Betta and Cockatoos

[nc_nutcase]

I have a 4 foot, 55 Gal aquarium which has shelves 14” long on each end of the tank. This gives an illusionary 6+ square foot of floor space. The aquarium is fully cycled and heavily planted with a large piece of driftwood in the middle of the aquarium (breaking line of sight between potential territories) as well as 11 terra cotta pots (3-4 inch pots; they are hard to see as they have black sand siliconed to the outside). Click here for a pic of the aquarium.

I am considering adding my 3 year old Betta, Sam, along with the previously planned stock of 3 Male and 6 Female Cockatoos. Is this a sensible consideration? If so which should be added first (Betta or Cockatoos)? If the Cockatoos begin breeding, will they be a threat to the Betta? How much of a threat will be Betta be toward the fry?

 

[Jer-]

I would not recommend having a betta in a tank with cockatoos. I had a betta in with my cockatoos once, the betta was injured quite badly, though the tank was only a 15 gal. The betta would initially annoy the cockatoos (one male, two females) by flaring up when he sees them and that is probably why later on he got all the cockatoos to dislike him.

Now i have a female betta with my cockatoos and they seem to bee fine. only the female gets chased occasionally. but im sure that if my cockatoos were to breed, the female would get bullied.

 

[One_Trick_Pony]

any chance of a photo of this tank nut case? sounds cool

 

[nc_nutcase]

TFF doesn't like the yahoo site I am using to host my pictures. One of these days I will take the time to set up the photobucket account so I can post them. If you click the word 'here' in the original post or the word here in this post it will open a new window with the pic.

 

[FoundMoney]

Nice looking tank NC. When do you get your cockatoos?

 

[nc_nutcase]

Thanks FoundMoney!

Right now the lady at the LFS says she's waiting for Apiso Dave to give her confirmation on her registration for doing business... They were originally due in this week but are being delayed (hopefully only) a couple days.

** After reading responses in the Betta forum and from Jer I've decided against trying the Betta with the Cockatoos**

 

[FoundMoney]

Yeah, might as well leave Sam in his little castle.

 

[pnyklr3]

Don't bettas see colorful fish as a threat? I have heard that they nip and "Attack" guppies because of their beautiful fins. I wouldn't risk it in with the cockatoos.

 

[lucky62]

That is a nice looking set up nut_case . I really like what you've done , added square footage .
I can't wait to see how that works out for you .

Ive been keeping a croaking gourami with my cockatoos , a trio[ amoung other fish ], with no problems . Cockatoos can be pretty easy going with non cichlid tank mates .

If your betta gets to close to a nest he may not be able to get away fast enough , and over time [ short or long ] may become stressed or beaten and maybe .


My Son keeps 3 bettas [1 female 2 male ]in 3 separate tanks , with either catfish , otos , for a while he kept dwarf African frogs and not really anything else .

I think you made a good choice not adding your Betta .

 

[Ben]

brilliant tank!
another reason a betta wouldnt be happy in a tank that size is because it will tire itself out and may die of exhaustion as bettas try to take up as much territory as possible so it might get very tired swimming up and down all day long in a 4 foot
HTH
DD

 

[nc_nutcase]

lol, and to think... my thought was in his older years he may want the extra space to swim and enjoy himself. He seems to enjoy playing in plants or orther ornaments... but a 5 gallon aquarium can only hold but so much. I thought he would enjoy swimming around the driftwood and through the plants.

But I still agree with the given advice..... thanks everyone