betta home

Question
Hey there,

        I just bought a betta from a local petstore.  He is very healthy and active, and very responsive.  He seems quite at home in his bowl, which includes a bamboo stock, and I change his water regularly, feed him three times a day (making sure to keep it to what he can eat in a minute or two) and loving him like a son.  My only worry is that he doesn't have enough room.  I'm told they are very adaptable to small habitats, and I don't think mine is tiny...but what signs should I look for that his bowl is too small?

Answer
Hello Kyle-

As long as you're keeping the water clean, bettas can survive for quite some time in containers that hold a gallon or so of water.

Signs of stress to watch out for: tail biting, sulking on the bottom, not building a nest for more than a month, and fin rot. Your betta may also stop responding to you if he feels "trapped."

By the way, you could probably cut back on his food. 3-4 pellets a day should be plenty - wouldn't want a fat betta!

Hope this is useful, and sorry for the long wait! (emergency root canal...ouch)

-Amber Worman