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Welcome to Betta Dragon

The popular setup in which bettas are sold these days is the peace lilly plant in a clear vase with a betta swimming in with the roots. I will admit this is a great marketing strategy The plant is beautiful and so is the fish. But the claims that this is a self contained worry free environment are false. True a betta can live like this for a while maybe even a long while but they are not happy. Through my research I have found that they do not normally eat plants nor plant roots. They are carnivores. They in the wild will eat mosquito larvae and other insects. In acquariums they are happy eating any fish food that will float on the surface of the water. There are a variety of foods available for bettas. The first Betta I bought was named Blue. I followed the instructions and did not feed him. I intended to put him in an aquarium of his own and feed him when I got home from college. But he did not make it. This was either because he was not fed or he drowned in the plant roots. I hear you say he was a fish how could he drown?! Well Bettas are also air breathers. They have a specialized organ which allows them to breathe air. If they are not allowed to get to the surface they can drown. This is especially true in these Peace Lilly setups. Because the water has no air pump to keep it thoroughly oxygenated the fish relies on its backup. It goes up to the surface for a gulp of air.If the roots prevent the fish from doing this it will die. The final reason that the peace lilly setup is not suitable is that the fish has little space to swim around. How would you like to be locked up in the equivalent of a small closet and told you can never leave. Be nice to your Betta! Several inexpensive tanks are suitable for your Betta. I suggest a one gallon or greater sized tank. Bettas also do like air pumps. Though they can breathe air they like oxygenated water. It also helps in the breakdown of the fish's wastes. It is much more fun to watch your betta swim around than to see him gulping air every other minute. Yes I have a "betta" tank but I use it only to put my Betta in when I change the water. Never do I leave him in it over a long time.
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