We can't discuss freshwater here can we?

[Sharkbait19]

Really depends on how predatory the betta is feeling.
Neocardina breed fast so the colony will usually survive with enough hiding spots.
Ghosts are larger but don’t breed as readily. Same for amanos.
There’s also bamboo shrimp, but they are a bit harder to keep (filter feeders) and are going to be drab in color.
Personally I like the more drab neocardina shrimp though, they just look better in the tank environment to me. It gives me something to look for to enjoy vs sticking out like a sore thumb in a planted tank (and therefore sticking out to their predators).

 

[KrisReef]

Freshwater is simply desalinated seawater. I am amazed at the newer kinds that are imported for sale now. I'm still too lazy to keep a bowl.

 

[clownfishmama]

Amanos... But they should be a good size... no tiny ones...

Bamboo Shrimp....


But even the prettiest shrimp fails in a beauty contest against a salt water blood fire shrimp. Well not until you go over to the super expensive metalic Boa line.

I know that for sure, I own one and they are such stunning creatures!

 

[saltcats]

How long have you had her? What's the set up of the tank like/parameters? I suspect the lack of a heater could definitely play a role, bettas tend to be more lethargic when they are too cold.

 

[clownfishmama]

How long have you had her? What's the set up of the tank like/parameters? I suspect the lack of a heater could definitely play a role, bettas tend to be more lethargic when they are too cold.

I got her in the summer before last. The setup has fake soft plants in a 5-gallon top fin tank which can be found here. Plenty of plants for her to rest on.

 

[littlefoxx]

I got her in the summer before last. The setup has fake soft plants in a 5-gallon top fin tank which can be found here. Plenty of plants for her to rest on.

So summer 2022? Thats quite a while for most people to have bettas! If she puffs her fins out at you and shows normal betta aggression I would think she would be okay. Ive only ever kept male bettas so not sure about the egg thing someone else mentioned. A picture and a video would help (load video of her to youtube and post a link) so we can see her scales and stuff

 

[Naekuh]

I got her in the summer before last. The setup has fake soft plants in a 5-gallon top fin tank which can be found here. Plenty of plants for her to rest on.

Betas live only like 3 yrs on average unless its in a large system with prestine conditions and tons of plants.

She is just getting old and grumpy probably complaining about life in a 5 gal, and jealous at the reef tank you have across from it.

No but seriously... you will know if your beta is about to kick the bucket.
They will no longer get excited to see the feeding person arrive with food, and mostly sit on the floor and not up high in the tank.

Until you start seeing that, or the body start forming a white dust type of appearance id really let it be, and enjoy what time you have left with it.

I think a lot of the larger fish spoil us silly with the obnoxiously long life span.
Some which can outlive dogs and cats even.

But they're ones which come and go fast, and unfortunately Beta's and Kilifish are some of them, as they only expect to live a couple seasons at most, when the rice paddies are full and then move on when winter comes.

 

[clownfishmama]

So summer 2022? Thats quite a while for most people to have bettas! If she puffs her fins out at you and shows normal betta aggression I would think she would be okay. Ive only ever kept male bettas so not sure about the egg thing someone else mentioned. A picture and a video would help (load video of her to youtube and post a link) so we can see her scales and stuff

Yeah! I always kept bettas since the beginning of me getting into the hobby, my bettas in the past lived to be at least 4-7. And boy I loved those fish so much. I can't quite find time to post one but I'll probably be free tomorrow when my schedule is cleared.

 

[clownfishmama]

Betas live only like 3 yrs on average unless its in a large system with prestine conditions and tons of plants.

She is just getting old and grumpy probably complaining about life in a 5 gal, and jealous at the reef tank you have across from it.

No but seriously... you will know if your beta is about to kick the bucket.
They will no longer get excited to see the feeding person arrive with food, and mostly sit on the floor and not up high in the tank.

Until you start seeing that, or the body start forming a white dust type of appearance id really let it be, and enjoy what time you have left with it.

I think a lot of the larger fish spoil us silly with the obnoxiously long life span.
Some which can outlive dogs and cats even.

But they're ones which come and go fast, and unfortunately Beta's and Kilifish are some of them, as they only expect to live a couple seasons at most, when the rice paddies are full and then move on when winter comes.

I don't think she was ever excited but she was yesterday. That's mainly because I don't have time to sit and just look at her because I'm so busy with other things that I just open the lid and put some food in. I know my bettas I owned in the past were super excited to see me. When I was younger I used to think them flaring their gills were them "kissing" me XD.

 

[Roatan Reef]

I think most people here started out in fresh. I still have a 30 and a 120 fresh.
Ask away

I need an expert

Ask away, lotsa helpful folks here. I come from the world of freshwater planted tanks and would be happy to help if I can.

Yep yep...started in Freshwater, still have a 125g Freshwater mixed S. American Cichlids and various other fish...you can see on my build thread.

Plus a 5 gallon Planted.

With a 40B Saltwater and a 13.5 Evo Saltwater.

 

[Roatan Reef]

Yeah! I always kept bettas since the beginning of me getting into the hobby, my bettas in the past lived to be at least 4-7. And boy I loved those fish so much. I can't quite find time to post one but I'll probably be free tomorrow when my schedule is cleared.

My wife loved them too...but couldn't get any past the 3 year and done mark.

 

[Naekuh]

LOL... we showing off our Freshwater Tanks?
This I have some confidence in...

ADA 120p

UNS 120U

Both are by definition High Tech plants, with CO2 injection, and high powered LED lights.

And they still cost a fraction of what my 150G Lagoon Reef takes in hardware alone, my 2 x Radion XR30's alone probably costs more then the equiptment on both those tanks combined.

Reefing is expensive... Its almost up there with Audiophiles.

 

[Gribbles]

My turn

 

[littlefoxx]

Wish I had a picture of Swimmy! He was my first fish, a gold fish! Had him from first grade to my senior year in high school! 12 years old. Man that was a little while ago now! He swam in your hand when you put it cupped in the water and let you pet him and pick him up! Coolest gold fish ever

 

[clownfishmama]

Here she is everyone

wasn't feeling camera friendly this morning. I also plan to remodel her tank on the weekend

 

[VintageReefer]

Wow I’ve not seen a betta like that!

 

[Sharkbait19]

Is it still not eating? Nothing looks terribly wrong with the fish there.

 

[clownfishmama]

Is it still not eating? Nothing looks terribly wrong with the fish there.

Oh no it’s always been eating

 

[AydenLincoln]

Here she is everyone

wasn't feeling camera friendly this morning. I also plan to remodel her tank on the weekend

She’s beautiful!

 

[Sharkbait19]

Oh no it’s always been eating

Gotcha - if the issue was bloating after feeding, I’d just cut back on the amount, but keep up the frequency.
They are a small, slow fish that don’t need too much at once.