Gideyon Posted August 30, 2021 Share Posted August 30, 2021 I was wondering how bettas have become very fragile lately, and likely due to breeding practices, and whether or not the "hardy betta" still exists? What would be the closest to wild splendin one can get? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SWilson Posted August 31, 2021 Share Posted August 31, 2021 This is a good point. If you are specifically looking to buy a betta, I know there are some breeders who specialize on more wild-type, and they would sell either wild caught bettas of home bred lines from wild-caught bettas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Solstice_Lacer Posted August 31, 2021 Share Posted August 31, 2021 I think short fin plakat are supposed to have less health problems as they age, because they have less fin to weigh them down. Idk if there is truth to that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gideyon Posted August 31, 2021 Author Share Posted August 31, 2021 I've been reading the same thing about plakats. I just wasn't sure if that was based on assumptions or something quantifiable. I remember years ago, my brother had a red veil tail in a 55g community, and other than 2 pothos, no plants for hiding. It did well in there, and it was at room temperature even (74 maybe?). I just find it odd that betta lasted longer than my recent one even though I had more of what the betta needed (according to "experts") Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mmiller2001 Posted August 31, 2021 Share Posted August 31, 2021 Buy wild caught. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GameCzar Posted August 31, 2021 Share Posted August 31, 2021 I feel like Bettas are tolerant of a lot of water parameters, but I don't find them to be that hearty when it comes to diseases. Not sure if this was the case years ago as I never had one then. I did hear like other said that the shorter fins are more hearty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sudofish Posted August 31, 2021 Share Posted August 31, 2021 I think the plakats are healthier because they aren't prone to fin rot like their flowing finned counterparts. They also aren't as heavily bred for specific looks like the others are. So I think they are more "pure" or whatever you wanna call it. Probably not the right word but I think you get what I mean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biotope Biologist Posted August 31, 2021 Share Posted August 31, 2021 Other betta species exist too if you want something hardy. The strawberry betta is becoming more and more common as local breeding is ramping up. Betta foerschi are also becoming more common although they are for the most part wild caught. But Betta splendins are suffering from inbreeding. Very much like certain dog breeds the genetic pool was already small to begin with and when you start selecting for certain traits it narrows the genetic diversity further. Local breeders are attempting to undo this by using wild bettas to restore genetic diversity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gideyon Posted August 31, 2021 Author Share Posted August 31, 2021 On 8/31/2021 at 1:52 PM, Biotope Biologist said: Other betta species exist too if you want something hardy. The strawberry betta is becoming more and more common as local breeding is ramping up. Betta foerschi are also becoming more common although they are for the most part wild caught. But Betta splendins are suffering from inbreeding. Very much like certain dog breeds the genetic pool was already small to begin with and when you start selecting for certain traits it narrows the genetic diversity further. Local breeders are attempting to undo this by using wild bettas to restore genetic diversity. I don't want to do wild caught until I'm better at fish keeping. But when I do, the alien betta is what I'm eyeing. Strawberry bettas are fascinating. Never seen it before. I like how you can keep a community of them peacefully. But it'll be hard to keep the pH that low on purpose. Plakats do look closer to their wild brethren as far as fins go. I read they're more aggressive though in community settings. I am considering splendins because of their availability and relatively cheap cost for the non-specialty ones. I'm considering green neons and a betta in a 10. Or white clouds if those are too nippy. But I want to keep the temp no higher than 75. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biotope Biologist Posted August 31, 2021 Share Posted August 31, 2021 For other betta species it isn't necessarily a lack of experience, they are not finicky about food and are really just timid fish. It comes down to having well established fish tanks which just comes with time. Local breeders may be your best bet for more gentically diverse splendens since you don't care about variants from the sounds of it. The price will be higher than pet chainstores but overall fish health should be better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Solstice_Lacer Posted August 31, 2021 Share Posted August 31, 2021 I don't think any betta does well long term below 75 unfortunately. Paradise fish maybe, but they are more grumpy from what I hear. Honey or dwarf blue gourami might be good. They're also labyrinth fish Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Solstice_Lacer Posted August 31, 2021 Share Posted August 31, 2021 On 8/31/2021 at 7:39 PM, Nooby said: @Solstice_Lacer those fishes are nothing like a betta They are all bubble nest building labyrinth fish that get nice color, reach similar size and can be charismatic center piece or species only fish Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Solstice_Lacer Posted August 31, 2021 Share Posted August 31, 2021 True. OP had mentioned stocking a 10 gallon which I agree would be a minimum size for the gourami Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joanie Posted August 31, 2021 Share Posted August 31, 2021 You can find healthier bettas from more responsible breeders, but you are going to pay higher prices for them. Usually anywhere from $50 to $100 per fish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Solstice_Lacer Posted September 1, 2021 Share Posted September 1, 2021 6-8 green neon or white cloud and a single honey gourami is doable in a 10, and would probably stay healthier long term at 70-75 F than a betta. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biotope Biologist Posted September 1, 2021 Share Posted September 1, 2021 On 8/31/2021 at 4:57 PM, Joanie said: You can find healthier bettas from more responsible breeders, but you are going to pay higher prices for them. Usually anywhere from $50 to $100 per fish. Wow have they really gotten that expensive? I suppose the demand and lack of availability dictates, but that is a pricey fish! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GardenStateGoldfish Posted September 1, 2021 Share Posted September 1, 2021 On 8/31/2021 at 10:00 PM, Biotope Biologist said: On 8/31/2021 at 7:57 PM, Joanie said: You can find healthier bettas from more responsible breeders, but you are going to pay higher prices for them. Usually anywhere from $50 to $100 per fish. Wow have they really gotten that expensive? I suppose the demand and lack of availability dictates, but that is a pricey fish! Maybe in that location, but there are some LFS by me where you can still get trusted breeder raised bettas for 20ish-40 dollars on a side comment though, I wish someone would go ahead and breed a cold tolerant bettas for once so people who don’t like heaters like myself could keep bettas again, I have had to many fail to keep heaters ever again I hate heaters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Solstice_Lacer Posted September 1, 2021 Share Posted September 1, 2021 That was my point, 75 is a minimum, not a maximum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joanie Posted September 1, 2021 Share Posted September 1, 2021 I lost a gorgeous giant koi betta to a heater malfunction. I now keep my 15gallon at 74 degrees with my new baby in it and all is well. He lives with 7 emerald dwarf rasbora and they’ve done very well in there for the last 6 months. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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