New Siamese Fighting Fish (Betta)?

Question

I just bought a new fighting fish on the weekend to keep me company at work :)

He's in his tank at the moment but he looks really lonely/bored, is there anything I can put in with him to keep him happy. I know I can't put other fish in with him but what about plants and/or ornaments etc?

Please help

TIA

Answer 1

Thank you so much for putting your betta in a filtered tank! :D  Did you get a heater in there?  Bettas prefer warmer temperatures of about 78F so if you don't have a heater they are much less active!  If your tank is about a +5 gallon plus try putting in a few snails or shrimp!  Some bettas will eat them and some will leave them alone....it all depends on your betta!

Bettas greatly appreciate decorations, all fish do to my knowledge!  Get either real or fake plants for him and a peice of driftwood.  But, some plastic plants can rip your betta's fins so fake silk are better.  If you really want plastic plants, here's a good test to see if they will rip your betta's fins:

Take a pair of nylon tights and rub them on the plastic and if the tights catch and rip, they are not good for your fish!

I hope I helped! ;)

Answer 2

Putting up some artificial plants is a great idea. Beta fish are actually just shy and peaceful fish. So putting some plants in his tank might be a good idea.

Most people are told that they can't be with other fish because they'll fight, that's only about 50% true. Yes, they can't be with their own species but, they can get along with a good selection of fish, such as: Tetras,Barbs,Plecos,Danios, and Corydoras. Also Mollies,Guppies,Platies,and Swordtails. I wouldn't recommend on putting a long finned fish in their with him because he might nip at their fins a bit but in some cases, they will get along, but it's a chance that you would be taking for the other fish.

I hope this helped you with your question. Have fun with your Beta!! =D

Answer 3

you can put them with other fish

danios

tetras

corydoras

to name a few

does he have a heater if not get one that is possibly the cause of his boredness

also get some live plants

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i would just like to take a minute to discuss how mrs bars answer is wrong

bettas should not be kept in vases they need 2.5+ gallon heated aquarium.

they need betta food and only nibble on live plants because thats the only food supply

BETTAS ARE CARNIVORES

Answer 4

A leafy plant would work best. He'll hangout in the leaves of the plant. I haven't seen a betta really use any caves, castles, or anything like that. I am sure they would... but since Bettas breath air, being tucked in a cave doesn't seem to logical. Mine just swim back and forth in their tanks and seem quite happy.

If you add a filter, and get other fish such as plecos, cory's, or loaches, it will bring more life to the tank. My best friend has 3 yoyo loaches with her betta in a 5 1/2 gallon tank with a filter. That would be my suggestion if your looking for a little more action in the tank :)

Answer 5

Like a lot of creatures, he is a territorial fish. So actually he is better off by himself . You can still use plants, though.

Answer 6

I had the same thing on my desk and thought the same way. First of all they are happier by themselves. But you can put them in a vase with rocks at the bottom and a water based plant on top (they sell them at Walmart and pet stores) and the fish will nibble at the rocks and at the plant. I t will also swim through the plant roots and if the rocks are big he will swim through those.

Ofcourse you can add tank decor such as those tunnel rocks that they can hide in, boats with holes etc. Any kind of stuff that can go in a regular tank can go in with him as long as it fits.

But there is one other alternative. There is a tank out especially for Betta fish and those situations. It is one tank but looks like a double. It has a divider in the middle so that you can have two Betta's, one on each side. They can see each other and check each other out. My mom had one at her house on her end table and the fish would dance around and mock each other,it was cute. If you don't want another fish but you have the right type of tank you can put a mirror in it and they will do the same thing. They don't know its themself they see. They think its another fish therefore they will do their little dances and such.

Hope this helps. I know just how you feel. Since I couldn't do the double tank I got a mirror and a hollowed rock. The mirror kept him busy and the rock gave him a place to hide.

Answer 7

they are happy alone better even  

Answer 8

There are certain fish you can put with them.. I had molly's with mine.. And I would just go to you local pet store and they could show the plants .. Pretty much any plant is fine.

Answer 9

Well, I'm guessing you have him in a small bowl or jar and you can't really keep another fish with him in that small of a container. They can be kept with some other fish, but only in the right conditions.  You can give him little treats like bloodworms or black worms as a break from the monotony of pellets. They get really excited about them. Check out this site. It's really helpful for bettas. http://www.bettatalk.com