Hello everytone, very new here.

[BettyBetta]

Very new here (or as my son would say, I'm a "noob". Just registered today. I'm looking to purchase a Betta. I can't wait, but I really, really want to do this right! I've been doing alot of research, but the more I research, the more I learn that I have more to learn!
Can anyone direct me to a link to help me get the tank started? You know, plant, no plant, filter, no filter..etc. I've been reading the posts, lots of great info. Just need a basic 101 for now.
A little about us. We are fun little family, kinda like a little zoo. Boys, dogs, fish (tetras now). We had tortoise for years until she recently passed.
We love nature, outdoors, cycling, movies, lots of video games and all of God's little creatures.
Hope to get know some of you on this website. Appreciate any and all help.
Thank you ahead of time for your help!.

[BettaLu&Meg]

Welcome bettybetta. I'm bettalu&meg(Luis) and i'm the breeder on this forum. I will give you all the information you need to start, Also FishMomma is the betta health and tank expert on this forum and has alot of knowlegde about any of those topics, and will be happy to help also.

Historically speaking, Betta Fish are said to have gotten their name from an ancient clan of Asian warriors called the “Bettah.” They were given these warriors’ names because about 150 years ago people enjoyed participating in a popular sport that involved the fighting of two of these warrior fish. (In fact, the sport was so popular that it was regulated – and taxed – by the King of Siam!)

One interesting note about Betta fish fighting is that, unlike cock or dog fighting in the west, at Siamese fighting fish tournaments, the actual fight was more to test the bravery of the fish, rather than a fight to see how much damage would be inflicted, or a death match.

Spectators bet on how long a particular fish would fight, and which one would give up first. (In fact, most fish would only fight once or twice, and then live out the remainder of their lives being pampered and used for breeding.)

Natural Habitat
A Betta fish’s natural habitat is in shallow, tropical water. This is because they need to be able to surface frequently, in order to breathe air. They can be found in nature in rice paddies, drainage ditches, slow moving streams and fresh water ponds. Betta fish have even been known thrive in large puddles! Their natural food source is insects and mosquito larvae.

How Breeding Began
According to historical accounts, a close friend of the King of Siam, Dr. Theodore Cantor received a pair of breeding Bettas from the king in 1840. The doctor bred them and studied them for several years, and then wrote a scientific paper about them, giving them a Latin name of “Macropodus Pugnax.” However, shortly after his paper was published, Dr. Cantor discovered that a species by that name already existed, and so the fish were renamed “Betta Splendens.”
Several breeding pairs of Bettas where sent to Germany in 1896 and then in 1910, Mr. Frank Locke of San Francisco California imported several Bettas to the U.S.A.

One of the fish that he received had unusual red fins – and he excitedly thought he had discovered a new species, and named it “Betta Cambodia.” In reality, he had one of the first of the Betta splendens that had naturally developed new colors and characteristics through breeding.

Since that time, breeders have been able to develop Bettas with all of the vibrant coloring and varied fin shapes that we find today. Betta breeding has become a profitable and ongoing passion for many people today, many of whom started with just one or two Bettas in a small aquarium.

For your tanks since they are tropical fish You will want a water heater set to 74-82 degreesF. You don't want to exceed that or go below that because you'll put your betta at greater risk of health problems.

An ideal tank size for bettas to live a happy and healthy life is 2 gallons. You want 2 gallons per betta/fish to have the room to swim and get the excersize it needs. If your looking to put a betta in a community tank i recommend a 10gallon or bigger to give enough room for your fish. Remember 1 betta/fish per 2 gallon of water. over population can lead to poor water quality and greater health problems. here a compatibilty chart for tank mates [Registered users only can see links. ]

As bettas don't really need filtration, it is best to have it anyway, heres a cheap filter that works great [Registered users only can see links. ].
Live plants are a good thing and bettas love to hide in them and also rest, and build nests(when breeding) under them.
You don't want plastic plants or hard decor because of your bettas fins. there fins are extremely sensitive and can tear and rip easily. So live plants is a +. If your looking not to breed, then gravel can be used. if you want to breed gravel is a no-no. explain this later.
Now in a big tank 10gal+ you can add several plants and decor because bettas love to swim and hide. in a smaller tank this will be difficult, so judging on the size you'll know what to put in.
Now for feeding. Like i stated many time on this forum, VARIETY OF FOOD is definitly the only way to ensure a healthy diet. Giving your betta the same food over and over will leave to sickness and complication. Complications such as Swim bladder disorder (see link for details [Registered users only can see links. ] ) and constipation. Hikari food are the best for nutrition and health, breeders and keepers like myself use this brand for adults and there fry [Registered users only can see links. ]
Pellets and flakes are good to give in seperate feeding or mixed, once in the morning and once at night. Pellets should be given in 3-4 pellets per serving and should be soaked in water for about 5 minutes to soften, this will make it easier for your bettas to chew and eat it without hurting its stomach. Flakes should be served by the pinch and the extra food not eating in 3-5 minutes should be taken out to keep the water qualitiy good. Also Bloodworms and freeze dried brine shrimps are good snacks for them here and there!

check out my links below to further see what-to's and how-to's on care, health, breeding, etc. if theres any other questions i didn't answer which i'm sure please ask me or fishmomma, i'm sure there will be help too by others on this forum. We are one big betta family . and i'll be sure to give you the best sources and answers a breeder can give. Talk to ya soon!

[BettyBetta]

Thank you so much for the info Luis! Appreciate the background info too. My boys will get a kick out of knowing they were named after Asian Warriors.
I'm making a shopping list using your info, filter, heater, food. Any advice on gravel or stone?
Also, how do I pick out the healthiest (sp?) betta?
Again, thank you for all the info!!

[BettaLu&Meg]

Well you'll hear alot that betta bought from a pet store is a bad idea, personally i don't think so! here are my "store bought bettas" and there babies"
[Registered users only can see links. ]
Personally its out of your intrest in fin type and color. You obviously don't want to buy the one that less active, on the bottom and who's bowl/cup is dirty. these are signs of trouble in the begining. stay away from those. ones that are not to big nor to small, so i shows juvenile stage, which you'll keep for a longer time. One's also if its a male that is blowing bubbles and "flaring" at everything in sight. this is a sign of a healthy male, and same with the female. beside the bubble blowing (males do this when there ready to breed and build a bubble nest). Basicaly the most active and the one that KNOWS your there. As for the Gravel, its your preference. It doesnt have to be a specific one, but i personaly use black, and mix some blue, pink, brown to give it some festive color without taking away the natrual look in a way, know what i mean? lol
also remember bettas are still water fish so a less current making filter would be good, but if you cant find one at the store, the filter link i post before is where u can find it. if thats too much just get a decor that he can hide from the current when he/she wants to relax. There are 3 typical fin types at pet stores, Veiltails(male/female cheapest), Crowntials(my fav. and 2nd expesnsive) and Halfmoon(very nice and expensive). But its preference. I cros bred my crown and veil so there finnage should look something like a comb . but back to you its your pref of fin types. if you want info on the fin types i can get you links for that also. glad to help ya out. feel free to ask anything you need answered or reply to my threads and posts for questions.

[BettaLu&Meg]

Also don't forget the variety in the food. betta pellets and flakes will be perfect for now to start of there set diet, just refer the my 1st post on how to feed. talk to ya sooN! my youtube name is gsxrlu i will post more vids hopefully soon

[Oscar Betta]

if you want the healthiest bettas, at the pet store look for a betta thats not like laying down at the bottom, and maybe tap and his glass and see if you moves around a lot, and also look for one that looks really young, so he/she will live long, because bettas just live a few years, but if there old and still living in that little glass, that means there pretty healthy!

[BettyBetta]

Thanks for everyone's great advice. I stopped by our local Feeders Supply to tell them how unhappy I was their tank recommendation and how three different staff people told me three different things, then how they gave me hard time after my fish died. The manager told me he'd give me a new beta (to replace a neon tetra, imagine that!). Anyway, he was very nice and I will be picking up my new Betta on Wed.
Luis, my filters from AquaCave are on their way.
BTW, I've seen mentioned a few times aquarium salt. Can that be used with a white cloud in the tank?

[BettaLu&Meg]

White clouds are a type of minnow right? if so, You might find it dead being that bettas are territorial and will bully every fish once and awhile most fish that are compatable wont fight back and run away. The white cloud probably wouldn't be able to handle harrassments here and there. and aquairum salt is good to put in once and while 1/2 teaspoon per gallon for sickness and producing a thicker slime coat on your fish!

[mazurek]

welcome enjoy your stay

[thepig]

Hi everyone,

I have just joined your forum today as a result of my fish aka The Pig (he is very fat) had a strange freak out on the weekend. I have had him for about 6 months now and never seen anything like it. We had his mini bloe heater on him, which he usually loves, then all of a sudden, he freaked out and bolted around his tank so quickly you could barely see him and almost leapt out, speahing water onto the table. He then went really quiet, I took the heater away and he went back to doing nothing at ll except for waglling his butt when I shook the food at him, then resting on the upper deck of his plant feature, watching TV. The water was not hot at all, so I was wondering if anyone else ahs experienced this because I got very worried he was going to have a heart attack or something. Today he is still back to normal, dancing for hsi dinner and talking to me again.

Thank you in advance.