Cute story about Bamboo

Kiwibird

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Jul 12, 2012
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1 BFA- Kiwi. Hatch circa 98', forever home with us Dec. 08'
So I know I’m probably weird to love my betta fish, but he’s really a fascinating animal with a surprising amount of personality. He’s super active and always swimming around, exploring his tank and goes nuts when he sees us. I’ve never actually seen a betta fish so active before, they usually just sit on the bottom of the tank. Guessing being in a 7gallon tank with plants and decor makes a huge difference in bringing out their personalities over keeping them in a vase:mad:

Anyways, today we were sitting there and see him go nuts, doing flips and weird motions near the bottom of his tank. Looked a bit closer and a small fly was on the tank stand right in front of the glass and boy did he want to eat it! It was pretty amazing he saw that thing and went after it like that. Poor guy was really trying his best too. I didn’t feed it to him because I’m not sure if it’s safe (we live in a condo and they may spray stuff outside) but it was pretty fascinating to watch. It’s scenarios like that which make me really appreciate my animals and makes the work I put into keeping them healthy and in proper enclosures worthwhile! I love observing interesting animal behavior.
 

SailBoat

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Jul 10, 2015
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Not much into fish, but had always wondered why betta fish always seem to be 'stored' in those empty small tanks. Clearly your larger tank, plus the decorations you have added does provide stimulation to his life.

Always something to learn at Parrot Forums, even non-Parrot stuff! :D
 

Cardinal

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Jul 1, 2014
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Currently I have none, but I have the capacity to adopt a minimum and maximum of two budgies - preferably a bonded pair or two males.
Bettas are one of the few fish that combine amazing color and beauty with an amazing personality and ease of care. And sadly they are abused.

Bettas' personality come out best in a rectangular tank that is at least 1 feet long, 20 cm or so wide and about 15 to 20 cm tall. They don't need very tall tanks like Angel fish.

If live plants and other enrichment items like a coconut shell cave are there, it is all the better. Pity people keep them in fish bowls and even worse- vases.
 
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Kiwibird

Kiwibird

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Jul 12, 2012
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1 BFA- Kiwi. Hatch circa 98', forever home with us Dec. 08'
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Not much into fish, but had always wondered why betta fish always seem to be 'stored' in those empty small tanks. Clearly your larger tank, plus the decorations you have added does provide stimulation to his life.

Always something to learn at Parrot Forums, even non-Parrot stuff! :D

They are kept in the cups in the pet store because they will fight and kill each other if put in the same tank (they are also known as Siamese fighting fish), which is for their own safety and the pet store should be cleaning the cups daily. BUT you aren’t suppose to KEEP them in a cup after purchase! They suffer greatly because of their amazing ability to survive in a puddle until the rains come and wash them back where they belong, but they actually live in rice paddies and gentle streams. But the popular myth is they like living in puddles (they do not) and actually prefer a filthy, unheated, unfiltered vase or bowl to a proper setup (which they do not). In this day and age, it serves an excuse to not have to spend the amount of money you should to give the animal a good quality of life. You can buy a betta and a vase or bowl for under $20 but you’d have to spend closer to $75+ on a proper basic setup. My setup cost closer to $200 because I bought a fancy rimless tank and handmade fish hides off Etsy. Having seen how active my betta is, I now feel so bad for every one I see sitting on a desk in a vase looking like it wishes it was dead:mad:

Each male betta needs a 2.5 gallon or larger tank (5-10 gallon is more ideal) with substrate, a filter, heater, some kind of plants (silk or real) and a place to hide. Female bettas can be kept in groups of 3 or more, called a sorority, in a 10+ gallon tank. You can also put a single male betta pin larger community tanks that don’t have brightly colored fish or fish with flowy fins (which they may mistake for another betta and attack) or species known to nip the fins of other fish (which may attack the betta).
 
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Jasmine333

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Dec 7, 2019
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Green and Yellow Male Budgie
You're not weird at all for loving your Betta. I used to keep them from time to time and always enjoyed them. They are fairly easy to care for and can live several years if properly taken care of. There are some very pretty ones, but I was always drawn to the blue ones. However, I've seen some beautiful red ones too, or some are blue with red fins. It's fun to watch their excitement when they know it's food time. Enjoy your Betta, they make a wonderful pet.
 

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