Siamese Fighting Fish

[jonathanscottlee]

Hi,

Just wondering out of curiosity rather than doing this... I've heard that Siamese fighting fish need minimal maintenance and will quite happily live in a small 1 gallon bowl. The thing I'm having difficulty clarifying is.... I have heard that they do not need a heater! I live in the UK so water temperatures would be around 10 centigrade. Can anyone confirm that Siamese fighting fish would be okay in this environment - in particular, with no water heater?

Thx,
Jon

 

[spanair]

No, they do need a heater specially in a place like here the UK with usually water temps of 10-15c in the house. They need a nice warm enviroment around 24c-28c. In warm contries is a different thing where water is warmer and you dont really need a heater.

They need maintanance like any other fish, they are just easier to take care of.

 

[ryan]

You may want to post this in the Betta and Gourami section asd you will probably get more help. Bettas are Siamese Fighting Fish

 

[Silly me]

I have heard very differnt

Betta needs more care that most fish due the the long big flowing fins,


they just dont need space, thats all??

I'm kinda new hear and having fun with my tank maybe someone could just conferm what I said??

 

[Adrinal]

I see Itty bitty is posting right now so you will probably get a better answer from him...
There is a lot of schools of thought on this topic and sometimes the sides get heated.
I am of the why the heck wouldn't you get a 10g tank as they are the cheepest by far and your sure to be giving more room to your pal... school of thought.

still there are a fair amount that will agree 2.5g is doable.

In nature betas FOR A TIME may be caught in Hot Shallow pools of dirty (muddy rather... not high amonia) low O2 water. And, as you can see their fins are not ment for high currents like... say neons, rainbow fish, and such.

the smaller the tank the more work you must do for water changes.

Hopefully you will pick up a beta book ASAP as that will answer more of your questions.

As you read more and more about fish on the internet. Keep in mind.

1) the more you are willing to maintain, the less they need (but hey do give them room to swim!!!
2) Surviving is not neccesarly = to thriving!

 

[White Whale]

For the absolute MINIMUM care requirements, bettas can be kept in a quart-sized container and be fed at least once every other day. No filter or aeriation is required, but then water changes would be needed at least every 3rd day (some books cite once a week, but I wouldn't recommend it) and the room temperature must remain constant between 72F - 85F with no fluctuations. Of course, I may be yelled at for stating the above, but let it be said I never recommended it.

The only care that bettas require more so than any other fish is care for its fins. The ones I have that are of nice finnage I now keep in an absolutely bare tank. I've had setbacks with ripped finnage and a lot of times they don't grow back as nicely as they once were. Once I get a digital camera, I will show you before-and-after pics of ripped fins and growbacks.

Anal as it sounds, a bare tank won't have any abrasive gravel or plants for the fins to snag onto and rip.

Sometimes I will put a betta in a bare vase (7"H) for a day or two just for display when I have visitors.

 

[White Whale]

2) Surviving is not neccesarly = to thriving!

Are you talking about fish or today's 9-to-5 workforce?

 

[freshwatergal]

Betta's are tropical fish, so they need a heater. It makes me upset when someone says they can do well with cold water. As someone else said, why not spend just a little but more and get a bigger tank. Heck, if you get a 10 gal tank, you can split it 2 or 3 ways and have more betta's.

Good Luck
Tiff

 

[louise]

I know this is a stupid question but how would you split the tank as i have tried before. I have a love and hate relationship with my betta (Rob; after the other half) he is beautiful white with speckles with turqouise and pink fins!

I would love one more but am unsure how to split my tank, its big enough to do that as i feel another fishy in my aquatic bedroom would be a bonus!

Oh.... is potatoe ok for my fish - mainly for the cat fish?

thankies
xx

 

[White Whale]

I know this is a stupid question but how would you split the tank as i have tried before. I have a love and hate relationship with my betta (Rob; after the other half) he is beautiful white with speckles with turqouise and pink fins!

I would love one more but am unsure how to split my tank, its big enough to do that as i feel another fishy in my aquatic bedroom would be a bonus!

Oh.... is potatoe ok for my fish - mainly for the cat fish?

thankies
xx

Firstly- What is the size of the tank you want to split?

Secondly - potatoes?

 

[Opcn]

What kind of cat fish? And Cook the poetats first

As far as tanks go If you keep one batta in a ten gallon with a hand full of soft plants you will only need like a 10 % water change once a month especialy if you feed live food.

Opcn

 

[bkk_group]

Betta's are tropical fish, so they need a heater. It makes me upset when someone says they can do well with cold water. As someone else said, why not spend just a little but more and get a bigger tank. Heck, if you get a 10 gal tank, you can split it 2 or 3 ways and have more betta's.

Good Luck
Tiff

i'm not arguing with you but i think there is a difference between room temperature water and cold water. yes they are tropical fish and ideally a heater work quite well with bettas but as a breeder you can't possibly heat every juvenile jar they live in after separating. we are lucky in that our room temperature is warm enough that we don't have to worry about it (all tanks etc. are in our living room). i know some of my friends places are quite cold in comparison, if i ever give them bettas i would recommend they get a heater. it all depends on the situation

 

[louise]

I made the mistake of not cooking the tatoes and woke up with soggy tatoe water this morning!!!!

Did a 50% WC its still murkY but betta...i mean better lol

The tank i want to split is 15"length and 9"wide

Thankies

 

[freshwatergal]

http/fish.orbust.net/forums/index.php?sh...showtopic=26019

This is the topic I put up in the DIY section on how I made my betta's. If you have any questions just let me know.

Tiff

 

[Sang72]

Why do the pet stores keep the bettas in those lil plastic cups on the shelf and all the other fish are in tanks?