Question for Betta People

[noelberg]

A betta in a 2 gallon tank is fine with me. Especially when they're in those tiny cups - I understand that males have to be kept separately, but those cups lead to as much tail damage and health concerns from poor water conditions than tail nipping can do.

The guy at the lfs told me not to put a betta in my community tank because of the heavy top flow from my filter, but I ignored him and did it anyway. The betta adjusted, and he has a ton of space now, and he can actually swim - something he hadn't done since he was a fry. Sure the tank might be an inch or two overcrowded, and the filter flow pushes him around a little at feeding time, but he's gotta be happier overall in anything bigger than one of those dinky urine sample cups.

What also makes me really angry are those stacking betta cups that some places sell. They're barely bigger than the urine sample cups, and they asphyxiate (sp?) the bettas. IMO a betta needs at least 1.5 gals, decent water quality (including water changes), access to air, and food (not that plant B.S.). If you got all those down, then you're a good betta keeper.

 

[Nina7777]

I keep my bettas in a 2 and a 2.5 gallon. They both have air, and the 2.5 has a heater. I used to keep them in one gallon but felt so bad, that I got them bigger tanks.

They are both really happy now.

IMO 2 gallons is the minimum.

 

[drobbins27]

We all can debate this til we are blue in the face. Everyone has their own preference as to where we can keep what kind of fish. I just don't think it's right to get on someone's case because they keep however many betta's in a 2 gal space. Unless we see for ourselves where betta's come from, and actually see them in the wild live and in person, then no one person can say that "this is what they like". If the betta's are happy and healthy (which I bet 99.9% of the betta's kept in smaller space are) then there should be no problem.

I totally agree with you,if the fish are happy there is no problem.

In China, Bettas live in irragation trenches...When the trench dries up, they live in tiny puddles, and when the puddles dry up, they can actually "flip" from one to another. I read that somewhere, seriously

 

[modernhamlet]

Why do people keep bettas in such small tanks???

If you actually want an answer, I think it's "because they can".

Unlike most other fish, bettas are capable of living in confined spaces with limited oxygen, temperature flucuations, and imperfect water conditions. This obviously makes them the fish of choice for situations where a large tank isn't possible or appropriate. It doesn't hurt that they are loners and are often very beautiful.

All that said, I personally think that if you want to keep a betta, you should be helping it to THRIVE, not just survive. And the major limiting factor in providing an appropriate environment for a betta is the HEATER. Bettas live in warm, tropical zones and do best at temps around 80F. Because of the difficulty in heating a tank smaller than ~2-2.5 gallons, I don't think it's appropriate to keep them in tanks smaller than that.

That's my $0.02 on the matter.

 

[DrOizo]

Spot On Hamlet. The min you should use is the min that you can heat and that he acts naturally in my £0.02

 

[DrOizo]

I've never seen america How do I know it exists???

 

[kribs mate]

i have also read in numerous books and also on the net (so it must be true if i read it on the net eh? ) what drobbins said too.

i have never seen santa clause,,,but i know he is real

 

[silver]

Well,
I can understand 2.5 + gallons for a betta.
BUT....... I guess what I really meant was those 4"x 4" or 8"x 4" tanks that I see all these people house their bettas in. You would think (like the Angel) Bettas would be sized including their fins because they are so large So like 4" for any male betta instead of 2.5 ?

The 2.5 gallons are exceptable I think Not that I have come to find what I think matters a whole heck of a lot in this wierdo world But, I can voice my opinion here right!!!



Silver'

 

[Cheese Specialist]

I don't see how?

Just because people haven't seen where bettas are naturally from does not mean that it doesn't exist and that the information is not true. Also, male betas have been bred to have very very long fins that they wouldn't have to the same extent in the wild and so should really need more room.

Grow up.

 

[DrOizo]

Lol @ cS He He

 

[Sorrell]

I get really sad whenever I read stuff about bettas in small containers, because this was probably my biggest downfall/mistake when I was younger. I had shelves around my bedroom that had betta bowls (the really tiny ones) and I had about 20 bettas total, with each bowl seperated by a candle. It was so pretty, but now that I know better, so sad! The thing is that I thought I was doing well by them, I had read that since bettas are territorial, the smaller the space, the less stressed out they are trying to defend it and that since their fins are so long and heavy, if they have a larger territory, they will stress and exhaust themselves trying to protect it. I don't know where I read that, but it seemed to make sense to me at the time. The only thing that makes me feel better is that I fed them all live food (brine shrimp and blood worms) and I did daily full water changes through my other tanks and they all lived 2-3 years. It just makes me so sad to think about, because they are such neat fish. Maybe someday I'll get a 55 gal and put 1 betta in it to try to make up for my other one.

 

[bkk_group]

Comparing America to where Betta's live is like comparing apples to oranges.

I guess I will just keep all comments to myself from now on.

Tiff

I don't see how?

Just because people haven't seen where bettas are naturally from does not mean that it doesn't exist and that the information is not true. Also, male betas have been bred to have very very long fins that they wouldn't have to the same extent in the wild and so should really need more room.

I guess I will just keep all comments to myself from now on.

Grow up.

do i want to get involved in this argument? not really.
i will say i have done extensive research on the keeping of and history of bettas in thailand and see no problem with the way they are kept. some bettas prefer and are actually healthier in smaller environments believe it or not. no, i'm not talking about dixie cups either. if your living environment is warm enough, heaters are not necessary (our water temp clocks in at 79 without aquarium heaters). in the big picture, it's all about the fish, are they healthy? are they stressed? do they live to an old age? if the answer is yes they are healthy, no they are not stressed and yes they live to an old age then what is the problem?

 

[silver]

That you Sorrell for being so honest.

I too have done fish wrong in my past and I am trying to do better today


I guess I can say that we are trying our best right now..........

Well....I guess I could siphon more B)



Silver