Beta or Betta Fish and Bamboo Living Together
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Beta or Betta fish also known as Siamese fighting fish come from a tropical area in Thailand. They are very colorful antisocial fish that breathe air. They do not have gills like most other fish so they can’t breathe under water. It’s important they have plenty of room at the top so they can get air. A lot of people don’t know this and inadvertently smother their Beta after getting them home.
I found my bowl at Target, it looks like a large brandy snifter and holds about two and a half gallons of water; plenty of room for one male Beta and four bamboo plants. My plants have about eight or nine inch stems, eighteen inches long counting the leaves.
My rocks also came from Target. I like the black ones because they give a pretty contrast with the bright color of the fish and the nice green of the plants. Make sure you clean your rocks really well before placing them in your fish’s home. I don’t use soap but if you do be sure to rinse very well.
I keep my bowl on a ledge above my kitchen sink that is between my living room and kitchen. My back wall is all glass, one large window and a patio door. Bamboo don’t need a lot of sunlight, in fact I’ve seen them growing fine in office buildings with only fluorescent lighting. Beta shouldn’t be in direct light mostly due to algae growing more quickly in their tank.
I put black river stones in the bottom because I like the look of them and to help hold the bamboo in place. My fish enjoys having the plants to hide behind and it gives a more natural feel to his home. Bamboo and Beta come from the same region and live happily in the same environment. Bamboo and Beta need their water replaced and their homes cleaned routinely so they do well together.
Do not put two Betas in a container, as they will fight to the death; hence the name Siamese fighting fish. In the wild they are loners and keep to themselves unless mating and they are only together for a short time. They are pretty aggressive even when mating and sometimes accidentally squeeze the female to death so I don’t advice it unless you know what you are doing. One is plenty for me.They live to be about two years old if taken care of and fed a good diet. I don’t recommend buying the cheap pellets at Walmart, this is comparable to buying cheap dog food that is full of fillers. They eat so little it isn’t much more expensive to buy a good food that is mostly fish and better for them. Any good pet store will carry the better variety. Give them one flake a day and crumble it between your thumb and forefinger. If you drop the flake in the tank whole, it will float and as he tries to eat, most of it will fall below in the rocks where he can’t get to it and it will dirty the water more quickly. Crumbled, he has a better chance to eat it all. He has a tiny tummy and doesn’t need very much.
About every three to four weeks you will need to clean out
his water and put in new. Bottled water that is free of chlorine is best. If
you have well water you don’t have to worry about that. Make sure the water is room temperature, not too cold or too warm.
Take a fish net and scoop out your Beta putting him in a temporary vase until you have cleaned his home. I like a vase because some fish will jump and I wouldn’t want to put him in a shallow bowl taking that risk.
You will need to rub the bamboo with your fingers under running water to remove any algae that has built up on the plants; be careful with tender roots.
Take a scrubber sponge and clean any residue on the sides of the bowl and clean the rocks thoroughly to clean away any algae or dirt.
Replace your stones and bamboo arranging the rocks to hold the plants in place. Refill with water and lastly pour in your fish.
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Is the Beta a mammal?Enjoyable read Pamela.;)
This is a great hub. I have enjoyed betas for years but when I got one I could never get them to last longer than 6 months, now I know why. I don't shop at Target but will look for a bowl like you recommend in other places. I enjoy bamboo. It will be cool to combine a beta with bamboo, very cool.
yes thank you - can't emphasise enough the rinsning of soapy water away. i learnt the hard way!
A great hub on a subject I know nothing about ( or didn't)and it was so interesting.
Thank you for sharing.
Take care
Eiddwen.
MT, we love Betas. They are beautiful and add color to your home as well as soothing to watch.
lol No, Mentalist, they aren't a mammal but are one of the rare fish that breath air like an amphibian but still considered a fish.
Georgiakevin, a lot of people don't realize they breath air and accidentally kill them. Once you understand this they are easy to keep. You may have more resources for pretty containers than I have here. Look around and you'll be surprised what you'll find.
Yes, Joe, soap and fish don't mix well so we must make sure all residue is rinsed away.
Thanks for reading, Eiddwen. They are an inexpensive pet that are enjoyable to watch.
When I was 14 I tried to breed Beta fish, but the male always bid off the female's fins and I had to remove her to recover in another tank. I enjoyed reading this Hub... Very important info for anyone who wants to have a Beta or two. I voted up.
Glenn, from what I have read you are supposed to put her near his home in her own tank but where he can see her. He will make bubbles at the top and then you add her for a short while to his bowl. It is tricky and often times the female dies. There are YouTube videos showing how to do it but I think I'll just stick with my one little friend.
Thanks for reading.
Pamela, I waited for the male to finish building the bubble nest and then put her in with him. But the thing I missed was letting him get to recognize her first by leaving her in a tank next to him. That makes sense. Thanks for that extra bit of info.
Had a beta and bamboo too...did everything you did and my beta Oscar lived for two years. He was beautiful and friendly.
BTW: Your bowl looks great.
Wow, very interesting! Although I am somewhat familiar with Betas, I did not know that they don't breath under water. Very cool. Thanks!
JSMatthew~
Very cool set up. I loved it!
Hi Pamela, great information and a very interesting and enjoyable read .
Awesome hub !!!
Marellen, they are fun pets. Thanks for reading.
J.S. a lot people don't know that and it's an important piece of information to know if you are going to keep one.
Thanks, A.A. My daughter took the pictures for me and they aren't great but I needed to show each step.
Thanks, Kashmir56. I probably could have added more information but it was already long with all the pictures.
Pamela. Wow! I learn something every day. beta fish don't have gills, bur breathe with lungs. Now I'm looking it up and the spelling changes (Betta) and also the breathing methods... fascinating!
Marked up
People spell it both ways, beta or betta. I'm not sure what the difference is but I'm thinking about putting Betta in my title.
Very well done Hub, the cats and I will discuss the idea of bringing one in. Thanks for the information.
Awesome hub and you really did your research. I never realized that certain tropical fish don't have gills and need air. Up and awesome Thanks for a great hub
mckbirdbks, they are an inexpensive pet that doesn't take much room and they don't eat much either.
Charlu, Thanks for reading.
This makes me want to go get another betta or two! I love the look of the betta in with the bamboo.. it looks neat. Great hub and informative, too!
Great hub with some great photos that make it look very easy...voted up and useful
Thanks, Jamie. They are really easy to keep. Just keep them fed and clean and they'll be happy.
Thanks, Cogerson. My pictures are very low tech but at least I do own them. :o)
Pamela, this brought back memories. I had a blue male beta that I brought home from the grocery store! Goodness knows why they were selling them! I figured I could save one. He lived for two years, first in a goldfish bowl and eventually a little tank. If I ever got a fish again, I would get one beta, they are very beautiful and graceful and yes, only one in it's own tank! Great Hub!
Thanks for stopping by, Scribenet. I think they are beautiful too.
cool , , ,I have bamboo on my desk at work. I want to have fish. I have fish at home. Now I have a solution for the spot where my other plant is dying - wrong lighting. I'll take it home. Totally awesome idea , , ,next pay check home depot & Petco here I come , , ,Thank you Pamela N Red , , ,remember to have fun, fun, fun :)
Thanks for reading, tsmog. Just make sure you get a large enough bowl for your fish to swim around and get exercise.
I enjoy keeping Bettas too. They are indeed very colorful! Nice Hub and a very pretty setup!
Thanks, Aquatic Guru. I love to look at them, they have such beautiful colors.
Great hub Pamela. Bettas are quite easy to keep
Thanks,
John
Yes, John they are. Much easier than tropical fish.
I have a King Beta and he is absolutely gorgeous!! I love your tank set up! Mine is in a small square tank with an opening at the top. I actually didn't know they breathe air so I learned something completely new today! Luckily for my fish I have left plenty of breathing room for him everytime I clean the tank out! Would you be able to tell me why he randomly wiggles in the water?? Normally near the top.
Great hub! I've had a couple of Bettas (not at the same time!) and they never lived very long. Great tips for long, happy lives! The bamboo is beautiful, and I bet they do enjoy it. Voted up!
Crobin, they love to strut and fan their fins. I'm guessing they are showing us how beautiful they are. Not really sure but it's good exercise. Glad you left room for your friend to breathe.
Thanks for reading, Manic. Sorry your bettas didn't live long, I hope my tips help you with future pets.
One beta can be very entertaining if you place a mirror facing the bowl.The beta will endlessly
maintain an aggressive postor until you remove the mirror.
Seal, that is true but it can cause stress to the fish so I don't recommend it. I'd rather keep mine in a calm serene atmosphere.
I find them more assertive (scavenge food at the bottom) in playing out their natural instincts...even though a little exercise does not diminish the quality of life. Maybe try it a few minutes and watch the colorful display.
Seal, my Betta fans his fins daily without making him feel there is a threat to his territory. They fight when necessary but I don't think encouraging that behavior is a good idea.
Pamela, I believe my Beta (Sam) gets a little restless if he's not living out his natural instincts. Imagine having a pit bull in a confine space without "exercise." Too much nurturing can be detrimental to anyone or anything. However, I felt a connection with you when I read your Hub on Betas; because I too--mimic the same care that you provide to your Beta(s). They are fascinating little creatures to say the least!
Very cool hub - have had fish and have bamboo - never thought to "co-mingle" them.
rlw
They look good together, rwelton and it give the Betta a place to hide.
Hi, just wanted to point a couple of things out...
unfortuneately, betta fish need five plus gallons of water, as well as a heater. They also need a cycled tank (as any other fish) and cannot be kept in a bowl. You need to do partial water changes every week, as they require very clean water. You would also need to test the water, and watch out for diseases, as well as other elements.
Fishlover, I've heard they need more water but the ones I've had seem to do okay in a 2 gallon bowl. As far as a heater, I live in the south so it doesn't get that cold here plus I have central heat and air. Keeping the water clean is very important. Thanks for your input.
I'm glad I took a dropped here. Interesting hub!
Thanks for reading, Mark.
Awesome hub and you really did your research.Well done
Thanks, fashion.
Wow! That's really interesting having bamboos and Betta together.Great hub, Pamela.
Thanks for reading, RalphGreene.
I liked this article, but I did find something that didn't sound right. You mentioned their water should be cleaned every 3-4 weeks. Bettas, while hardy, can still be sensitive to the ammonia build up. In a 2 gallon, the water should be changed at least twice a week. Ammonia builds up fast in something that small, because it comes from their waste and decaying food. Also, I am not sure of you forgot to mention this or not, but when you do a water change you need to acclimate them to the water. Putting the betta in totally new water can shock and sometimes kill them, either from the difference in temperature, ph, other chemical levels, etc. Please don't take any offense, just trying to help. :)
@Fishlover, 2-2.5 gallons is the minimum size for bettas. While 5 gallons is great, it isn't totally necessary. A betta will do just fine in a 2.5.
Santos, the man at the aquarium store told me that was too often to clean the bowl. The bowl I bought is the same size as the betta bowl they sell at the pet store. My fish is healthy, seems happy and lives to the full extent of their lives so I think I'm doing okay.
Water temperature is important and why I make sure it is room temp. There are ph testers you can get if you are concerned about the water you use. I have well water which comes from an underground stream.
I usually dont trust store employees, they don't always know what they are talking about even if they work at an aquarium store. You would be surprised how fast the ammonia will build up, it is basically swimming in your own "stuff" for a month.
I wasn't concerned about the water, I just meant after you clean the bowl, when you out the betta back in do you acclimate him first? Because going from dirty water to clean water can be a big shock. The ph and other chemical levels will be different. Also, bettas are tropical, and should be at about 76-80 degrees, room temp can be too cold sometimes.
Santo, he wasn't just an employee, he owns an aquarium store. I took his advice and have been raising bettas for years. They live to be two years old (full life expectancy) so I must be doing something right.
Another great idea for Bettas. Instead purchase a large sun tea jar with a spout at the bottom. Place gravel above the spout area inside the jar. Let water sit in a jar overnight to remove chlorine and to reach room temperature. Open spout and remove water, being below the gravel it will also remove waste build up much like a ground filter in an aquarium. Replace removed water, weekly exchanges should keep your aquarium cleaner. I have seen many very nice sun tea and even punch containers that can be purchased and achieve such a need.
SanXuary, that is a good idea for people who have Country decor in their homes. The spout would be great for getting rid of some of the waste.
Before writting an article on this fish, please learn something about it as simple as it's proper name! It's name is Betta Splendens or Betta (Bed-tah) for short. There is no Beta(bay-tah)Fish or Betta Fish. The only time you use fish is to describe it i.e. Siamese Fighting Fish. Really people this is getting out of control!
*Bettas DO have gills. The reason they can breathe from the air as well is because they are Anabantoids. This means they have a special organ called a Labyrinth that allows them to use air for oxygen. That is why wild bettas thrive in low oxygen bodies of water like rice patties and ponds.
John, you have to understand online writing and keyword classification for this title to make sense. Thanks for reading.
Santo, all I know is that the aquarium store told me they cannot breathe under water and if the top is completely closed off they will drown. I've seen some containers with plastic holding a plant and have heard those fish can't get enough air. With my set up my fish gets plenty of oxygen.
Nice idea, but i disagree with fishlover. I was in the tropical fish business for years. They do not need 5+gallons of water to live in. A small bowl is just fine. Have you ever seen how they're shipped or sold for that matter?
RetailRich, yes I have, they live in tiny little bowls until someone buys them. Mine seem very happy and get good quality food. They live to be two to three years old so I think I'm doing okay. Thanks for reading.
Great idea!
Thanks for reading Baileygenine.
I've seen several people do this and it is a nice look. I have a tank full of cichlids but I think a betta bamboo set up would be interesting in a nother part of the house.
czczcz, I have enjoyed mine. Your tank sounds lovely, I used to have a tank full of fish but it was too much to take care of. My small bowl is just enough for me.
This is a really cute idea. I've had several wonderful beta fish, but none of them have ever had such a nice little home as this (only plastic plants for them) This is really unique and i love that you shared it with us!
Thanks, wonderingwoolley. I like the look of betas and bamboo together.
I was just curious- do you need to feed the bamboo plant at all? I remember having bamboo a long time ago and they gave me a little bottle of stuff to give it like once a week. Would that harm the fish?
Erin, don't put any plant food in the water as that would probably kill your beta. The feces from the fish feeds the plant. My bamboo that are in with my fish are healthier than the ones that are only in rocks and water or the ones in soil. I'm thinking the fish droppings add nutrients to the plants.
You can also use any old fish tank water to water your other plants.
True, Santos, it is really good for plants.
this was very helpful for me becouse i have already killed one of my beta because i didnt have the plant i wasnt sure wat to do with the bamboo after i got and i found this it was very helpful hopfully this keeps my fish alive :)
They don't have to have plants, Cortney. Make sure the water doesn't have chlorine in it and feed him everyday. Thanks for reading.
Thanks, Pamela - great tips! I, too was told by a guy from a pet-store, to not too (!) often clean the fish-bowl. I also use pH measurement equipment to check on the water softness. I also do deep-water fishing, using more advanced equpment like fishfinders. Currently, I use the Lowrance hds7
http://fishfindersworldwide.com/lowrance/lowrance-
So deep-water fishing is definitely also pretty demanding, trust me ;)
Thanks for reading, Jonny.
Wow, thanks a lot. Your instructions are very thorough and well done. Thank you very much!
Thanks for reading, Valentino. Good luck with your Beta.
I missed my Beta--Sam! The power-outage was a bit overwhelming!
Maybe you can get another one. They are a lot of fun.
Hi.I like the idea about the bamboo but most bettas really shouldn't live in a bowl.My betta lived in a bowl for a while and really did not do well even though it was four gallons and not really a bowl(it had a flat top and bottom with curved sides like a BiUbe)
MagicSnow, I've raised several betas this way without any problem. They lived to their full life expectancy.
Are you sure that is a fair way to raise them?I have had many bettas and I have only kept one in a bowl which did not do well.
Beta bowls you buy in the pet store are smaller than the bowl I use. Yes, it is a great place for them to live. I've talked to aquarium experts and they said it is plenty of room for one fish.
Hi Pamela good hub. from where we can by this beta fish?
Anusujith, here in America they have them at pet stores and aquarium shops. Outside the US I'm not sure.
You can buy bettas with really good breeding on aquabid.com
Minnetonka Twin Level 7 Commenter 13 months ago
I really appreciate the great information on this. We are talking about getting a fish or two.