7 Gallons

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

Is a 7 to 8 gallon tank too small for Guppies (all male)?

 

[5teady_2012]

No its fine, with a mature filter and refular water changes you will be fine with 5-8 in it.

Start off with a few, then work up to the max number over the course of a couple of months, dont just add them all at once.

 

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

No its fine, with a mature filter and refular water changes you will be fine with 5-8 in it.

Start off with a few, then work up to the max number over the course of a couple of months, dont just add them all at once.

Brilliant thank you; I did think that; I just wanted to 'make sure' that I was being sensible rather than going "I WANT THOSE".

I'm torn between the idea of having all male guppies or a betta fish.

 

[5teady_2012]

No its fine, with a mature filter and refular water changes you will be fine with 5-8 in it.

Start off with a few, then work up to the max number over the course of a couple of months, dont just add them all at once.

Brilliant thank you; I did think that; I just wanted to 'make sure' that I was being sensible rather than going "I WANT THOSE".

I'm torn between the idea of having all male guppies or a betta fish.

If you do decide to get bettas, dont mix them, males cant go with males, and males cant go with females, only females can be together and in a 7G tank dont put no more than 2 in it if u decide on bettas.

Sorry i have edited the post, i was meant to put 2 bettas.

 

[OldMan47]

Actually a 7 gallon is too small for an effective female betta sorority and is a bit of a waste of space for a single male without companions. The single male betta would work fine but adding much of anything else to that male would quickly overstock the tank. It is a bit of a predicament because the tank is so small for several fish but a bit big for a single fish.

 

[5teady_2012]

Actually a 7 gallon is too small for an effective female betta sorority and is a bit of a waste of space for a single male without companions. The single male betta would work fine but adding much of anything else to that male would quickly overstock the tank. It is a bit of a predicament because the tank is so small for several fish but a bit big for a single fish.

Have you ever kept bettas mate?

1 is perfectly fine in a 7-8G, not to big or small its absoloutly perfect.

I had 2 males in my 7-8G tank, (divider in - see vid below)

VIDEO


I had 2 sponge filters, one in each section, and the fish did amazing in there, they started in there cos i was healing them after being mistreat by previous owner, but the tank became thier home cos they did great in it.

After this (and while i was breeding them) i set up quite a lot of 7-8G tanks housing 2 bettas, (with dividers if male - no dividers if they was femals)

The ammonia and nitrite levels stayed perfect with 1, 50% water change every week.

Bettas are a superb fish, just not very active.

 

[OldMan47]

Yes, I have in the past kept bettas and presently have one in my 45 gallon show tank along with about 100 endlers. I find they are good community citizens but I would not devote a 7 gallon to a single fish, I think I am repeating myself and would find the extra stocking difficult in a 7 gallon because there would not be much room left for other fish. In a 7 gallon, you could indeed use a divider to place two betta males although I would not use a transparent divider for that purpose. When I have kept sororities of female betta splendens, I found that less than 5 or 6 of them was a bad idea because the least aggressive female ended up a victim of the others until there was only one left. In larger groups, they did not seem to have that problem. A 7 gallon is too small for a successful sorority, there I go repeating myself again.

 

[5teady_2012]

Yes, I have in the past kept bettas and presently have one in my 45 gallon show tank along with about 100 endlers. I find they are good community citizens but I would not devote a 7 gallon to a single fish, I think I am repeating myself and would find the extra stocking difficult in a 7 gallon because there would not be much room left for other fish. In a 7 gallon, you could indeed use a divider to place two betta males although I would not use a transparent divider for that purpose. When I have kept sororities of female betta splendens, I found that less than 5 or 6 of them was a bad idea because the least aggressive female ended up a victim of the others until there was only one left. In larger groups, they did not seem to have that problem. A 7 gallon is too small for a successful sorority, there I go repeating myself again.

I did not say add more fish, i said 2 bettas in a 7G tank, the op said he was thinking of getting bettas instead of guppies, not both.

I was a previous betta breeder with lots of experience and very sucessful at it, and 7-8G is easy enough to hold 2 Bettas (i feel im repeating myself).. just 2 bettas (not room for no fish no, but that was not his plan)hence this...

I'm torn between the idea of having all male guppies or a betta fish.

....

On a the divider Quote u said about not using a clear one, your reason no doubt is cos they flare at each other right? thats why we use the good old boil the kettle and soak the divider in hot water to scorch it making it not clear but frosting it effect,

I know the one in the video was not already frosted but it was a fairly new setup due to adopting them in short notice, and i was not planning on keeping them in there, but did frost the divider when i knew i was keeping in there

And 2 is not to small group in 7-8G tank, did it for a long time, always did the tanks same way, same quantity, never no probs. (but i alwasy divided all my bettas off so each and everyone had their own section anyways cos with breeding them i liked them in tip top condition without no complications.

I found with bettas that u did generally get one that bullied the others, simple case or removing it, like most u always get the one, small or large groups.

 

[5teady_2012]

Anyways back to topic.

The original poster knows his options and has 2 opinions of two very experienced fish keepers, so with both information combined, im sure he can decide and do wahts best

Personally if i was you though, id start off with guppies.

 

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

The original poster is a girl by the way . But I'll let you off .

I decided to go for the betta fish (single male); the tank is huge for such a small fish but I like it .

Next time however, it will be guppies but I'd rather a larger tank for guppies.

 

[OldMan47]

He will have plenty of room in there. Be sure to add plants and decor so that he has something to explore. You don't want a bored betta on your hands.

 

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

He will have plenty of room in there. Be sure to add plants and decor so that he has something to explore. You don't want a bored betta on your hands.

I will. I plan on adding more plants; but I didn't want to start with too many.

He certainly can't complain about being cramped.

 

[5teady_2012]

If you can get hold of some at your local fish store, why dont you get some African dwarf frogs, they are good tank mates for male bettas.

He will be happy fishy with plenty of room

 

[lilacamy931]

Just a quick note on african dwarf frogs, make sure to get dwarf not clawed as clawed get huge and will eventually eat the betta! Also when adding companions be wary as the betta may not accept companions

 

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

If you can get hold of some at your local fish store, why dont you get some African dwarf frogs, they are good tank mates for male bettas.

He will be happy fishy with plenty of room

For some reason I find the frogs quite weird. I see them in the shops and they barely move around; I wouldn't mind a tank mate that does something. I'm in no rush to get him a tank mate; I wouldn't mind but I'd want everyone to be happy. I did get some jamacian blue guppies (they aren't colourful like normal guppies) and I am tempted to put one in with the betta to see how it goes; but I'd hate to watch in case it all goes wrong. They are currently in with my RCS (my RCS are bigger than the guppies ).