Birthday Betta Friend

[Raticataticus]

Hello all, well I've been talking about getting fish of some sort for ages and on my birthday I was gifted a little Betta friend by my (very fish-ignorant) parents. He arrived in a plastic cup. I named him Fred. At the moment he is living in a really big vase because that's all I have. I know that this is in no way an appropriate home for a betta. Every day I am siphoning around 30% of his water out and replacing it (vacuuming the poop and leftover food from the bottom at the same time.)
 
Well guys, what the heck am I supposed to do with him? What size tank should I get? 
 
I have googled a ton but different sites give different answers for tank size.
 
I am thinking of getting this one http/www.livefish.com.au/accessories/tanks/poseidon-50l-tank-black-shipping-included.html
 
That one is 50L, I was considering getting the 30L model but for not a lot extra I can get the 50L which would be a much more versatile tank. Thoughts?
 
Fred sends his love. 

 
Woopsie - Just realised that I meant to post this in the New To The Hobby section - sorry guys.

 

[Luis_Gil]

Beautiful bettA .

50L

 

[Ninjouzata]

THIS should answer most of your questions
I think he'd love the 50L though, it's your choice. I hope you enjoy your new buddy though sorry your parents surprised you with him

 

[Raticataticus]

Thanks guys, I think I will get the 50L. I have just enough space for it. I would love to eventually get him some friends, maybe a couple of snails and shrimp.

 

[lrhodes]

He's a beauty. But I'd be careful with the future shrimp... I think my betta killed a shrimp. No body was found...

 

[EllieJellyEllie]

Also, remeber to cycle the tank! You may want to do a fish in cycle, and stay on top of changes, as that would be better than him living in a vase!
 
You can read about fish in cycling HERE.
 
Also, welcome to the forums! Just to let you know that I had a rough start with a betta too, but now he is in a 54L tank. It will get better!

 

[Raticataticus]

Thanks for your replies everyone! Could anyone tell me real quick if Bettas like an air stone or not?

 

[lrhodes]

They don't have to have an air stone. Because of their ability to breathe in air from above the water when water quality is not so great... but I don't know if they like or dislike them.

 

[Raticataticus]

They don't have to have an air stone. Because of their ability to breathe in air from above the water when water quality is not so great... but I don't know if they like or dislike them.

 
Thanks. I am going to visit my LFS soon. They are a very small store and I don't think they sell tanks but I might be able to get him an air stone. I know that they can survive in very small, still conditions but it seems a bit unhealthy to me to have the water so still with not even a breeze to move it around. I might get an air pump and not use the stone on the end just to get a little bit of movement happening.

 

[Raticataticus]

Well I got him an air stone. It's hard to tell if he likes it or not. I probably should have bought the weaker pump but I had future tanks in mind.
 
Also this morning I found my sisters old fish tank in the shed, complete with gravel and everything. I estimate it to be around 1 gallon, but hey it's better than a vase. So here is old Fred's new home. 
 

 
Also I was having a poke around the LFS and turns out they do have tanks and they had some very similar to the ones that I had posted links to in my above posts. I am seriously considering getting both and 30L and a 60L, but getting the 30L first just for Fred and then getting the 60L for a guppy type deal. I guess time will tell.

 

[Raticataticus]

Well guys, sorry for the obsessive posting but I just can't help myself. I've always been really keen on fish and now that I have the idea in my head again I am deadset excited. 
 
Can anyone suggest some tank mates for Bettas? The only ideas that I have so far are Pygmy Corys, Kuhli Loaches, Shrimp and Snails (not all at once obviously). I am definitely going for a 50L/13gal tank. I really love the idea of the Kuhli loaches but after googling them they kind of freak me out in the same way that eels freak me out lol. I also love the idea of Pygmy Corys but I know that they like sand and I think I want a gravel tank.
 
Anyone got ideas? Definitely want something bottom feeding. Ideas for anything else would be awesome too.

 

[lrhodes]

You could do a BN pleco. One might be OK in 13 gallons.... not sure though. Maybe someone will have a different opinion on that... my betta killed a ghost shrimp. But that all depends on the betta.

 

[fluttermoth]

13 gallons would be far too small for a BN; they are a very heavily built fish!
 
OP; all bottom dwelling fish prefer sand. If you really want gravel, all corydoras and loaches would be a no no, I'm afraid.
 
I wouldn't really like to recommend any fish species until you know the dimensions of the tank you'll be keeping them in. Volume is not very useful as a guide when it comes to stocking, as different species of fish need differing amounts of room to swim in. Zebra danios, for instance, although small need quite long tanks as they're so active.
 
It would also help to know if  your water is hard or soft; do you get a lot of limescale in your kettle or on your showerhead?