Betta's and the ALPHA male/female

Betta's like most of natures creatures, when living in a community structure will eventually form some sort of controlled structure betwen the fish. One dominant fish, usually a large, healthy male or sometimes female will boss the other fish around. Just like with gorillas they are known as the 'ALHPA' fish. There will be some madness between the fish and a lot of pecking until the ALPHA position has been established. However, once the ALPHA has been established there will actually be peace in the tank.

Remove the ALPHA or add new fish and the cycle will start again as a new balance must be created.

It's natures way.

Another Great New Betta Site!

I've come across another great Betta Site. Has a lot of great info.

http://www.oneworldinternetcafe.com/betta/

Betta Tips!
Betta Information!
Betta Diet!
Betta Breeding and much more.

It's new, but it looks to be growing fast. Check it out! Even better subscribe to the sites RSS feed.

Get Betta information and help build up our Betta Community by visiting the site!

http://www.oneworldinternetcafe.com/betta/

Betta Fish Care - Article from a Betta Owner

Betta Fish Care
by: Ong Hui Woo

Betta is a popular tank fish and its maintenance is least painful. However, it does need care and you must be observant about its heath. A sick Betta is easy to spot since naturally the fish is very active and vibrant. If you have had the fish for a while you will be able to spot immediately when they are unwell.

Following tips can help you keep the Betta ecosystem healthy and vibrant:

1. A bowl large enough to allow ample swimming space is a prerequisite. The fish shouldn’t bump and tear its fins or scales. A large enough tank also ensures that the water has adequate oxygen level.

2. These fish do not require filtration but need the cleanest water you can provide them. Change the water every three days to keep it clean and avoid infection in your fish. The water you add to the tank should have set out for 24 hours (aged water).

3. Bettas are also called Siamese fighting fish because the male of the species will fight each other to death! Never put two males in the same tank. Females can stay together and so can one male with many females. You can also keep your Betta with algae eaters, guppies and corydorus catfish.

4. Ensure that the bottom of the bowl or tank is debris free. You can use something as simple as a turkey baster to do this cleaning. Debris sitting at the bottom will make the water cloudy and unhygienic for the fish. They will also cause the water to smell.

5. Maintain the tank pH at 7.

6. When cleaning the tank accessories, avoid using soap because traces of soap will change the water pH.

7. Betta can jump out of tanks and bowls, so keep them covered.

8. Betta is not a fussy fish and will happily eat the Betta pellets and frozen bloodworms. However, Bettas are fond of live food such as brine shrimp, and you must serve it as a treat now and then.

About The Author

Ong Hui Woo
Betta Fish Owner
http://www.tothefish.com

Students Discover Breeding Bettas is Rewarding

Here's another great article on the rewards of Breeding your Bettas - check it out below!

Breeding is rewarding - Daily Kent Stater

Breeding is rewarding Daily Kent Stater, OH - Oct 25, 2006 The idea of breeding came to her after she purchased her first betta fish, Fiji, last year. ... Malloy said the betta fish would be fully grown at 11 months. ...

technorati tags:breeding, bettas

Feeding Bettas Article

Feeding Bettas
by: William Berg

Knowing the right way to feed your betta is fundamental, becausenot doing it right can have big consequences on your bettas health.Nothing is more stressful than dealing with a sick fish, right? So,let's do it right, and get rid from the calamity!

Here are some golden rules on feeding your betta.

First, select the proper food. Bettas are selective eaters. Abetta specific pellet is ok, but live and frozen foods are preferable.The recommended diet includes frozen brine shrimp and frozenbloodworms.

The next rule is to not overfeed your Bettas. Carefully dosethe meals, because even if the fish ate all you give him, he willproduce so much more waist when overfed and the pollution level of thejar he is in will go beyond safe range, this problem is smaller if youkeep your betta in a larger aquarium. Remember not to leave uneatenfood in the Aquarium! Once your betta and rest of the fish is doneeating, you must remove all uneaten left over food. If you do notremove it, it will punctually rot and cause havoc in the tank.

Bettas prefer to eat from the upper parts of the water column.They don’t really enjoy eating from the bottom of the tank. So beforedropping the food in the tank, make sure you have his attention. Lethim see the food, get it close to his face from the outside of theaquarium, let him check out what it is, and then there you go! Dropfood in front of his nose. The best way is to drop a tiny bit offood--about 6 frozen brine shrimp, watch the bettas eat it all and thenlook at the belly, if it looks the same as it did before you fed, it’sok to give them more, but always watch and make sure to make the secondportion smaller than the first.

Your betta should go for the food right away, but if not, watchwhere the food sinks, and what the betta does. If more than 15 min hehas not eaten the food yet, remove the food. Never let the water gocloudy. If it is already, then change it, as cloudy water will threatenyour betta’s health. Normally, small bowls or containers should bechanged at least twice a week. Larger tank can be changed once a week.And notice if the ammonia and nitrite levels are up the roof, becauseboth are very bad for your Betta. Also be wary of harmful bacteria theycan ruin your fish life, but don’t kill of all bacteria in the aquariumsince a lot of bacteria is essential for a well functioning aquarium.

During the pre-spawning period you can feed a wide variety offood, including blackworms, Grindal worms, fruit flies, brine shrimp,mosquito larvae and frozen blood worms (all are life except the frozenblood worms). During this period the adult fish may be fed 4 times perday or more depending on how close the fish are to being placed intothe spawning tank.

You can start feeding your betta fry, 5 days after thespawning. Feed the fry several times per day, using a variety of foods(infusoria, boiled egg yolk, baby brine shrimp…) made up of smallparticles.

About The Author

William Berg has over 20 years of aquarium experince and runs the website http://www.aquaticcommunity.com and you can find more of his articles on http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/universal.html.

Why Do Bettas Bubble? - Asking Twig Walkingstick.

Get an answer from Twig Walkingstick! Plus a few more fun info about Bettas. - Check out the short article below!

Smart Stuff with Twig Walkingstick: Why bettas bubble - North Texas e-News

Smart Stuff with Twig Walkingstick: Why bettas bubble North Texas e-News,?Texas?- Sep 30, 2006 ... smoochy kissing cousin! PS Other betta species exist besides the fish-tank type. Some hatch their eggs in their mouth! Notes: The ...

technorati tags:betta, fish, why, bettas, bubble, twig, walkingstick, north, texas, e-News

Breed Them Betta!

With the request of many Betta lovers and the lack of professional knowledge available
to the public I have put together "Taking the Mystery Out of Betta Breeding".

With a lot of research, testing, experimenting and of course the help of all my betta
enthusiast friends and betta professionals I've created this book for you.

Check it out here: http://www.everything-betta-fish.com/

I promise you it is a very easy and fun read that gets results!

I have found some interesting and amazing tricks and secrets Professional Breeders all use
and never wanted to tell you! Why? Because they want pet stores to buy from them NOT from you!

I hope all of my hard work will benefit you greatly! I believe if you try it out it will
without a doubt!

Let me know what you think!

Cheers,

technorati tags:betta, fish, breed, breeding, tricks

Betta's Spark More Then Awe...they spark Ideas!

From idea to invention - Aurora Beacon News

From idea to invention Aurora Beacon News, IL - Oct 1, 2006 ... Grant came up with an invention called the Lavarium, a miniature tank for betta fish that is shaped like a lava lamp. It comes with ...

technorati tags:betta, fish, aquarium, idea, invention, Lavarium, Aurora, Beacon, News, IL

Bob The Fish?

Wow, an interesting read. If you have a few mins read this betta story!


The story of Bob the Fish - The Saratogian

The story of Bob the Fish The Saratogian, NY - 16 hours ago ... underdogs (undertrees -- underfish, in this instance), I chose the ugliest betta. No one wants a colorless, mottled, almost invisible fish, especially since ...

technorati tags:betta, fish, story, bob, the, fish

Katrina Survivors - Includes 2 Special Bettas

We've heard a lot about the Katrina hurricane and all it's distruction and all it's survivors. Man, women, children, dogs, and cats. But what about the fish?! Looks like some of them have made the survival list as well. - check out another interesting read about our beloved bettas.


Right where God wants them to be - Kentucky.com

Right where God wants them to be Kentucky.com, KY - Sep 2, 2006 The Morehead State University graduate and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary student left her two betta fish -- Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee -- to ...

technorati tags:betta, fish, katrina, hurricane, survivors

The International Tropical Flora And Fauna Festival Begins Tomorrow!

The International Tropical Flora and Fauna Festival begins tomorrow in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Betta fish being one of the major displays. This is very cool - check it out below!

Vietnam tropical fish go on display in southern hub - Thanh Nien Daily

Thanh Nien Daily

Vietnam tropical fish go on display in southern hub Thanh Nien Daily, Vietnam - Aug 30, 2006 ... like Paradise fish (Macropodus opercularis) as well as imported species including Red discus (Symphysodon discus), Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens) and ...

technorati tags:betta, fish, international, tropical, flora, fauna, festival, september, Ho, Chi, Minh, City, tropical, fish, Vietnam

Bowled over - Betta Article from Star-Telegram.com.

Bowled over

Popular bettas easy to care for

Akron (Ohio) Beacon Journal

Bettas are enduringly popular pets.

All ages seem to like them, especially seniors. They are hits in nursing homes and hospitals. They are cheap ($3 and up) and easy to keep, but be warned: Tropical fish are like potato chips. It's hard to stop at one.

Here's how to get started in 10 easy steps:

1. Any basic setup is fine. A lot of tiny bowls are sold for bettas, but they are awfully small. Would you want to swim in a teacup? A gallon-size fishbowl is an attractive option.

2. Tap water is fine, but it must be conditioned. You can buy a conditioner, or let the tap water sit for 24 hours before using it. Unconditioned water will burn their lungs -- their labyrinth organs -- and kill them.

3. Temperature. Don't plop your new fish in the conditioned water. The fish needs to get used to colder temperatures gradually, and most homes are not as warm as pet stores. To do that, float the plastic fish bag with the fish still in it on top of the conditioned water in a large clean bowl. Leave the fish there for 15 to 20 minutes to get acclimated.

It is not a problem to move a betta from colder water to warmer. Keep your fish at no cooler than 70 degrees. Put the bowl on top of an electrical appliance like a TV, which will produce some warmth. Or get a small light and keep it over them. Fish are cold-blooded. The higher the water temperature, the more active they are.

4. Never fill the bowls all the way up. The smaller surface area limits oxygen. Oxygen can enter only on the surface. They will drown if they can't get air. Also, they can jump out if the water level is too high.

5. Purchase a water plant for the bowl and put an inch of aquarium gravel on the bottom. The plant should be healthy and removed or trimmed if it shows signs of discoloration. If you use gravel, wash it thoroughly with each water change.

6. Feed your betta once a day and remove any uneaten food after five minutes with a small fish net. Bettas are finicky. Some will eat only freeze-dried blood worms, but others want pellets or flakes. Some people offer their bettas live food. Talk to the seller.

7. Change the water at least once a week, sooner if it gets cloudy. Wash the bowl and decorations thoroughly. If you use soap, be sure to rinse it completely.

8. Don't put your fishbowl in direct sunlight or by a vent. This is not a fish fry.

9. Put your fish to bed at night (turn off the lights). Give them a period of darkness because fish sleep, too.

10. Buy a good betta book and/or consult Betta Talk at www.bettatalk.com when you get stuck. Keep in mind that even experts do not agree on the details.

technorati tags:betta, fish, bowled, over, star-telegram.com, article

Have you been getting the discounts?

Have you been taking advantage of all the discounts to all the online shops that I've found for you all? You can find some links to the right under "Get Discounts at these Shops!".

You can also find top information products by using the "Search" box above.  ClickBank contains some of the most popular online information products and now you can get discounted prices on them through the above search option. Almost every topic imaginable is covered. Give it a try and let me know what you think.

I hope I've made your online experience just a little bit easier.

Enjoy! =)

PS: You will also find an excellent Betta guide through the search box called "Betta lover's Guide". It's a great guide that every betta lover should have!

technorati tags:betta, fish, lovers, guide, book, clickbank, search, products, online

Banning Live Fish As Decorations....Justified Or Just Over-reacting?

Here's some Betta fish controversy. What side are you on?


PETA COMPLAINT PROMPTS CANADIAN NATIONAL RAILWAY TO BAN LIVE FISH ... - PETA (press release)

PETA COMPLAINT PROMPTS CANADIAN NATIONAL RAILWAY TO BAN LIVE FISH ... PETA (press release), VA - Aug 3, 2006 Calgary, Alberta — After receiving a letter from PETA that explained the cruelty involved in using betta fish as decorations at corporate events, Canadian ...

Your Betta Made Top Ten!!

Take a look at this article. Betta's have made the 10 simple steps to lower stress list. - You gotta love your Betta.

Relaxation nation: 10 simple steps toward less stress - The State

Relaxation nation: 10 simple steps toward less stress The State, SC - 13 hours ago ... Volunteer at an animal shelter. 10. If that's too much of a commitment, try getting a colorful betta fish and placing him in a small bowl on your desk at work.

technorati tags:betta, fish, 10, steps, to, lower, stress, list

Feed Your Fry!

Here are some helpful quick tips to help you care for your Betta Fry.

You can raise the betta fry in an aquarium, but there are a few important things to remember.

1) You have to feed them several times a day. They can easily starve in a few hours, especially in a "clean" aquarium with no infusoria to graze on. Try boiling an egg, crumbling a tiny part of the yolk into a little water in a jar or something you can shake, and feeding that.

2) You have to change the water almost every day, which can be tricky due to having such tiny fry in the water! But they grow very quickly when given enough water changes and food. (A good way to keep them is in a tank with *no* gravel, only lots of floating plants. Live plants also add a little infusoria, generally).

3) You should keep the tank covered as much as possible to keep the air temperature just above the water the same as the water temperature. When their labyrinth organ first develops, and they go to the surface to breathe, they can develop pneumonia if the air temp is too cold! -heather h.

Feeding Baby Betta Fish.

technorati tags:betta, baby, fry, feeding, care

Male and Female Betta's in the Same Tank?

Male Betta's are very aggressive fish.  They will even be aggressive towards female Betta's. It's only recommended to have a male and female in the same tank if you are planning to breed them.

Male Betta's will attack and nip at the females and possibly killing them.

So, unless you plan on breeding them, keep them separated in differnt fish tanks.

technorati tags:male, female, bettas, same, tank, aggressive, breeding

Your Betta Have a Swollen Belly?

This may be a simple case of "SWIM BLADDER DISORDER". A rather common betta problem that may be caused by overfeeding your betta.

Your Betta will likely recover on its own if you stop over feeding it. For the time being cut back on your feedings and see if the swollen area reduces.

Betta's with Swim Bladder Disorder are not contagious. Just cut back on the feeding for a while and the swollen belly should go away on it's own. If not, the culprit may be something other then Swim Bladder Disorder.

Betta Compatibility Check List ...

When looking for the best fish to have with your Bettas, here's a few points you should consider. You'll find here:

http://www.waynesthisandthat.com/bettacompat.htm

A few guidelines listed by a Betta enthusiast - It's a short list but still great points to consider before introducing your Betta to other fish.

Yahoo has video's too....

Have you ever gone to Yahoo's Video sharing site? They have some great Betta Videos there as well.

Go here http://video.yahoo.com/ to check it out. Just search "Betta Fish" and you'll be given a list of betta videos that people have shared. Some are fantastic. Others....well, you be the judge =)

I wanted to share some with you here, but it seems Yahoo wont let me post the videos directly on my blog.

So if you have some time go take a look.

10 Easy Steps to Bettas ...

Here's an article for 10 How To Get Started with Bettas from Akron at Beacon Journal on Star-Telegram.com - Check it out!


Bowled over - Fort Worth Star Telegram

Bowled over Fort Worth Star Telegram, TX - Jul 23, 2006 ... It is not a problem to move a betta from colder water to warmer. Keep your fish at no cooler than 70 degrees. Put the bowl on top ...

Do Bettas Like Tranquil spaces?

A Q/A (Question/Answer) from 'The Beacon Journal. You can click the link at the bottom to go to the post.

Q: ``All the pet stores
say that bettas need a small, tranquil place because their fins and
tails are so big that they can get stressed from swimming in a tank....
Also that in their natural habitat, they live in little mud puddles and
don't have a large area of water to swim in.

``I know that the one I have swimming freely in my 15-gallon tank
often hides in small, tranquil places... but I don't like having my
other bettas in the tiny cubicles in the Betta Security House.'' --
P.W., Barberton.

A: ``Any other fish would need more room,'' said Wayne Toven of the Greater Akron Aquarium Society (GAAS@hotmail.com). ``It's fine for them, they just sort of sit there and look for food.''

Even so, he likes to give them more space and recommends separate containers. He keeps his in 2-liter pop bottles.

Whatever you do, don't free your fighting Siamese fish in the same
tank because they will own up to their title and fight one another, he
said.

Beacon Journal | 07/22/2006 | Bettas like tranquil spaces

I'm Back!

Sorry for the the 'dead air' the last little while. There was a little issue where Blogger had mistakenly marked me as an auto blogger. However, things are getting corrected and soon enough everything will be back to normal.

My apologies once again to everyone that returns looking for updated postings.

Why wont my Betta's Breed?

An FAQ reply by John Rundle at praticalfishkeeping.co.uk. A straight forward answer to why betta breeding sometimes just doesnt go your way! It's nature. It's life. You can't always predict things. And not everyting goes 100% every time. Keep that in mind and be patient =)

Why won’t my Siamese fighters, Betta splendens, breed?When all factors are correct, the popular Siamese fighter is not difficult to breed - but when something is not quite right, these fish can frustrate even the most experienced fishkeeper. To put it bluntly, the Siamese fighter can be unpredictable.A breeding project can break down because the males may worry and kill the female, or the male will not blow a bubblenest and the pair will not breed. And if the male is keen but the female is not in breeding condition, you are more likely to have a female with no fins, or even dead.

Frequently asked questions on breeding fish | Practical Fishkeeping magazine

technorati tags:Betta, fish, splendens, breeding

Click to Great Betta Pictures!

Flickr.com has a fantastic collection of photos and images taken from people all around the world. For those who aren't familiar with Flickr, they are a photo sharing site. You can post, share, and search for all kinds of pictures.

I could spend hours surfing through some of the amazing images posted on Flickr.com.

Here's a link that will take you directly to the search results for 'Betta Fish' - Check it out!

http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=betta%20fish&w=all&s=int

Here are a few samples for you.

technorati tags:betta, fish, pictures, image, photo

Get A FREE 30 min. audio about "Keeping Betta Fish" !

The Bailey Boys and PetFishTalk.com have put together a free download of a discussion about Betta Fish. I've listed a summary of what's covered in the audio below.

This Special Pet Fish Talk Show features a discussion by the Bailey Brothers, Tom and Nevin, about Keeping Betta Fish.

A Brief Summary of this Special Show titled "Keeping Betta Fish".

1. The name and pronunciation.

2. Appropriate home for your Betta Fish.

3. Cultured Gravel for Betta Fish Bowls.

4. What else? Java Fern, Ghost Shrimp, Mystery Snails, ...

5. Food. Freeze Dried Blood Worms, Live Worms, ...

6. Feeding schedule for Betta Fish.

7. Size and Life Span.

PodCast MP3 about Keeping Betta Fish.

technorati tags:betta, fish, free, audio, feeding, size, life, span

Female Betta's in a Community Video

Here's another great amateur Betta video.

It's a perfect example of how Betta's can indeed live with other fish. Please note however, that these are female Betta's which are not as aggressive as their male counterparts.





If you have a video posted on youTube or anywhere else that you would like to share with us by all means, please do! We would all love to see your Betta's and the homes you've built for them.

Where's Nemo?

Here's a recent article from the Myrtle Beach Sun News about a lady and her Betta. Well it's not actually hers....or is it? Anyhow, I found it humorous, to say the least.

Go find Nemo, but lose betta - Myrtle Beach Sun News

Go find Nemo, but lose betta Myrtle Beach Sun News, SC - 14 hours ago But right now, I'd hire a hit man to snuff the betta fish that's been thriving in the downstairs bathroom despite my best efforts to kill it. ...

technorati tags:betta, fish, nemo, myrtle, beach

Breed them Betta!

Here's some great tips by John Benn.

How to Succeed at Breeding Bettas

By John Benn

Having been involved in breeding bettas for many years, I can honestly say that it is one of the most fulfilling challenges in the aquarium hobby. Not only is the spawning process immensely interesting, but the results can produce some of the most brilliantly colorful freshwater fish you have ever seen. Once bitten by the betta bug, your interest in these fish will continue to grow. No matter what your level of experience, from a beginner learning the basics of animal biology to an advanced

AquariumFish.com :: Aquarium Fish Magazine :: The monthly magazine for both novice and expert aquarium hobbyists.

technorati tags:betta, fish, breeding, care, success

Betta in a Vase?

Many people ask if its ok to put your Betta in a vase with some plants.

The answer is yes, but ONLY IF YOU DO IT RIGHT.

The Betta will still require regular feeding and the changing of water. No they will not live long and healthy by eating off the plants. They should still be fed proper Betta Foods. The need for cleaning and water changes may become more frequent as the plant absorbs the water at a faster rate and you now have an algae producing product in with your Betta.

In otherwords, all in all, your over all Betta maintenance will increase. For some, it's a fair trade for the beauty of a Betta in a Vase.

eBay, The Best In Betta Window Shopping?

Interestingly enough, I've found that browsing eBay, of all places, is a great place to find some of the best Betta pictures. It actually makes sense. Thank about it. People are trying to sell their product ( in this case a Betta) so they take gorgeous pictures in attempt to catch buyers. Not to mention there are new sales posted all the time. So the pictures are always 'updated'. Now how cool is that?!

Of course you may also end up finding something you wish to purchase too! eBay indeed has some very cool and some very strange things for sale.

Great Betta Breeding Video!

Check out this great video of 2 breeding betta's.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=CKkPt5N21cI&search=betta

It's always an amazing experience watching these fish, regardless if they're yours or someone elses. It's a short video, but always interesting.

Just Click on the link and watch it at YouTube.com or just click on the video post below and watch it here!

technorati tags:betta, fish, video, breeding, spawn

Great Betta Fish Dealer!

If you're looking for a particular betta colour aquariumfish.net a great place to look.

http://www.aquariumfish.net/catalog_pages/bettas/bettas_males_more.htm

Siamese Fighting Fish
We have lots of Siamese Fighting Fish for sale in our facility....... If you prefer a particular color and pattern, describe it to us, and we'll do our best to match what you want with what we have in stock.

technorati tags:dealer, buy, betta, fish, color, pattern

Betta on the Wall?

Hanging Fish Pod
Instead of filling empty wall space with another picture frame, display an aquatic environment. The Hanging Fish Pod is a fish bowl with a hemisphere shape that is made to hang on a wall. The back of the Hanging Fish Pod rests flush against the wall and the front of the Hanging Fish Pod protrudes 5 inches. It holds approximately one gallon of water and would make a cozy home a lone betta fish or other small fish. When not inhabited by fish, other uses for this hanging hemisphere are possible - it could also serve as a funky vase, planter, or container for sundries.

Hanging Fish Pod: Betta Fish Vase / Bowl - Postmodern Pets

Now how cool is that - it's a definite must look!

technorati tags:hanging, pod, wall, betta, fish

Nice Collection of Betta Photos

http://www.starpoint.net/%7Edave/bettap/bettap.html

Found this link to a rather nice collection of betta photos.  I'm sure the author would love to receive your betta photos if you have any, and add them to his collection.

Thanks Dave for sharing your collection - go check it out!

technorati tags:betta, fish, photos, pictures, collection

6 New Betta Species from the freshwaters of Borneo Described

Six new Betta species described - Practical Fishkeeping

I've just run across this Article about 6 new Betta Species being named for the very first time. It's interesting how some animal species ( and particularly the bettas here ) are not described straight away when they're discovered.

If you're anything like me, I'm sure you've got your own names for your beloved bettas. However, it's always interesting to learn the scientific ones...check it out.

Six new Betta species described Practical Fishkeeping, UK - Jun 2, 2006 The fish have just been named as Betta antoni, B. mandor, B. uberis, B. compuncta, B. ideii and B. krataios by Heok Hui Tan and Peter Ng of the Department of ...

technorati tags:betta, fish, freshwater, new, species, Borneo

Hello Fellow Betta Lovers

Hello Everyone - I look forward to bringing you all the best and latest Betta Fish news and information.

Until then,

-soul