Post by Allaquatica on Dec 20, 2006 5:52:17 GMT -5
Some common incorrect Myths about keeping betta
1) only males fight
2) Small spaces such a betta 'hex' and jars are a suitable home.
3) betta will eat plant roots and nothing else.
4) Live in cows footprints so dont need any space to live
5) cold water / non heated tanks are suitable
6) Flake foods are ok
7) cannot be kept with any other fish
8) water does not need changing at all/ very often
9) prefer dirty water
10) Do not like large aquariums because they will die
1) while males WILL fight other males so cannot live together, males and females should also not be kept together unless in a very large aquarium or while breeding. While they do not fight to the extent of two males they may cause each other a lot of damage in everyday tussles.
2) These tiny containers that hold approx 750ml of water are unsuitable as long-term homes for betta. While betta are air breathers and can survive in small places for a short time they should not be kept in containers under 5000ml for any longer than neccesary. Small containers have unstable temp, because of their size temp will change very rapidly. Bettas come from a stable tropical climate and will suffer if temp drops suddenly. Another reason these containers are unsuitable is because the small area of water allows the fishes waste (poo and pee) to build up very rapidly. as the chemicle ammonia it can cause burns, stress, poisoning and disease within days.
3) betta will eat plant roots and nothing else.
There is a terrible myth perpetuated by sellers of a 'betta vase' ( a betta in a vase with a plant stuck in the top of the vase)product that states that 'betta do not need to be fed as they will eat the roots of the plant'. Unfortunatly anyone buying this product were terribly misled as betta are carnivores and do not eat plants unless out of desparation. be sure to feed your betta a meaty and balanced diet.
4) A lot of petshops like to tell us a fairy story about bettas that live in the footprints of bovine that plow the fields in thailand. Unfortunatly for the bettas they sell these fish actually originated in large swamps, lakes and slow moving streams. They only venture into low-oxigenated bodies of water in search of their favourite food, the mosqueto and its larva that likes to breed in more stagnant and muddy waters, this gives them a survival advantage over fish that cannot exploit this important food source.
5) A lot of petshops like to tell us bettas 'are fine at room temp'. bettas are from a fairly hot and stable tropical environment. they like a stable environmental temprature of 24-30c 77-82f. something that cannot be provided in a tiny, unheated container
6) Flake foods are ok.
betta need a fairly varied and high protien diet. they are best fed a food prepared for betta with the occasional 'treat' of live, freezedried or frozen foods.
7) betta cannot be kept with any other fish.
while care must be taken, some betta will be friendly enough to keep with peaceful species of fish. badly raised betta that have had little contact with their own kind or other fish may be overly agressive though.
8/9) water does not need changing at all/ very often/ bettas prefer dirty water
Betta like clean, soft water. 6.5ph is ideal. in clean water they will thrive, in dirty water they may 'survive' a short time and gain problems like fin-curl
10) some petshop owners will also go to the lengths of telling customers that 'betta are lazy', 'betta wont survive in a big tank', 'betta cant swim very well' so cannot be kept in a big tank. This cannot be farther from the truth. I have personally kept and raised even the most fance of betta in large 60 gal tanks. they not only survive but thrive. they are also much larger and can carry their finnage much better than confined specimins.
1) only males fight
2) Small spaces such a betta 'hex' and jars are a suitable home.
3) betta will eat plant roots and nothing else.
4) Live in cows footprints so dont need any space to live
5) cold water / non heated tanks are suitable
6) Flake foods are ok
7) cannot be kept with any other fish
8) water does not need changing at all/ very often
9) prefer dirty water
10) Do not like large aquariums because they will die
1) while males WILL fight other males so cannot live together, males and females should also not be kept together unless in a very large aquarium or while breeding. While they do not fight to the extent of two males they may cause each other a lot of damage in everyday tussles.
2) These tiny containers that hold approx 750ml of water are unsuitable as long-term homes for betta. While betta are air breathers and can survive in small places for a short time they should not be kept in containers under 5000ml for any longer than neccesary. Small containers have unstable temp, because of their size temp will change very rapidly. Bettas come from a stable tropical climate and will suffer if temp drops suddenly. Another reason these containers are unsuitable is because the small area of water allows the fishes waste (poo and pee) to build up very rapidly. as the chemicle ammonia it can cause burns, stress, poisoning and disease within days.
3) betta will eat plant roots and nothing else.
There is a terrible myth perpetuated by sellers of a 'betta vase' ( a betta in a vase with a plant stuck in the top of the vase)product that states that 'betta do not need to be fed as they will eat the roots of the plant'. Unfortunatly anyone buying this product were terribly misled as betta are carnivores and do not eat plants unless out of desparation. be sure to feed your betta a meaty and balanced diet.
4) A lot of petshops like to tell us a fairy story about bettas that live in the footprints of bovine that plow the fields in thailand. Unfortunatly for the bettas they sell these fish actually originated in large swamps, lakes and slow moving streams. They only venture into low-oxigenated bodies of water in search of their favourite food, the mosqueto and its larva that likes to breed in more stagnant and muddy waters, this gives them a survival advantage over fish that cannot exploit this important food source.
5) A lot of petshops like to tell us bettas 'are fine at room temp'. bettas are from a fairly hot and stable tropical environment. they like a stable environmental temprature of 24-30c 77-82f. something that cannot be provided in a tiny, unheated container
6) Flake foods are ok.
betta need a fairly varied and high protien diet. they are best fed a food prepared for betta with the occasional 'treat' of live, freezedried or frozen foods.
7) betta cannot be kept with any other fish.
while care must be taken, some betta will be friendly enough to keep with peaceful species of fish. badly raised betta that have had little contact with their own kind or other fish may be overly agressive though.
8/9) water does not need changing at all/ very often/ bettas prefer dirty water
Betta like clean, soft water. 6.5ph is ideal. in clean water they will thrive, in dirty water they may 'survive' a short time and gain problems like fin-curl
10) some petshop owners will also go to the lengths of telling customers that 'betta are lazy', 'betta wont survive in a big tank', 'betta cant swim very well' so cannot be kept in a big tank. This cannot be farther from the truth. I have personally kept and raised even the most fance of betta in large 60 gal tanks. they not only survive but thrive. they are also much larger and can carry their finnage much better than confined specimins.
