I love mine because if they have the proper-sized tank and warm water, they are very energetic and bright. They have really distinct personalities too. I got my first Betta nearly a year ago and we even play games like tag together! My little fish bring me so much joy and amusement. They're...
They don't need a cycled tank but it's a good idea to cycle it anyway. If it's not cycled, you'll have to do 100% water changes every week. I have a betta in a cycled 5 gallon and a betta in an uncycled 2.5 gallon and trust me, the 5 gallon is 10x easier to manage.
P.S. what size is the tank?