General Discussion

I'm getting a fish soon. I'd really like a vibrant red half-moon or rose petal.
I'm thinking of getting a 3-5 g tank.
I've heard they have great personalities and i cant wait to see my fishy happy and healthy.

Anyone have experience with these fishes?

@Striderave I had one when I was a kid. She was red and named Vermillion. I had her for about a year, before she jumped out of the tank and died. So, tip #1 cover your tank, either with a lid, or you can put some pantyhose or something similar over the top to keep them from jumping out. They also don't like the color red, it makes them angry, so avoid those colors in and around the tank. The water should be warm, and there should be lots of hiding spaces for them. They also like foods with more protein, so you should account for that. Hope all that helps!

Oh betta fish are so cute and pretty!! I used to have a few, but then I made a very bad mistake.

Never put two boy betta fish in one tank. BAD STUFF HAPPENS. And my parents wouldn't tell me what happened when I woke up the next morning...

But other than that, they're very cute and fun to watch. ^^ And do very well with other fish their size or smaller. (And not as colorful)

When I was younger, it seemed to be pretty popular putting these fish in clear vases. Very pretty, but maybe not the best habitat for something like a betta fish. The bigger the tank the better, and definitely include lots of hiding spots as mentioned before.

My brother currently has one, though I'm not sure if it's still living. He had a neon color-changing light at the top of his tank. I'm not sure how it affects the fish though.

They are great fish, but they require more care than a lot of people think--they really shouldn't be crammed in a small tank with no filter. They need a large enough tank with hiding spots. Make sure the tank decor will not damage their delicate fins...no spikey plastic stuff. Fabric plants are great. The filter should be protected in some way so they do not get caught or stuck on it. Make sure the top is covered because they are jumpers! Also, you may want a small tank heater....they are tropical fish and do better in warm water. I forget the temperature range that is ideal for them, so you will want to look that up.

Happy bettas will make bubble nests. I did find they had different personalities too. And it was fun to put a mirror or another betta in view to watch them flare (although don't do this too much since it will stress them out if it is prolonged).

Just as AsteriaDusk said, they do require more care than most thing. They are definitely jumpers! They also need a heater, they will begin to die fairly quickly if they don't keep within 75F to 82F. Their fins are very easily cut, so they do definitely need soft or rounded plants. Many hiding places, they can get very nervous.

Something I've seen people do is get a leaf-like bed that suctions to the side of the tank, sitting about 2 inches from the top of the water. They like using these as beds!

Also do not overfeed it!. It may seem like it only eats a very small amount (3 maximum pellets a day if you've got that type of food, read the package carefully.)

I had a red crowntail betta who had quite the firey personality, she looooved wiggling around at the tank and following us back and forth when we'd pass by her. She was named Maki, after this firey red-head! She ended up getting sick, a fluke something got into the water I guess and by the time we realized and got her medication, she didn't recover. :/

I suggest reading up on different sicknesses and foods you can get them beforehand because fish are fairly sensitive creatures and a lot of things can stress them out or make them sick. They are definitely full of personality though! Have fun and good luck~

Thank you everyone, there's a few things I'd like some clarification.
Should I have the tank set up before I acquire my little friend?
On another board someone wrote about an ammonia cycle?
I get nervous with that, I don't quite understand...