I bought 2 new fish...need pointers!

just a few days ago I bought a male and female betta (siamese fighting fish, for those of you who don't know) couple, and they're so cute! But, this is the first time I've ever had any so I don't really know the best way to take care of them. I've been trying to do some research online, but I haven't found out much other than they prefer live meals and warm water.

I have them in a double tank to keep them seperated. I'm wondering though, is this nessecary? I know the males are aggressive with each other, but should I also keep him away from the female? whenever I lift the sheild and let them see each other, he goes insane. But, he's also bubbling like crazy and apparently ready to breed. She seems okay, and less aggressive, and I don't want him to kill her.

Also, I've read that they prefer live meals to flakes and pellets, but the lack of a pet store here makes it hard to get such things. If they prefer to eat insects and such, could I feed them things like ants and other creepy-crawlies from the yard?

Finally, I'd like to name them. Since they're native to thailand and similar countries, I'd like to give them an appropriate name. I don't know of any though. I'm silly, I guess, but I'd appreciate any help on that subject.

 

You can order live feed/worms over the net I know that much. I hate to suggest that because I don't really agree with putting anything that's alive thru the mail....but people do do it. Other than that I don't know anything about betas.

 

You can buy live bloodworms at Wal-Mart for a good price.


If you put them male and female together, they will breed, but if you don't seperate them afterwards he will kill her.

 

bloodworms? WTF is that? Sounds gross, but I'll take your word for it.

I realize he'll kill her to protect the babies, but I was wondering if it was safe to put them together before they breed, or after the eggs are gone. Would he still try to kill her then? I've I've read so far is that you're not supposed to put the males together, or that you could put multiple females together and they should be alright....I've read nothing though about putting a male and female together (other than for breeding.)

 

It usually only takes a few hours for them to breed and then for the eggs to be in the bubble nest. But right after that, the female has to be removed immediatly because he will chase her until he catches her and kills her. That's why they should only be bred in an aquarium with lots of hiding places. If you put them together after the eggs are gone, they will just breed again.

 

Here's a bloodworm..pretty sick huh?

 

It would be pretty irresponsible to let them breed. After all how are you going to care or find loving homes for their offspring?


Don't know much about fish myself, but there is bound to be plenty of info just a google search away. (really should have figured this out before, but never mind)

As for names...
Hmm can't think of any particually Thai names, guess that calls for another search. At behindthename.com you can search though various origins (not sure if they have Thai though)

Good luck

 

Actually, I'm not that interested in breeding them, I was just curious about it, and about whether or not I would be able to let them be in a single tank w/o him killing her. I did do a google search, but all I really found was very basic information....shit I already know, like water tempatures, and keeping males seperated. I wouldn't have asked about it here without looking for the information online first. Unfortunately I couldn't find anything good.

As for names, I found two I liked, for the male it's gonna be Sakda, and the female Sunee.

 

ya, i have a beta, and it was hard to find info on them