New Betta Bowl

FishDad

FishDad

Superstar Fish
#1
Mar 4, 2012
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Cleveland
#1
Out of nostalgia, I wanted to set up my original 1g tank again. I figured I'd do a betta tank. Never had one before. I dug out the 1g from under the kitchen sink and my wife wisely talked me into using one of her glass vases, instead of an ugly plastic hex tank. So, not the original but in the same spirit I suppose. I bought a little one buld led and set it up on the livingroom book case. Crown tail dragon scales I believe they called it.
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Thyra

Superstar Fish
#2
Jun 2, 2010
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Yelm, WA
#2
I doubt you will be happy with a betta in a one gallon container and I think you will find the upkeep difficult - at least if you are checking the parameters.Besides you don't really have a community tank that you can rehome the poor guy in. MTS.
 

FishDad

FishDad

Superstar Fish
#3
Mar 4, 2012
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Cleveland
#3
Hmm, well he is in a mansion compared to his old home. My lfs guy recommened a water change every couple of days which will only take a minute or two. Why would he need to be rehomed? He is eating and swimming. Not afraid of critique, just want to understand. Thanks Thyra, your always helpful.

I'm all about creating a suitable enviroment for our fish. I don't want a miserable animal in my living room. Yesterday I almost bought one of those 5g marineland bow front starter kits with the led's. Only like 25$. But I thought bettas prefer a smaller enviroment. Wrong?
 

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FreshyFresh

FreshyFresh

Superstar Fish
#4
Jan 11, 2013
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East Aurora, NY
#4
My SIL had one live for years in a small glass vase. I've seen others like this too. IMO, the problem is they rarely seem move in those environments, so you don't get to enjoy them. You gotta check for signs of life at times.

Put them in a community tank with compatible fish and they are a totally different creature, and a lot of fun to watch.

The first one in my 10gal was a bright red crown tail dragonscale, but he died w/in weeks.

I've got a bright blue fantail (I believe) now, from a different supplier. This is what he looks like:



It's amazing the types of bettas that are out there. Here's the lineup from Segrest Farms. Per their site, they supply Petco and Pet Supplies Plus in my area: http://www.segrestfarms.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=catalog.viewgroup&groupID=101
 

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Thyra

Superstar Fish
#5
Jun 2, 2010
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Yelm, WA
#5
Fishdad, it will probably bother you more than the fish. Joel is right, once you get a betta in a community tank they are just much more active and you can see all the their beauty. Their fins sort of float around like a belly dancers veils! Sometimes they are iridescent and they are all over the tank - they search the bottom for fry, etc. and the top for air, so they make a good "center piece" fish.
 

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Thyra

Superstar Fish
#7
Jun 2, 2010
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Yelm, WA
#7
You are right - that "fighting fish stigma". I definitely don't like to promote that - I know how some people like to gamble - **** fighting, dog fighting and I know these fish were originally used that way - if you read the history of them in Thailand its true. But the fish bred for beauty and kept by themselves have lost some of that instinct I think. In over four years of having bettas I have yet to have one flare - and I have a mirror background on two of my tanks. Don't get me wrong - I am not saying you couldn't find an aggressive one, but then you have to watch all your fish for aggression. I have a betta in with a couple of large mollies and I'll swear I have caught them playing. They never touch, its sort of like a fake charge and it will go back and forth a few times and then they each go their own way. All animals in the wild have their way of playing and I don't see why fish should be any different as long as there is no damage and you can plainly see its not territorial and causing stress.
 

FishDad

FishDad

Superstar Fish
#8
Mar 4, 2012
1,218
1
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Cleveland
#8
Cool, glad to hear so many people have them in communities. Thats encouraging. My son does have the 30g, but I think the barbs would not be a good fit with a betta. The rams would be a problem too, but tiger barbs are just plain mean. Some day...
 

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Thyra

Superstar Fish
#9
Jun 2, 2010
1,891
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Yelm, WA
#9
Well, you do have the 10g quarantine tank. That is what happened with me. Can't remember anymore who got there first - the mollies or the betta, but now they have sort of become permanent party. They are kind of pretty together - creamcicle orange mollies and an almost black betta with blue finnage.
 

FishDad

FishDad

Superstar Fish
#10
Mar 4, 2012
1,218
1
38
Cleveland
#10
My QT had been essential in the health of my 125g, though. I dare not compromise that synergy. I'd sooner get another tank... dear God.

Thyra, you should post pics of that tank, it sounds nice.
 

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Thyra

Superstar Fish
#11
Jun 2, 2010
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Yelm, WA
#11
I will have to work on pictures - not good at it so far. Why don't you watch on Craigs list - that's where I found my 10g all equipped for $20. I really wouldn't recommend smaller - when I first got on this forum and was learning about bettas etc. I spent close to $50 getting a 2.5g tank so I could get my betta out of his bowl. It wasn't the tank itself but it came with a useless filter that only grew algae and then I needed a heater. To add to that the small tank was labor intensive. It was in the kitchen and suppose to add to the decor, but it certainly didn't unless it was cleaned.
 

FishDad

FishDad

Superstar Fish
#12
Mar 4, 2012
1,218
1
38
Cleveland
#12
I keep up on craigs list pretty well. I think I have my heart set on a bow front though. They just look so nice and seem to magnify the fish.

What tanks do you have running now?
 

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Thyra

Superstar Fish
#15
Jun 2, 2010
1,891
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0
Yelm, WA
#15
Not trying to ignore anyone - but I am also watching the finish of the Iditarod - which will probably take the next two days and stayed up last nite until 1am this morning which is also way past my bedtime, so am not particularly sharp today!

I am running four tanks - a 16g, 26g, 30g and 10g. They are all community tanks with inexpensive community fish with the exception of the two large angels I inherited from my Grandkids. Besides the bettas, I think my favorite fish are the serpeas which I find so colorful and active. I bought a bunch early on when they were on sale for $1 each before I knew they had a bad reputation. That surprised me because I have never had a problem. I would have thought if they were going to be a problem it would have been the angels they would pick on, but that hasn't been the case.
 

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Thyra

Superstar Fish
#17
Jun 2, 2010
1,891
0
0
Yelm, WA
#17
The Iditarod is once a year- and starts the first Saturday in March. I have been a follower for years.There is a lot to it and it gets to feel like you know many of the mushers. If you go to Iditarod - Last Great Race on Earth® with a little bit of checking around you will be able to find a lot of good pictures and info. Also adn.com (the Anchorage News) has a whole section. I pay to become an Insider so I have access to their GPS and a bunch of other things - like today I have been watching the finishers live in Nome. The dogs are absolutely fascinating. Sounds dumb, but last night I found myself reaching up to pet the dogs - everything was so real!
 

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Thyra

Superstar Fish
#19
Jun 2, 2010
1,891
0
0
Yelm, WA
#19
They are a mixture of Alaskan husky/malemute type dogs - the defining characteristic is a double layer coat which allows them to survive at -60 temps. I can vouch for the coat - it is a dominant characteristic that even if a dog has a little of those northern dogs in their breeding, they will have the hair. And believe me, the hair hangs around long after the dog. I know people that collect it and have caps and sweaters made from it.
 

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