Betta Tank Mates

[chestnutree]

Hi All,

I really want a betta fish! they are so cool!

I would also like some ghost catfish. I did ctrl + f to do a search on the betta tank mate section in the FAQ's but couldn't find anything mentioned if these 2 fish would go well together or not?

Im completely new and currently doing a tank cycle with some hardy fish. All advice welcome. thanks

 

[MewMew42]

ghost catfish are also called glass catfish, that may help =]

they are very shy, slow and delicate, and like to be in really big schools, the betta may prove to be a bit aggressive and may not accept anything else in his territory

if I were you I would get a 3-5 gallon tank with a filter and heater and keep one on his own =] you could maybe even add some pygmy corys

 

[chestnutree]

Ahh thanks for that didn't know that.

Well i've only jst bought this 1st tank. Don't really have anywhere else i could put another one and can't really afford a 2nd tank at the mo.

So would you really advise against putting these 2 together? i was thinking maybe 1 or 2 bettas and about 6 ghost/glass catfish?

If not, what other really "cool" "funky" looking fish would go well with a betta?

 

[aly_starh]

Hiya

If you get 1 betta buy either a male OR female. You cannot house 2 male bettas or 2 females.
Male bettas MUST be kept singly, and females should be kept in groups of 5 atleast in a 10G min.

if you opt for a 1X male betta, then id recommend cories.
If you opt for a sorority of females then id say cories too.

most bottom-dwelling fish get along fine with bettas, as middle shaoling fish tend to be nippy and top-level fish tend to compete with the bettas.

Peaceful tankmates also include Shrimp and Snails.

 

[Assaye]

Hi All,

I really want a betta fish! they are so cool!

I would also like some ghost catfish. I did ctrl + f to do a search on the betta tank mate section in the FAQ's but couldn't find anything mentioned if these 2 fish would go well together or not?

Im completely new and currently doing a tank cycle with some hardy fish. All advice welcome. thanks

If you are cycling with fish, you need to have a decent liquid ammonia and nitrite test kit and be testing everyday. You'd then need to do large water changes whenever the levels are above zero. We really don't advocate a fish-in cycle here because of the stress it puts on the fish and because the risk of it going wrong is a fatality.

Beginners' Resource Centre

Fish-In Cycle

What size tank do you have? Glass/ghost cats need a 3 foot+, 150 litre + tank as they need big shoals and get to 6 inches long.

Not sure if they'd make good tank mates. Bettas are funny things - some will happily live with other fish and some can't even be kept with a snail.

Keeping bettas with other fish puts everyone at a bit of risk from being nipped or attacked. They are best in their own tank, ideally 5 gallons or more. I'd advise you not to consider anything less than three. They also need heavily planted environments and caves to hide in.

You also can't keep them together unless you opt for a large group of females. Males cannot live together, males cannot live with females and even small groups of females will end up fighting in most cases.

 

[betta989]

good idea i like glass/ghost cat fish dont worry if when you first put them in the betta nips there fins hes just telling them hes the boss lol

Also you can keep more than one female betta im sure not possitive

 

[chestnutree]

O and another addition i would like...

Some terapins

I know they need to get out of the water aswel... but i found a ramp u can buy 4 them that has a suction pad to stick on the inside of the tank at the top of the water.

Think they would manage ok with a betta?

I know some are saying they are better on their own, but that isn't possible for me at the moment so if there are some tank mates they would be ok with that would be great.

Been looking at some on eBay, i think it's a little strange they can send these through the post??? is that not going to kill the fish?

 

[aly_starh]

O and another addition i would like...

Some terapins

I know they need to get out of the water aswel... but i found a ramp u can buy 4 them that has a suction pad to stick on the inside of the tank at the top of the water.

Think they would manage ok with a betta?

I know some are saying they are better on their own, but that isn't possible for me at the moment so if there are some tank mates they would be ok with that would be great.

Been looking at some on eBay, i think it's a little strange they can send these through the post??? is that not going to kill the fish?

IMO, i would defos not house a Terrapin with a betta. They both need different conditions. Terrapins are very messy animals, and your betta will be swimming in all there waste. An older terrapin might eat the betta. It can also hurt a betta with its claws.

Bettas can be purchased from ebay, they get posted in a cooling box with a heatpack, and arrive safley most of the time

 

[chestnutree]

Bettas can be purchased from ebay, they get posted in a cooling box with a heatpack, and arrive safley most of the time

I thought it was an ebay rule they can't sell anything living? Are the postal companies made aware it's a living fish and to handle with extreme care? they often throw things around i would be so worried.

 

[aly_starh]

Bettas can be purchased from ebay, they get posted in a cooling box with a heatpack, and arrive safley most of the time

I thought it was an ebay rule they can't sell anything living? Are the postal companies made aware it's a living fish and to handle with extreme care? they often throw things around i would be so worried.

Hmm, never come acroos Ebay not being allowed to sell anything live.

Aslong as 'fragile' is wrote somewhere on the box they are fine, i have had many bettas posted to me. In the box, its normally tight so the fish bags dont get thrown around much, polysterene peanuts help too.

 

[Curiosity101]

Chestnut tree what size is the tank?

 

[chestnutree]

It's 60cm x 30cm x 30cm. 54L glass

Currently have in there, gravel, treasure chest hidy hole, 3 fake plants, 1 airstone/plant with air pump, internal sponge filter, heater and sum ornament thing

 

[Curiosity101]

Then it certainly isn't big enough for glass catfish.

And have you decided on a fish in or fishless cycle?

 

[aly_starh]

And its defos not big enough for terrapins, not even 1.

 

[chestnutree]

Then it certainly isn't big enough for glass catfish.

And have you decided on a fish in or fishless cycle?

Aww really? how big do i need?

I went to the shop and they advised me on some fish for a fish in cycle. They didn't say anything about a fishless cycle. Don't have anything to do one.

And its defos not big enough for terrapins, not even 1.

Really Pets at home had about 10 in a small bowl! the tank i have is much bigger than that,lol. thats a shame. How big do i need for these? They are only small.

As im doing my fish in cycle.... all 4 look happy and fine, been in for 2 weeks now and haven't lost any. The filter was starting to look dirty. i cleaned it out with warm water, then afterwords i thought to myself... am i suppose to do this? am i not suppose to be leaving the dirt to build up bacteria or something?