So from what i've gathered here, Bettas are the genus in which fighting fish belong, am i right? I always thought they were just another type of tropical fish rather than in a group by themselves. In all the shops i've seen them in they've been in really small containers (like the size of a jam jar). Now, i know they can breath air so the oxygen content of the small confines isn't a problem, but don't they get cramped or somthing? Or is it ok to have them in relatively small tanks? What about heaters? Is it essential to have one for a Betta?

Thanks to anyone who can answer my questions (and any additional information would be grand).

People tend to associate bettas (siamese fighting fish) with small containers and betta vases.Bettas are like other fish they love to have space to freely swim around.I have a male in a 5 gallon filtered tank and a female in a 10 gallon filtered tank.They both love the space they have.I have heaters in all my fish tanks.Unless your home has a constant 79 - 80F all year round you will need a heater.

Ah, ok, thanks, Blue. Why do most shops keep them in small jars? Seems a bit cruel.

Yes the commonly sold "siamese fighting fish" are technically Betta Splendens. They can survive in the tiny containers, but I don't think that they can thrive. They need swimming room just like any other fish. I've heard it described as you could live in your bathroom, but would you want to? The recommended size for a tank is 1+ gallons while 2+ gallons is preferred. They are tropical so relatively warm temperature is required. Heaters are recommended, but people have gotten away with keeping them in warm places in their house where the temperature doesn't fluctuate much. Filters are also nice, but not required and if they're too strong the current will stress your betta. Hope this helps!

That does help, thank you.

I think the bottom line why lfs keep them in such containers boils down to they can keep more to sell in a smaller area with them in small containers meanigng they can make more money keeping 50 of them in small containers on a shelf versus the care and space to keep the same fish in a gallon or larger container. And let's face it , most people are misinformed about the space a betta really requires- 1 gallon or more. As mentioned they maybe able to live in such small a space in the lfs store but I bet they are not thriving. While their natural habitat is a small rice rice field or marsh in Thailand , cambodia etc. A rice pattie marsh is nott a small minute container. Oops sorry I will get off my soap box now. You will find your betta is happier with more room as well. he will enjoy the extra room to swim and explore

exsactly! a betta should be kept in warmer water because they are a tropical fish and you cant heat a tank less than 5 gallons proberly so genraly 5 gallons is the tank size but also if you have a betta in too big of a tank or a comunity tank can stress them out, they also like calm water so filters arnt used often with betta were as every other fish its basicly a must.

Ah, ok. Doesn't look like I'll be able to get one for a long time yet then.

Here's a little tip on finding a cheap 5g if it helps any. You usually see those acrylic 5-6 gallons with filter/food/etc that are pretty darn expensive right? Like $40. Well the glass ones are MUCH cheaper. My local petsmart and meijer both sell glass 5 gallons for under $10. Also, a lot of the small heaters say not to use them with anything but glass tanks.

If you want a filter, there are very small air pump driven ones that you can get a valve to adjust the flow on. You'll also definitely need a lid as bettas are notorious jumpers. I've seen metal and glass lids built for the size of the little 5 gallons that are pretty cheap, but you could also easily build your own lid with lots of different things you can find at a hardware store from plexi-glass to egg crate(the kind for lights). Just be sure it's not air tight. Also there are tiny little gravel vacuums that you can buy that are a major pain to get started, BUT you can buy a turkey baster and use that to suck on the end to get it started or you could even use a piece of airline tubing for a gravel vac. For rocks and decorations I go to the dollar store and local craft stores. I've found beautiful river rocks in the craft sections and the dollar stores that I find a lot easier to clean than the standard aquarium gravel and the bettas love to lounge around on their smooth surfaces. I buy my silk plants from craft stores so they run a lot cheaper. I try to avoid any painted or even brightly dyed colors just in case those might leech, but I've been using craft store plants in my tanks for a long time and have never had a problem with them.

Last but not least keep your eyes out for deals! One of my betta tanks came from a garage sale for $1. Another one was $.50. Last christmas I got a 4.6 gallon little acrylic tank with built in underground filter for $9.99 brand new from meijer. The deals are definitely out there you just have to be vigilant and creative

Hope this helps some!

(off topic, sorry) hey Imber, Terre Haute here Hubby might be getting a job in Ft Wayne soon, gonna have to get together and show off our fish if we move up there, hehe

Oh hey a neighbor! That would be awesome. There's actually a nice little fish store that my friend took me to in fort wayne a couple weeks ago. Unfortunately their goldy section wasn't that impressive, but the staff person I talked to was very knowledgeable and the tanks were clean and healthy. The funny thing it just has a name like "pet shop" and is next door to a cigarette outlet in a strip mall so I expected it to be a place that I'd actually want to buy fish from!