Creating a Wild Betta Habitat!

Today we make a Wild Betta tank! Botanicals not only add beauty, and dimension but provide invaluable comfort to fish that are otherwise shy. This aquarium houses 6 wild Betta imbellis, 14 Chili Rasboras, and a whole host of amazing plants and botanicals!
Ricky's Instagram: @chawchow
Tannin Aquatics: www.tanninaquatics.com
Music Shattered Paths by Aakash Gandhi
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#aquarium #betta #blackwater

[@TMAquatics]

Big fan of leaf litter, botanicals and tannins. 😉👍

[@JohnJames.]

TM Aquatics , anything I can use safely locally, I'm surrounded by woods and streams

[@TMAquatics]

John James Oak leaves. Boil before use.

[@JohnJames.]

TM Aquatics , right on thanks for a quick reply.

[@voluntaryismistheanswer]

My shrimp all love autumn pear leaves more than anything!

[@TankTested]

Those botanicals are awesome! Blackwater is so under-appreciated!

[@vampgaia]

I have 10 fancy Bettas, all have their own 10 gallon tank. All the tanks are planted and all have leaf litter with brown water. I didn't know about Tannin Aquatics. I have just placed an order. Their botanicals are gorgeous. Thanks for the info. Love your Betta tank. Totally off topic, love your hair colors.

[@abigailf6021]

Do you have an Instagram? If not, you should make one! I would love to see your aquariums.

[@r1verman]

That's a beautiful set-up. I love the wild Bettas. They have such a subtle beauty. I love the amber color of the tannin aquariums.

[@Aquazone008]

Love the bettas, they are so cute how they poke around places!

[@kmadsen65]

I'm a big fan of black backgrounds because they make anything you put in the tank pop.

[@AranDeathly]

BIG fan of tanin saturated tanks! I think a black background would look exceptional but I do think it'll tone down the natural beauty of black water! Big love from Manchester, UK Rachel!

[@ShadowLynx516]

This is great Rachel! I love wild betta's, sometimes even more than the splendens. A dark background with a combination of other aquatic foliage that can also double as cover, a 3d rockwork background would look nice as well.

[@bantoine17]

ShadowLynx516 A

[@philcarlino6942]

Big fan of Tannin Aquatics. Excellent customer service. They threw in a bonus botanical with my order which wasn’t expected but greatly appreciated. I highly recommend the company! Great looking tank, Rachel

[@dogschooloflouisville8323]

Been seriously thinking about doing a blackwater with a betta, pygmy cories, and chili rasboras. So this is perfect timing!

[@KuyaCraig]

Scott is such a good guy!!! He did the same for me as well!

[@shesellsfish]

Wow...Ricky did a great job of scaping that tank. I love using natural tannins and botanicals. Thanks for a great new resource with an ethical company.

[@kzookid2051]

A very pretty little fish. Your close-ups show the spots and fin colors really well. I like how the pods look, adding a lot of interest to the tank.

[@headcase5369]

You have two things missing, which I have found helpfull with all my wilds for them to feel comfortable, 1:floaters or roots planted with microsorum above water for cover. 2: top to bottom decor that creates broken line of sight, especially when they are breeding (males guarding) its a cool way to make sure that adolescente fish and females, will not become subject to the wrath of the male when surfacing, and the males often prefers to attach their nest in crammed space between sticks and leaves (position that is easier to guard) which makes for a lot more room for the rest of the pack... Super channel Rachel😍

[@outofwackk]

so happy I found this video, I was just trying to find out more on botanicals.

[@randyfriesen9054]

I live in Winnipeg and i get to go see her on Sunday!!!!!! Im sooooooo excited!!!!!!!!!??

[@katiamontaldos1117]

please do a video on the different types of wild bettas and their care. I'm planning on getting some but there's barely any info online.

[@johnstream1]

All the different sizes and shapes of botanicals is so awesome. Love the look. I think a school pygmy cory cats would look great in this tank.

[@shtooph]

I could watch that little betta at the end there forever, soo cute!

[@novanettle7497]

Looks absolutely gorgeous! I have recently really started to like leaf scattered on the bottom of the tank, looks more natural in a way. As for the background; I'm really into the thought of a dark emerald green. Don't actually know how that would look on this tank but I am that obsessed with the idea of emerald green that's it the only option I can think of.

[@Shamariah2011]

Sooooo excited for my delivery! Did not find this combo available on the website but I curated my own south America blackwater tankbotanicals

[@MASSAquariums]

Love the mangrove leaves. We started a botanical line. Very exciting

[@tbwater1399]

It was quite the difference in the tint of water when you did the cut as you were adding the new botanicals! Really great aquarium.

[@Ad_Astra_321]

This is GREAT!! Love the landscape!! I have katapa leaves & alder cones... my white clouds seem to like them, even though their natural habitat isn't black water. Wild bettas are so cool, their faces look just like little lizard faces to me. Thanks Rachel, it'll be wonderful to watch this evolve ;)

[@tsarminyabright984]

I'm envious of that package of goodies! My wild betta and his horde of shrimp would love it! I'm collecting leaves from my yard out here in the country for him 😊 I just love his subtle shimmer 😍

[@ramusbadisfish6582]

I just throw mine in, personally I kinda like the look of floating dead leaves and when they sink they kinda laythemselves out that seems natural t

[@voluntaryismistheanswer]

I like to tuck them around filters, cords, for some background (the big catoppas)

[@ArtCE47]

I just got a betta and have been obsessed with how to create a "natural" environment for him for daaays, lol. He's currently in a 5.5 gallon tank with several live plants but I'm definitely ordering those leaves! Great video, thank you!

[@adamm457]

Just ordered my own Enigma Pack from Tannin Aquatics. I can't wait to see what I get!

[@ohrats731]

Adam M I got one a few months ago. I’m loving it so much! I have relatively small tanks so it’s lasting a long time :)

[@adamm457]

@@ohrats731 I only have a 20 Long up and running currently but I have plans for my 2 40 breeders that are coming to fruition slowly but surely and I have another 20 Long and 10 gallon that I need to do something with!

[@ohrats731]

Adam M Exciting!!!! I wish I had a 40 or a 50... get some nice cichlids of some sort. I’ve got a 10g betta tank, a 10g brackish crab paludarium, and a 20 long nano tank. I started in August. It’s been rocky! But I’m still loving it

[@wolfbeam3915]

That Wild Betta is gorgeous!! It makes me question the reasons and ethics of line breeding to create Betta Splendens a bit (although Sid Fishious and my own King Kazma are beautiful in their own rights). The variety of botanicals is really effective and looks stunning. It looks so much more natural than using multiples of a single leaf type! In regards to the background, I think a classic black would make the red pop really well and would help the spangles on the Betta's show up more.

[@Spens675]

Rachel! Your videos are ALWAYS so interesting to watch. You make it so easy for someone without an aquarium, like myself, to enjoy the hobby from afar! Thank you!

[@MikeMorgan]

Beautiful tank and a great scape....I can't wait to see how it grows in. I think a beige, dark brown or black background would suit this tank really well. Those wild bettas are gorgeous!

[@RachelOLeary]

i am really considering dark brown, but wanted to get all of your opinions before I pull the trigger!

[@MikeMorgan]

@@RachelOLeary As you should! I was picturing the brown you used on the big tank (if I'm remembering right) or black since I think you already have it. You could go bananas and try a deep/dark orange, or even a brick red. It will be fun to see what you pick and what other people come up with! :)

[@RachelOLeary]

i have considered even trying burlap, may try a few solutions and get you guys to vote. Stay tuned

[@Matthew.E.Kelly.]

Well, I just bookmarked Tannin Aquatics. I was really running out of ideas for my next 40 breeder scape (honestly I'm about to put a male betta in there with about a dozen rasboras, 20 corys and just call it good)... this opens up some new options for me!

[@michaelvaldez8584]

I love the wild betas. It’s a dream of mine to have some someday. Great tank, I’m sure it will be amazing when the plants start to grow more.

[@teresainnis4641]

Love this aquarium! Please show progression along the way!

[@Jenny_Lynn]

Love the wild Bettas!! I am going to try some of those tannins, I currently only use almond leaves. Thanks for the info!!

[@kes9612]

Absolutley enjoyed this video and just got done placing a small $20 order from tanninaquatics, just some river rocks, barks, botanicals. Would have never known of this intriquing yet ethically sourced company had it not been for this video, so thank you Ma'm. Ive been binge watching all your videos and cant get enough of your wild betta ones and summer tubbin tutorials. You do a great job and have such a relaxing tone to all your vids👍

[@reneowens2768]

Deep, dark midnight blue background. It will enhance the blue of the bettas.

[@cilenemagnine5143]

SUPER excited you are doing a blackwater tank. I'm also doing a SE Asia biotope tank. Just got a group of sparkling gourami for mine (they are super curious) and a group of kuhli loaches. Thank you for all your informative videos.

[@jimmygimbal]

YES!! This is what I needed! There has been a pair of Macrostoma's I've been reluctant to take home. If they are still there today, I will bring them home. :) Thanks Rachel

[@JohnJames.]

Swhiskey , jimmy , did you

[@RachelOLeary]

You wont regret it!! They are amazing fish

[@hunghopper1993]

Thank you for another awesome video. I’ve been wondering where to buy some quality botanicals. Tannin Aquatics rocks! Thanks for the tip. ☺️

[@RachelOLeary]

glad to be of help!

[@spencerdixon98]

Tannins are awesome Many aquarium fish originate in tannin-rich waters and will show their best coloration and thrive in such conditions.

[@RachelOLeary]

Today we look at my 20 g long wild Betta habitat! It was scaped by Ricky Chawla, and the botanicals were provided by Tannin Aquatics. What sort of background do you want to see on it? Ricky's Instagram: @chawchow Tannin Aquatics: www.tanninaquatics.com Music Shattered Paths by Aakash Gandhi Winnipeg Event (membership required): facebook.com/events/1673684569377116/ Fan mail can be sent to: PO box 146 Manchester PA 17345 Buy me a coffee: msjinkzd.com/about_msjinkzd/support-our-site/ Instagram @msjinkzd Website and stocklist: msjinkzd.com/stocklist/ Facebook: facebook.com/msjinkzd/

[@hannap13]

Beautiful set up! You’re so knowledgeable 🙏🙏

[@mackenzieferguson4599]

This is awesome! I have Betta stiktos and have been looking for more/different botanicals for their tank. They would LOVE this stuff!

[@romariovito13]

I just love this channel. By far one of the best fish keeping Channels on KZbin.

[@quix66hiya22]

Love it! Inspiring me to use botanicals in my betta tank.

[@jonathanmendoza7364]

Ooooooh. This is gonna be GOOD.

[@kayb8513]

I don’t know what it is about that music but it puts me to sleep immediately, and not in like a “I’m bored” kind of way, I’ll be sitting up, watching the video, then I wake up 2 hours later with a sore neck from weird sleeping positions. I literally fell asleep on the landing of the basement stairs once, I only woke up because I was freezing cold

[@mirsad96]

A wood theme background would fit the botanicals. And it would make the rocks stand out even more.

[@munafruit]

i loooove the way this tank looks now!!! ughhh absolutely goals. and i love the one betta imbellis that came out to play! what a gorgeous friend!! love your videos so much, thank you 💕💕💕💕💕

[@billyboy4797]

nice tanks. those wild bettas are smart little critters

[@robertforrest7956]

Great video. Beautiful Bettas!! What a wonderful break from the fires here in the north end of CA.

[@RachelOLeary]

Stay safe!!!

[@SkepyourOwn]

0:20 I love that clip when they just look at each other and smile 😃

[@lisacampbell9257]

Thank you for introducing me to this website! Those botanicals look amazing! I sware that little betta started to color up just right before my eyes! Gotta get some of that stuff for my boys.

[@GordonWMay]

The wild Bettas look great!

[@KatieKat3388]

I could watch fish swim with a classic music background all day! ♥️

[@ooshybermi8310]

I'm leaning towards a shade of green on this one, was thinking brown but i don't think you'd see the fish as easily!?

[@Patchwork_Dragon]

Now, if only i had the time to do something like this i would totally do it for Crusoe. He's a little baby.

[@cqfishbrain7437]

I'd like to see a live background on this aquarium and to see how you go about creating it!

[@pamelak819]

I just got a pair of wild Betta (mahachai) last month! Unfortunately I can't find too much information about them. I'm looking forward to the species spotlight on these guys. I'd like to see more videos on wild bettas and what can be kept with them.

[@danklyf4202]

Hey, you can contact your states university, they are usually pretty cool on hooking peeps up with info, especially the folks who desire to learn all about the critter so it lives a happy life. Or you can go to NCBI.COM. Type in your fish type, and you should see research papers from nerds, about that fish or whatever subject you type in. Ncbi is so full of nerd stuff. Scientists are rad✌

[@jyeox]

Betta mahachai live in brackish water. They cant really be kept in pairs unless in a big enough tank so ideally keep them separate unless ur breeding. They also dont like soft water like other bettas but they do like a dimmer tank

[@Wayne-fe1ed]

Those botanicals of varying sizes and especially the pods are exceptional, and certainly look more natural.

[@knezmej]

Thank You. I love your "species spotlight"!

[@ericj1500]

I just love the chili rasboras they are so tiney and so colorful. Thanks for sharing friend.

[@macylouwho1187]

I’m off to look for this company, thanks for posting about it. My five beautiful bettas will be happier, I’m sure.

[@HOIKID]

Just placed my order 😀 so excited

[@crabbyoldfartbag]

Loving the blackwater. And really loving the wild Bettas. Keep on giving us inspiration.

[@RachelOLeary]

I will do my best!

[@FridayFishFacts]

You’re very creative Rachel. This tank looks great

[@carlapappalardo1901]

So funny, I get my botanicals from Tannin Aquatic, love all the pods etc that are nano sized...and I happened to go to see if my next order was still in the cart and I saw your name referenced on a page before I even saw your post today!! Love the 20L scale and the new botanicals you got! 😊

[@RachelOLeary]

Awesome

[@baikia777]

Lookin good! The botanicals makes it way more natural. As for the background a dark reddish brown color would be good if you can find any or frosted glass vinyl is good too.

[@johnbomhoff8782]

Great info Rachel, looking forward to seeing you at the ASW meeting in Winnipeg this weekend. Safe travels!

[@megancallender9209]

Thanks for the info, loooove your tanks . New to the betta Blackwater world and you have helped.

[@susannesteele5925]

I had a black background for my blue betta and he just faded into the background, so I changed it for grey. Now his colour really pops.

[@JHAquatics]

Tannins for life!!

[@DanielGonzalez-gd3dx]

Hi Rachel I love this tank I have a 30 gal I’m doing the same thing with the tint I might look up tanning place you got your stuff from. I can’t wait to see the tank when the plants grow.

[@BrutalRiotGirl01]

Coffee tannins, is always a good thing lol Those pods are the coolest.

[@joshhibbs_nola]

I love this tank and the botanicals. I would like to see maybe a background that would somewhat mimic their natural habitat. Not a 3D one or anything crazy like that. 👍🏼

[@musician200X]

Love this video! Amazing information as always. Love the hair too btw. You look great!

[@jpgmmg09]

I love tannins so, this is right up my alley! I also keep forgetting to tell you. I love your hair color! Been trying to brave purple again. Been blond tooooo long! Missin my purple! I'm bored. Hahaha

[@evilangel713]

Yes! This is going to be soooooo good! Thank you so much!❤❤

[@jonandlisa2000]

I love what you’ve done with this aquarium 😍

[@Bloodhoundfostermom]

Absolutely love the look of this tank !!!

[@citizentrucker]

Those pods are awesome fish caves

[@triple10tanks10]

I really enjoy these tanks. I’m going to have to add one on my fish room list

[@Iamaguienapig]

I love those pods!

[@gothboy174]

Beautiful bettas. I will definitely be adding botanicals to my new shrimp tank. Dress warm for Winnipeg lol!

[@GameChanger-qi1uo]

Loved the video! I've never heard of that Tannin Aquatics Store. I done saved there website to my favs. The backdrop, definitely something dark to make those Rasboras stand out.

[@darrylmoore5847]

I am I love with the wild bettas. I think the chili’s were the perfect tank mate for them. For the background I would go with a simple black because the bettas color was popping on the black substrate.

[@Evil_Genius_888]

After watching the video I ordered a $25 “Enigma Pack”. Can’t wait to get it!

[@destinyjarias]

Dope galaxy hair!!! 💞

[@Printerthing]

Those Chili Rasboras are so red! Can only seem to get the ones I had to be a pinky color

[@TheLiam14141]

Personally, I love blackwater tanks, they appear much more natural to me. I tried leaf litter and other botanicals for my shrimp tank but decided against replacing them once the leaves had decayed. Instead, I used some broken up driftwood to create some interesting shapes in the foreground. However, I still find natural litter to be the best way to make a tank look natural and wish it got more attention.

[@sarahthomson9649]

Hey Rachel, I love the video like always. Botanicals are beautiful and so natural. One topic I would love to see you address, is how to "decontaminate" shrimp and snail after nasty fish disease outbreak in your tank. I recently lost 5 guppys in a week, but treated them with meds in a QT tank and many are pulling through. However, now my shrimp and snails in the display tank are likely "contaminated" with whatever ills that infected my tank. They are fine, healthy, and completely unscathed, but since most anti-parasite and anti-bacterial medicine isn't safe for invertebrates and it is my understanding they will infect any fish I put in the tank with them. I would love your insight!

[@19672701]

First, thanks for the heads up on tannin Aquatics. I'm a huge black water fan, and probably half my tanks are Blackwater. Actually did your tip of using brown for a background, but waiting to set these up as I just resealed a couple. I have used a olive green color which I kind of like. Might be an idea for you. Great video, can't wait to see a spotlight on the wild bettas.

[@karenwolfsen]

Great video Rachel! Did you get a new camera? Super clear and crisp! Looks awesome! This video was really cool. I really dig it. The tank looks great. I also enjoy making natural looking scapes. Just sort of letting them happen and tweaking them now and then. Keep up the great work !

[@RachelOLeary]

Same camera, just uploaded it in a larger higher resolution format

[@karenwolfsen]

Rachel O'Leary it looks awesome !

[@jacqueortiz3828]

Like your hair! I had betas a long time ago. I would like to have another beta tank. Thank you for showing us all of your tanks. Love the blue shrimp!! Sorry trying to keep my comment short-ish..lol.

[@LylasBulldogZoo]

I LOVE the pods!

[@huitrecouture]

That Betta is so CUTE inching along there under the leaf! Is that Stratum substrate? Looks like larger granules.

[@RachelOLeary]

Its tropica

[@lyndasnart7823]

One of your best Always look forward to your vids and thoughts on fish and there well being ....hope you and your family are all well after a trying year

[@ThePustelinchen]

Hey Rachel, Why don't you paint the background black. I put d-c-fix in black on the background. Best wishes Form Germany Christoph

[@blueghost87]

actually, it would be good to save the boiled tannin water. i add a little bit of anti-chlorine solution with some salt. then freeze the whole solution or keep it refrigerated, and use diluted in the tank.

[@kes9612]

Ive seen breeders do the same while doing water changes on their jars and using a pippette to put the tannins into the jars or tanks they are doing water changes on.