Want To Get Some Bettas Any Info?

[Commander Cool]

I have been looking at this betta forum and i have decided I really like bettas a lot. How do I tell the difference between male and female? I have gathered from the posts I have been reading unless I can get 4 or more then only get 1. Is this the case with males and females? what is the minimum tank size for 1 male or female? If I was going to get 4 what is the minimum tank needed for that? What food do they eat? Any other info would be great. Thanks!

 

[Rediahs]

I have been looking at this betta forum and i have decided I really like bettas a lot. How do I tell the difference between male and female? I have gathered from the posts I have been reading unless I can get 4 or more then only get 1. Is this the case with males and females? what is the minimum tank size for 1 male or female? If I was going to get 4 what is the minimum tank needed for that? What food do they eat? Any other info would be great. Thanks!

Hi! It's great that you love bettas, we love bettas too!!

This isn't the whole story, but it's the easiest way to introduce you.

Male bettas are the ones with long flowing fins that you will most often see in the pet stores. Females have shorter, stubbier fins, are often smaller than male bettas, but sometimes fatter, while males have the streamlined look. Females are not often sold as pets. This doesn't mean they're rare by any means! It's just that the males are more profitable, so they sell those.

Only females can be kept together in groups of 4 or more in a 10 G or larger tank. Males can NEVER be kept together. NEVER. Anyone who tells you different is a nut job Two males kept in the same tank will start tearing each other up very quickly. They are very aggressive.

You should also not keep males and females together. Some people do, but you have to know quite a bit before you try to do crazy things like that.

The minimum tank size for 1 betta, male or female, is 1 gallon (4 litres), though many people strongly prefer to keep them in at least 2.5 gallons. The minimum tank size for a sorority of females is 10 gallons. That will hold 4-6 females. This allows them all to have their own territory, and establish a pecking order, which is vital for females to live in harmony together.

The easiest food to feed them is pellets made especially for bettas. 90% of pet stores that sell bettas will also sell this special betta food. Bettas can also eat bloodworms, mosquito larvae, brine shrimp, beef heart, and a buncha other things, but for a first time I reccomend the betta pellets.

 

[sparklefuzz]

I have been looking at this betta forum and i have decided I really like bettas a lot. How do I tell the difference between male and female? I have gathered from the posts I have been reading unless I can get 4 or more then only get 1. Is this the case with males and females? what is the minimum tank size for 1 male or female? If I was going to get 4 what is the minimum tank needed for that? What food do they eat? Any other info would be great. Thanks!

Males have long fancy finnage, females do not. You cannot keep a male with any other betta, male or female, but particularly other males. Females can be kept together in groups of 4/5 or more (double check the number) I am sure more is better, but it is advisable to buy them altogether and have ones who are used to living together, as females can be just as aggressive as males.

I think males have been kept together successfully in very large tanks with heavy plantation and plenty hiding places, but generally its not a great idea. They will fight to the death. Males and females should only be kept together for a matter of hours whilst spawning.

Males should be kept alone, preferably in a tank no smaller than 1-1.5 gallons, but larger is better. Females, I am pretty sure the inch-per-gallon rule applies. Hope this helps.

 

[Rediahs]

Bettas are easy fish to care for. I know some people think this is trivializing the idea of raising them, but it's true - they're easy fish. They don't need a filter. They don't need anything really. At the bare minimum, all a betta needs is 1 gallon of clean, dechlorinated water, and food. That means, to start off keeping a betta, all you need is:

a container that holds 1 gallon of water, with a lid that breathes
water conditioner (to remove chlorine, chloramine, and heavy metals from the water - all of which are toxic to fish)
food

The only maintenence they need is water changes and feedings.

Except if they get sick. This is where it gets hard. But other than that bettas are a simple pet to care for.

 

[Commander Cool]

Ok, thx for the info. I have a spare 10g so if I see 4 nice looking females I will get those. If not then I will go for one male.

 

[catxx]

don't forget you can get short tailed males too.
and that some females can be just as aggressive as males.

females will have an oviposter, a little white dot on their tummy.
males do not have this at all.

 

[Rediahs]

don't forget you can get short tailed males too.
and that some females can be just as aggressive as males.

females will have an oviposter, a little white dot on their tummy.
males do not have this at all.

Very good advice.

Short tailed bettas are called plakats. And to make things even more confusing, there are female plakats too.

Maybe some pictures would help.

Here's a male plakat:

Here's a female plakat:

Here's a veiltail (typical petshop type) male:

Here's a veiltail female:

 

[Commander Cool]

Ahh the pics do help. Are there other kinds besides the vieltail and plakats?

 

[catxx]

lots,
Crowntail, Halfmoon, Delta, Superdelta, Combtail, Rosetail....some are easier to come by than others. if you want something unusual it can only be found on the web, LFS usually only have Veiltail, but Crowntail and Combtail (half veil half crown) are becoming more common in LFSs.

go on www.aquabid.com
they have them split up into tail-type catagories and you can get a good idea of tail types from there
(under the anabantoid catagory)

 

[Rediahs]

If you check out this site: http/aquabid.com/ and look at their betta section, you will see all types of beautiful bettas Unfortunately, you won't be able to find most of the varieties in pet shops.

In pet shops, you will typically find veiltail bettas, but more and more are offering crowntail/combtail bettas, which look like this:

Male

Female

Very rarely, occasionally, you may find deltas, super deltas and halfmoons, which are the most desirable by many breeders.

A lot of people on these forums like plakats. I really like plakats. I used to be all about halfmoons and deltas/super deltas, but I found their finnage often weighs them down and they have many problems. Plakats are a bit... neater, and don't have the problems of heavy finnage.

 

[Betta_luver]

Q:I have been looking at this betta forum and I have decided I really like bettas a lot.

A:Becareful theres no going back once you loves bettas But its a good thing

Q:How do I tell the difference between male and female?

A:Males generally have long flowing fins but some males, called plakats, have short fins like females so you must be very careful. Lots of petshops even mix up male plakats with girls.

Q: I have gathered from the posts I have been reading unless I can get 4 or more then only get 1. Is this the case with males and females?

A:Males must live on their own as others have mentioned but girlies can live together. Look here for info on how to start a sorority. http/www.petfish.net/kb/entry/9/333/ But please remember that you must have extra space to house all of the females if they fight. Most people don't attempt this until they get much more experienced bettas.

Q:What is the minimum tank size for 1 male or female?

A:1 Gallon. But I think bettas are happier in a 2.5 gallon Right now I am upgrading my bettas to a divided 10 gallon tank where they will have about 3 gallons each.

Q:If I was going to get 4 what is the minimum tank needed for that?

A: A 10 gallon. But you need lots and lots of hiding places okay?

Q:What food do they eat?

A: Pellets and Flake food. But most bettas prefer pellets. Don't feed to much freeze-dried food because it can cause constipation. The pellets or flakes are a much better main diet

Q:Any other info would be great. Thanks!

A: Look Here: http/www.petfish.net/kb/9/?PHPSESSID=192...5ac3bbdcbca998e

But especially here: http/www.petfish.net/kb/entry/9/310/

Read read and read. And don't trust petstore employees to much. They usually don't have a clue about what they are doing.




Look HERE: http/www.bettysplendens.com/articles/catview.imp?catid=857

Lots of help with tail types

 

[Commander Cool]

Ok. I think I am going to get just 1 for now. It will prolly be a male but whatever catches my eye in the store. Thanks for all the help!