Betta and dragon stone

[Karen B.]

I willl be buying a betta (probably a placat) but I am wondering if I must change the current setup of the aquarium.

I will add a big anubia but my worry is the dragonstone cave or the use of dragonstone in general in betta’s tank setup.

Thank you!

 

 

 

Edited August 27, 2021 by Karen B.

[SWilson]

The tank looks really nice! I think some ppl worry that long betta fins may get damaged by the sharp corners of the dragon stone but a plakat should be ok. However I have only kept my veil tail in a tank with a piece of dragon stone for a short time (2ish months), and he did have fin rot issues but I don’t think it had anything to do with the dragon stone. 
I’d be curious if your future betta uses the cave it’s a neat feature. 
you could add a floating betta log or leaf (or like you’re planning anubias switch large leaves) as resting areas. 

[Kathy F]

I personally wouldn't do it but since it is already there you could try and see, just remove it if it becomes a problem.  I have always used rounded rocks and real plants in my betta tank.    My betta lies under the log and on the leaves of his sword and Java plants in the tank but he didn't start do lying around thing until he grew up while a youth he was always zipping around the tank.   

[sudofish]

I have dragonstone in my betta tank. I have a plakat betta so no flowing fins. She loves swimming underneath the arch I made with the stone. I'd probably have the same setup even with a long finned variety. Bettas aren't fast energetic swimmers, especially the longer finned kind. So I think the risk might be overblown in regards to dragonstone sharpness. Keep an eye on it of course and remove the stone if it becomes an issue.

[NanoNano]

The one thing you want to keep an eye on is that some Bettas have the same "can I squeeze my body into that impossibly small space?" gene that housecats have.  You want to really critically examine the stone for deep or "daylight" holes that your Betta might, maybe, possibly even a snowball's chance in....get their head/body wedged in and either plug them with some coarse filter foam or think about modifying or removing the stone.

[Karen B.]

On 8/30/2021 at 12:40 PM, NanoNano said:

The one thing you want to keep an eye on is that some Bettas have the same "can I squeeze my body into that impossibly small space?" gene that housecats have.  You want to really critically examine the stone for deep or "daylight" holes that your Betta might, maybe, possibly even a snowball's chance in....get their head/body wedged in and either plug them with some coarse filter foam or think about modifying or removing the stone.

Oh, thank you for the advice! Guess I will remove my cholla wood as well…