For a Betta tank?

**Delphe** · 01-16-2013, 10:28 PM

I am rescaping Jippy's tank.
He is in a 5 gallons for now (filter and heater and thermometer are given).
have pebbles for substrate, one large river rock, one terra cotta pot as a cave.
In the tank i have 1 anubia sp & 3 pieces of java fern, 2 silk plants.
I have a piece of driftwood to attach the anubia and java fern to and I still have to find some frogbit for upper coverage and maybe an apple snail for company.

Does he need a dry almond leaf bed?, a arch or a bridge?, marbles ?(to keep him interrested)
Did you find that bettas will play with the decor?
Do you have an element in your tank you find great for a betta to have or be around?

Thanks for your suggestion,

**funkman262** · 01-16-2013, 10:33 PM

Scatter a bunch of small mirrors throughout the tank

**Delphe** · 01-16-2013, 10:43 PM

Originally Posted by funkman262

Scatter a bunch of small mirrors throughout the tank

This is funny, I have a blue background and I noticed he must be seeing his reflection because he flares at it regularly...
I first was afraid it could stress him but I have to say it's beautiful to see him spreading/stretching all his fins out.
Understood and understand

**funkman262** · 01-16-2013, 11:10 PM

I believe years ago I read about people actually using mirrored backgrounds in order to induce flaring. Those must have been some stressed out bettas.

**bethyMT** · 01-16-2013, 11:36 PM

What you have sounds good to me. Changing it up via a rescaping should be good for him, as long as you do that sometimes he'll be fine.

Mirrors...not good. Anything that has them flaring a lot isn't great. Maybe check that background? You don't want split fins...

**Tiari** · 01-16-2013, 11:37 PM

African almond leaf is good, but -may- tint the tank water. I use Attison's Betta spa which contains the extract of the leaf. I have one Betta who, if this is not in his tank, almost immediately starts having fin rot problems, though other Betta, without the additive are fine. Go figure.

**funkman262** · 01-17-2013, 12:12 AM

Originally Posted by bethyMT

Mirrors...not good. Anything that has them flaring a lot isn't great.

I apologize if I wasn't clear in my humor, but you're correct that mirrors and bettas don't mix very well. I don't want anyone thinking I was serious and start actually sticking a bunch of mirrors in their betta tanks lol.

**Delphe** · 01-17-2013, 12:41 AM

Originally Posted by funkman262

I apologize if I wasn't clear in my humor, but you're correct that mirrors and bettas don't mix very well. I don't want anyone thinking I was serious and start actually sticking a bunch of mirrors in their betta tanks lol.

Yes, no scares, no worries either
understood: they look beautiful.
understand: you don't want make them think their territory is being invaded constantly, it is stressful!
I am sorry I knew it wasn't serious.

I don't want anyone to think I would do that as well and I can already clarify a little, i did notice the background which I first found weird as it is the regular/standard deep blue. I then watched, and saw from behind and the left side of the tank there is sometimes early morning the first sun rays coming at a certain angle and this is when I think he can see his reflection. I changed the place of the tank already and I will see if this is better or not, if not obviously I will change the background.

**Cyberra** · 01-17-2013, 03:45 AM

Depends on the betta. I have one who has a habit of rearranging her tank gravel by color, and I have seen another scooting plastic shells and small ornamental glowing plastic "river stones" across the bottom of the tank.

**blu** · 01-17-2013, 03:45 AM

+1 to switching around the tank every now and then. I don't find that bettas play per se with the decor, but they do like to investigate as well as taste things XD What you have sounds pretty good. I have never used indian almond leaf before, I have read that it is useful, but I have not seen any detrimental effects of not using it.