Buying A Male Betta For My Son Age 7Yrs

[CheniseMummy]

Hello

I have brought a 34litre fish tank for my son who is 7 nearly 8. While we were buying some other fish he spotted a male purple betta which he fell in love with.

So with this in mind ive purchased a 34l tank, 50w heater and its come with 18w light and internal filter. Ive also got some left over black gravel to put in. Also going to remove a amazon sword plant and a piece of bogwood with java fern on it from my main tank to decorate.

My question is will this be suitable and can i put any tank mates in? pygmy corydoras maybe.

I can use some mature filter media to seed new filter and then do fishless clone cycle on the betta tank. I will also use tank water from main tank.

 

[kizno1]

Theres quite a few fish that can go with it depending on the bettas personality some can be a bit nippy to other mid and surface dwellers but most are fine with bottom dwellers
Pygmy corys
cherry shrimp
snails
ember tetra
galaxy rasbora
ADF
micro rasbora

would all work
something like
8 ember tetra or galaxy rasbora
6 cherry shrimp or 1 adf

or

8 pygmy corys
1 apple snail

or

6 pygmy corys
6 ember tetra or galaxy rasbora

 

[CheniseMummy]

Thats great thanks much more than i was expecting to be able to house with him.

Any tips on picking a good betta from the fish shop.

 

[kizno1]

What health wise?
Just check it has good finage no nips. Its active and swimming about. No signs of illness like fungus or white spot.

 

[Assaye]

Great suggestions from Kizno. Personally I'd keep him on his own as that limits what can go wrong, but if you want tank mates those are some good ones to try.

As for picking a good betta - you want one with full fins, no rips or holes. Clear eyes, uniform scales, no wounds or scars. Don't get one from a tank with sick or dead fish and get one that is active and interested in you. Avoid any with odd or suspicious marks like white spots or red edges to fins.

 

[BethK]

if you place in tank mates, ensure you've got a fair few plants for hiding.

Pick a betta that is not dull in color, doesn't have ripped/shredded or pin holes in fins. Ensure the betta is active and not nipping at other fish.

Will you be cycling your tank or placing in some mature media?

 

[CheniseMummy]

I will be using established media. Wont be for couple weeks tho.