Bazil The Betta Vs Gourami

[Bblou]

I am very new to tropical fish!

Bazil was my first fish... betta... dont know what kind... he was about 5 times the price of the other bettas in the aquarium though!!!

I have since added some fancy guppies, emperor tetra and two male dwarf gouramis.

I have since learned that the guppies and the gouramis are a bad choice!!! Hmm.

I have the option to take them back to the pet shop and change them if I so wish. I don't have the option to return bazil and I also have no other tanks so housing bazil alone is not an option.

Anyway, I thought I should ask you betta experts.

He hasnt paid any attention what so ever to the guppies.. so does that mean hes never likely to? They arent very big at the moment. As they get bigger, will he go for them?

As for the gouramis, the smaller one he ignores. The one his own size he flares up at and charges for him, but he doesnt attack. The gouramis response is to swim off. Occasionally I have noticed the gourami slyly sneak up on bazil, only for bazil to chase him off again. So, if he hasnt attacked yet and the gourami shows no signs of wanting a fight, does this mean they might be ok? Or is it only a matter of time before I awake to some seriously damaged or dead fish?

I don't want any of the fish to suffer but my lack of knowledge leaves me unsure of what to do for the best!!! If your advice is to return any of the fish, could you suggest some to replace them with?

Thanks

 

[newfishy]

If they are already flairing and sneaking up on each other, then yes it is only a matter of time till somebody gets hurt. I would take the guppys, tetras and gourami back and try perhaps two different groups of corys, a plec that does not grow too large and I have heard that people have bettas with white cloud mt minnows and it works out fine. Just dont over load your tank, as that can cause problems too.

 

[Bblou]

hes not paying attention at all to the guppies or the tetras. just the one gourami.

do you still advise i take all but bazil back?

eeek!

 

[ibbledibble]

betta are very temperamental, they can be fine one minute and not the next. plus he may currently be focusing all his aggression on the one gourami at the moment, but once that ones gone, he could well shift his attention to the next "rival". you say the guppies aren't very big at the moment, if they grow, and their tails get more impressive he may decide they are an issue. and also guppies (and tetras) are both notorious fin nippers, who could do damage to basil too. so i would agree with newfishy, if you can take them back and get something more suitable, then do. harlequin rasboras are not big fin nippers and not too showy so don't tend to be a problem with bettas, and are a nice shoaling fish (get at least 6) and as newfishy said, cory's and small plecs (bristlenose/bulldog etc make sure of the type, some plecs grow massive!)
i wouldn't recommend the mountain minnows, although they are not particularly nippy, then like cooler fast flowing water, while the betta prefers warm still water

also, you don't say what size tank you have? that would be very useful info in deciding what are suitable tank mates, and how many!


can you put a picture of basil up? so we can see what type he is?

 

[hollyp0p]

gourami and bettas are both antabanoids and therefore both highly territorial.....if the betta doesn't hurt the gourami it will be the other way around....

 

[Bblou]

ok! thanks guys, I will have a word with the store I got them all from!

Bazil has now taken to hiding in my plant arrangement and only charges if the gourami tries to explore his corner.
The gourami is trying to explore less and less.

I am growing very fond of all of the fish and the guppies have started shoaling with the tetras. My gouramis have started swimming through the holes in the loggy thing I have aswell...

My partners dad has a tank that currently houses red rocks (yes... rocks) so I will see if he might give it to me for Bazil to live in. I don't really want to get rid of any!! That is a much smaller tank.

My current tank is 20 gallon. The other tank is.. at a guestimation, 10 to 15? I also would need to get a heater and filter for the second tank if I am allowed it.

If I can have the second tank, say it is 10, how many and what fish would be happy in there with bazil?

Thanks for your help guys!!

Don't know what id do without you.

well... id probably have dead or mutilated fish!

 

[newfishy]

id say in a 10 gallon, your betta and like 4-6 corys, if you can find the small corys that would be better.

it does sound like your betta and other fish are getting sick of each other...best thing is to move them, good luck getting another tank, depending on where you live craigs list and the local papers are great places to find tanks for little or nothing, thats how Ive gotten my 5, two 10s, 20 long and my other random tanks

 

[Bblou]

Ok guys!! Thankyou

this is a baddd pic of bazil

ps I have just got the second tank so I will read the fishless cycling thread and get the other tank ready for bazil to move house

 

[newfishy]

well bazil is a very pretty crowntail betta, other wise know as a ct. If you have the new tank I would just "clone" it from you old.

get new tank all set up filled and ready, take a chunk of filter media out of your old tank...not all the media just a bit, and place it in your new filter. replace the chunk of filter from your older tank with new media. put Bazil directly in the new tank that is running, and feed the new and old tank lightly for a few days, while checking the water levels for a while. this should grow you two cycled filters very quickly, you just have to take care to watch the levels and if anything gets high do a few water changes till it comes back down.

I have done this for 4 tanks now and works like a charm.

 

[Bblou]

my test results for my current tank werent very good. ammonia was at 0.25 and nitrite was at 1.0. should I still take a chunk of the filter sponge? And shall I try and get the second tank cycled before I put bazil in?

Which way is more likely to leave me with a dead fish (either a betta or gourami)
putting bazil into another uncycled tank or leaving him in with the other fish til the second tanks cycled?

also.. how big a chunk are we talking?

 

[newfishy]

hmm, sounds like your fist tank is still cycleing as well. I would still start up the new tank....less fish spread over more water means less deadly high water levels. also high levels means more stress on the fish, and if they do atack and injure each other whist the new tank is cycleing it is going to be very tough for them to heal.

I would take a chunk like the size of a 50 cent piece, umm or roughly 2 inches square, and then comes the tough part, daily water changes till both tanks come out at 0 ammonia, 0 nitrIte, and a steadly riseing nitrAte.

if you live in the usa you can get a product called bio-spira, it is the only product that has dorment bacteria to help your cycle, you can order it online but the shipping is rather expensive as it must be kept cold-but not frozen and never warm. I would try your lfs and see if they have it, others wise I cant say enough about daily water changes.

 

[Bblou]

ok I will set up the second tank tomorrow. (boyfriends being a grump and wont let me do it now) I am asking for help on the newcomers forum on the water change side for my current tank as I am clueless. I have just tested my tap water too and its v similar to the tank minus nitrite. so im confused lol.

I put some of that bacteria stuff in when I put bazil in. I could get some more!

Thanks for your help!

ps its definitely still cycling (the first one) because i didnt know anything about cycling before I found this site, and the fish went into the tank before I found the forum! Hopefully finding this forum will save them from their bad mother.



EDIT. Here is a slightly better picture of bazil as he was starting to get used to me shoving a phone wherever he swam.

 

[newfishy]

hmm, I have heard of some local water supplies that do have ammonia problems, or your test kit could be old and giving bad readings, but its not something I am familar with though...I have very nice well water and dont even need condioner. why dont you go over to the new to the hobby section and ask what to do in the case of slightly off tap water.

basil is quite the cute fish btw.

 

[Bblou]

I shall do that thanks

I love my bazil

Ive got a second smaller tank, not sure how many gallons, about ten I think, to put him in. He has taken a slight disliking to my larger gourami. He doesnt attack.. just flares and charges.

I am going to try and cycle the new tank properly first though and hope they all play nice til then! At present, the first thing I do every morning is count the fish and check everyones fins and tails! No missing parts or fish!

x fingers ey?!

Thanks for your help!