Betta Fish - Page 2

**Pompompoms** · 03-03-2012, 05:54 PM

Wait, he totally just vanished? That is so strange, where could he have gone????

HollyHamster · 03-03-2012, 06:04 PM

If anyone has any questions about bettas I can possibly be of some help. I often read up on their care to keep abreast of all the new changes to it there may be.

Scarlett · 03-03-2012, 06:22 PM

I wish my mom would let me get a Betta. It wouldn't be much different from about the fifty million pets I have.

Also, this is really new, I thought Betta's needed their own separate tanks, or they'd kill other fish? Your Betta must be... Mixed with something else. My aunt had a Betta, which killed all her tetra's and guppies in her twenty gallon. Originally, they called Betta's, 'Siamese Fighter Fish', but changed the name to something more lovable.

HollyHamster · 03-03-2012, 07:25 PM

No. My betta is a full betta splendens. Its impossible to mix a betta with another species. If you know how to integrate them properly, and they are a naturally docile individual, then they can live successfully in a community tank. It also depends on their finnage. For example, a crowntail or a plakat are naturally more aggressive than a halfmoon.

Its just so sad that many people believe that they can be kept in a bowl or worse, a vase. They are a living breathing animal, not a decoration. They need a heated, filtered tank like any other fish. I think that the reason this is a common misconception is because of their natural environment in places like Thailand. Sure they can exist in small amounts of water, and have evolved as such because of the ebb and flow of the dry and wet seasons in Thailand.

During the dry season their watery environment shrinks to small puddles and ponds with poor oxygen content. Because of this, bettas evolved a special organ called the labyrinth organ, which allows for the fish to extract oxygen out of the air itself. This helps the betta to survive the harsh and extreme conditions for a few months, until the rains come again and the waterways fill to overflowing and they can resume their lives as regular fish until the waters shrink yet again and the cycle continues.

And to elaberate on your information, Scarlett, they were originally called "Siamese Fighting Fish" because the males of the species were first observed fighting over territory in the wild, even the females will fight males if they aren't ready to spawn. People thought there natural tenacity and ferocity would make for a great, and very barbaric "sport" of Fish Fighting. The "Siamese" part came about because of the area they were first domesticated, Siam. Of course, Siam nolonger exists, it was where Thailand is now, but the trade is very much alive.

People soon found that they could breed them for colors, and finnage and then "show" them in competitions, a much more humane activity than fighting them.

Oops, I ramble, but you get the jest of it now.

Scarlett · 03-03-2012, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HollyHamster

No. My betta is a full betta splendens. Its impossible to mix a betta with another species. If you know how to integrate them properly, and they are a naturally docile individual, then they can live successfully in a community tank. It also depends on their finnage. For example, a crowntail or a plakat are naturally more aggressive than a halfmoon.

Its just so sad that many people believe that they can be kept in a bowl or worse, a vase. They are a living breathing animal, not a decoration. They need a heated, filtered tank like any other fish. I think that the reason this is a common misconception is because of their natural environment in places like Thailand. Sure they can exist in small amounts of water, and have evolved as such because of the ebb and flow of the dry and wet seasons in Thailand.

During the dry season their watery environment shrinks to small puddles and ponds with poor oxygen content. Because of this, bettas evolved a special organ called the labyrinth organ, which allows for the fish to extract oxygen out of the air itself. This helps the betta to survive the harsh and extreme conditions for a few months, until the rains come again and the waterways fill to overflowing and they can resume their lives as regular fish until the waters shrink yet again and the cycle continues.

And to elaberate on your information, Scarlett, they were originally called "Siamese Fighting Fish" because the males of the species were first observed fighting over territory in the wild, even the females will fight males if they aren't ready to spawn. People thought there natural tenacity and ferocity would make for a great, and very barbaric "sport" of Fish Fighting. The "Siamese" part came about because of the area they were first domesticated, Siam. Of course, Siam nolonger exists, it was where Thailand is now, but the trade is very much alive.

People soon found that they could breed them for colors, and finnage and then "show" them in competitions, a much more humane activity than fighting them.

Oops, I ramble, but you get the jest of it now.

Whoa! Lots of helpful information I just learned there. I like it when people ramble, as you learn more about things than just a simple 'No, they don't.'.

And I agree with you! My godmother kept a Betta in a clear vase with blue pebbles and flowers in them... As a decoration, of course. She never fed the poor thing. I had nothing to say about it, as she never listened. Fish need filters to keep their water clean, and a spacious tank, no matter how big or small the fish is. When I'm older, I'd love to have those large tropical fish and Betta's.

MismatchedMongrel · 03-03-2012, 11:19 PM

I love the angle, he's all like "EPIC FISSHHH."

This is my third betta, Charles Xavier <3
He's in a fifteen gallon with
3 Balloon Mollies
1 Swordtail (o.o.. accidental addon)
3 small platies
2 corycats, a julii and a panda

I think Xavier is a halfmoon plakat dragonscale?

MismatchedMongrel · 03-03-2012, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scarlett

Whoa! Lots of helpful information I just learned there. I like it when people ramble, as you learn more about things than just a simple 'No, they don't.'.

And I agree with you! My godmother kept a Betta in a clear vase with blue pebbles and flowers in them... As a decoration, of course. She never fed the poor thing. I had nothing to say about it, as she never listened. Fish need filters to keep their water clean, and a spacious tank, no matter how big or small the fish is. When I'm older, I'd love to have those large tropical fish and Betta's.

Good to get a little review in fishies. <3 As for aggressive bettas, I've only ever had one, he was a normal veiltail.. he actually attacked and killed corycats, which is weird because cories are fine 98% of the time.

Here's a note: If you ever get a fish tank and you want to have bettas in there add ALL of your other fish first.. THEN add the betta. It decreases their chances of aggression. The three bettas I've had have been plakat.. they're so much prettier to me :3. And I dont know about aggression, I've never seen them aggressive toward other fish. I'd say veiltails are meaner in my experience. But then again, it also depends on the fish. :3 Goodluck with future endeavors!

MismatchedMongrel · 03-03-2012, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pompompoms

Wait, he totally just vanished? That is so strange, where could he have gone????

This is gonna sound weird, but was the betta alone or with other fish? If it wasn't alone.. it might have been eaten. I've had that happen before.

MismatchedMongrel · 03-03-2012, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoveMyHams

Aww, makes me miss my betta fishies

I've had 5 of them over the years. I've never seen a purply one like that though. Mine were all red or blue.

I know! Any other color can be hard to find. One thing Petco is good for is pretty bettas. I've gotten all of mine there.

And they've ranged from white to black to psychedelic.

MismatchedMongrel · 03-03-2012, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scarlett

Whoa! Lots of helpful information I just learned there. I like it when people ramble, as you learn more about things than just a simple 'No, they don't.'.

And I agree with you! My godmother kept a Betta in a clear vase with blue pebbles and flowers in them... As a decoration, of course. She never fed the poor thing. I had nothing to say about it, as she never listened. Fish need filters to keep their water clean, and a spacious tank, no matter how big or small the fish is. When I'm older, I'd love to have those large tropical fish and Betta's.

Scarlett! I wanted to show you my two bettas I've had in community tanks :3
Fish tank 3-4-2012 - YouTube That is Xavier, the one I have now.. and..
Freshwater Fish tank 10 Gal :3 - YouTube And that's Pan Long :3