Betta Preferences?

[CeeJayy]

Hi!

Im new to betta keeping - so im looking forward to getting my 1st betta soon.

My cousins giving me her tank, im not sure of the size. Its either a 30L or 10 gal. Im going to buy a new heater because her one failed and fried her fish

So my question is are their any tank preferences? Do they prefer Gravel or Sand? Any particular plants? Im going to get a kind of cave thing set up for him.

I dont plan on getting him alot of tankmates. But if i do what would be best? Im thinking of putting my WCMM that i have in my coldwater tank in with him... To keep him company and reduce the amount of fish in my coldwater tank. Im going to spoil him and make him my baby

Sorry if i sound a bit newbieish.

CJ

 

[kizno1]

you could have a shole of pygmy corys

 

[hensonc4098]

Yup, corys are good

Just don't get anything like tetras or barbs as even though fighters are extremely aggresive to their own type, they won't stick up for themselves against any other kinds of fish and will end up either with really ragged fins or literally being eaten alive

Slow moving fish should be ok, I don't know about things like guppies. They might be good but I'm not sure - don't quote me on that one. Otherwise, fish that like to hang around on the bottom are a good choice as they will both stay out of each others way.

I don't really think they would have much preference gravel or sand - it really comes down to personal choice. Again with plants, bettas are fine with most, if not all plants. They like a fairly well planted tank so that they can hide away if they want to, and your idea of a cave is a good one

Post some pics when you get him They're beautiful fish and we all like to salivate on our keyboards at each others fish

Claire

 

[kizno1]

no guppys can be with bettas they think there bettas because of there long fins
i was told they could go together and in the first night the fighter killed 2 of them

 

[Netty]

WCMM actually need a much cooler temperature to Bettas so wouldn't be suitable tank mates.

Cories are usually ok but depends on the temperament of the betta. Some will tolerate tank mates and others won't at all, so always have a back up plan incase he objects to his friends. If you do decide to give him tank mates then it's best to add them first and the Betta last

 

[GSD]

Hi CJ,
In a 10 gallon you could easily have a small shoal of pygmy cories, or a few khuli loach. Most betta will tolerate bottom feeders quite well, and adding them first will increase the chances of him accepting them.
If you wanted something abit different you could try putting him with some shrimp.I have kept betta with shrimp for years with no problems, and the shrimp are interesting to watch and help keep the tank clean.

With regards to decor, i dont think there is a preference really providing nothing is sharp enough to tear the bettas fins. I find real plants look better than fake but if you wanted to go down the fake route silk rather than plastic is better. Plants like java moss, java fern, camoba and amazon sword all have done very well in my low light planted tank.
I prefer gravel as its easier to keep clean.

 

[hollanda88]

You can increase the chances of bubble nesting by having floating amazon frogbit in the tank as a plant, but it might take a while to find some, did me.

andrew

 

[CeeJayy]

Hi, and thanks for all your responces!

Im going to get some Albino cories... only because they are the only ones my lfs supplies. What would you call a small shoal? 3/4??

Ill make a new topic tomorrow when i get my tank and ill take some WIPs for you all!

I think im going to get Gravel. I use a gravel vac and i wouldnt want the sand to go up with it. I went to my lfc today to look at some ornaments and such and when feeling the caves they are quite spikey.. so i wont be getting any of them! Ill be getting some live plants for him so they can absorb the nitrates.. Ive just stocked my coldwater one and they love it! Loads of little hiding places for them, so im going to get loads of plants for my betta.

Once again, thanks for all your replies. CJ.

 

[bronzecat]

Hi

If you're going for gravel with Cories, go for the smaller size smooth gravel Cories have very delicate barbels

 

[CeeJayy]

So this:

Instead of this:

Yeah, i was going to get the jet black small ones... I have the black and white ones in my cold water tank and the white ones in my other coldwater tank. I much prefer the smaller ones to clean with a small gravel vac anyway.

 

[bronzecat]

Perfect The dark colour will make the Albino Cories stand out really well

 

[CeeJayy]

I was thinking that too!

Apart from Cucumber, what can i treat my cories too... And my betta - What can i treat him too?

Do they eat frozen bloodworms? And ive also got some algae tables - Will they eat them?

 

[bronzecat]

Hi

Your Betta and Cories will both take bloodworm Not too often though. hikari betta gold pellets for the betta I never found my cories actually touched cucumber. I think a varied diet of veggie wafers and other sinking food. Mine were partial to "Discus bits"

 

[CeeJayy]

Should i soak the pellets first, so they dont puff up inside him? Sorry i sound so noobie.. just want to make sure i get everything okay for him!
How many pellets should i give him? Is it the usual ''As many as they can eat in 2 minutes''?

Thanks.

 

[bronzecat]

Hi

3 twice a day should be fine No need to soak them