r/bettafish • u/roboto6 • Jul 08 '26
Hey everyone, Roboto, your friendly neighborhood (actually human) mod here with some subreddit updates!
First, the least fun part in all of this –
We need to talk about our subreddit culture.
Our community is toxic. There’s no other way I can think of to describe what has been happening. Even worse, this reputation extends beyond our immediate community into other subreddits and even other platforms. People are afraid of us.
I’m going to take some ownership of this. The harsh reputation of this subreddit far precedes me as a mod, but in recent years, our hard-fought progress on this front has been lost. That’s on me. The lack of consistent moderation here has let rules 1 and 2 go under-enforced for too long, allowing hostility to take root as the norm.
The adversarial and unwelcoming environment we’ve collectively created functions in direct opposition to our subreddit goals, and frankly what I believe to be the goals of many users here. If we care about betta fish first and foremost, this culture needs to change.
Our expectations and what better looks like
If you have good advice to give, give it in a more constructive, not destructive, way. Shaming people makes them shut down and disengage so they don't even process the rest of the good advice you have to offer. Don't highlight all the things they're doing wrong, focus on what they can do better and why it's helpful in a way that encourages them to do it.
So instead of saying "your empty tank is sad," share the opportunities for improvement, like "betta fish benefit from tanks with lots of plants and hiding/resting places so your fish would be happier if you filled the tank in a bit more."
We can’t ignore that people will think they're doing research by going and talking to presumed experts or reading product information. Store employees are presumed to be properly trained and products marketed at bettas are assumed to know what they’re talking about, too. It doesn't help that there's very little consensus online about what adequate care even is. For example, Petco's online betta care guide, updated in 2025, says bettas need a minimum of 1gal. Furthermore, many quality care guides are on niche websites that may not seem credible to a new hobbyist compared to a well-known chain.
With that in mind, we all need to stop:
Going forward, comments exhibiting the behaviors listed above will be removed as violations of rules 1, 2, or 4 depending on the exact nature of the comment.
I know members of our subreddit are burned out from the bad husbandry they see constantly. It's exhausting and I won't pretend it's not. But if we bully one owner into submission, cool, that's maybe one fish saved. How many owners did we scare away from asking for help in the process? We're going to have a far broader impact building people up in this hobby, not tearing them down.
That said, this is a two-way street of support. I'm cognizant of the fact that people offer their time and mental energy supporting our subreddit, and they don't deserve to have that wasted by people who don't care to use it. If someone is given better information and advice and refuses to take it, that violates rule 3. We often get reports about all the fighting around ignored advice, but not the ignoring itself. In the future, please report these instances to us. For this to be successful, we also need users to avoid escalating disagreements when OP refuses valid and respectful advice.
Now for the fun stuff –
New mods
We recently brought on 12 additional mods to enable us to better support this community’s needs. Please help us welcome:
They’re going to introduce themselves in the comments below and I’ll try and link their names in this post as they do.
It takes a bit to get 12 brand new people to operate as a consistent group, so we may occasionally over-moderate while everyone learns.
I realize that our increased emphasis on subreddit culture may make removals feel arbitrary at times. In the spirit of transparency, I have given the new moderators the guidance that if a senior mod isn’t free to give timely feedback, when in doubt, they should remove posts/comments that are believed to violate rules. Senior mods will still review the content in question, and removals may be reversed, if necessary.
If you disagree with a moderator’s decision, please send us a modmail and one of the senior mods will review your concern and get back to you.
Updated tools and resources
Small updates at this time, but more exciting things in the pipeline!
Roboto is a super sentimental actual human
I realize this post started on a challenging topic, but despite the highs and lows our community faces, I remain grateful that I get to do this with you all.
I’ve been a mod of this community for nearly 7 years, and a member for far longer. In that time, so many things, from our mod team, to Reddit as a platform, to our own lives and the world around us, have become fundamentally different.
There are very few constants I can point to after all this time, but the enduring engagement and passion of this community is one of them and I’m honored to steward this space.
At the core of it all, this hobby, and this subreddit, are comprised of people who really want the best for one another and that makes this work so much easier.
Thank you all, sincerely, for riding with us as we figure this thing out. I’m excited for the next chapter of our subreddit, and I can’t wait to see what we can accomplish together in the next 7 years.
- Roboto
Edit: If anyone has additional feedback about our community culture, please share it in a comment below, or feel free to send us a modmail.
r/bettafish • u/AutoModerator • 3d ago
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Ask away!
r/bettafish • u/BingoBingoBird • 11h ago
This is Button. Button is a bit unique from the other fish I have seen and as such I was immediately enamored. Shes not very smart and loves sleeping on the ground rather then the dozen more comfortable spots she has available. Sometimes I wonder what she's thinking. If she can think that is. I have little hope
r/bettafish • u/Preaw_proud • 12h ago
Hi everyone
I get this betta from Pet market in Bangkok Thailand
Just 20 baht ( 0.61$) very cheap and good form
Beautiful color and nine fin I love it
r/bettafish • u/faeiriey • 14h ago
(Video taken before I plucked out the browning duckweed!! Washed my hands and rinsed them very very well)
Henri's only been home since Friday but he's already so comfy 🥹
r/bettafish • u/Lilith_Cain • 2h ago
In the last photo he is hunting/eating a scud NOT shrimp.
r/bettafish • u/No_Target2801 • 12h ago
I feel so horrible for the fish of my childhood. As a kid I had 4 betta fish (at different times) that all died within a year. I thought it was strange at the time because I’d heard they were hearty fish. Recently, my neighbor gave me a tank, filter, heater, and accessories for an aquarium the other day so I figured I’d get another betta! I hadn’t had one since I was a kid so I couldn’t remember exactly how to care for them and OH MY GOD???? No wonder my poor fish died!! The pet store people set us up with a one gallon tank, water conditioner, food and… that was it??! We’d take the fish out in a drinking glass sized cup every few weeks and completely replace all the water, scrub down every piece of gravel and all the accessories. I now realize through my research now you need a much bigger tank, a filter, a heater, to cycle the tank before the fish is there, to do periodic partial water changes and (as I’m sure I’ll learn) much more! It’s actually insane that this is considered an appropriate pet for a child to care for alone. I have a cat and honestly it seems easier to care for her than a fish! I feel so horribly guilty for the fish I had as a kid, I should have done more research at the time but at age 8 I suppose the pet store people’s word was enough for me. I’m determined to raise a fish RIGHT this time! Rip to all my fish of the past and all the fish being bought as “starter pets” for kids right now :(
r/bettafish • u/Waste-Progress3306 • 8h ago
Today I had to say goodbye to my beautiful boy, Albus. 💔🐟
He was the most gorgeous little betta, with so much personality and a beauty that never stopped amazing me. I only got to have him for three short months, and it feels like he was taken from me far too soon.
Three months wasn’t nearly enough time, but I hope he knew how loved he was every single day. I did everything I could for my sweet boy, and I will always be grateful that I got to know him.
Swim peacefully, Albus. 🌈🤍 You were beautiful, you were loved, and you will never be forgotten.
Gone too soon, my sweet boy. 😭🐟💔
r/bettafish • u/lyunkww • 19h ago
I’m so happy ! Any ideas for a name ?
r/bettafish • u/aleegarciaa • 2h ago
r/bettafish • u/Sweaty_Ad_5393 • 9h ago
finally came time to adopt a new baby after my Genie girl unfortunately passed </3 Double Tail Halfmoon Male! He’s so little! Never seen coloration like this!! Any name suggestions?
kinda reminds me of Yuji Itadori’s uniform from JJK (which I’ve been obsessed with recently) lol but idk if I should give him an anime name?
r/bettafish • u/Warm_Ad_7221 • 1d ago
For everyone who saw Hannibal’s original story, I figured it was time for an update because I’ve officially had him for 16 days now.
When I found Hannibal, he had been sitting at Petco since May 5th. He was dull, covered in stress stripes, and had very little swimming strength. I brought him home knowing exactly what he looked like before but who knows if he will ever look like that again—I knew he'd been sitting in that cup long enough and he had chosen me. (See his beginning story) Sorry Avatar betta....one day
His first stop was a little 2.5-gallon recovery tank.
At first, even swimming against the gentle filter flow and airstone was WORK for him. So we spent those first days letting him rest, eat, explore, and basically relearn how to be a fish while he built his muscles back up.
And slowly, Hannibal started changing.
His swimming got stronger. His personality started coming out. His colors started getting darker and richer.
Then his 6-gallon planted corner tank was ready.
And this is where I discovered Hannibal apparently has some unresolved feelings about his former accommodations. 😂
I had actually saved his original Petco cup, so when it was time to transfer him from the 2.5-gallon into his new home, I thought it would be the perfect little container to move him safely.
Hannibal did NOT agree.
The second I put him back into that cup, he absolutely LOST HIS MIND.
Flipping, thrashing, trying to JUMP OUT—the whole thing. I had to slap my hand over the top and immediately get him into the 6-gallon before this newly muscular little psychopath launched himself onto my desk.
SIR.
WE ARE NOT GOING BACK TO PETCO. I PROMISE. 😭😂
Once he hit that 10-gallon, though? Completely different fish.
His tank sits right on my desk where I work every day, so now Hannibal gets attention pretty much all day long. It's planted, has plenty of places to explore and rest, and before moving him in, I let it develop into a thriving little ecosystem.
There were copepods, detritus worms, pest snails and all kinds of tiny little critters crawling and swimming around in there.
I was so proud of myself.
Look at this beautiful little ecosystem I made for him! He can hunt! Natural enrichment! This will keep him entertained!
Hannibal: Bet.
Within approximately 24 HOURS, the population of little white swimming things had been absolutely decimated. 😂
This man spent an entire day hunting his way through his new kingdom...
...and then had the AUDACITY to swim up to the glass and beg me for food.
No.
NO, DUDE.
I watched you eat everybody.
You're fat now.
You can wait until I clean your tank. 😂
And looking at him now, I can't believe this is the same fish I brought home 16 days ago. His stress stripes are basically gone, that gorgeous deep burgundy/red color has come back, he's strong enough to fight the current, patrol his entire tank, hunt anything unfortunate enough to wiggle in front of him—and apparently attempt an emergency prison break if he ever sees that Petco cup again.
I thought I was bringing home a sad little betta who needed a chance.
Apparently I was rehabilitating a tiny aquatic serial killer with a bottomless stomach.
In retrospect...
Naming him Hannibal may have been a self-fulfilling prophecy. 😂❤️
r/bettafish • u/AdLumpy7032 • 21h ago
Today, after just 4 months, Blup has passed away. I bought him from a breeder after losing my first betta, hoping he would live a long and healthy life with me. And he did - all the way until 4 days ago, when I noticed something was wrong. He stopped being my lively little teddy bear, and suddenly lost a few small pieces of his tail. Things quickly got worse after that; he developed dropsy. He fought bravely and endured Epsom salt baths, resting on my hand. Even though he looked like a pinecone, I still hoped he would pull through. Sadly, that didn't happen :(
Blup had a wonderful personality. He was lively, curious, trusted me a lot, and in his final hours, he even let me use my hand to help him back onto his catappa leaf to lay close to the surface. I still remember the day he arrived. I expected him to be stressed after traveling for 2 days in a package, but the moment I released him from the bag, he immediately and joyfully started exploring his new home.
r/bettafish • u/Motor-Midnight5094 • 12h ago
Been finicking with this tank since march, when the sad bettas at petco made me want to save one. Wound up not buying from petco as I didn't want to support that, got him from a local fish store about a week ago.
r/bettafish • u/FeedReasonable9547 • 2h ago
Is my girl doing ok for space or should I have a trim? ( tanks 33 litres )
r/bettafish • u/Lal_Kopal • 4h ago
So I got him a few days back. Just wanted to know if his fins look okay… Very active & keeps building bubble nests…
r/bettafish • u/CollegeCharacter8265 • 11m ago
hi,
ive been having issues with his fins for a couple weeks now. ive been stuck in a cycle of treating it, it stopping for a bit, coming back and then treating again. i genuinely dont know what the problem could be, i do regular water changes and my parameters are good too, hes not been put through any stress other than me moving him in and out of the quarantine tank. ive also put in some catappa leaves and the tank is full of tannins.
i usually put him in there with 1tbsp salt/2 gallons of water which is what i read from a guide someone on here recommended. since this isnt working ive moved to doing 5-10 minute soaks in 1tbsp salt/1 gallon of water but that isnt helping either.
ive ordered kanaplex but it wont arrive for another week because its shipping all the way from america and hes already in a pretty bad state.
is there anything i could improve or do to either slow the infection or stop it completely?? i live in the uk and the stuff we have here thats marketed towards fin rot isnt suitable for bettas because it has oils so the only option i know of is aquarium salt.
id really really really appreciate some help because i really dont want him to develop dropsy or literally just die. ive attached some pictures from the soak just now to show how advanced the fin rot has gotten
r/bettafish • u/SheepherderHorror998 • 21m ago
I was seeing a lot of good things about the benefits of having tannins in your tank. I fear I may have gone over board and now my tank is basically black and I can’t see my little guy much at all. Any advice? Last night I did a water change but it’s still soo dark, I love the look of a tint in the tank but this is too much :(
r/bettafish • u/BattleCorrect2961 • 45m ago
I was considering with an upgraded 10gal adding some additional fish to the tank. My guy is FAST and very active. He doesn’t flare, but he does go after his reflection. Right now it’s one very small nerite snail whom he has zero interest in and him. Can i add rasboras or is that a bad idea here? (Second photo is the aggressor in question in his old tank 5gal).
r/bettafish • u/helloitsaugust • 51m ago
My heater just isn’t working how it’s supposed to..I feel like the water should be warmer than what it is, I believe it’s a 75 watt heater? I got it on Amazon a while back for a Brine Shrimp tank
r/bettafish • u/HorrorFan9556 • 4h ago
Hi my betta fish is still figuring out what is food and can’t really seem to find her food all that well. I think out of 4 peices of Fluval Bug Bites she had 2 by accident while she was surfacing to breathe and then just stayed in her floating plants for the most part and flaring at me. I am very concerned about her as she has eaten something but I don’t really know if it’s that filling for her. She doesn’t appear to actually be interested in food after eating half of it just fighting me specifically she isn’t even looking for the rest of her food.
r/bettafish • u/Miawlodon • 1h ago
First day of Mr. Wong in my first aquarium
r/bettafish • u/Fearless_Bottle_933 • 1h ago
Does anybody have a similar experience with metallic betta? May I know if your betta will regain all his iridophores? And will the two openings close up eventually??
Also, just want to let you guys know that if you are considering getting hornwort for your betta, please reconsider, especially if your betta has a metallic body.
Context: Yesterday I put some hornwort inside the tank thinking that these plants will be giving my betta more hiding spaces. And because my betta is very active and likes exploring, he will swim in between the hornworts and squeeze himself. And after a while I noticed he becoming a bit lethargic… I thought he was just sleepy because it’s late at night about 10 pm.
This morning when I woke up, I noticed his anal fin got scraped!!!!! There are some spots/dots that are missing iridophores (the metallic pigments).. I removed most of the hornworts immediately. Just now when I got home, he is still very lethargic as compared to his usual self. He keeps resting on his hammock. I got him to flare and I was shocked that he has two openings on his anal fin….
I a a 30% water change. And added API Stress Coat and Indian almond leaves. I am worried.
r/bettafish • u/Jack_0318 • 3h ago
Added some salvinia a couple of weeks ago. It is some hearty stuff and is growing like crazy. I’ve turned my lights down a bit and reduced to 6 hrs. When do I need to start removing excess?
