bring them home, sometimes not eating or interacting for days/weeks no matter how planted and "betta friendly? the tank is. with that being said, i agree that they do like lots of plants. honestly cant be planted enough for bettas. however, it is not absolutely necessary for their health. glad to see that he;s doing well. He is a handsome chappy! also, dont be alarmed if after lots of patrolling and investigating, he finds his "hang out" spot, only to do a random patrol to check things out. LOVE those crabs. they are very amazing creatures!
cheers.

 

[GuppyGoddess]

How many times do I have to point out that it's obviously an opinion (Gosh what a highlight, I thought I'd put it in bold so you could see it more clearly if it isn't obvious enough for you ) I have never ( I can use the Italic button as well, amazing ) said bettas MUST have plants or they will die on the spot, I have stated that most bettas do like a densely planted tank, which is true at least in my own experience , and also in the experiences of others here .

If like most shop sold bettas, that betta has come from a smaller container or tank and has been plunked in what is to him a vast open space, it's hardly surprising he's not happy. It's like dropping an agoraphobic in the middle of an open field with only a couple of trees to shelter under.


Having plenty of cover, as in more than a few plants dotted about, will help him hide and settle and have his own little jungle to feel safe in. Even if the entire tank isn't planted, planting up a quater or half will help him calm down and stop sulking and drifting at the surface.

I've found all of my bettas ARE fine with barely any plants, however, a few weeks (or a month back - cannot recall), I added a few more silk plants into one tank and my VT has gone to town building bubble nests. My new little female is okay with her couple of plants. She is a very tiny infant betta and I wanted to be sure she survived the acclimation process before buying more plants. She's doing good, so more will be added.

If a person shops around, they can find silk plants for a couple bucks a piece!

 

[Honeythorn]

I also never said they are absolutely nessescary for health, only that many bettas prefer a thickly planted tank for cover and that it usually prevents or lessens sulking and helps the fish feel more secure a lot quicker . As has been proven many times over by plenty of people who have added extra plants to a tank and seen the difference. The evidence speaks for itself.

 

[Truck]

How many times do I have to point out that it's obviously an opinion (Gosh what a highlight, I thought I'd put it in bold so you could see it more clearly if it isn't obvious enough for you ) I have never ( I can use the Italic button as well, amazing ) said bettas MUST have plants or they will die on the spot/

Neither did I suggest that you said that.

I have stated that most bettas do like a densely planted tank, which is true at least in my own experience , and also in the experiences of others here .

Non of us can communicate with fish, so whether that is true or not still remains a mystery.

If like most shop sold bettas, that betta has come from a smaller container or tank and has been plunked in what is to him a vast open space, it's hardly surprising he's not happy. It's like dropping an agoraphobic in the middle of an open field with only a couple of trees to shelter under.

not really relevant.

Having plenty of cover, as in more than a few plants dotted about, will help him hide and settle and have his own little jungle to feel safe in. Even if the entire tank isn't planted, planting up a quater or half will help him calm down and stop sulking and drifting at the surface.

This sulking idea isn't really a very effective way of putting a point forward, when a fish sulks what does it actually do, does it indicate that the fish is unhappy? No one knows...


The truth is, that a keeping a Betta in a 5 gallon is not mandatory, 5 litres maybe, but not 5 gallons. As long as a tank is properly filtered and heated it is fine to keep a betta in, regardless of size, of course there is a line that you have to cross somewhere, and I'd say that's about 2 litres or so, a person new to keeping betta's should be left alone to make their own decision about what is an appropriate size, and should not be brainwashed.

 

[Truck]

just a a densely planted 5 gal is better than an empty 2 gal.

For who? Nothing scientific about that statement.

Larger space to dilute waste ( regardless of water changes ) more room to swim, lots of plants to hide in and explore VS a tiny space to shuffle about in , less water to dilute waste , nowhere to hide, nothing to look at, nothing to engage the brain however primitive it may be....

No it isn't a scientific fact, but it is blatantly obvious which is the better situation .

To dilute what? Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate? Water changes aren't necessary if a tank is set up in the appropriate manner.

It's not that blatantly obvious, if I could talk to a Betta I would tell you which it would prefer.

 

[loraxchick]

I also never said they are absolutely nessescary for health, only that many bettas prefer a thickly planted tank for cover and that it usually prevents or lessens sulking and helps the fish feel more secure a lot quicker . As has been proven many times over by plenty of people who have added extra plants to a tank and seen the difference. The evidence speaks for itself.

please stop picking apart posts of folks whom in the past have had disagreements with some of the information you give out. if you go back an reread my post, i actually was agreeing with you!!! yet you feel the need to "explain" yourself. "plants are not critical for health"--it was simply a statement to the OP. not any way of causing disagreement or trying to raise hairs. be careful of how you are reading certain posts. everyone is not "out to get you" and the sarcasm and opinion-as-fact is very misleading to new fish owners.
to the OP-
i think hes great! and will do nicely in the set up you have. any more photos
cheers

 

[Honeythorn]

It's like talking to a sock sometimes..

 

[loraxchick]

 

[loraxchick]

 

[loraxchick]

interesting...im often compared to under-clothes. glad to be told my place in life.
thanks!
cheers

 

[Inchworm]

Hi walkers101

There are a couple of things to keep in mind with your betta. In a large community tank there's a good possibility that your filter is causing a current that is forcing the betta to swim against it. Since bettas have been bred for showy fins and tails, they are not strong swimmers. If they have difficulty swimming they will eventually become exhausted and die.

Please watch out too that the betta isn't afraid of the crab. They sometimes try to avoid trouble with tankmates that could harm them.

_____
Mod's note:

Let's all stay on topic and keep our egos to ourselves.