I have a male betta who suddenly has been showing some strange behaviour. Taz stays at the top of the bowl, snug to the edge, with no movement other than his mouth. Wont eat. Then every twenty mins he just goes beserk, racing around the bowl on the water top as if he is trying to get out. Litterally out of the water. I did find my cat drinking water from the bowl. Could this be stress, scared or what. His colouring is way off as well. Hope you can give me some advice. I have moved his bowl to a better place where kitties cant get near him.

Since I have had a betta get eaten by a cat I think that it is a big concern for fish. I have also had betta fish jump out of their tank before too, so that can happen also, they can jump very high sometimes. I think he is both scared and stressed, especially with the cat drinking from the water, good idea to move him away.

As for him losing color – it could be nothing.. but it could be what is called “Velvet” check out this page on bettatalk.com for more information on the diesease including treatment.

From bettatalk:

Velvet is hard to spot, but can be best spotted with a flashlight. Shine the light on the betta’s body: if it looks like it is covered with a fine gold or rust mist, then it has velvet. A betta with velvet will act sick, so look for clamped fins, scratching against rocks/gravel/tank, loss of appetite, loss of color etc…

I am always asked: What is the best store to buy betta fish?
My opionion is the petco is the best corporate/chain pet store for betta fish selection and quality…

Also guys (and gals) you may want to take a look at your local FISH store… the kind that only specialize in fish. Not any kind of chain. That is where you can find the truly spectacular betta fish you see posted here from time to time.

I live in Florida and there are a TON of fish stores around me that have an amazing betta fish selection. I know a couple owners of these shops personally that give me a call when they have something they know I’m loooking for.

Please consider searching for a fish hobbiest store in your area before going to the chain pet store for betta fish.

ok tomorrow I’m going to get two bettas, 1 female and 1 male. I have two separate 1.75 gal. tanks w/ two plastic plants and a cave. They will each have a filter and I put the chemical in that you need one drop of for tap water. I have the right food, too. I keep reading that you need a lot of space for bettas, but a couple of years ago we had bettas in the same conditions, but they didn’t last long, I’m not sure if it’s because the store I got them from just had them in l a cup of water in plastic bags…. or am I doing something wrong please help!

Also, I was wondering if there’s enough room for a different fish or something to put into the females tank? help!

1.75 gallons is enough rooms for betta fish… I have seem them kept for a very long time in very some jars/containers (not that they were happy).

Also, are you sure you have the right food? Some pet store sell those betta flakes that betta just seem to hate. Try pellets if you can.

As for keeping different fish with females – I would not suggest it. They are still pretty agressive and could potentially kill the other fish.

O also I know what you mean about the people and what they tell you!
1.They told us that guppies were very hardy and did not need the special chemical for tap water or could be put in the tank right away!
2. They told us to wash the tanks with soap, but luckily we knew better.
3. They told us you could a male betta in with different fish….We got him out in time.
That has been a few years ago and I want my bettas to be happy and healthy

4. Also do I really need a heater?

1. Correct! Guppies are not that hardy.
2. Correct! Don’t use soap ever.
3. Correct again! Male bettas are extremely aggressive.
4. Nope, Not unless you keep your house cold. They enjoy temperatures in the upper 70’s and 80’s. I suggested this to someone who kept there house at 70-72 f.

I also read that you should not put rocks in for bettas, because a tank like mine should be cleaned often and the rocks make the tank dirty or something Maybe I’m just thinking to hard idk!

You can keep rocks with you betta. Just be sure to clean them from time to time. I personally don’t because I don’t like to spend a lot of time cleaning the betta tanks. Rocks are good though.

o i read that i need to clean the tank 2-3 times a week, is that true?

Well.. if you have a filter that often is not necessary. I clean my tanks once a week with no filter. But some people prefer more often.

This is the best website I’ve found so far and want to make sure I’m doing everything right! I read somewhere, it might have been wikipedia that said black bettas don’t live nearly as long as the others is that true?

Never heard that before. I have had a black betta fish for a very long time. Also… it may be kind of hard for you to find a black betta fish as they are somewhat rare to see in stores.

Now how to detox your fish.

1. Get a medium sized container (gladware, butter bowl, etc.) Big enough for you little guy to swim in.

2. Rinse bowl out with hot water.

3. Add spring water into the bowl. Not tap or purified, too many chemicals.

4. Place fish in the bowl.

5. Add NO CHEMICALS to the water!

6. Let him set for 24-48 hours and feed as usual.

7. After the time passes put him back in his normal tank, after a fresh water change and he will look great!

Pros
Eat Waste
Some eat Algae
Peaceful
Will eat Dead Fish (hopefully not your betta)
Low Maintenance

Cons 
Create Waste
Reproduce (very) Often
Will eat small Fry
Eat Plants
Bettas may eat the Snails
May be extremely hard to remove

‘Just one biiig bite and…’ photo by Mean and Pinchy on flickr

Now with the mention of getting a new fish, many people have different ways of setting up their tanks. Here’s my method….

First step: Clean the tank with hot water. no soaps, bleaches, or any chemicals, EVEN if they claim the can be used on your tank. THESE CAN KILL YOUR FISH. If you have algae or gunk, just use a new scrub pad or brush to remove it.

Second step: Wash all new plants and pebbles with hot water, again no soap or chemicals.

Third step: Put room temperature water in your tank, many people claim Betta’s live better in distilled water, personally I use conditioned tap water. I recommend “Splendid Betta complete water conditioner” and “Splendid Betta Bettafix remedy”. I use both together to condition the water and to help with reducing the stress that comes with being in a new environment, it’s hard on a fish to go from a cup in a pet store to a tank.

Forth step: If its conditioned water, let it set the EXACT time it says in the instructions. Some are as little as 3 minutes, some can be upwards of six hours. Mostly depending on tank size and water that you use.

Fifth step: Adding your fish. The way you put your fish in the tank is a vital step in the health and wellbeing of your fish. I recommend trying to drain as much of the water out of the cup/bag that your little guy came in, Betta’s can breath air so don’t worry if you take “too much water out”. When you place him in the water, he will be shocked for a minute or so. Most Betta’s have ammonia poisoning from living in so much of there own waste, that they actually get “scared” by the new water and hide for a little while, maybe even days.

Sixth step: Watch your little guy for a few days, when he gets used to the tank, and his new home he will become much more active and healthy.