Lonnng post… (Bettas)

December 10, 2008 @ 1:21 pm · Filed under Philippines Internet Koi Society

> Some info on the tanks would be great - what size, are they heated/filtered, how often is the water changed…
Well, the betta that doesn’t move around much is in a 5 gallon hexagon tank…no plants (fake or real) at the moment…a sunken ship, filter, light, and bubbles. He gets his tank vacuumed about every 5 days and it drains about a gallon to do it…lots of food laying on the bottom so I don’t think he is eating very much, if at all.
The other fish (that I’m not so worried about but still wondering what the blackness is) is in this plastic terrarium thing that one of them came in…he is in about 2.5 or 3 gallons of water. Has a small filter in there too. No fake or real plants in there either. I don’t vacuum his tank much since he eats all his food.
> Bettas are not the speediest of fish, but not moving at all and not responding to stimuli is bad. IMO the cramped quarters they’re often seen in makes people think they just float around or lay on the bottom all day. My crowntail is in a 5 gallon hex and he’s constantly exploring all levels of the tank. Sure, he rests on plants or the substrate once in awhile - which is normal. I keep the tank at 80 degrees (77-82 or therabouts is what I’ve seen recommended so 80 hits the sweet spot) and give the tank the standard weekly 20-25% water change.
My tanks are at about 80 degrees, too. The fish I am more worried about (in the 5 gallon hex) will either hide under the sunken ship or behind the box on the filter that hangs into the tank. I hardly ever see him. He does not come up/out to eat that I see…he could be after I turn the light off, or after I walk away…I dunno.
>Do they eat reliably? They can be picky eaters, as well (though mine isn’t and I really have to exercise restraint and not overfeed!)
One does, one doesn’t. I put in a small pinch of Betta food (has red flakes and tiny off white worm looking things in it…very few worms) the fish in the plastic 2.5-3 gallon tank eats all his food. The betta in the 5 gallon hex…I have no idea…but the food does accumulate at the bottom of the tank (oh and neither tank has rocks in it). I was thinking if I change the decoration in the tank of the hiding betta, so he has to either be out, or hide behind the filter box, maybe he’d eat…but I don’t want him stressed with nowhere to hide either.
thanks, and i hope that info helps
anndrea