Billy The Betta

[RexyTexel]

I recently switched Billy, my betta, from his little 1 gal cube to a nice 5 gal bow-front tank. I believe he's a red(more like scarlet) veil tail. I work at Petsmart and fell in love with him when he came in. He has random torquoise scales on him and under each eye is one torquoise scale. I love him. Anyway...enough gushing. Today I went to the House of Tropicals and purchased some ghost shrimp. They seem to be making great tankmates for him. He tries to nibble them but they're just too fast for him.

I don't want to over-load the tank obviously but would rasbora hets be okay with him? They aren't fin nippers, correct? I think they are so pretty and petite. What about white clouds? They don't seem to be too crazy. I've read to stay away from danios and guppies. I heard corys do well with them. I've been trying to do a lot of reading about bettas.

Another question I have is is it okay to treat a betta with medications even if they aren't sick? I havn't done so but I'm curious. I have him on a mixture of betta pellets and blood worms. Is this okay? I know the blood worms are great for him but I wasn't sure if mixing foods was alright. The shrimp seem to love the worms.

Alright that's enough of me. I think I've made my post long enough.

 

[WILDER]

I would just have the betta and shrimp in the tank.
Shouldn't use meds if the fish is ok they build a resistance up to them.
Why would you want to use a medication when there nothing wrong with the fish. This is how humans have built resistance up to antibiotics due to doctors over perscribing them.
Only feed a few bloodworms twice a weeks as over feeding them can bloat fish up.

 

[Devorax]

I agree with Wilder on this one, the bloodworm for a fish is like candy to a child: they are okay in moderation but too many and you will cause problems.
I have both rasboras and danios and guppies in with Boris (my veiltale male) and there has been no problems whatsoever between them, but judging from what I have read on here (I am a newbie after all) this is a rare instance of compatibility. I would ask Wilder though, do bettas eat shrimp? I have put some in with mine and they seem to have vanished, which is odd as there are 9 of them!

 

[WILDER]

A 5 gallon tank isn't really big enough for shoaling fish.
Corys with having the strimp the bottom area of the tanks already been filled with shrimp.
I would just keep the tank as it is with the betta and shrimps.
White clouds are coldwater fish.
Not sure if betta will eat the shrimp.
Could the shrimp crawled out of the tank as it been know to happen.

 

[RexyTexel]

Okay thanks for the responses. I'll keep the tank the way it is then. I'm quite happy with it anyway and I don't want to stress any fish out by over-loading the fishtank. Thanks for the headsup on the bloodworms. He doesn't seem to eat too much of them when placed in the tank. Mostly just the pellets. The shrimp like the worms, though. I have a 10 gallon tank that's waiting to be hooked up. I just have to purchase a new filter for it.

Thanks again for the responses

 

[loraxchick]

This is how humans have built resistance up to antibiotics due to doctors over perscribing them.


its not the HUMANS (or fish for that matter) that build up a resistance to the antibiotics.....its the PATHOGENS that can become resistant due to exposure to antibiotics!!!