Marine Betta Experience

[travis32]

It's over 1 week now that I've had my Marine betta. It was injured by the other marine betta I got at the same time. They were intolerant and I had to give him to a friend.. (In return he's going to dog and fish sit for me when I'm camping trips.. Will easily get what I paid for the fish).

I'm growing to love my betta. Quite a personality. Reminds me of my Schnouzer! I know they're a shy fish, but, mine is taking afternoon strolls in the light and seems to be enjoying his home.

I've noticed changes in behavior when he's hungry. I monitored him over the weekend since he's still wounded some, and he startec chasing my grama around. Not very agressively, but, would make a point to go after it. I took this to mean he's hungry, I fed mysis and he went nuts for it. The first time I've actively seen him feed in the lighting like a normal fish.

He gobbled that up like crazy and chased it if the shrimp didn't come to him. All things he hadn't done up until yesterday.

Last night, I noticed all the grama and the betta acting strange. not chasing each other, but the betta was opening and closing his mouth while looking at me, and the grama was looking around for food, so I fed some flake, just a small amount, I stuck a punch under water and held it there for a min. The betta came out of his hole and twisted his head to look up at me. It was hilarious. It was like an inquisitive dog wondering where the next treat is.

I dropped the flake in and he went for it as much as the shrimp piking up pieces that landed on the rock or the sand and ate it all up.

I want to be careful and not overfeed, but, him actively getting over shyness and watching for food from me is very relieving! I think he'll heal up and be just fine. Just can't get anything live that will fit in his mouth.

 

[AquaPython]

as i understand it, the marine betta is relative or member of the grouper family, and not reef safe. they are supposed to be in Fish only tanks.

 

[rekn]

as i understand it, the marine betta is relative or member of the grouper family, and not reef safe. they are supposed to be in Fish only tanks.

they arent groupers theyre comets and they are completely reef safe.

 

[Dante_JoseCuerv]

they arent groupers theyre comets and they are completely reef safe.

+1

I've had mine for about 4 years now or so. Great fish, and I've found them to be pretty much bulletproof. I don't see it too much though as it's rather shy and likes to hide most of the day.

 

[travis32]

Yes, completely reef safe. They'll pick at rocks for pods out of boredom, but, their primary sustenance needs to be good meaty foods. When he's standing perfectly still and one of his fins is hanging down he reminds me of a fishing lure.

My wife researched them some and said the Betta tail fin behavior mimicks a moray eel. I cut up some frozen shrimp last night and fed a couple pieces, one of them was maybe too big, but it was funny, the betta was sitting still with this big piece of shrimp sticking out of it's mouth. It'd drop it then pick it up again. Don't worry, I scooped the uneaten left overs out to prevent any shrimp decay.

 

[BennyFrank]

I've had mine for about 4 years now or so. Great fish, and I've found them to be pretty much bulletproof. I don't see it too much though as it's rather shy and likes to hide most of the day.

+100 on the bulletproofness. So the story goes....

My brother owned a comet back in the early 90's. He eventually sold his tank, including the comet, to the guy who wrote this article; http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/sept2002/Fish.htm

When [that guy] broke down his tank a few years later, he took out all the fish/corals (or so he thought) and left the tank about 2/3rds full of water for a few months, just enough to cover the remaining liverock. He didn't find the comet so figured it had passed. When he finally got around to taking out the rock, the comet reappeared! Still alive after ~3mos. of living in a neglected tank! [can't completely vouch for the veracity of this part as it came from 2nd hand info]

EDIT: I guess it can be verified; it's part of the article. Maybe I should have read the entire thing before linking :idea:

He then donated it to the local zoo where it still resides to this day in one of their exhibits. The fish has got to be at least 15yrs old!! Bulletproof :fun2:

 

[travis32]

Awesome info. Good to know!

 

[Dante_JoseCuerv]

Yup. I wouldn't hesitate to call them a great beginner fish. They're not as cheap as some of the other beginner fish like gobies and damsels and stuff but I'm fairly confident when I say that they'll definitely outlive many of the cheaper "beginner" fish out there. I can't wait to get mine moved into my large tank once that project gets under way.

My praises for this fish aside, like the article said I would be a bit cautious with these guys around small invertebrates and fish especially once they're full-grown. I've seen them kept with small shrimp and some small fish like firefish and gobies with no troubles whatsoever but keep in mind that comets are still related to groupers and if they're hungry they'll probably go after something small that looks yummy.

Other than that you should expect many enjoyable years out of your betta. If you don't mind me asking how big is yours? I got mine when it was about 3" from head to the end of its tail and now it's ~5"-6"

 

[rachenbrazil]

unfortunally hard to make a pair of them ... like freshwater betta, marine betta fight until death...
They are fine fish, don't need lot of room to swin, don't mess with others (except small fishes and shrimp who will be snack for him). They will eat pellets and flakes that wander in current close to them, but not favorite food...small chuncks of shrimp or fish would be better...but they do live with pod's and other fauna present in tank for sure... mine is over 4 years and hard to see it eating more than a morsel or two everyday... and it is growing... from 2 inch to current 4 inch fish..

 

[rekn]

comets are related to groupers because they are fish and thats it. humans are related to dogs because we're both mamals...if that makes sense.

Yup. I wouldn't hesitate to call them a great beginner fish. They're not as cheap as some of the other beginner fish like gobies and damsels and stuff but I'm fairly confident when I say that they'll definitely outlive many of the cheaper "beginner" fish out there. I can't wait to get mine moved into my large tank once that project gets under way.

My praises for this fish aside, like the article said I would be a bit cautious with these guys around small invertebrates and fish especially once they're full-grown. I've seen them kept with small shrimp and some small fish like firefish and gobies with no troubles whatsoever but keep in mind that comets are still related to groupers and if they're hungry they'll probably go after something small that looks yummy.

Other than that you should expect many enjoyable years out of your betta. If you don't mind me asking how big is yours? I got mine when it was about 3" from head to the end of its tail and now it's ~5"-6"

 

[BennyFrank]

comets are related to groupers because they are fish and thats it. humans are related to dogs because we're both mamals...if that makes sense.

Comets and groupers divert at the Family level of taxonomy.

Comet = Plesiopidae
Grouper = Serranidae

So... your anology of dogs and humans is not quite accurate. A better analogy would be; Comets are related to groupers like wolves are related to foxes, or... comets are related to groupers like you are related to an orangutan.

 

[Dante_JoseCuerv]

@BennyFrank

Yeah, that's a bit more along the lines of what I was getting at.

 

[travis32]

Umm, I don't know about you, but I'm not related to any orangatangs. Well, maybe on my wife's side there might be a couple. heh.

Mine gobbles flake food up just fine. Doesn't even think twice about it.. Maybe I got tasty flake food!

My Betta is I would say around 3.5" maybe up to 4".

I'm attaching a few pics.. One of the pics he has his mouth as wide open as he can get as he tries to inhale a very large piece of shrimp. (I cut up some frozen shrimp and gave him a piece. It was not cut small enough as he found out the hard way.. )

 

[OrangeCrazy]

I love the Marine Betta! I can't wait until I get my tank up and running/stable. It'll be my first fish!

 

[LemonLemon]

marine bettas are hardy as anything. they'll probably be the last to die (if at all) from ich or some other disease.

 

[lhm nole]

They are almost bulletproff but do need a good diet not just feeders or they can develop hlle, I have never seen one get ich and when their fins get roughed up they heal extremely fast.

 

[HASBRO]

Thinking about getting one for my semi-aggressive fowler. Do they ever come out and go for a swim or just hide? Seen one at my lfs a couple years ago, must have been 8inches.

 

[lhm nole]

Thinking about getting one for my semi-aggressive fowler. Do they ever come out and go for a swim or just hide? Seen one at my lfs a couple years ago, must have been 8inches.

mine hides most of the time at feeding time he will come out other than that you usually see his head poking out over time they will become more bold and stay out unlike the minituas.

 

[Jens Kallmeyer]

I have a pair, got it from a fellow reef who had it for over 5 years. I found them to be rather slow eaters, so depending on the other tank mates you should keep an eye on them getting enough food. They are 100% reefsafe but I've heard of a few accounts where they snacked on small shrimps like juvenile peppermints.

 

[nonimmigrant]

as i understand it, the marine betta is relative or member of the grouper family, and not reef safe. they are supposed to be in Fish only tanks.

Totally disagree here. I have had a mated pair of MB's in my 225G SPS tank for 5 years and they have done nothing of harm to my goby or shrimp population. I feed mine live shrimp or fish strips (with skin) from a jig stick twice a week. It has been noted that their metabolism is very slow and I would agree based on my experience with them.