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Hi there, I'm a newbie I'm getting a betta as soon as my new tank is set up and cycled. I've done a fair bit of research on the internet and even bought myself a book about anabantoids (it's really good!).
I thought I was all prepared but then I heard something today that I have not heard before. Someone on another forum I go on said that bettas get tired if you keep them in a large aquarium and will get sick from swimming too far.
This sounds ridiculous to me but I couldn't find anything about it anywhere! I'm not worried because my aquarium is only 13 (UK)gall so it's not big but I'm just curious about this info, I've never heard of an aquarium being too big.
Thanks in advance!

someone else correct me if im wrong but i dont think the issue is being tired from swimming to far, i think the issue is the amound of water movement in the tank, if im right i think they like less water movement than alot, but someone else can correct me if im wrong.

its me sk8freak20...i need to get premie so i can change my name back

Never heard that one .

If you've never seen a rice paddy try a google image search. That's their traditional habitat and no it's not just a little mud puddle that most people think it is.

However, bettas generally don't like a lot of current so make sure the tank is aquascaped in a way that provides places out of the current for the betta. You'll also want to double check your stocking so that no one will give the betta a hard time about his fins, or he give anyone else a hard time about theirs.
Welcome to the family .

^_^[hr width='40%']"Ank -Morpork people considered that spelling was a sort of optional extra. They believed in it in the same way they believed in punctuation; it didn't matter where you put it, so long as it was there." ~The Truth [link=Terry Pratchett]http://www.terrypratchettbooks.com/" style="COLOR: #EB4288[/link]

this is true in some sence. what is the filter that u have, hear me out

a) yes bettas like to rest, in bowls, when resting, u will see them not move, turn a darker color, and have wide eyes. like all animals bettas will need to rest, but since they dont have eyelids they dont actually sleep.

b) this bettas( i am guessing long fin) are not found in the wild, they have been altered to have these long fins.

when u see a female/short fin male swim in a tank, they really dont have much trouble swimming, but with the long fins that these bettas have, it is like dragging them down, so the filter u have plays and IMPORTANT role.

c) bettas are best really by themselves due to their delicate beeing, b/c other fish can hurt them/kill/eat etc. so pick tankmates carfully.

d) like stated before the filter is important, due to too much current the betta will really stuggle in the water, so a weaker current is best, but may not be for the other fish in the tank. so keep this in mind.

e) the set-up is IMPORTANT as well, given areas were the filter isn't to strong and the water is calm, and planted this should provide an area where he can rest.

and some final notes from me,

u really can't base everything from what u read. it can only tell u so much, if u see that ur betta is stuggleing with its life in the tank, use ur common sense, and take him out, and get him his own tank, pick slow, gental tankmates, and dont forget that every betta is different, liek humans they have different anger levels, and personalities, so this also plays a factor in ur stocking.

if u have anymore betta questions please contact me.

Last edited by bettachris at 14-Nov-2005 17:54

Thanks everyone!
Well my plan was to set up 2 aquariums that I have, one is 13 (UK)gall and one is 8 (UK)gall (sorry, I don't know how this translates to US galls!) Ideally I would like to keep my betta with a small group of pygmy corys in the 13 gall but if they don't get on I will transfer the betta to the 8 gall and make the 13 gall into a small community tank.
The filter I have is a Fluval +2, it has adjustable flow but is it still too powerful? Does this sound plausible? I'm totally new to trops but I've been keeping fancy goldfish for about 10 years.

IMO the fluval 2+ is too strong, but you can crank it down and see how you go. the main problem would be the fish getting stuck to the intake and not being ble to get off easily. You could put in some baffles to slow the water a little around that area.


He should get on fine with cories

For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett

Well I guess I can give it a go, small filters don't cost so much so I won't be too upset if I have to buy him a new one. Thanks