Incoming fish!!!!

[spaceparrot]

So I bought a 20 galloen tank with my birthday money this year! I just need to add a couple more hiding spots for the fish and wait a little longer before I can get another betta!

I cannot tell you how much misinformation is spread around the fish-keeping community. Especially when it comes to bettas. They are incredible little fish with big personalities!

I hope to bring home a large short-finned male betta sometime within the next week or so! I want to get him a couple of buddies of other fish species.

Do any of you know any good species that are compatible with bettas?

I just hope my birds won't get jealous!

 

[Inger]

We always had a male betta in our community tanks when I was growing up. We had some nice run of the mill fish-neon tetras, mollies, a pleco to keep algae down. We had a little red tailed shark once but he wasn’t very friendly.

When I took Bumble out in her harness last year, the only time she stopped chewing it was when we were looking at the fish, so maybe your fids will think it’s for them.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Cardinal]

I have had success with Neon Tetras and Platies as tank mates for Bettas and I would recommend it with a little caution.
It depends on the Bettas and the other fish too.
The Neons may nip and the Betta may bully.

Guppies, Mollies are a definite no.

 

[BirdGeeks]

I've read that Cory Catfish are good when you have them in small schools (Schools? Is that the right term?)

 

[spaceparrot]

Schools is right I think. I'll look into those! Thanks guys!

I have heard about tetras but my parents had a betta kill theirs in the past so I'm hestitant since those lil guys are carnivores.

I'll have to look into the catfish!

It's gonna be nice having a betta in the house again!!!

 

[Owlet]

don't wanna be the downer but I've always been told it is really really not good to put any betta with any other fish. There have been lots of successful community takes with them but it's still not healthy for the fish and it just a lot of added stress on the betta

 

[spaceparrot]

don't wanna be the downer but I've always been told it is really really not good to put any betta with any other fish. There have been lots of successful community takes with them but it's still not healthy for the fish and it just a lot of added stress on the betta

I've also heard that. Bettas are my favorite fish and sadly they get mistreated a lot. But I have heard if you have a bottom feeder in with them it isn't too stressful. People thought I was wierd for wanting to put a betta in a 20 gallon by himself. I may still do just that. Sadly people still confine them to tiny bowls that kill them!

 

[MonicaMc]

Having shrimp that require good water parameters, I know full well how much bad information is out there. Not really interested that much with fish, but I've learned more about cycling tanks and getting desired water parameters than I ever desired to learn before.

I know someone with a betta, and finally showed her just how bad their tank was. Not sure how the tank is better now, but the poor fish has had ammonia burn due to lack of water changes, only top offs. They were asking me if they should euthanize the poor fish. Hopefully, with better water, the fish will mostly heal. Afraid though that a big change in parameters might shock the fish into death...

 

[bill_e]

https://bettafish.org/betta-fish-tank-mates/

 

[spaceparrot]

Thanks guys! I now have my new fish, his name is Smokie and he is a darling! I hope to get him a buddy such as a trio of bamboo shrimp! Sharlett seems to have taken a liking to Smokie but Data is scared of him!

 

[ChristaNL]

Fun!


In my experience you can plunk a betta (splendens anyway/ it is a large family) in almost any tank with the right parameters (water quality, temperature etc.) and small fish that are not known as fin-nippers or fish with overlarge, brightly coloured tails (that is why oversized guppies/endlers are a no-no).

Some beta hunt & eat shrimp like it is their favorite food, others would not dream of it.
(Some breeders will actually look at temperament as well a colours -- I know a few breeders who sell especially-cuddly-beta-fish)

Of course you can always get him a few girlfriends ...
(never just one plze) note that they tend to be nicer to the wild-coloured ones.
Because they communicate with their large centre-stripe/ bars a lot the brightly coloured females are not as loud and clear as the normal/wild coloured ones and mistakes/ attacks can happen.

Breeding beta is fun- their nesting is fun to watch, just make sure you have a surefire way to find homes if any offspring survives.
(A lot of males will just as happy eat the eggs as show their amazing egg-care-abilities)


(do NOT by a gibbyceps, they will outgrow any tank! )

 

[Kiwibird]

How about some pics?

Have you considered getting any corydoras as tank mates? They have several different species and like to live in little schools. They are also too large to be eaten by a betta, and can apparently coexist quite peacefully with most bettas in a suitably sized tank. Plus, they are about the cutest little fishies I've ever seen. I just adore watching them at the pet store and in the future am almost certain I'll have a big tank with a big school of them! I actually did a lot of research a few years back with the intention of getting a tank set up, but life went to crap a bit and I figured it best not to bring any further living creatures into the home.

 

[spaceparrot]

This is Mr. Smokie! He's such a sweet heart! Yeah Smokie is not very aggressive from what I've seen. A couple of girlfriends would be nice but I'd still be worried how they would interact as females can be aggressive too. He likes eating brine shrimp which was my concern with the Bamboo Shrimp. I'll have to look into those other fish species, thanks guys!

 

[ChristaNL]

Cory's are lovely fish -> it's a varied family, some are bigger than others (they should be kept with 10 or more together, 5 being the absolute minumum).
Panda's are more suitable for not-overly-large tanks than f.e. the sterbai.
Remember that 80 cm ( 2 feet and seven-something inches to you heathens ) is the norm these days. Anything under 60 cm (1 foot and 12 inches-ish) is considered cruel and unjust punishment for these friendly fish.

(I almost always had fishtanks when I could not have a parrot, now I have both)


Smokie is a cuty!

 

[MonicaMc]

Bamboo shrimp need movement, like a wave maker or some sort of filter with fast flow... which is the opposite of what is recommended for bettas, so bamboo shrimp would not make good tank mates... especially if you end up with a betta that likes to nip at others... bamboo have fans that they must eat with and if those are damaged, then it might be difficult for them to eat.


I've got pygmy cories. These guys aren't strictly bottom dwellers, they will swim in the mid section and sometimes swim to the top of the tank for a gulp of air. I have them in a 30g tank with kuhli loaches (3-4 species?) and guppies. It's kind of a tall tank with AC HOB's that have extensions on the input flow tubes and those have sponge filters on them. (the sponge filters are replacements for air driven sponge filters...) The top of the sponge filters are about mid-way level in the tank. The cories can sometimes be seen sitting/laying on them. (or on the top of anubias leaves) They are pretty docile fish.

 

[ChristaNL]

Monica: these little guys are not that hard to breed, just cover the bottom with a layer of round objects (marble, pebbles - on of the breeders I know uses lots and lots of Mosball / Marimo - (Cladophora aegagropila) they are pretty and good for waterquality, but need maintenance ) you'll have enough of the eggs surviving.


oh bambooshrimp are the atyopsis moluccensis?
NOt a very good combination indeed- I'd have gone with Neocaridina heteropoda.
Inexpensive, breed like rabbits and very tolerant (for a shrimp of course) to temperature/ waterquality.
But the bamboos will scrape stuff from the bottom with their 'feathered legs' if there is not enough watercurrent going to bring them their food.


Spaceparrots beta is not ridiculously overfinned, so Smokie could deal wit a bit of a current in his quarters.
As long there is not a big difference in water - airtemperature (the labyrinthine organ does not like that) he'll be fine.

 

[spaceparrot]

Monica: these little guys are not that hard to breed, just cover the bottom with a layer of round objects (marble, pebbles - on of the breeders I know uses lots and lots of Mosball / Marimo - (Cladophora aegagropila) they are pretty and good for waterquality, but need maintenance ) you'll have enough of the eggs surviving.


oh bambooshrimp are the atyopsis moluccensis?
NOt a very good combination indeed- I'd have gone with Neocaridina heteropoda.
Inexpensive, breed like rabbits and very tolerant (for a shrimp of course) to temperature/ waterquality.
But the bamboos will scrape stuff from the bottom with their 'feathered legs' if there is not enough watercurrent going to bring them their food.


Spaceparrots beta is not ridiculously overfinned, so Smokie could deal wit a bit of a current in his quarters.
As long there is not a big difference in water - airtemperature (the labyrinthine organ does not like that) he'll be fine.

So Bamboos would not be a good idea, then? Makes sense. I was a bit worried anyways. Yeah, Smokie is a giant plakat bettas splendons! We keep his lid shut at all times unless we are feeding him or adjusting something in his tank. He's got some great current so far but probably not enough for a Bamboo Shrimp?

 

[spaceparrot]

Bamboo shrimp need movement, like a wave maker or some sort of filter with fast flow... which is the opposite of what is recommended for bettas, so bamboo shrimp would not make good tank mates... especially if you end up with a betta that likes to nip at others... bamboo have fans that they must eat with and if those are damaged, then it might be difficult for them to eat.


I've got pygmy cories. These guys aren't strictly bottom dwellers, they will swim in the mid section and sometimes swim to the top of the tank for a gulp of air. I have them in a 30g tank with kuhli loaches (3-4 species?) and guppies. It's kind of a tall tank with AC HOB's that have extensions on the input flow tubes and those have sponge filters on them. (the sponge filters are replacements for air driven sponge filters...) The top of the sponge filters are about mid-way level in the tank. The cories can sometimes be seen sitting/laying on them. (or on the top of anubias leaves) They are pretty docile fish.

What a cutie!!!! I might have to look into Corey's then. Just hope Smokie doesn't think they are food. He is a giant plakat so he doesn't have long fins and does well in a current. (He's also a speedster!)

 

[spaceparrot]

Cory's are lovely fish -> it's a varied family, some are bigger than others (they should be kept with 10 or more together, 5 being the absolute minumum).
Panda's are more suitable for not-overly-large tanks than f.e. the sterbai.
Remember that 80 cm ( 2 feet and seven-something inches to you heathens ) is the norm these days. Anything under 60 cm (1 foot and 12 inches-ish) is considered cruel and unjust punishment for these friendly fish.

(I almost always had fishtanks when I could not have a parrot, now I have both)


Smokie is a cuty!

Thanks! He is such a sweetie too but I swear he's part dog!

Also I'm very passionate about fish and their safety as well as health. They aren't always treated like the intelligent beings they are, especially betta splendons.

 

[MonicaMc]

Christa, the tank has 3 giant marimo "moss" balls, large gravel/smooth rocks and sand in it. There' hasn't been any breeding from the cories or the kuhli loaches... guppies are breeding though...

I can't necessarily recommend Neos either... I mean, it depends on the betta, some will eat them. It's also Neocaridina davidi now! Or their relative, Neocaridina palmata. (instead of heteropoda/denticulata and zhangjiajiensis)


spaceparrot, yeah a bamboo isn't necessarily a good fit, but if you do look into pygmy cories, do know that you want at least 6 of them!