Betta fish questions

[Fishychix]

I think I figured out the measuring thing you mentioned. https://www.backyardchickens.com/attachments/e3630048-d7ea-458b-8f8b-c8384783dda2-jpeg.2373450/
There is a measuring tape at the bottom of this tank because we were keeping an eye on the growth of that little bichir. It had a very rough beginning of life and isn’t much bigger now, 2 years later His buddy is a year younger and the size of a bratwurst. I wish I had a good pic of him.

 

[black_cat]

I think I figured out the measuring thing you mentioned. https://www.backyardchickens.com/attachments/e3630048-d7ea-458b-8f8b-c8384783dda2-jpeg.2373450/
There is a measuring tape at the bottom of this tank because we were keeping an eye on the growth of that little bichir. It had a very rough beginning of life and isn’t much bigger now, 2 years later His buddy is a year younger and the size of a bratwurst. I wish I had a good pic of him.

I had actually been talking about the thermometer in this picture
https://www.backyardchickens.com/attachments/a7c137a5-edae-4ac2-b68e-652454e5c8f0-jpeg.2373453/
It looked like a water level measurer at first glance It's too bad that you bichir hasn't been growing! I'm sorry he had such a rough life, but you're taking good care of him

 

[Fishychix]

I had actually been talking about the thermometer in this picture
https://www.backyardchickens.com/attachments/a7c137a5-edae-4ac2-b68e-652454e5c8f0-jpeg.2373453/
It looked like a water level measurer at first glance It's too bad that you bichir hasn't been growing! I'm sorry he had such a rough life, but you're taking good care of him

I gotcha. I just wanted to address the measuring thing too.
My son bought him at a chain store. It was labeled as a Kuhli Loach. Once I did a small amount of research I completely panicked and stuck him into another tank so it cycled with him in it. I was terrified hed eat everything in the tank overnight. Lol! This pic is all I could focus on in my research

My panic felt quite justified.

 

[Salacker]

That sounds so fun! I would love to see the bubble nest and dancing but I think that one fish is the most I can handle, so definitely not babies. All of these fish sound so cool! I had originally thought about bettas because I know that they live alone and are very pretty. I appreciate the sentiment with the tank! I don't think that my fish plans will evolve as far as yours have, though.

If you buy a 1 gallon goldfish bowl and keep the water temperature at around 78-80 degrees and change the water about once or twice a week the betta should do fine. Their natural habitat is very shallow water and they are air breathers of the Gourami species. That being said...I myself like to have room to move around and always felt sad for animals/fish etc. who were confined to a small area. I see the Bettas in the pet stores in a small quart size bowl and I think...how sad for that fish. But that's just me being claustrophobic.

 

[black_cat]

I gotcha. I just wanted to address the measuring thing too.
My son bought him at a chain store. It was labeled as a Kuhli Loach. Once I did a small amount of research I completely panicked and stuck him into another tank so it cycled with him in it. I was terrified hed eat everything in the tank overnight. Lol! This pic is all I could focus on in my research View attachment 2373617
My panic felt quite justified.

Your panic is DEFINITELY justified. HUGE!!!

 

[member 592157]

We had a 1 1/2 gallon tank with a filter that we bought either at walmart or petsmart. We kept bettas for years in that thing, cleaning maybe once a month? We only ever kept one at a time and he never seemed cramped. They usually lived 2-3 years for us. When we first started we just had a goldfish bowl but we got tired of cleaning it every few days
here is one that looks cool: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Aqueon-Betta-Falls-Aquarium-Black/40574045
This is somewhat like what we had:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Hawkeye-1-5-Gallon-Betta-Fish-Tank-Aquarium-Kit/54272314

 

[black_cat]

If you buy a 1 gallon goldfish bowl and keep the water temperature at around 78-80 degrees and change the water about once or twice a week the betta should do fine. Their natural habitat is very shallow water and they are air breathers of the Gourami species. That being said...I myself like to have room to move around and always felt sad for animals/fish etc. who were confined to a small area. I see the Bettas in the pet stores in a small quart size bowl and I think...how sad for that fish. But that's just me being claustrophobic.

I was planning on doing a 10 gallon tank because I have this thing about all my pets having extra space I agree that the bettas in the little bowls in pet stores are so sad!

 

[member 592157]

I was planning on doing a 10 gallon tank because I have this thing about all my pets having extra space I agree that the bettas in the little bowls in pet stores are so sad!

Knowing the size of a betta fish, I'm not sure you'd be able to find him in a 10 gal. tank! Lol maybe even a 5 would be better. I can understand why you'd want bigger but I'm not sure it would be good for the fish. But I'm not an expert so you do you.

 

[HappyClucker7]

Knowing the size of a betta fish, I'm not sure you'd be able to find him in a 10 gal. tank! Lol maybe even a 5 would be better. I can understand why you'd want bigger but I'm not sure it would be good for the fish. But I'm not an expert so you do you.

No, a 10 gallon is perfect. It's not true that bettas don't do well in big tanks. They actually thrive.

 

[black_cat]

Knowing the size of a betta fish, I'm not sure you'd be able to find him in a 10 gal. tank! Lol maybe even a 5 would be better. I can understand why you'd want bigger but I'm not sure it would be good for the fish. But I'm not an expert so you do you.

I'm not an expert either. I thought that generally animals are happier with more space? Is it different for bettas? I thought that more space=more space=more space for added enrichment (plants, hiding spots, etc) and more space to swim.