But for the fact that male bettas fight on sight they would surely be the most popular of all tropical aquarium fish. With their multitude of colours and varied finnage is it any wonder that, even though they can only be kept one male in a tank, they are still a popular fish. Indeed many aquarists get so hooked on these beautifull fish that they will often buy lots of small tanks so they can keep lots of colourfull male bettas. From the humble wild bettas we now have veiltails, halfmoons, rose tails delta tails, double tails, crowntails and plakats. We have reds blues yellows greens butterflys melanos etc etc. A huge choice of fin variation and colour. Males can be kept in small tanks with no filtration but this entails frequent water changes to ensure that the conditions are optimum for the fish. Better to keep them in larger tanks from three gallons upwards that have proper filtration to ensure that your fish has the best water quality. The addition of indian almond leaves to tanks will further enhance the conditions for your bettas. Filtration can be a simple sponge air driven filter or an internal filter providing the current in the water is not to strong, remember these fish come from pools where the current is probably non existent. The addition of plants to keep nitrates at a safe level is advisable especially floating plants which will give the betta some cover and somewhere to build his nest. Feed the males a varied diet, I use a good quality flake food with live whiteworms, frozen blood worm and daphnia, feed them once or twice a day and give them one day a week when you dont feed them. Water changes are still needed and i recomend about 20 % per week make sure that the water that you put in has been standing for a few days so that it is aged. Never put tap water straight into the tank direct form your tap. Breeding bettas should take place in a 5-10 gallon tank.
Here is an excellent article on water chemistry press your back button to return to this site