Setting up the Fish Room
So, you've been bitten by the Betta Bug. Be forewarned - big changes are about to happen to your home! You will need to devote quite a bit of space to your fish if you want to be a successful breeder. This will require quite a bit of planning. The best way to help yourself plan your own set up is to check out as many fish rooms as you can. That way, you can tailor your fish room to your specific needs based on tried-and-true methods by other successful breeders. In my opinion, this is one of the most fun aspects of the hobby!
I want to stress that you do NOT need to have an elaborate, self-water changing set up to be successful. As you can see from my earlier set-ups, my fish room was literally my bedroom, with tanks scattered all around the room and sometimes even into the living room. There are also instances of breeders having tanks in their bathrooms ;) It is important to consider the other people you are living with though. I am so grateful to have a partner that supports my hobby, even though he is not a fish person. It is not uncommon for partners of fish people to lose patience! So be respectful of your family's wishes and it helps to keep everything as clean and appealing (and sometimes as hidden!) as possible.
I want to stress that you do NOT need to have an elaborate, self-water changing set up to be successful. As you can see from my earlier set-ups, my fish room was literally my bedroom, with tanks scattered all around the room and sometimes even into the living room. There are also instances of breeders having tanks in their bathrooms ;) It is important to consider the other people you are living with though. I am so grateful to have a partner that supports my hobby, even though he is not a fish person. It is not uncommon for partners of fish people to lose patience! So be respectful of your family's wishes and it helps to keep everything as clean and appealing (and sometimes as hidden!) as possible.
My Fish Room Set-ups Over the Years
Here are some of my own fish room tours, with the most recent being on the top. It's been fun to see my own fish room evolve! Tinkering with things to make them work better and better is one of my greatest joys.