While you often see bettas living by themselves in bowls or small fish tanks they don't have to be solitary fish. With some care and taking the betta personality into account you can select the right tankmates for them. A fish tank with great species diversity can be a beautiful centerpiece to the room.
Multiple bettas can coexist but some care needs to go into the planning of the arrangement. Two male bettas probably aren't going to work out. They are territorial and need to establish dominance over the other betta. In the wild once one has triumphed over the other the loser will usually swim off. In an aquarium there isn't enough space to get away, however, so the winner will keep attacking the loser. This can result in death.
Two male bettas can be in the same tank if there's a divider between them. A sheet of glass or a tank separator will do. There is a possibility that they'll keep squaring off through the glass and that can really stress them out, however. Two males from the same batch of eggs can usually coexist until they hit maturity, too. Then you'll notice bullying behavior and it's time to separate them.
Male and female bettas don't coexist much better than two males unless it's breeding time. A male will often attack the female just as it would another male betta. The same rules as two males apply here.
Multiple females can exist together, especially if you have several of them. Two females sharing a tank will often result in bullying behavior, but several together will result in some scrapping until a hierarchy is established. Once the pecking order is in place they'll usually calm down. Keep an eye out for especially aggressive females, though. Sometimes they are just too aggressive to be kept together.
Other species of fish can coexist well with bettas. Make sure that the species aren't exceptionally aggressive or a great deal larger or smaller than the betta. Platies, corydoras catfish, mollies, shrimp, and types of loaches make good betta tankmates.
Female bettas are a bit more accepting of other fish and can probably be kept with danios, tetras, barbs, and gouramis.
Be careful with the following types of fish, they aren't recommended to share space with bettas.
-Fancy guppies, as the bettas will chew on their fins.
-Schools of barbs. Sometimes they'll go after the betta's fins.
-Aggressive fish will take on a betta. These could be tiger barbs, piranhas, bluegill, or oscars.
-Male bettas may attack dwarf gouramis or pygmy gouramis as they have a similar look to a male betta.
-Paradise Fish can grow much larger than bettas and have similar mentalities on territory. They'll go after a male betta and kill it.
-Any fish much smaller than a betta could be at risk of bullying.
Bettas can be a central jewel to a tank, but please use some thought when you're deciding to add one to a tank. Keep an eye on the behavior of both the betta and the other fish. If one is continuing to bother the other then probably the combination isn't going to work. Set up a backup plan before you add the fish so that you're not stuck without a place to put the betta.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Betta Fish FAQ: Five Questions On Betta Fish and Their Care
Betta Fish FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQ) about keeping betta fish!
Q: How do you tell the gender of a betta?
A: Check out the fins. Male bettas have been bred to have long, flowing fins while the females have smaller fins tighter to their body.
Q: I hear that you can't keep two male bettas in the same tank. Is that true?
A: Generally that's true. Bettas are often called Siamese Fighting Fish and it's because the males are fiercely territorial. Usually they won't actually kill each other as many people seem to think, but they'll chew the heck out of each other's fins and sides which can result in a stressed out or dead betta. Once in a great while you hear about multiple males being kept in the same big tank, but I wouldn't recommend it for the casual betta owner.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Editor's Note: To really learn what you need to know about betta care
check out Marcus Song's great book The Betta Lover's Guide.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Q: How long do betta fish live?
A: A healthy betta usually will live somewhere between 2-5 years. It's important to keep the betta's home clean, the water changed, and the temperature close to optimal. If any of these factors is off it can shorten the lifespan of your betta.
Q: What kind of plants should I put in my betta's tank?
A: Bettas love plants. It gives them something to hide in and hang out around. Most any aquarium plant is fine, whether it's natural, silk, or plastic. The only thing to look out for with plastic plants is to make sure that the edges aren't hard and sharp. Sharp plastic plants can tear a betta's fragile fins.
Q: I've heard that bettas will jump out of a tank if the cover isn't on. Is this true?
A: Absolutely! You need to keep a cover on their tank because they're notorious for jumping out. My ex-girlfriend used to have a betta that would jump out at your finger if you held it over the tank. While this was a cute trick the fish would get totally out of the water and could have hit the floor if she wasn't careful.
Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQ) about keeping betta fish!
Q: How do you tell the gender of a betta?
A: Check out the fins. Male bettas have been bred to have long, flowing fins while the females have smaller fins tighter to their body.
Q: I hear that you can't keep two male bettas in the same tank. Is that true?
A: Generally that's true. Bettas are often called Siamese Fighting Fish and it's because the males are fiercely territorial. Usually they won't actually kill each other as many people seem to think, but they'll chew the heck out of each other's fins and sides which can result in a stressed out or dead betta. Once in a great while you hear about multiple males being kept in the same big tank, but I wouldn't recommend it for the casual betta owner.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Editor's Note: To really learn what you need to know about betta care
check out Marcus Song's great book The Betta Lover's Guide.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Q: How long do betta fish live?
A: A healthy betta usually will live somewhere between 2-5 years. It's important to keep the betta's home clean, the water changed, and the temperature close to optimal. If any of these factors is off it can shorten the lifespan of your betta.
Q: What kind of plants should I put in my betta's tank?
A: Bettas love plants. It gives them something to hide in and hang out around. Most any aquarium plant is fine, whether it's natural, silk, or plastic. The only thing to look out for with plastic plants is to make sure that the edges aren't hard and sharp. Sharp plastic plants can tear a betta's fragile fins.
Q: I've heard that bettas will jump out of a tank if the cover isn't on. Is this true?
A: Absolutely! You need to keep a cover on their tank because they're notorious for jumping out. My ex-girlfriend used to have a betta that would jump out at your finger if you held it over the tank. While this was a cute trick the fish would get totally out of the water and could have hit the floor if she wasn't careful.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Betta Fish Facts - Betta Tail Shapes
One of the most recognizable features about the betta fish is its tail. Male bettas have a variety of splendid tails to complement their bright colors. Females tend to have shorter, less vibrant tails. The different tail shapes when combined with certain colors are sought after by betta enthusiasts or collectors.
Here's a rundown of different tail shapes to keep in mind when picking out your betta.
Short Tails: The short tail bettas look much closer to wild bettas. These tails are shorter and more utilitarian. A wild betta can't afford to have the long, flowing tails as it impairs their swimming ability. Short tailed bettas also don't tend to be as vibrantly colored, as they're closer to wild specimens.
Veil Tails: The veil tail bettas are just one step from the short tails. These bettas have tails of the same shape as the short tails, just longer. This makes them droop at the ends. When the betta is calm they simply hang down. When the betta flares its fins the tails do come up, but still don't fan out. These are very common in pet stores and are likely to be your option if that's where you get your betta.
Crowntails: There's a variation of a betta called a combtail, which means that the spines of the fins extend out past the edge of the tail membrane resulting in a "comb-like" appearance. The crowntails have been bred for this trait to the point where the tail is sharp and looks like a crown.
Fan Tails: A fan-tailed betta is one whose tail is solid at the bottom then flares out symmetrically to create a rounded-edged fan.
Delta Tails: The delta tail is another step past the fan-shaped tails. Instead of a rounded fan this looks more like a triangle with sharp edges running down to a rounded tail.
Super Delta Tails: The super delta tail is a delta tail with a very broad width angle. Anything above about 130 degrees from the base can be considered a super delta tail. For show purposes an angle of 170 degrees is desirable.
Half-moon Tails: This is currently the ideal for the betta show quality world. These tails have a full 180-degree spread to them, making the tail look like a half-moon. Half-moon tails are beautiful but also very fragile. The betta is likely to tear them often, which makes showing them a tricky adventure at times.
Double Tails: The double tailed bettas are bettas with two tail lobes instead of one.
As you can see there are a bunch of different tail shapes in the betta world and more are being bred all of the time! It makes them a fun and exciting fish to follow and collect.
Here's a rundown of different tail shapes to keep in mind when picking out your betta.
Short Tails: The short tail bettas look much closer to wild bettas. These tails are shorter and more utilitarian. A wild betta can't afford to have the long, flowing tails as it impairs their swimming ability. Short tailed bettas also don't tend to be as vibrantly colored, as they're closer to wild specimens.
Veil Tails: The veil tail bettas are just one step from the short tails. These bettas have tails of the same shape as the short tails, just longer. This makes them droop at the ends. When the betta is calm they simply hang down. When the betta flares its fins the tails do come up, but still don't fan out. These are very common in pet stores and are likely to be your option if that's where you get your betta.
Crowntails: There's a variation of a betta called a combtail, which means that the spines of the fins extend out past the edge of the tail membrane resulting in a "comb-like" appearance. The crowntails have been bred for this trait to the point where the tail is sharp and looks like a crown.
Fan Tails: A fan-tailed betta is one whose tail is solid at the bottom then flares out symmetrically to create a rounded-edged fan.
Delta Tails: The delta tail is another step past the fan-shaped tails. Instead of a rounded fan this looks more like a triangle with sharp edges running down to a rounded tail.
Super Delta Tails: The super delta tail is a delta tail with a very broad width angle. Anything above about 130 degrees from the base can be considered a super delta tail. For show purposes an angle of 170 degrees is desirable.
Half-moon Tails: This is currently the ideal for the betta show quality world. These tails have a full 180-degree spread to them, making the tail look like a half-moon. Half-moon tails are beautiful but also very fragile. The betta is likely to tear them often, which makes showing them a tricky adventure at times.
Double Tails: The double tailed bettas are bettas with two tail lobes instead of one.
As you can see there are a bunch of different tail shapes in the betta world and more are being bred all of the time! It makes them a fun and exciting fish to follow and collect.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
The First Step of Betta Care: Set Up a Great Home
Ok, so you've bought a betta, and now you need to know how to care for it! Let's start by setting up a great home for the betta.
In the wild the betta, or Siamese Fighting Fish as you'll see them called sometimes live in rice bogs in Thailand. These bogs are pretty choked by rice plants and don't have a lot of moving water. This makes the betta able to live in pretty small places, as you see by the little cups they're sold in!
It's a good idea to give your betta a bit bigger tank, though. This will help keep the tank from getting choked with waste so fast. A five-gallon tank is great for a betta and still pretty small. If you go bigger then you might want to pick up another kind of fish to share the space with your betta. We'll go over what types of fish make good tank mates later.
One of the cool things about bettas is that they can pull oxygen both from the air and the water. Since they can do that you don't need to worry about an extensive filter system or live plants in the tank. The betta can breathe off of the top. If you're putting in other kinds of fish then pay attention to what their needs are.
Put some colored gravel, fake plants, tank decorations, and a small cave structure in the tank. Bettas like to hide on occasion and they'll appreciate having something to duck under. Be careful to avoid jagged rocks on the bottom, though. Bettas' fins are sensitive and sharp rocks will cut them up. Avoid hard plastic plants for the same reason.
When you add the water make sure to treat any water you take from the tap. Get a water conditioner at your local pet store. This will take the chlorine and heavy metals out of the water, as they're not good for your betta. Even if you let the water stand for a period of time as is often recommended it's still a good idea to use a water conditioner. That will make sure that everything is cleared out.
Add some aquarium salt (different from table salt!) and/or some fish destressing conditioner to the water. This will provide a tonic effect for your betta and help the fish settle in to its new tank. Travel and transferring locations is stressful on your fish. A little preparation on your part can help your fish live much longer.
Find a cover for your tank or only fill it 75%-80% full. Bettas are famous jumpers, which is exciting but means that they could hit the floor if you don't do something to keep them in. You can even cover the top with some plastic wrap in a pinch, but make sure to punch some holes in it to allow air transfer.
As far as water temperature goes you're going to be looking for a range of 75-81 degrees Fahrenheit. If you can't maintain a temperature that high then purchase a small heater for the tank. It's important to keep the water a consistent temperature, and if you live in anywhere colder than Thailand the room temperature may be too cold for your betta.
Before putting the betta into the tank make sure to keep it in the bag you brought it home in and float that in the aquarium for 20 minutes or so. This allows the temperature to equalize so it's not so shocking to the betta. After the bag sits for the 20 minutes pour a little bit of aquarium water into it every ten minutes or so. This will help the betta adjust to the change in water.
Finally you're ready to add your betta to the tank! Just make sure that you DON'T put the water from the bag into the tank. Pet store water is notorious for being full of all kinds of nasty stuff that can contaminate your tank. Instead scoop your betta out carefully with a small net. Be careful not to damage its fins and place it in the tank. Allow it to swim out of the net with a little shake and your fish has a new home!
Bettas are great pets and with a little bit of care they can enjoy a long life!
In the wild the betta, or Siamese Fighting Fish as you'll see them called sometimes live in rice bogs in Thailand. These bogs are pretty choked by rice plants and don't have a lot of moving water. This makes the betta able to live in pretty small places, as you see by the little cups they're sold in!
It's a good idea to give your betta a bit bigger tank, though. This will help keep the tank from getting choked with waste so fast. A five-gallon tank is great for a betta and still pretty small. If you go bigger then you might want to pick up another kind of fish to share the space with your betta. We'll go over what types of fish make good tank mates later.
One of the cool things about bettas is that they can pull oxygen both from the air and the water. Since they can do that you don't need to worry about an extensive filter system or live plants in the tank. The betta can breathe off of the top. If you're putting in other kinds of fish then pay attention to what their needs are.
Put some colored gravel, fake plants, tank decorations, and a small cave structure in the tank. Bettas like to hide on occasion and they'll appreciate having something to duck under. Be careful to avoid jagged rocks on the bottom, though. Bettas' fins are sensitive and sharp rocks will cut them up. Avoid hard plastic plants for the same reason.
When you add the water make sure to treat any water you take from the tap. Get a water conditioner at your local pet store. This will take the chlorine and heavy metals out of the water, as they're not good for your betta. Even if you let the water stand for a period of time as is often recommended it's still a good idea to use a water conditioner. That will make sure that everything is cleared out.
Add some aquarium salt (different from table salt!) and/or some fish destressing conditioner to the water. This will provide a tonic effect for your betta and help the fish settle in to its new tank. Travel and transferring locations is stressful on your fish. A little preparation on your part can help your fish live much longer.
Find a cover for your tank or only fill it 75%-80% full. Bettas are famous jumpers, which is exciting but means that they could hit the floor if you don't do something to keep them in. You can even cover the top with some plastic wrap in a pinch, but make sure to punch some holes in it to allow air transfer.
As far as water temperature goes you're going to be looking for a range of 75-81 degrees Fahrenheit. If you can't maintain a temperature that high then purchase a small heater for the tank. It's important to keep the water a consistent temperature, and if you live in anywhere colder than Thailand the room temperature may be too cold for your betta.
Before putting the betta into the tank make sure to keep it in the bag you brought it home in and float that in the aquarium for 20 minutes or so. This allows the temperature to equalize so it's not so shocking to the betta. After the bag sits for the 20 minutes pour a little bit of aquarium water into it every ten minutes or so. This will help the betta adjust to the change in water.
Finally you're ready to add your betta to the tank! Just make sure that you DON'T put the water from the bag into the tank. Pet store water is notorious for being full of all kinds of nasty stuff that can contaminate your tank. Instead scoop your betta out carefully with a small net. Be careful not to damage its fins and place it in the tank. Allow it to swim out of the net with a little shake and your fish has a new home!
Bettas are great pets and with a little bit of care they can enjoy a long life!
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Picking Your Betta Fish: 5 Tips For a Healthy Betta
We all love betta fish. They're colorful and scrappy fish with beautiful fins. They can brighten up a room. There are some things that you should keep in mind when you're trying to pick out your betta.
1. Look at the available betta fish. Bettas come in all sorts of colors, with darker ones (especially blue and red) being the most frequently seen. Find one that has bright, vivid colors. If a betta looks drab or dull then it's probably not healthy.
2. A betta should be quite in tune to what's going on around it. Move your finger in front of the tank. The betta should respond by swimming more rapidly and possibly following your finger. Don't tap on the glass, that does nothing but stress the fish. If the fish you're looking at just sits at the bottom like a lump, it's probably not doing well. There's a chance that the betta could just be taking a break. Remember that they do see a lot of people over the course of the day while they're at the pet shop. However, if a betta appears lifeless then I'd go for a livelier one.
3. Look at the betta's fins. They should be well colored as well as long and flowing. If they look torn, brittle, or ragged then you might not want to pick that one.
4. Check out the betta's eyes. The eyes are an indicator of health and they're also frequently damaged. The eyes should appear clear and look to be in good health. Don't choose a fish that has cloudy or damaged-appearing eyes.
5. Give the fish an overall once-over. The body shouldn't appear damaged or have any strange lumps (which could mean parasites) on it. The scales should look intact. A fish with chunks of missing scales or tears in its body is at risk of poor health.
Spending a little bit of time screening your potential purchase goes a long way in keeping healthy bettas. A healthy betta doesn't need a lot of care, but a sick fish can be a heartbreaker. Some pre-selection minimizes that from happening.
1. Look at the available betta fish. Bettas come in all sorts of colors, with darker ones (especially blue and red) being the most frequently seen. Find one that has bright, vivid colors. If a betta looks drab or dull then it's probably not healthy.
2. A betta should be quite in tune to what's going on around it. Move your finger in front of the tank. The betta should respond by swimming more rapidly and possibly following your finger. Don't tap on the glass, that does nothing but stress the fish. If the fish you're looking at just sits at the bottom like a lump, it's probably not doing well. There's a chance that the betta could just be taking a break. Remember that they do see a lot of people over the course of the day while they're at the pet shop. However, if a betta appears lifeless then I'd go for a livelier one.
3. Look at the betta's fins. They should be well colored as well as long and flowing. If they look torn, brittle, or ragged then you might not want to pick that one.
4. Check out the betta's eyes. The eyes are an indicator of health and they're also frequently damaged. The eyes should appear clear and look to be in good health. Don't choose a fish that has cloudy or damaged-appearing eyes.
5. Give the fish an overall once-over. The body shouldn't appear damaged or have any strange lumps (which could mean parasites) on it. The scales should look intact. A fish with chunks of missing scales or tears in its body is at risk of poor health.
Spending a little bit of time screening your potential purchase goes a long way in keeping healthy bettas. A healthy betta doesn't need a lot of care, but a sick fish can be a heartbreaker. Some pre-selection minimizes that from happening.
Why Betta Fish Make Great Pets
A pet can go a long way towards improving the quality of your life. Pet ownership has been proven to relieve boredom and stress, decrease blood pressure, improve mood, and provide a purpose in life. Human beings are social animals and by their nature enjoy having something to care for.
Unfortunately, our modern life doesn't always make keeping a traditional pet easy. Dogs and cats are great but there's a lot that goes with them. They need to be exercised, cleaned up after daily, take up a fair amount of space, and eat a lot of food. A great lower-maintenance pet choice is a reptile or fish.
The problem with reptiles is that they just aren't much fun. For the most part they lie around and don't really interact with you at all. They also usually require expensive heating components and can smell bad if not taken care of frequently.
Fish combine the low maintenance of reptiles but can add so much more to your life. They're bright, colorful, and are moving around all of the time. A beautiful fish can be like a permanent flower in your home.
Even with the ease of fish many require big, complicated tank set-ups. That's one of the great things about the Betta, or Siamese Fighting Fish. In addition to being beautiful, bettas are fairly hardy fish that don't need a large space or water flow.
Some great features about the betta are:
-They come in a variety of vibrant colors and fin shapes. They are a beautiful fish sure to captivate your attention.
-They survive well in captivity. With proper care a betta will be just fine. Some fish are very difficult to keep healthy, but not the betta.
-Bettas don't need nearly as much space as other fish. Since they're comfortable in stagnant water, a small tank with a bit of airflow will be fine for them. I do recommend a small tank over the tiny bowl they come in so you don't have to change their water daily, but the tank can still be a lot smaller than what other fish need.
-They're amazingly friendly and animated. Bettas will soon learn to recognize their handler and "dance" around when they see you. They're happy to follow your finger around and play games for you.
When you look at the small cost of the fish, food, and set-up along with the bright colors, ease of care, and great interaction they make the perfect first pet for children. Kids love the pretty, animated betta fish and can learn responsibility while caring for them.
-----------------------------------
The best tool to learn everything about bettas!
Unfortunately, our modern life doesn't always make keeping a traditional pet easy. Dogs and cats are great but there's a lot that goes with them. They need to be exercised, cleaned up after daily, take up a fair amount of space, and eat a lot of food. A great lower-maintenance pet choice is a reptile or fish.
The problem with reptiles is that they just aren't much fun. For the most part they lie around and don't really interact with you at all. They also usually require expensive heating components and can smell bad if not taken care of frequently.
Fish combine the low maintenance of reptiles but can add so much more to your life. They're bright, colorful, and are moving around all of the time. A beautiful fish can be like a permanent flower in your home.
Even with the ease of fish many require big, complicated tank set-ups. That's one of the great things about the Betta, or Siamese Fighting Fish. In addition to being beautiful, bettas are fairly hardy fish that don't need a large space or water flow.
Some great features about the betta are:
-They come in a variety of vibrant colors and fin shapes. They are a beautiful fish sure to captivate your attention.
-They survive well in captivity. With proper care a betta will be just fine. Some fish are very difficult to keep healthy, but not the betta.
-Bettas don't need nearly as much space as other fish. Since they're comfortable in stagnant water, a small tank with a bit of airflow will be fine for them. I do recommend a small tank over the tiny bowl they come in so you don't have to change their water daily, but the tank can still be a lot smaller than what other fish need.
-They're amazingly friendly and animated. Bettas will soon learn to recognize their handler and "dance" around when they see you. They're happy to follow your finger around and play games for you.
When you look at the small cost of the fish, food, and set-up along with the bright colors, ease of care, and great interaction they make the perfect first pet for children. Kids love the pretty, animated betta fish and can learn responsibility while caring for them.
-----------------------------------
The best tool to learn everything about bettas!
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