bettas

[ShadowBass]

I was under the assumption they were cool in non filtered tanks with water changing.

They are if you're changing 100% of the water out daily or you have some kind of plants to absorb a lot of nutrients (I know some people that use java moss for this, but you need some kind of light because if the plants aren't healthy they only die and add bioload).

The main thing other than clean water is a heater or a warm room. They're tropical fish so they prefer 76+ degree water. That's minimum, any lower they're prone to illness, I like to keep them around 80.

You can keep males side by side as long as their view is somewhat obscured (I had an acrylic divider and I scuffed it up so they couldn't see through it good). Even if they can see each other they'll usually get over it eventully, but some of them are more aggressive than others and will practically kill themselves trying to get to another male.

 

[Albel]

The best would be a 5 gallon tank or bigger! They are very intelligent fish and they get bored in a small vase (especially that the smaller the vase the less plants and decoration you van add! ). They require a heater as the temperature ideally should be 74-82%, and a filter although they are not very messy fish (I find). No fish tank mates is better if the tank is only 5 gallon though! Amano Shrimps are a great addition if you only want a small 5 gallon, just make sure they are big enough not to be seen as food (cherry shrimps and small ghost shrimps might be seen as food... or not)! Beta fish also have very distinct personalities. While my veil tail tried to eat a cherry shrimp when I put them together, my crowntail never even bothers them (although he enjoys watching them once in a while!). However, my crowntail is extremely agressive towards other fish while my veil tail tolerates them!

I have two beta fish, each in a 5 gallon, one of them always makes burrows in the java moss I added for my cherry shrimps, and loves hiding in there and swimming through it. My other beta does not care for the java moss but he loves to play in the current! Since my filter was way too strong I added a curved piece of smoothened plastic under the water exit to direct the flow only one side of the tank, so the beta can rest on the other. Ever since he has started playing in this improvised "slide", hauling his body on the higher end to slide down the current, or swimming against it inside the plastic "slide" to reach the other end! Very entertaining!

Also beware of beta lily vases and such! They are pretty much death traps for betas!

 

[Neervana]

ive found(and so have others) that they like to sleep on "beds" near the surface.. like a driftwood stump or a wide leaved plant. they like to be near the surface so they can take a breath easily. they dont do well with fast water movement or heavy current, and come from generally still water environments in the wild.
if you have them in a larger tank, like a 10 gallon(in comparison to their plastic cups and bowls).. they like to have a sheltered area, or a decently planted area to chill in when theyre not swimming all around and exploring.
id say get one! they have the most personality of any little fish that ive ever had.

yes, i had a gorgeous betta called rainbow ages ago, he was a stunner. metallic light violet colour going into a pale blue - got him from a fish centre in london, and he loved to lie on top of my barrel in my tank and relax there. he also learnt to pick flakes off the top of my finger and loved to sort of "hang" by the glass where some of the current was flowing.

 

[GeegaFish]

I love Bettas! They are so pretty and have tons of personality. I've had two females at a time in my 46 gallon community, but it is true that they can be fin nippers. My girls didn't bother the guppies in the 46, but I have had some that did. The bad nippers will hunt other fish to death! I tried to introduce a third female into the mix and the other two just didn't like her. So, you never know.

Bettas are great fish to keep though because they are so pretty and entertaining. Unfortunately, none of mine have ever lived past two years. I'm not sure why because my tanks are healthy. They don't mind a little current in a tank, as mentioned, but not too strong. I used to find mine peeking out from a rock hidey hole or wriggling out of their Java Moss "beds." I had one that would actually jump through her food ring at dinner time. It was pretty cool!