Can I Have A Betta?

[guppiegirlie]

OK so I have this 90l tank just sitting there doing nothing, after upgrading to my 200l.

I've been um-ing and ar-ing this last few months about what to do with it, sell it, set it up, or put it away...

Well I think I'd like to set it up and have a couple of groups of scoaling fish in there, I've seen some gorgeous pearl danios and maybe some cherry barbs and Harlequins.

It will be planted with live plants, I was thinking some long grasses and some Java and fern, some floating plants too.

I have a fluval 305 external filter for it too, will a Betta be happy there? Or would a smaller, Betta only tank be better?

I've been reading these Betta threads and looking at your beautiful photos and videos with green eyes lol.

I tried keeping a Betta once in my very first set up, very inexperienced I had him in a uncycled tank with little hiding places and a filter with a strong flow, and incompatible tank mates! He lasted about 3 months poor guy.

Now with a little more experience behind me and reading the fantastic advice on here I'm hoping we can manage a bit better!

 

[NickAu]

 
OK so I have this 90l tank

Perfect for a betta, It will love the big space.
 
When picking a fish.... Let it pick you, look at the fish and get the one that pays you the most attention, contrary to popular opinion do not worry too much about the bettas condition in the shop, just because it is not the best looking fish dont mean it wont come good when you get it home, you seen my betta didn't you?
You should also consider getting a female.
 
Remember lots of plants including floating plants, Set the tank up to resemble the fishes natural habitat.  For floating plants use water sprite and duckweed.
For tank mates.
Rasboras
Kuhli Loaches
Bn pleco
Apple snails

 

[RCA]

Well I think I'd like to set it up and have a couple of groups of scoaling fish in there, I've seen some gorgeous pearl danios and maybe some cherry barbs and Harlequins.
It will be planted with live plants, I was thinking some long grasses and some Java and fern, some floating plants too.

Hi, with the right set up a Betta would be happy in there, the main thing is for him to have a gentle current, as they are not strong swimmers, plus places to rest. In respect to your filter, the best thing is to use a long spray bar and face it towards the rear of the tank to reduce the current.

Danios are fast enough to get away from a Betta who can become territorial, however, they may also stress the Betta and can nip if not in large enough groups. Danios need a lot of free swimming space and like faster water conditions so you may wish to reconsider these.

Harlequins are fine with Bettas in my experience, take a look at the Espei as these are lovely and brighter than standard Harlequins.

I have not kept Cherry Barbs with a Betta, so cannot comment if they will nip? Take a look at Pencil Fish, these fish are often overlooked in the LFS, yet I have a school of these, two different species, and their colours and behaviours are lush.

I also have a Betta with Peacock Gudgeons and they are cool together. Just make sure you vary the feeding spot or the Betta will defend it.

You should also consider getting a female.
 
Remember lots of plants including floating plants, Set the tank up to resemble the fishes natural habitat.  For floating plants use water sprite and duckweed.
For tank mates.
Rasboras
Kuhli Loaches
Bn pleco
Apple snails

I personally would avoid duckweed as once it is in your aquarium it becomes a nightmare to manage, water lettuce can be prolific with the right conditions but is a lot easier to manage and the Betta will love this for bubble blowing.

I do not think Apple Snails are available to the trade anymore, but check out Rabbit Snails, they are great. Plus also Amano Shrimp and good with Bettas.

Sorry but I do not agree with getting a female, he will likely kill her. Betta's need to be conditioned for breeding and there is a lot already out there regarding this so I will not spend time writing about it.

Good luck, look forward to seeing the setup and subsequent arrival.
Herein some info on the Rabbit Snail
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/424772-betta-tank-upgrade-fluval-spec-19-litre/

 

[NickAu]

 
Sorry but I do not agree with getting a female,

I meant a female on her own.

 

[guppiegirlie]

I would love some peacock gobys, I did originally plan those for my bigger tank but German blues won out lol.

And I have plenty of water lettuce as it grows in my main tank.

Would the Betta not eat shrimp? And could I keep shrimp and a little BN?

I'll be recycling the gravel from my main tank after the substrate change so will peacocks be ok on gravel or would they prefer sand? (the gravel is roughly .5 to 1.5cm)

Im more than happy with rasboras, I was actually looking at the little espei ones and also strawberry (naevus) rasboras too,

So I'd likely go with a big shoal of rasboras maybe 15 or so(?), a little BN, maybe some fancy shrimp(?), and then obviously my main attraction a Betta!

And I'm not set on male or female. I'll see what's about when I'm ready, and which ever I take a shine too I'll take

Thanks again guys, I'm excited to get started now!!

 

[guppiegirlie]

OK so I've just googled pencil fish and wow they're gorgeous! I would never of thought if them!

So would 10rasboras and 10 pencilfish be pushing it or would that be OK? Along with the BN, possibly some shrimp and obviously the Betta....

 

[NickAu]

 
So I'd likely go with a big shoal of rasboras maybe 15 or so(?)

Perfect and the best thing is they love Betta pellets mine love new life spectrum thera + and will almost fight over Attisons betta pro,
 

 
possibly some shrimp and obviously the Betta...

Good luck with that, My betta eats any shrimp that fit in her mouth.
 

 
a little BN,

A nice albino remember to give it some vegetables at least 3 or 4 times a week.
 

 
OK so I've just googled pencil fish and wow they're gorgeous!

Never had them.
 
 
 
 My suggestion is to add the betta last.

 

[guppiegirlie]

Good luck with that, My betta eats any shrimp that fit in her mouth.

I kinda thought so!!

And I have a little albino BN in my bigger tank, 'Berti' so I think a little brown one to go in my new set up. I haven't seen that many albino to be fair since we got Berti, they don't seem as common as they were.

I'm on the hunt for a nice piece of wood to go in the tank ATM, it's sending me nuts! I have this vision in my head and it's just not there lol

And yes I will certainly be waiting till I have the tank just right before adding my Betta.

I'll be kick starting the filter with some media stolen from my filter on the main tank, and also be using the 'established' if you will, gravel taken from my old tank so I'm hoping the cycle won't take too long.

I have my plants orderd, some long Vallis, some Java fern and moss, and I've got a lotus bulb coming too. That's all for now...

I'll get some pictures up soon

 

[RCA]

Sorry but I do not agree with getting a female,

I meant a female on her own.

Ah ok, good to clarify though, thanks

I would love some peacock gobys...

Would the Betta not eat shrimp?

Could I keep Shrimp and a small BN?

I'll be recycling the gravel from my main tank after the substrate change so will peacocks be ok on gravel or would they prefer sand?

Check out http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/437197-peacock-gudgeon-journey-of-the-fry/

Amano Shrimp are far too fast for a Betta

BNs do not stay small for long, and need bogwood for digestion so good you are on the hunt, but then they poo for all eternity! I have a couple of reds, which are lovely, and now breed every 6 weeks roughly. Where a outs are you in the UK? PM me if you wish.

I think we maybe thinking of different fish, and that maybe my fault for putting Goby vs Gudgeons, although the names are interchangeable. They will not mind the substrate you use, mine have Unipac Senegal, so it is a fine gravel.

Great re: assisting the cycle with existing media etc., I guess you know to then feed the bacteria with pure ammonia? Sorry if you do

OK so I've just googled pencil fish and wow they're gorgeous! I would never of thought if them!

So would 10 rasboras and 10 pencilfish be pushing it or would that be OK? Along with the BN, possibly some shrimp and obviously the Betta....

Personally, I now love getting the same species in different varieties, as this way they tend to hang out together and thus provide a good display in the aquarium and more likely to breed as a result. Thus, if I were you I would either go for one or the other and add different variations of them. For example, I have Beckfords and Hockeystick Pencilfish and would love to get some Coral Reds, and possibly some dwarfs to add to the group. I have seen the Purple Dwarfs but they were way too expensive, so will likely go with the golden. Interestingly, the Hockeysticks are far less confident than the Beckfords.

This is a good article to read
http/www.tfhmagazine.com/details/articles/anything-but-tetras-the-joy-of-keeping-pencilfish.htm

Have you also considered a group of small corys for the bottom vs the BN?

Looking forward to the pics

 

[guppiegirlie]

My little albino BN must of had him going on four years now and he's never grown past 4-5 inches.

I think we mean the same fish, I know they're proper name is Gudgeons but they often get called gobys in my LFS beautiful colourful little fish!

And yes I had to do that I'm my main tank after the substrate change, (ammonia boost) although it probably didn't need it I wanted to be safe than sorry!

I'm in the north of England, Cumbria close to the borders.

And with the Cory's, that's why I've just changed the substrate in my larger tank as the gravel was far too big for their delicate barbels. So I don't think I could put them over the gravel. I would like some false julii in my main tank, I think they're lovely looking little fish!

I quite like the idea of different types of same species, I'll have to see what's about when I'm ready!

I'm hoping to get it started in the next couple of weeks, hopefully when I find my imaginary bit of bogwood lol.

 

[NickAu]

Here's another suggestion, We cant get these in Australia
 
http/www.seriouslyfish.com/species/celestichthys-margaritatus/

 

[Alasse]

Celestial Pearl Danios are available in Australia Nick......they are very expensive though and are called Galaxy Rasboras as well here

 

[guppiegirlie]

I had looked into CPD's but I never see them around my area...

May be something to ask about at my LFS...

 

[NickAu]

 
they are very expensive though and are called Galaxy Rasboras as well here

I asked my LFS and he said he cant legally sell them in NSW,

 

[Byron]

My first bit of advice is not to combine a male Betta with any other fish, period.  Betta are not really "community fish," (so says Dr. Neale Monks and most other sources) and are best on their own.  Yes, some have had them with this and that and supposedly no issues, but that is the exception rather than what one should expect from normal healthy fish.
 
Pencilfish were mentioned..bad.  Pencils are in the characidae order, and like all characins (tetra, hatchets, pencils, headstanders) they have teeth and lots of them and some species enjoy using them.  Most species of pencils have a fin nippiness to them, and I have kept/spawned ten of the described species in Nannostomus so far.  Some species are more prone than others, but a sedate fish with flowing fins is putting serious temptation in front of most of them.  The very common N. beckfordi is one that is much more feisty in general and does better in community tanks but watch out if there are any fish that prefer the same level.  Mine have taken exception to hatchets, otos and some others.  While N. eques (I assume this is what others call the "hockeystick" as it swims at an oblique angle) is much more peaceful, it is a surface dweller, right where the Betta spends its time, and depending upon the personality of the Betta this could be disastrous.
 
Byron.