Bettas and While Clouds

[the_faze]

I am thinking of setting up a new 5 US gal aquarium (unheated, but filtered) for my desk. I know for sure that I want to put in a Betta. I have read that Betta's go well with white clouds.

I just have a few questions:

1. How many white clouds should I put int?

2. Do I have to have a subsrate or can I leave the bottom bare? If I need a substrate does it matter if it's sand or gravel?

3. Can both Bettas and White Clouds do well in a range of temps since I live in Canada the house temp is about 18C (65F) in the winter and it can get up to 35C (95F) in the summer (no A/C ). The 35 is an extreme case it only does that once or twice during the summer.

4. Also the tank does not have a light but the room is well lit as it is, will that cause any issues?

Sorry for the barrage of questions

Thanks in advance

 

[AlexsDaddy]

1.A 5 gal isn't big enough. White Clouds are a schooling fish and do best in groups of at least 8. You could put a couple African Dwarf Frogs in with a betta in a 5 gal.

2.Depends on your room temp. If it stays steady and the water stays at least in the upper 70's, low 80's it should be fine. It would be better for the over all health of your betta to have a heater though as it would keep the temp steady.

3.Substrate is up to you. It looks better then a bare bottom, but a bare bottom is easier to keep clean.

4. Lighting is up to you. They would probably appreciate it, but it wouldn't hurt to not have one.

 

[black angel]

i had a male betta with 4 white clouds and they nipped his fins so you would need a larger group, but then that doesnt guarantee they wont leave him alone.

 

[the_faze]

Hmm... so you are saying that White Clouds are questionable.

Just the beta then and something else non-fish like shrimp or frogs?

 

[Booboo puppy]

I've read in several postings here that some Bettas have a fondness for shrimp snacks.

 

[eudielynn]

I've read in several postings here that some Bettas have a fondness for shrimp snacks.

Very true. I have four bettas, three have eaten their ghost shrimp companions, one tried to eat a frog, but I was watching and yanked the frogs out before they were injured. It depends on the personality of the individual betta as to what they will live with and what they won't. The one that tried to kill the frog now lives with a snail. It's the only thing he hasn't tried to kill and eat.

 

[OrkyBetta]

a 5 gal is just big enough for the betta and maybe a snail or an african dwarf frog.
White cloud mountain minnows need to school, in a group of 6 or more. They can and will nip the betta, and the betta might nip them. WCMMs need about 10 gallons.

I would heat that tank. Bettas are tropical fish and like it around 80. Also, the filter might annoy the betta, you might want to kill the current.

 

[the_faze]

Thanks for the tips, I guess I will just ge the betta. About the current the filter has an adjustable flow so I can keep the current down almost nothing.

If I can find a heater I will install it. I guess about 50W should do for 5gal.

 

[Easystreet]

If I can find a heater I will install it. I guess about 50W should do for 5gal.

For a 5 gallon I believe the most you wan to do is 25w for a heater.