Not totaly emergancy, but I need an answer quick. Ok, i have a 6-gallon tank. i have a dwarf gourami, platy, betta, and black skirt tetra in it. I just re-arranged it because the new fish (the black skirt tetra) wasn't doing well. Now that my fish are still out of the tank (they're on my old fish bowl), I don't know how to do this. I put in my black skirt tetra since he was getting picked on. How long should I wait to put in another fish, and which fish should go in next?? I'm definatly putting my betta in last, he's (aggresive).

ashley

Hi Ashley,

In your case returning them to the tank delayed will not make much sense... This approach could work with a large tank for fishes of the same species. The tetra will not dominate the Betta just because it has been there first.

I think your tank is too small, and "one of each" is not a good approach to fishkeeping. For a tank of this size, one Betta is pretty much it... Tetras should be kept perhaps 5 or 6 of one species, one is always going to feel very lonely, and two or three will constantly chase each other. The dwarf gourami and the betta will probably not get along well either.

Just my thoughts...

Thanks for your thoughts. Do you think that the betta and the gourami will start to not like each other or would they not like each other from the beginning?? I've had them for 2 1/2 weeks and they have been fine....so far. They are like best buds.

Hard to say... Bettas can be really nasty, but if they are getting along you/they might be lucky. Within the same species you find very agressive as well as very gentle individuals... In small tanks they are usually more agressive because they find their territory (which might be the entire tank) threatened. Hopefully they keep being buddies

Just read all your posts in the chitchat board Hope you can figure it all out.

-- it is always better to start with a large tank and then go nano --

If your betta and gourami have gotten along just fine thus far, it is probably safe to say they should continue to do so. I do agree with Wasserpest, upgrading to a bigger tank size would be much more beneficial for your fish and would even further ensure that your betta and gourami live together peacefully. Some bettas can be aggressive and some are quite docile in comparison. Sounds like you picked a good one, but definitely look into getting a larger size tank.

As for re-introducing them back into the tank in a different order, I also don't think that will do much to alter your situation.