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I was at a pet shop out of town, talking with the owner as I bought my new crown-tail boy, and she mentioned something called "Copper Band Bettas." According to her, they grow to be a couple of inches larger than a regular betta and have a coppery sheen. Does anyone know anything about these? Thay're fairly expensive, so I want to find some good info before I decide whether or not I want to get one. I couldn't find anything when I searched, so if anyone has any experience or knows of any sites with info, I would appreciate the help. Thanks in advance.

[span class="edited"][Edited by CeltGirl 2004-08-25 20:08][/span]

They are actually called Giants or Goliaths. The color is just as with any other Betta. Copper is all around. They come in other colors too. I know blue Betta USA has some and so does faith with Betta talk.

So far most are short fins (plakats) but once in a wile Faith gets a long fin, and she is working on her owne line of long fins.

[span class="edited"][Edited by phoneshannen 2004-08-25 18:09][/span]

Ah, I see. That explains why I couldn't find anything on copper band bettas. Goliaths, huh? I like the sound of that.

I may have to research these guys a bit. Do you keep them the same as a regular betta? One in a 1 gallon+ bowl, or do they prefer filtered tanks?

Well the minimum for a regular betta is 2 gal. So, i would give him a 3 or 4 gal.

I'll do graffiti,
If you sing to me in French.

there is an article here: www.wasanbetta.com and you can find more info here to: http://www.bettas-jimsonnier.com/genetics7.htm

Not all bettas like larger tanks- one of my males WILL NOT live in anything over a gallon. I had him in a 2 gallon when I first brought him home and he didn't eat or swim very much. On waterchange day, I moved him to a 1 gallon holding container while I cleaned out his tank and he perked up considerably. I thought it was just a change in water that did it, so once I'd cleaned and refilled his tank, I put him back in and he went back to skulking along the bottom and barely moving. That's when I figured out some bettas have a preference in the size of their living quarters.

And thanks for the webpages- I'll be checking them out right now.

I was just posting the minimum that most people go by. If you feel that your particular betta likes a smaller tank, then go for it. But dont deny a goliath a tank thats big enough for his fins, just because some of you regular bettas like something more cozy

ETA: Not being snarky, just trying to be helpful.

[span class="edited"][Edited by katieb 2004-08-26 15:35][/span]

I'll do graffiti,
If you sing to me in French.

Oh I know. I was just pointing out that some bettas feel, insecure I guess, in a larger tank. A goliath will DEFINITELY require a larger tank than any of my guys feels comfortable with. I only have one that will live in a 2 gallon- the rest stress out and stop eating. I think it's from being kept in small cups and traps for most of their lives. I figure the health/happiness of my fish is more important than what everyone (friends, LFS employees, anyone else who sees my fish) thinks- LFS employees try to get me to buy those tiny "Betta bowfront" kits that hold like 2 cups of water and my friends tell me to put them in larger tanks than what they're in- even though the fish hate it. All my boys blow bubblenests almost constantly and have voracious appetites. I've got to be doing something right- even my newest betta, Crowley the red crowntail, who's only been with me for 24 hours has made a small bubblenest (it's really more like an attempt, but he's pretty young and has plenty of time to figure it out).

The way I see it, a half giant would need a five gallon and a full giant would need a ten gallon MINIMUM. I couldn't see keeping a 7 inch fish in anything less, and would probably keeep him in something bigger. These guys definitely can't be sold in tiny cups and marketed for tiny tanks or planters- that's probably why I've never seen one before.

Now I want to set up another 20 gallon hex with a giant male betta and a school of panda cories. Someday, when I have the money... Hehe.

Found some on aquabid
http://www.aquabid.com/cgi-bin/auction/auction.cgi?fwbettaswt&1093748574

Faith from bettatalk has some goliaths. Theyre expensive, but she breeds amazing bettas. Well worth it. And i like your cory/goliath setup

I'll do graffiti,
If you sing to me in French.

I've seen a lot of nice bettas online, but I'm wary about buying fish I've never truly seen. I like to be able to watch my fish for a while before I decide to buy it. When I went into the pet shop the other day, I wasn't actually planning on picking up a new betta. All of my betta bowls are full and I didn't really have room for another, but when that little red crowntail flared at me while I was looking at him, I just had to bring him home. Whenever I'm looking for a new betta, if one flares at me while I'm observing, he usually comes home with me. I like to look for active, healthy fish before I bring any home.

I have a 20 gallon hex now, and my guppy boys are old- they were old when I bought them as I didn't realize that bigger tails means older fish- so when they inevitably pass, I may put a goliath betta in the tank with my cories and loaches. Would the mild current from my bio-wheel be bothersome to a giant betta? I could remove my powerhead as I know that would probably be bothersome to him- or could I just change the angle on it so it faces down more? I haven't been able to find much information on keeping giant bettas, so any help would be appreciated.

If you feel the current is too much you can velcro a piece of plastic mesh to slow the current. There was a thread where some onr did this but i cannot find it

I'll do graffiti,
If you sing to me in French.

That sounds interesting, katie. I'll be doing some looking around on the net for info on that technique.

As Goliaths are bigger stronger and have short fins, the current shouldn't be a problem.

Keep in mind it was human selective breeding bettas that has made them non tolerant (big fins) of high currents. While yes wild bettas do live in slow moving water, they still at times put up with far more current than our modern day bettas ever could.

giant bettas are just like regular bettas only a LOT bigger so they don't really need any different care- just biger tanks

ashley

Yeah, none of my boys could handle a current with their long, gorgeous fins.

I think I may seriously consider putting a giant betta in my 20 gallon. One of my aging guppies passed the other day- he was the largest and the oldest from what I know about determining the age of fish- of old age apparently. If the lady has a nice goliath betta when I go back to her shop next week- I'm driving my dad to an appointment, so I'll have about an hour to kill while I wait for him- I may pick him up on my way home. I can always move my guppies to another tank to make room for him.