Just bought a betta, and people should be ashamed...

[KenDRAGON]

Okay, i can definitely see the reason in that. I always recommended to my customers to move them up into filtered tanks, either way, if not for the fact that its obviously beneficial but because they just plain look nicer in them. I honestly haven't kept a betta in like...3 years or so, so maybe i'm just rusty on my fish know-how. To be honest i never really thought much of temperature with my bettas and the ones i had lived for so long i never really thought about it too hard and in the end i bumped them up to tanks anyway.

 

[Mizzely]

Okay, i can definitely see the reason in that. I always recommended to my customers to move them up into filtered tanks, either way, if not for the fact that its obviously beneficial but because they just plain look nicer in them. I honestly haven't kept a betta in like...3 years or so, so maybe i'm just rusty on my fish know-how. To be honest i never really thought much of temperature with my bettas and the ones i had lived for so long i never really thought about it too hard and in the end i bumped them up to tanks anyway.

It's an ever changing hobby, just like birds

 

[KenDRAGON]

I still think a whole 5 gallon set up for one fish is kind of excessive and unnecessary(I've seen little square 3 gallons that are perfect for a table or countertop) but I'm willing to agree to disargee

 

[cosmolove]

I think a 3 is still good. I mean that goes back to while yes a 5 gallon is ideal a 3 gallon is still safe and won't stunt the fish's growth as long as you're keeping up with water changes

 

[KenDRAGON]

Finally, we came to a truce!

 

[Mizzely]

We just needed Erica to be a mediator

 

[cosmolove]

Hahaha you guys are crazy! Just saying!

 

[looniebirds]

Well, the tank I bought is 1 gallon with a filtration system, and my betta, who went from a sickly flesh color to a reddish brown after being placed at first in an actual betta keeper I had is doing just fine. His tail, which looked rather raggedy, seems to be filling out, and he enjoyed some freeze-dried bloodworms I spotted today. This fish has three kinds of betta food, which I feed alternately.

 

[Abigail]

I've had several bettas before and the one I just got is actually in a 1.5g I believe which is WAY too small! I'm about to transfer him to an old tank of mine that's bigger. I was on a fish-related forum once when I had a betta in a 3 gallon and they were telling me off for putting a fish in such a small tank, that you at least need a 5g for one betta. I don't really know what's right; I assume just like we say "bigger is better" with cages, bigger is better with tanks as well?

 

[Cyreen]

You may want to buffer the filtration a bit. Sometimes a moving current will stress a betta fish.

 

[kitsunebandit]

I know this is a little bit random as you're on about tank sizes n stuff (even though I'm still glad you took on the fish!), but can you keep them with other fish or is it just males and other males you can't mix?

 

[Abigail]

When it comes to bettas, you can't mix them with any other fish, males with males, and males with females some times as well!

 

[kitsunebandit]

I've seen them in many stores here in with other tropicals and they seemed okay? Hmmm I will look into it more

 

[Abigail]

Oh, well that's just what I've heard. Let me know what you find out!

 

[AmberMuffinz]

I probably wouldn't unless they're bottom feeder fish or something. Betta's have very tasty looking fins to other fish so I imagine they wouldn't do well with others due to fin nipping. I'm not sure if they are aggressive towards other species though.

 

[paperdragon]

I know this is a little bit random as you're on about tank sizes n stuff (even though I'm still glad you took on the fish!), but can you keep them with other fish or is it just males and other males you can't mix?

It depends on the individual betta. Some can live in tanks with peaceful dull-colored tankmates, but when I tried it one of my corydoras catfish lost an eye. Females you can actually keep in groups if you have a good-sized tank with plenty of plants and decorations to provide cover when they squabble and you need absolute minimum of four to diffuse aggression. Plus you still need a backup tank in case one of them is terrorizing the others. Housing bettas with other fish is risky business, and its best not to try it without a backup plan.

 

[kitsunebandit]

Thanks for the advice I'll wait until I can get a little tank for an individual

 

[KenDRAGON]

I've successfully kept male bettas in tanks with docile, not-very-flashy fish. fish like zebra danios, cory cats, and things of the like. I would stay away from any fish with bright colors or a tendency to pick at fins. I just read paperdragon's comment about her cory, so i guess individual does matter but i haven't had that happen before, but i do agree that males/females should be kept together as long as there are multiple females and nice safe places for them to hide. The males tend to like having harems....Men

 

[Mizzely]

Individuals definitely tolerate different things. I had one in with a bunch of swordtails and never had an issue, but when he died and I put a new one in, it was a totally different story and he had to be separated! I do agree that they can get along with other fish, but I stay away from:

Female bettas
Other labyrinth fishes (ex: gouramis)
Fin nippers (ex: barbs)
Similar sized bright fish
Aggressive fish like cichlids, including angelfish

 

[Carley]

I know a ton of people who have male betta's in tropical tanks.
Like others have said.. Stay away from fin nippers, aggressive fish and guppies!! A lot of betta's will fight with guppies due to looking similar and flowing.

I have seen a few aquariums where there were multiple female betta's with other fish, they're usually okay together and they seem to be fine in community tanks

Don't put a male and female betta together - they will fight and only should be put together for breeding.