CUTE! XD

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_{People that don't know me think I'm quite.
People that know me wish I was.}

Thank you. They are, aren't they? *squee*

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The voices.... in my head... are schizophrenic.

But I like it.
No, I don't
Yes, I do.

They're VERY cute! n__n But in a tank much too small. D: The minumun is 2 gallons each. With 100% water changes weekly.

Actually, Bettas prefer being in small tanks, I should know, I go to pet shops and I work in the pet dept. in Wal-Mart. They don't get any bigger than they are, even if you them in a 2 gallon tank. Plus, a 2g tank wouldn't have a divider and they would kill each other. It does say that a minimum of 1g per 1'' of fish, but, there are exceptions. Like in this case. Betta fish are agoraphobic, or "big-space"-aphobic. We put them in some of the other tanks at work, because they can go in with other smaller, little finned fish, and they just stay in one small area in the tanks.

So, in conclusion, small cup or 29g tank, Betta fish will stay the same size and stay in the same basic spot.

..... AND, I do change the water in the tank. All of it, once a week, as per the Book Of Common Sense.

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The voices.... in my head... are schizophrenic.

But I like it.
No, I don't
Yes, I do.

Actually, thats a common misconception, and I'm sorry, but the fact that you work in a fish department in Wal-Mart says nothing at all. I've encountered plenty fish store workers who know absolutly nothing. (not saying you do, just saying it's not a way to proof crudentials)

"Most owners who report bettas becoming distressed or dying in larger tanks had this experience because of something done wrong during acclimation, set-up, or husbandry while in the tank. In a well-planted tank with appropriate filtration (or lack thereof), compatible tank mates (or, again, lack thereof), proper acclimation, and suitable water parameters (including temperature), there is no reason that spaciousness should stress or kill a betta. Indeed, a slightly larger tank, in the range of 2.5-10g*, may even be beneficial; one of the leading killers of bettas is inadequate physical activity, resulting in fatty liver."

"Most bettas who are inactive are behaving as such because they are cold or ill. When provided with appropriate space and temperatures, they are an extremely active, inquisitive fish. Some heavier finned fish may be less active, but a betta who is inactive is most likely unhealthy."

Written by RandomWinktor on a website called Ultimate Bettas. It's really a great site, full of usefull information. n___n [link] And of course, I didn't mean a 2gal tank to put both of them in, I meant a 2gal tank for each of them.

Well, I'll have to say that, if I had the room for two 2g tanks, I would have more than just two Bettas. Also, on the info that you have given, though knowledgeable it may be, there is still room, for the odd-ball out. My cousin, Chrissy had the same tank I have, because she didn't have enough room for a bigger tank, or multiple tanks, and yet, her two Bettas, lived for three years, and though they were in, what you would call a "small living space", they were very active, and interactive with her, me and her dog, Moppy. Some may call it a rare occurrence, maybe even a coincidence, but, as knowledgeable as I am, of fish of many different types, I went to my local pet shop, before I set up my tank and asked the fish expert there, and she said, that "they would live quite comfortably, even in what many would consider, a small tank." Those were her exact words. And, let's see, I've had both of my fish set up in their tank for almost a month, and they are still as active as they were the day I bought them.

P.S: I never said, that large spaces would kill them, just that they wouldn't use all of it, and it would be a waste of space.

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The voices.... in my head... are schizophrenic.

But I like it.
No, I don't
Yes, I do.

There is a difference between living and thriving. Just because it's not sick and dying doesn't mean that it's a nice place to keep them. Don't you wanna... you know, actually see them MOVE? lol And if you don't have the proper room for an animal, you just don't get the animal in the first place. Thats just common sense. I've seen bettas in 10 gallon tanks moving and swimming ALL around and being healthy active fish. They'll get a lot more exersize in a larger tank. Because they DO use the space given to them. Naturally, some fish are more active than others, so some won't. And you really can't base your info on ONE betta that lived a normal lifespan in a small tank. Thats a lot like saying just because one person smoked cigaretteas all thier life and didn't get lung cancer means that cigarettes don't cause cancer. Also, just out of curiosity, what other fish were in the tanks you put the bettas in at Wal-Mart? Just because a fish doesn't have long bright fins doesn't mean the betta wont go after it/get attacked by it. Some tetras are nippy and will attack a betta, and some bettas either fight back constantly and stress themselves out or wimp out and suffer fin damage and stress.

We put them in with the Neon Tetras, Mollies, Platties, and Gouramis, and they haven't gone after each other in any of those tanks.

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The voices.... in my head... are schizophrenic.

But I like it.
No, I don't
Yes, I do.

Those are ALL uncompatible fish with bettas. Neons are nervous, nippy fish and may bully the betta causing him to stay ina corner of the tank. Gouramis, Mollies, and Platties are all bright and could have got into a fight with the betta/bullied it. Suitable betta tankmates are White Cloud Mountain Minnows, African Dwarf Frogs (NOT Clawed Frogs), and snails(large enough so betta can not eat them)


So, all in all, I think that the betta may have stayed in one spot due to being bullied by the other fish. I still suggest getting a 2gal for each of your bettas. n____n