Is it possible to have a Betta in a topless tank? I just purchased a male Betta today and I know they have the potential to jump, but wasn't sure if that correlated with poor water conditions or what.
My tank is topless and I very much enjoy it that way, is it possible to keep it as is? Anyone have experience on the matter?
Edit: My tank is a 15g planted aquarium with one corydora and two nerites (two more corydoras on the way). I figure this + some shrimp will be enough to keep the Betta content and not itching to leave. Thoughts?
They sometimes jump to get at bugs, or for no reason in particular. Wild bettas live in rice paddies that extend for miles in every direction, so an aimless jump won't beach them. Captive-bred bettas have been captive-bred for generations, but they still think that jumping isn't dangerous.
If you cover the surface in floating plants, that'll decrease the list. Also, lowering the water level by at least an inch will help. If you can lower it two inches, that should just about keep the betta in- unless it's trying to get out.
Thank you for the quick reply! There are sections covered in Azolla, but perhaps some frogbit will seal the deal. The water level is about two inches from the rim so I am going to hope on that, for now.
Worst case scenario, I put a glass top on the tank (at least when i'm not sitting next to it). I care more about the Betta than about the aesthetic, but i'm glad to hear there might be a middle ground where we're both happy. =)
Keep the water level where it is, toss in a handful of frogbit, and you should be good with a long-finned male unless you dump ammonia into the tank. A cover wouldn't be a bad idea, but it shouldn't be needed under those conditions.
I wouldn't. I had a betta jump out- I came home and found it on the carpet under the desk. No idea how long he'd been there- his fins were stiff and dried but I put him back in and surprisingly he survived. I keep all my tanks covered now.
Ive only experienced bettas jumping out twice. You can add floating plants that would hinder their jumping. But if the tank is big enough and they're fed well, IMO they shouldn't/ wouldn't jump
I've had so many bettas jump out of the tank (to their death) I can't even count... Most that jumped on me were the short-finned variety and the females (always shortfinned). But I have even had the long-finned veiltailed ones leap out of tanks before....it's crazy.
Yikes, thanks for the feeback everyone. The horror stories are enough for me to keep a glass top on at night and whenever i'm not in my studio. Claude seems happy in his tank...but he's swam around it so many times already there's no telling when he'll get bored and want to move. =P
Just be sure it's not air-tight, plants use up oxygen when it's too dark to photosynthesize. Glass tops are good for bettas because they help trap a layer of humid air that's easier on the betta's labyrinth organ than dry air is. You just need some form of ventilation- maybe lay popsicle sticks across the corners of the tank to leave a tiny gap all the way around the lid?
wow, my betta jumping never even came into my head, he's like an overweight toddler....fat and slow.....now you've got me wanting to see if I can teach him to jump!
The only time my oldest betta decided to jump was when I was too slow to drop the food. He tried to get my fingers but unfortunately went too far and ended up on the floor. He was lucky that I was right there.
Since then he has not tried it again. I am hoping he actually learned. But who knows?
What species of cory? Cory are shoaling fish adn should be in groups of 6 or more. Many species needs need 30g+.
I had a male betta in a 20g long riparium with no lid but did use a lot of floating plants. I would not recommend having no lid, if the fish is startled or say sees a fruit fly (or sees another betta in another tank) it may leap and dry out on your desk/floor/whatever.
You can make a lid from glass with a glass cutter or even polycarbinate (I have all my lids made from Lexan (bought at home depot) with utility knife (or electric saw of some sort-many toothed blade), all my tank lids are DIY Lexan, love it, does not bow like thin acrylic will.
oh, I know. I'm planning on getting more cories, but wanted the new tank to cycle before stocking it with a lot of fish. The cory came from a previous tank with tank mates who had passed away.
My current corydora has been spawning and generally showing good signs of health, so i'm not overly stressed about immediately stocking the tank, but it will definitely happen soon!
I have YET to lose any Bettas to jumping. However all my Betta tanks are very heavily planted and, have at least half the surface covered in floaters with stems growing to the surface in the back half of the tanks. If you are concerned I would definitely recommend a lid or, a cover of sorts.
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