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Today I set up my first betta tank, a 10 gallon hex tank with heater and a Penguin Mini-biowheel filter. Shortly after releasing my betta pair, I noticed that the male kept swimming very close to the filter. Each time he would do this, his fins would start to get sucked up into the filter. I've since unplugged the filter to keep him from being injured tonight.

What kind of filter would you recommend using with bettas?

I personally like the Whispers with Bettas. They seem to slow down quite a bit after a couple of months and the current isn't as strong. I also cut a piece of plastic canvas and put it across the outlet so the water flow is slowed down.

Steph

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I used to be Snow White, but I drifted.
~ Mae West

Hold up, a betta PAIR?

Are you breeding? If so, DO NOT filter the water until after the fry are free-swimming, othwise the male will have a horrendous time getting his bubblenest up.

after that, make sure you have a very fine cover over the intake (muslin/cheesecloth?) if you intend on using that filter with fry. I personally think its too strong for a breeding/growout tank.

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

I'm not trying to breed bettas. I have a pair because that is the only way the breeder would sell them to me. They were so beautiful that I was fine with that deal and ended up giving them their own tank.

Thanks for the suggestions for the filter. I'm going to try to pick up a piece of muslin today so that I can give it a try. I just can't imagine setting up a tank without some type of filter.

So are you saying you have a male AND female in one tank? But you are not trying to breed?

Last edited by Jessnick at 08-Oct-2004 13:26

it is always better to keep males in cups and females in cup also. i think that bettas don't do well with other fish for many reasons. but that's not the point. there are other nice filters out there that have flow control switch. these work great for bettas so you can make it low for a long fin betta. now with a short tail(i think is better)is able to move in water easier the filter can be set at a faster flow speed to keep the tank cleaner.

The piece of muslin over the filter's siphon tube worked great.

I do have the female and male in the same tank and was under the impression that they would get along quite well since the breeder raised them in a tank together. However, the more I read about Bettas, the more I think I may have made a mistake in doing this.

I'm continuing to monitor the activity of the fish. At this point I'm trying to decide if I really need to make a housing change for the pair or not.

Photo taken today:
http://www.peggydunn.com/photos/apaches.jpg

Last edited by PeaceB2U at 09-Oct-2004 09:55

Most breeders sell bettas in pairs, but that doesn't mean they should be kept together. They should not be kept together unless for breeding. I would stick a divider in there if i were you.

There cute BTW!!

ashley

Unless you are breeding conditioned bettas, males and females shouldn't be kept together. When they are young, they can be in the same fry tank, but the males are jarred when they start fighting. I'd really recommend you seperate them.

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They shade the glow of it with their mossy-misty costumes,
They wear masks of silk, porcelain, brass, and silver,
So as not to mislead with their own, ordinary faces.

Peace, if you like the look if them in the same tank, you can use a piece of plastic canvas as a divider. They can still interact, but they cannot severely damage each other.



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

I agree on using the "Whisper" filter. I have the micro-filter (the smallest size they make) in a 5-gallon, with one betta and 4 cherry barbs. You can turn it down really low so there isn't too much current, and it is very quiet. Have been using it for a few months now and I'm very happy with it.

I really appreciate all of the advice everyone has given.

Last night I did separate the male and female betta and today I added a nice companion for each of them so that they wouldn't be lonely in their tanks. Everyone seems to be getting along fine. Actually, the male seemed to be pretty excited about his new friends. He just keeps watching them with this curious little look on his face.

I placed a mini whisper filter in the small tank with the female and you are right it is quiet and has a low current. I like it so much that I'm going to try to get another one for my 10 gallon tank.

Might I ask what those new companions are?

The female betta has two fancy guppies to watch. There is a divider between them so that she won't bother them.

The male betta stayed in the 10 gallon tank and a small bronze corydora and a dwarf flame gourami were added.

Take the gourami back and get another cory

labyrinth fishies often don't mix too well.


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

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU DOEDOG!!!!! Your reply in this thread helped solve my most recent problem!!! I have five 2.5 gal Minibow tanks to display some of my Bettas... Now the first two tanks worked out well.... In one, I placed Torch and Dusky, in the other went Vette and Blue... No problems! All Bettas did well! So with 6 more Bettas coming, I went out and got three more Minibows... Upon their arrival, placed 2 in each tank as I'd done before.... All three Bettas placed on the "filter side" of the tank STRUGGLED with the water current produced by the Whisper Medium Internal Filter... So they pretty much stayed in the calmer parts of the tank -- around the filter and at the bottom of the tank... I'd turn off the filters and due to the variety of foods I feed the water would get cloudy! Couldn't figure out what to do.... Then I read your suggestion on slowing the water by using plastic canvas! VOILA!!!! Problem solved!!!!! The current slowed - the fish are swimming about --- Everything is simply hunky dory!!!!! I can't thank you enough!!!!!!!!!

To thine own self be true...