We have a beautiful male Betta named Buddy. Yeah, I know, very obvious. But anyway, a friend told me that they have a short life span, like about 1 year. Is this true? He also told me that the less he eats, the longer he lives. He is an Angel fish expert, breeds them and all that but I don't know how much he knows about Betta's.

I know there are Betta people here so what do you think?

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60g tall, all artificial plants, Rainbow tank; 55g for African Cichlids. 20g long for fry; 20g hex, 2 black Angels at my desk; 10g planted, with 50 Molly fry; 10 gal, 2x 13w cfl lightning, planted; 2g hex for "Buddy the Betta"; Wanting a 200g +, MTS getting bad.

The life span of a betta is more like six years.Feeding does have to do with it,but not feeding less.Its feeding high quality foods and a variety as well as frozen anf live.A betta living in a bowl of stagnant water with no heat will indeed make it maybe a year.But with the proper care they can live much longer.Also,many of the long finned bettas found in stores are themselves over a year old.It takes at least six months to a year to grow the finnage you see.

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http://bountifulbettas.blogspot.com/

"Come to the dark side....we have cookies...and filters/heaters/and water changes!"

I've never had any luck with Bettas in a community tank, they always attack the other fish, but I see them living peacefully in community tanks in the store. Any ideas?

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30 gal hexagon
hoping for live plants
30+ guppies
2 mystery snails
1 yoyo loach

55 gal
empty so far

You could probably keep a Betta with anything that doesn't look like a Betta.

So no Mollies, Guppies, Platys...

No other Labyrinth fish like Gouramis..

Definitely Catfish like Corys, and I think Loaches do well too.

My friend is currently breeding Bettas and has tanks with other fish in them. I'll ask them what their set up is in case I'm wrong.

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The last one I had, he kept attacking my goldfish, it was bigger than him and didn't have long fins or anything.

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30 gal hexagon
hoping for live plants
30+ guppies
2 mystery snails
1 yoyo loach

55 gal
empty so far

I don't know about others but I keep my betta in a five galon fluval tank with built in filtration and keep five zebra danios with him they all seem to get along fine oh yes and by the way I have had him for two years with this situp

You cant keep bettas with goldfish anyhow.The bettas are tropical and like temps of 84-86 degrees,and the goldfish are happier at about 75.
Goldfish are pretty lax so the bright colors and slow movements makes them easy targets for bettas.Bettas are very territorial.They will defend their area fiercly.They all have different personalities,so one may get along fine with other fish whereas others will not.I have had great success with non aggressive fish who school and are fast movers.Head and Tail light tetras,glolight tetras,neon tetras.Even had them with mollies.Another thing I have notice,in a community setting,if you plant the tank,make it warm and humid so he can nest,feed him a high quality varied diet and provide caves and other hid spots,they get along much easier.He will be so happy he will be nesting for potential dates.

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http://bountifulbettas.blogspot.com/

"Come to the dark side....we have cookies...and filters/heaters/and water changes!"

Most of them are actually much older, in fact. A lot of fish distributors will send their old breeder males to pet stores/LFS's instead of the new stock, so you'll often end up with a fish that's had half it's life pass by. I have to specify that I want young animals when I order my bettas, otherwise they'll send me all their old farts.

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Thats true.Also to note is that a breeder males life is alot shorter than one never bred.I think its because it takes a lot out of the male to spawn and raise fry.That and when they are mass produced they dont get the proper conditioning as many bred by small time owners.

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http://bountifulbettas.blogspot.com/

"Come to the dark side....we have cookies...and filters/heaters/and water changes!"

i have a crowntail betta, and 3 cardinal tetra in a 5 gallon tank w/ some driftwood (real) & live plants (just anacharis for now). Everyone plays good in the sandbox. I should note this setup is relatively new, the betta was by himself for months, i added the cardinals about a month ago, all are still alive and happy.

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75 Gallon Freshwater
29 Gallon Freshwater
20 Gallon Freshwater