[tsunami]

I have not had the fortune to maintain any of the wild-type bettas, but I have kept Betta splendens for years (various individuals) in my planted tanks. I have never had a problem with them. Of course, I only kept one male and a couple of females together. Fish they have lived with included angelfish, cardinal tetras, threadfin rainbowfish, corydoras, rummynose tetras, otocinclus, pencilfish, and blue rams.

Many years ago, I even kept a male Betta splendens with a pair of discus. No problems whatsoever, and the Betta appreciated the 82F water.

Carlos

 

[tsunami]

Any updates on this one, Brian?

I am especially curious about the Betta imbellis. I plan to keep a low light, maybe non-CO2, densely planted 5g cube as I am getting tired of the hassle of keeping it high light. Plus, I think such a small tank would be a more relaxing item on my desk if it were more subdued.

I thought about keeping a troupe of Betta imbellis, but would really like to keep two males and two females (I really want to see the two males flare at each other and establish territories). However, I suspect my cube might be too small for observing this type of behavior. If that is the case, perhaps a trio of Betta smargdina or Macachai will be more attractive.

Let me know how it is going.

Carlos

 

[tsunami]

Would any of the wine red Betta sp work?

Right now, I have a run of the mill Betta splendens swimming around in my 5g cube. He has so much character and seems so happy in there (he has a HUGE bubble nest and always flaring to...well everything). He is alone in there. He provides so much desk top entertainment, that my interest has been peaked in procuring wild Betta species.

I would still love to get Betta smaragdina, Mahachai, and imbellis... but perhaps those would be more appropriate for my larger tanks. However, I would still like to keep some kind of Betta species in the 5g cube. I would build the aquascape/design around them.

The difference between keeping the Betta and the Emerald-eye Rasbora is like night and day. I really think small schooling fish, no matter how small, are inappropriate for these tiny tanks. They were characterless, and the small quarters does not allow them display their only saving grace -- schooling behavior.

Carlos