10 Gal Sorority

[Platygirl11]

Could I have around 6 female bettas in a 10 gal? I was told previously that this was possible, and my 10 gal is now free.
I have a HOB filter. Is this OK? I need to know soon.
Thanks!

 

[richgroup]

My rule I use is 1 inch of fish for every gallon, so 6 in a 10 gal may be at the limit. With your filtration system, just make sure it's not causing a swift current or a lot of turbulence in the water, Bettas don't care for that. I've had the best luck with under gravel filters...but that's just me.

 

[Curiosity101]

Actually a HOB filter is likely to cause the opposite prob, not enough turbulence. You need water movement at the surface to give good aeration, and females bettas with their minimal finnage are ok with reasonable currents.
I think richgroup may be refering to males when he says bettas have problems with a current.
Obviously you don't want huge currents round the tank, but so long as you've got some reasonable movement at the surfance you'll be fine. Saying all that, they are labyrinth fish and so tend to take air from the surface more often than not. So minimal movement should be ok, so long as the filter is actually capable of processing the waste.

What filter is it you were thinking of using? as in model.

 

[Platygirl11]

it's brand is aqueon, made for 10 gal aquariums. Is that OK? It does have a current, and a little waterfall.

 

[Platygirl11]

I hope it's fine cycling for one night.

I'm so happy. Tomorrow, I get to rescue 5-6 bettas who are in little plastic tubs! I'm sure that they'll be much happier. They are stacked on a metal shelf, tub over tub. Ugh. Sickening. No heat or anything! I should test the ammonia in there before I start acclimating!

 

[tibby25731]

Cycling over night? Is the tank not already cycled? If you have another tank, I would pinch a bit of media from there once you get your girls home to seed the filter, and make sure to test the water daily for a week or two to keep an eye on stats. That said, anything is better than them being kept in little cups - so if you are fish in cycling, just be sure to test very often and do water changes when you have ANY ammo or nitrite. Show us pics of the girls when you have them!

 

[Platygirl11]

No no, the tank is already cycled, I was worrying about it.... um, un-cycling.
Out to get some girls today! My plan:
1. Get a big girl who could be boss
2.Have all others be smaller so there isn't too much fighting.

Would that work?

 

[youngfisher]

Dont forget photos.

 

[Curiosity101]

Fish hierarchy doesn't necessarily adhere to size, it's more about the fishes 'personality', if they are a dominant fish then regardless of size they'll probably end up in charge.
Just get a group of girls you like, they will sort themselves out over time.

 

[Platygirl11]

OK.
Yay! I've wanted a female tank for such a long time.

EDIT:
I'm also going to get some coconut caves. I already have a castle, but I want a lot of hiding places.

 

[Curiosity101]

Remember the pics! May take pics while they're acclimatising aswell as when they're in the tank. Just thinking cause once they've been released they might be a bit shy for a few days.

 

[Platygirl11]

Well, the girls are floating in their new tank.
Out of curiosity, i tested the ammonia in a jar. A little under 3.0. That's B-A-D.

 

[Honeythorn]

If you have another tank (or know someone who does ) , then take some mature filter media from that filter running it, ( do not wash it ) and put this in your filter for the ten gallon . Try to fill the filter to it's normal capacity with the used media, so you will have a complete instant cycle.

If that HOB filter has been running an empty tank with no fish ( or without you adding ammonia ) for a while before this, then the bacteria will have died, which is why you have such a high ammonia reading.

 

[Curiosity101]

Honeythorn, she tested the ammonia in the pots the Betta's came out of. Not the tank they're going into. And I don't know how long the 10gal has been empty, but I got the impression that it's only been a couple of days.

How long has the 10gal been empty platygirl? And how many/what sized fish were in it before?

 

[Platygirl11]

Actually, it's been less than a day. It had some platies, a dwarf gourami, and 2 bronze cories. So I'm pretty sure that the bacteria didn't die.
Some of them are hiding now. Pics!
(Click to enlarge)






She may just be my favorite, color-wise.


Click to see the entire pic.