I love fish, especially Corydoras catfish and Betta splendens. While many people do okay by the catfish, Bettas are a different matter. It is a common misconception that not only are Bettas okay with small containers, that they “love” them. They don’t. The “cute” little “Betta Keeper” containers are like sticking a dog in a carrying kennel and leaving them there all the time. I may not be as crazy as some folks calling themselves PETA, but that is unfair and unhealthy.
Bettas do not naturally live in rain puddles. They live in expansive water areas that dwarf the common 10 gallon tank. With shorter fins that the common Betta that is stocked in bulk in psuedo-pet shops. Though if you do find a short fin Betta and want something a little different, snag it up and put in a nice ten gallon plus tank in an optimal room location. The other Betta species have their own elegance and can be some major conversation starters.
The minimum I would recommend for a casual fishkeeper, is to put a lone betta in a minimum of five gallons, with ten gallons being more preferable. If you’d like more, there are options that don’t involve small divided containers. Females can live closer together depending on personalities and if they already lived as tank mates. I’d say at least 10 gallons per female, but do realize that some females can be more aggressive than males and may need more space to live peaceably. Males can be kept together if they are provided enough space. By enough space, ones that matured together potentially will be fine with 20 gallons, but otherwise a minimum of 15 gallons per male.
Regardless of how you mix the multiple Bettas, buy them and combine them at a time you can actually be around to observe them. Fish can come with a wide range of “personalities” and some will be more aggressive or passive than others. Be ready to rescue any fish that is getting more than an occasional flare up or nip and quickly sliding to the bottom of the pecking order.
Finally, when buying for Bettas, for both the loner and community members, make sure the tank has plenty of vegetation and other coverage. At the minimum, plants make a tank look nice, but functionally, they also make fish less stressed out. A stressed fish is likely to get sick, jump out of the tank, or plain live a shorter life. Fake plants are fine, just have enough that a frightened or nervous fish can escape in and peek out.
Fish are surprisingly entertaining creatures, even less popular ones, once they are provided ideal environments. If you really want to preserve the beauty of the Betta splendens you just bought, treat it properly and avoid the half gallon “Betta Keeper” containers. And a side benefit is that a thriving fish is more likely to take up some tricks that really are cool.
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