Betta's Unhappy With Other Fish?

[Neal]

I found out my brother has moved them both into his 15G tank, along with other fish.

 

[love cichlids]

When buying fish it should say on the price tag on the tank what size they get to be, if not ask the pet store employee. If they don't know, do research on the internet, always smart before buying any type of fish. For example if you eventually want a tropical tank, do research on the types of fish you are interested in, look in the petstores to see what you like. Come on here and ask what you can have in the size of tank you have or are planning to buy. Bettas are alone fish, I would never put anything in with them. I have a cycled 10 gallon that has 2 dividers and 1 male betta in each section with a few plants, silk or real and a small ornament they can hide in if they want or swim through and they are happy.

 

[Neal]

I only have a 2G and a 3G tank, so I can't really do much as in the 3G I have two goldfish.

 

[soritan]

They eat fish, you know. Whatever fits into their mouth, they eat.

 

[Neal]

I don't think ill be having a community tank then, if it will eat my fish! I'll just keep it in the 2G tank and when the goldfish go, I might make a community tank in that...

 

[love cichlids]

Did you say you have 2 goldfish in a 3 gallon. I hope not, they need a 20-25 gallon for 2 goldfish.

 

[Synirr]

You can't make a community tank in a 2 or 3 gallon, period. Think 10 gallons at least if you want any sort of variety. You can have a small community in a 5 gallon, but we're talking 5 small critters tops, and you have to be careful about what you choose.

Unless you're planning on buying a 20-30 gallon in the near future, rehome the goldfish or return them to the pet shop. They will die in that tank if you don't, there is no question about it. In a 2 gallon you can have a betta and a couple of ghost shrimp, a snail or two (depending on the type of snail,) or an African dwarf frog... NOT the clawed kind. This site can teach you how to tell the difference if you don't know already. The clawed ones are what your brother has, and as soritan said, they grow as big as your fist and eat anything that will fit in their mouths, including fish and other frogs. You've got basically the same options for the 3 gallon, but you could chance 2 ADFs instead of just one.

Everybody makes mistakes, I know I did when I first started fishkeeping, but in the future it's very important that you research your fish before you buy them. If you see something you like at the LFS, wait and look it up online, then go back and buy it if and only if you can properly house it. Don't trust what an LFS employee says unless you are absolutely sure they know what they're talking about... most of the time they don't, it seems

 

[happyannie]

Sometimes the worst of them just want to make a sale sometimes for their own egos which happened to me. I lost a few because I was too niave on the subject at that point to know what was what. It's like making a major investment like a computer. Know your brands, know your seller and get as much info up-front before you go to buy as is possible. Same thing only this involves a life so this makes research even more important. You came to the right place for information though!

 

[GuppyGoddess]

Sorry about your fish! Your tank for sure is too small for more than one fish! I bought my Betta two weeks ago and put him in a 1-gallon drum bowl and already notice he's wanting more space. He keeps head butting the side of the bowl then looking up at me like I'm the one to blame for not running off to Petsmart to pick him up an add-on to his home for him to create more bubble nests!

I am looking at options now, but FOR SURE, regardless of size, will be keeping my little guy in his own tank by himself. He seems really happy by himself, and loves when we come up and look and watch him through the glass. He seems more interested in people than fish buddies.

 

[GuppyGoddess]

Everybody makes mistakes, I know I did when I first started fishkeeping, but in the future it's very important that you research your fish before you buy them. If you see something you like at the LFS, wait and look it up online, then go back and buy it if and only if you can properly house it. Don't trust what an LFS employee says unless you are absolutely sure they know what they're talking about... most of the time they don't, it seems

Yep, problem with LFS employees is every one of them will give you different answers. I found out that a guppy I had had camallanus and called the aquarium store I had purchased him and all my guppies from and they swore that they had never heard of that type of parasite and that only wild fish caught nematoes like that. Well, after calling 10 or more stores later, I FINALLY found a guy who knew what I was talking about. It took THAT many phone calls to find an educated employee!

I'm so new to this hobby also, but think a great way to do things is pick up books from the library. That way when you go into the fish store, you can look up fish right there on the spot to help avoid spontaneously buying a random fish because it's caught your eye while it's elegantly swimming in a 30-gallon tank and you think, it should work in your tank too. (It took me A LOT of self control to not buy a gorgeous cherry barb that struck my eye!)

 

[pippoodle]

OLD THREAD 2006