Hi There is a lot of info on the internet on Betas We only have one and when we first got it we had it in a 1 gallon fish bowl. The bowl needed to be changed every second day or it was filthy and it did not seem like it was 'happy'in there so after about a week or so I added it to our 20 gal tank. After a few days of hiding out, it is now thriving and actually playing with the other fish. Betas aren't necessarily solitary creatures, you just can't have 2 males together but you can have male and female and they are compatibable with other similar size fish. The main worry is actually the betas flowing fins being attacked by others not vice versa. The same problem occurs with angel fish - those fins are tempting. With our beta we have 1 angel fish, 4 black widow tetras and 4 mollies. They all get along great. Most, but not all info I have read discourages the small decorative containers for the fish. They can survive in them but they are not ideal. The beta would actually prefer higher temps than you can achieve without a tank heater as well as more space. Kind of like a lot of so called low light plants - they will survive in low light but they will thrive in more. I am not an expert - just wanted to offer a little info. Here is a link that might be useful: Beta fish care

Spalding -- It sounds like you betta is "flaring." It's a sign of aggression. I would separate the two bettas immediately, or you'll probably have a dead fish in your tank. Male bettas should NEVER be together in the same aquarium. In the wild, males will fight viciously over territory; the losing male is driven away. In all but the largest aquariums, there simply isn't room for males to establish separate territories. They will literally tear each other apart. One or both of your bettas will die. A male and a female betta should not be together in the same aquarium unless for breeding purposes. Even then, there is a great deal of preparation required before putting them together. Males are often very aggressive toward females and can serious injure or kill a female. Putting females bettas together requires a heavily planted tank and at least 3 females (a good set-up is a 10-20 gallon with 6-10 females). Female bettas will bully each other to establish a hierarchy. If there aren't enough hiding spots for separate fish, the "omega" bettas will be harassed and killed. Sometimes, even the best betta sorority will have issues. Certain females are just too aggressive to be kept with other fish and have to be removed. Success in putting females together really depends on the set-up and the personalities of the individual fish.

Sounds like ammonia poisoning and fin rot. Is the tank filtered. If 70F is the room temp. the water is lower. Even if water is 70F it is still a little too low. It doesn't sound good, if he survives I would get him a heater and be sure the tank is cycled with an adequate filter. A live plant or 2 always help with the cycle. Java Fern is a good beginer plant.

Pat... A live plant, or silk (anything plastic can tear fins) will allow him a resting place at his choice of spot, ie can rest near water surface on top of leaf, pick broad leaved plant, sword or silk type. don't have to plant sword, if it goes bad just replace with fresh one. If you can find Annubias even better. I put sponge filter thingy on both my intake and outtake of filter (Eclispe) for my betta and reduce turbulance to where it is comfortable for him. Plants, ceramic snail shell - no getting stuck as it has a huge opening, and one happy guy. Also a bit of aquarium salt, and I have had good results with betta version of melefix (tea tree oil, which I used for myself as well in past) Some swear by it, some don't. When you say coral, you mean fake right? If not then not good for him. (unless you are raising low ph, and then best done by putting in filter and watching hardness/ph carefully) edges are way to sharp for a betta. Their fins tear very easily, setting them up for disease. Also, make sure there are no sharp edges from anything. I use a glass black coffee cup as a cave, which my rescue betta really likes. Sits on top, goes inside so on. When you say, popped eye, do you mean punctured, or extended from it's socket? As skygee notes, clean water. I syphon off bottom every other day or so, or you can use turkey baster... as there fins if they rest on bottom get bulk of bacteria. Only a little. Water going in, I trickle slow with teeny air tubing, same ph et al. The salt will help. Mix seperately first and trickle in near filter to disburse slowly.... (the site I list below, go to how to house a betta, and health disease so on.. list salt amount for diff sizes of holdings) A lower water line temporarily (if large enough space to begin with) might help if he is having trouble swimming to the top. I have also extended the filter tube by adding larger tubing (found at hardware store) so that only the bubble are near the top. Or you can use those smaller filter type cartriges (built all in one) and just place it up higher to reduce turbulence. For a rescue scooter, I have him in large round bowl, with low water since it is extremely hard for him to swim... just scoots (swim bladder disease and were going to flush him at store)... I put diff size river rocks (rounded) and plants, and same filter on its side going up side of bowl. He scoots all over the place, and rests at night near filter on top of rock. (in larger container with heater) Just be creative, lol.. you'll think of a solution. Best and good luck. Sherry http://www.bettatalk.com/