Can a Betta live with having a filter and air pump or just a fish bowl?

Answer 1

Yes, but not for long. Bettas are no different from other fish in their requirements. The basic rules for successfull fishkeeping are as follows. :- 1 inch (2.25cm) of fish needs at least 1 gallon (3.78ltrs) of water. Every tank needs a permanently running cycled filter. :- Every tank needs at least 50% of its water replaced every week. If you follow the above rules, feed the fish the correct diet and keep the container covered and at 78F a Betta will do OK. I can guarantee that if you don't keep the preceeding rules that your fish will have constant health problems and will live a considerably shorter life.

Answer 2

Bettas are labyrinth fish. This means they have a special organ called the labyrinth which allows them to breath oxygen from the air. A suitable setup for a betta is one with plenty of room. I would recommend 2 gallons+. Many pet retailers still sell tiny bowls for bettas but those are cruel. Bettas hail from Thailand and live in relatively shallow rice paddies. They come together only to spawn but are otherwise relatively solitary fish. The males of course will fight to the death and must never be housed together. You also have to be very careful when breeding. I would stay away from the plastic contraptions that allow you to house multiple bettas side by side. It's like being kept in a glass room with a transparent divider through which you can constantly observe someone you want to fight. This is stressful! For exercise and fin health you can introduce a betta mirror into the bowl for a few minutes a couple times a week.

Anyhow, I digress. So, two gallons minimum for the tank or bowl. A bowl is alright, just make sure it's large enough. Bettas are truly the only fish that should ever be kept in bowls. They do prefer to be alone although they can live in a tropical community tank with other peaceful fish that will not nip the betta's flowing fins. If you decide on this option make sure to drop the water level in the tank about two inches so the betta has plenty of room to surface for air. Floating plants are a nice touch as bettas prefer them. Make sure they have hiding spots. Also, make sure the current in the tank isn't too strong. If it is just go with a bowl. Gravel is a good substrate. When cleaning a tank there is no need to remove the fish since you will be using a siphon to remove water and waste. When using a 2 gallon bowl you will first remove the betta using a net and place him/her in a separate container with some of the water from the bowl. Next, pour all the water from the bowl and rinse the gravel with cool water. Cool water is an important detail as hot water will denature the nitrifying bacteria that has established itself. Refill the bowl with clean water(don't fill all the way to the top) of the same temperature it was before cleaning. Add water conditioner to dechlorinate and remove trace minerals that can be harmful to your fish. Clean the bowl once a week! Feed a high quality food such as Omega One, Spectrum or Hikari Bio Betta gold. Feed a small pinch once daily. Do not overfeed.

Answer 3

It is possible to breed betta fish in an aquarium setting. However breeding betta fish is a challenging job and should only be done with proper conditioning, housing and lots of research. Be sure to know your facts before you try to breed betta fish.