Betta Owners -- Need Tank Ideas

[Jessika]

I convinced hubby to let me have a betta (it was either a betta or a tortoise hehe and I figured a betta takes up less space, is less expensive to care for, and easier to care for). We're going to pick one out Friday but I was wondering if I could get some ideas of tank set-ups from you guys? Just a picture and general description or suggestions would be great! Thank you all so much :)

[IRescue452]

Less space, and a lot cheaper. Tortoises can be more expensive than dogs for upkeep. How big is the tank? I once had a tank with hamster toobs for the fish to swim through. You just have to use the toob with an extra opening at the top so the betta can swim through to the surface.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/bbflygirl/fish/wholet3.jpg

[GekkeGekko]

Natural style:
http://www.gekkegekko.com/nieuwefotoos/bak_spoiler.jpg
yes, the fish isn't a betta but my betta' also lived in this set-up

or my old "Betta Blitz"
http://www.meadows.helmantel.com/site/caregoblinbak.jpg
Those are fake glow-in-the-dark plants, they look great:-)

[Christmas_Hamster]

Really simple 1 gallon with Miko(RIP):
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/Bobbyo/MikosBowl2.jpg

20 gallon sorority:
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s176/Bobbyo2/bobbyo2new/DSCF1307.jpg

1.5 gallon with Tux(RIP):
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s176/Bobbyo2/DSCF0915.jpg

2 gallon with Steele(RIP):
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s176/Bobbyo2/DSCF1682.jpg

2 gallon with Sly:
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s176/Bobbyo2/bobbyo2new/DSCF1426.jpg

Just a few...of and congrats but watch out they are addicting!

[cloverfdx]

My boy is in about a 5 - 6 litre tank, heated and filtered. I also change his real plant every couple of weeks, and a quarter to half water change once a week - 9 or so days. He is due for a water change, hence why his water level is a little low at the moment.

[vinjashira]

I'm using 11 litre tanks (about 2 gallons I think) with very simple setting.
Might add decorations later such as sunken ship or bridge - haven't decided yet.

Our room temperature is in the low 70s in the winter and high 70s in the summer so we don't really need a heater or a cooler. If you need a heater than perhaps you should go for a bigger tank.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8dd33b3127cceb675e156319600000026100BauHLJs4bsb


this is Max, btw, my new betta boy.
difficult to take his pictures because he is moving all the time.
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8dd33b3127cceb675e154319400000026100BauHLJs4bsb

I like seeing the contast of the colour of the fish and the plant.
Will get a blue boy for the tank with the red plant, or maybe another colour but definitely not red again http://petoftheday.com/i/our_smilies/smile.gif

[critter crazy]

Flame is in a 1.5 gallon Hex tank, and Reno is in a 2.5 gallon Tank.


Here is Flames Tank
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c131/mjones77/Fish/100_8923.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c131/mjones77/Fish/100_8929.jpg

And Renos
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c131/mjones77/Fish/100_8927.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c131/mjones77/Fish/100_8925.jpg

Reno
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c131/mjones77/Fish/100_8853.jpg

Flame
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c131/mjones77/Fish/100_8691.jpg

[Jessika]

Thank you all so much! I was thinking of getting around a 2.5 gallon tank, maybe one of the kits. I stopped by walmart just to browse tanks and yes they have bettas there... but I was actually very impressed with the quality of the fish section! Every tank was crystal clear, all the water was clear and clean, you didn't see dead fish floating in every tank, none had ich, they all looked relatively healthy AND they weren't overcrowded! Compared to my last visit a few years back (in Branson the walmart didn't have fish) it is a MAJORRRRR improvement! I still probably will not purchase my fish there, just supplies, but I was very impressed at the quality improvement from my last visit.

[Christmas_Hamster]

Yeah one of the local wal*marts is horrid and the other one is decent. It depends on the management and the employees. Good luck on your betta!

[Jessika]

Do filters stress out your bettas? I've heard with some it does and with some it won't. Is it more common one way or the other?

[critter crazy]

Do filters stress out your bettas? I've heard with some it does and with some it won't. Is it more common one way or the other?

I have a small filter in my 2.5 gallon, that came with the tank. It stressed Flame out, So i moved him to the 1.5 gallon w/ no filter.Reno is now in the 2.5 gallon, and dosent seem to mind the filter at all!

[IRescue452]

It depends on the filter and water flow. All bettas should have an area where they can get out of the water flow. I've never had a problem with bettas and a filter though. I wouldn't pay $35 for a tiny tank, I'd pay $20 for a 10 gallon and a submersable filter. Those tiny tanks are complete rip-offs imho.

[Jessika]

I came home this afternoon from school and there on the kitchen table was a betta, tank, rocks, accessories, aeration, food... you name it!! Hubby went to the store while I was at school and picked everything out for me! What a pleasant surprise from a hard long day at school. We're letting the tank sit for now before putting him in; I want to make sure both water temperatures are the same. The tank is all set up now otherwise. I will post pictures and let me know what you think, just in case I'm doing something wrong :)

[Suki Wingy]

Hey, congrats!
I'd personally be pretty upset he did it all for me but glad you're happy! I only had my bettas at my dad's house but I loved having them while I was visiting. We had a 10 gal with one betta. It was heavily planted and there was a branch and piece of slate. We put the filter on for 10 minutes every other day or so.

[vinjashira]

Congratulations! :)

Looking forward to seeing the pictures.

[Jessika]

No pics yet... I waited a LOONG time before introducing him to the tank to let the water temperature settle as much as possible to avoid shock.

But I came home from school this afternoon to find fish food everywhere... all over the table, but mostly all over inside the tank... apparently my seven-year-old brother-in-law felt he was being helpful by feeding ALL of the fish food to the fish... :( I was pretty peeved, to say the least, because I sat down with him yesterday and explained he may look, but he may NOT touch or feed him. My in-laws had a betta before that he would always do this to and ended up killing it. So I've "hidden" the food for now. It just really ticks me off that this kid is old enough and should know better, if not know better then know to listen to his elders!!!!! :(

PLUS I went to leave for school this morning and checked on him and found his food lying on the ground with leeeetle teeth marks in the packaging... can't imagine who would've done that... lol.

[bckrazy]

Here are some of my set-ups...

This is Lionel's tank. It's a 2.5 gallon Minibow, with a jr heater, some live plants, some marbles and that barrel cave thing. He seems really happy. The bottom is bare right now, but I'm putting sand in once we move.
http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg226/wegotanairshow/lionelstank.jpg

This is my sister's bowl, for Ru Paul. It's 2 gallons, wider than it is deep which is what Bettas prefer, and it now has floating water sprite in it. Ru Paul loves his/her little bridge. If you get a bowl, BE SURE to either cover it or leave several inches on the top... Bettas can and will jump out!
http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg226/wegotanairshow/rupaulsbowl.jpg

This is a 5 gallon Kritter Keeper, with sand, a terra cotta pot, Java Ferns, Java Moss, and a jr heater in the winter.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v357/gonzoo/bettas/bettas315.jpg

Close-up of the terra cotta pot. I glued marbles onto it with aquarium sealant, to make it more festive, hehe.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v357/gonzoo/bettas/bettas311.jpg

This is my 3 gallon Kritter Keeper with sand, some marbles and rocks, and a big plastic flower. The flower has since been replaced by live plants. They are the best!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v357/gonzoo/bettas/bettas240.jpg

If you happen to catch the Betta bug, and get 3 more Betta, this is an awesome set-up! It's a 10 gallon tank with a matching stand, and it can hold a tank on the bottom, too. I divided it into 4 sections with binder covers, plastic sewing mesh, and aquarium sealant. It just has live plants, some river rocks, and a heater and filter. It's way easier to clean bare than if there's substrate on the bottom. (I know, it looks grossly yellow, but that's because I add lots of Indian Almond Leaf extract to condition them for breeding.)
http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg226/wegotanairshow/dividedtank.jpg

[BC_MoM]

*waits with tappy foot for pictures*