Complete Beginner, Betta - 20litre Tank

[psycanna]

hey i thought id join up and ask a few questions before i go ahead and take the plunge. im a member on a few forums online, so im not new to the atmosphere im here to get some help, meet like-minded peeps, hopefully stick around and in time offer any help i can

ive been toying with the idea of a fishtank for a few months now and i really do want to go ahead with it. i would like a male betta as i think they are nearly impossible not to fall in love with
after going to my local pet shop, they didnt seem all that clued up in all honesty. after recommending a 2 litre tank for the betta... i decided they were $$££ orientated and couldnt give a monkeys about the fish.
so my research began and now im here.

il post a picture of the tank im considering getting.
- this 20L tank along with a 50watt heater, some decore will be sand, pebbles, wood the usual i guess.

i know they are very territorial and theres a select few fish they tend to be able to co-exist with - can you recommend any?
also i would like to know, what other bits of kit would be necessary to get to make sure i can care for my fish like water additives, conditioner, ph kits and so on?

i plan on getting the tank setup with decor and run a cycle of water changes to make sure everythings good to go.... would it be best to introduce the betta to the environment first? or to introduce the smaller fish and let the betta come into their territory and set up home?

any help is appreciated.

 

[mike455555]

welcome to the forum, for a 20L tank a 25w heater will do you not a 50, most people go by the rule 1W per L for heaters
by going for a 20L tank your limiting your stocking, if you could upgrade to a 60L (2foot) you could keep some neon's, as well as other small fish, NOT GUPPIES or anything with a fancy flowing tail, the betta will think its a male and pick on it, or the guppies will nip the betta.

do a fishless cycle it takes awhile but it will be worth it in the long run, no harm to your fish, if your introducing the betta introduce it last, saying that i think in a 20L your limmited to shrimp, cherry's are nice, although your betta might pick afew off for a snack, if you have some hiding places they should be okay.

iv recommend getting test kits for ammonia and nitrite , dechlorinator is a must, as for decor plants? i love the planted side

 

[the_lock_man]

I would go a bit further than Mike, and say that you shouldn't really put anything else in a 20l other than the betta. You could try some shrimp, but they may become a nuitritious midmorning snack. They may not. It depends on the fish you get.

Bettas are not gregarious fish at all, they will not mind being on their own in the tank, they'll probably be happier that way.

If you could stretch to a 40l tank, then there's a few species I can recommend as tank mates.

If you are dead set on that tank, and some different fish as well, then, although I strongly recommend not doing it, 2-3 male endlers would just about work. But I hope you don't.

 

[psycanna]

welcome to the forum, for a 20L tank a 25w heater will do you not a 50, most people go by the rule 1W per L for heaters
by going for a 20L tank your limiting your stocking, if you could upgrade to a 60L (2foot) you could keep some neon's, as well as other small fish, NOT GUPPIES or anything with a fancy flowing tail, the betta will think its a male and pick on it, or the guppies will nip the betta.

do a fishless cycle it takes awhile but it will be worth it in the long run, no harm to your fish, if your introducing the betta introduce it last, saying that i think in a 20L your limmited to shrimp, cherry's are nice, although your betta might pick afew off for a snack, if you have some hiding places they should be okay.

iv recommend getting test kits for ammonia and nitrite , dechlorinator is a must, as for decor plants? i love the planted side

i dont really want to go any larger then 30litre as it will be on my bedside table
im not overly fussed about tankmates, the petshop fella told me to keep him solitary, but ive read that they do like certain tankmates and well i would like to give him company as i think its a more of a humane way of keeping fish.
but if overall he would be better having his own territory then im happy to do so

il add the test kits and dechlorinator to the shopping list thanks

and as for plants, yes at first il be using plastic due to price but asap il be planting suitable plants and substrate as ive read live plants are a far better option for them and their delicate fins

I would go a bit further than Mike, and say that you shouldn't really put anything else in a 20l other than the betta. You could try some shrimp, but they may become a nuitritious midmorning snack. They may not. It depends on the fish you get.

Bettas are not gregarious fish at all, they will not mind being on their own in the tank, they'll probably be happier that way.

If you could stretch to a 40l tank, then there's a few species I can recommend as tank mates.

If you are dead set on that tank, and some different fish as well, then, although I strongly recommend not doing it, 2-3 male endlers would just about work. But I hope you don't.

okay thanks TLM

il think il stick to a 20litre tank and a few shrimp, if he doesn't get along with the shrimp then he will have the whole 20 litres to himself. thanks for the help

id like to keep the thread open, if anyones got any tips and advice its falling on grateful ears

 

[the_lock_man]

No problem. I think in the 20l, that's the best option.

Just as an aside, it's funny you used the word humane when applying to fish. So many people want to project human values onto their fish. So many people who own livebearers can't bear to see them eating their own fry - as humans, we are programmed to nuture our offspring, but livebearers couldn't give a monkey's about them. You thought it was better to keep a betta with other fish, because we, as humans, are a gregarious species.

This isn't a criticism of you at all, just an amused observation of many different fishkeepers.

 

[psycanna]

No problem. I think in the 20l, that's the best option.

Just as an aside, it's funny you used the word humane when applying to fish. So many people want to project human values onto their fish. So many people who own livebearers can't bear to see them eating their own fry - as humans, we are programmed to nuture our offspring, but livebearers couldn't give a monkey's about them. You thought it was better to keep a betta with other fish, because we, as humans, are a gregarious species.

This isn't a criticism of you at all, just an amused observation of many different fishkeepers.

haha i did notice the choice of words, but ive got great empathy for all animals including fish.
that probably only makes the fact that "i dont know whats best for them" all the more obvious, if they are happier in a solitary environment then thats whats gonna make me happy.
but i wouldnt and couldnt follow the advice of the petshop salesmen of keeping it in a tiny container by itself.


ps. is there a thanks or rep+ button on this forum? i cant seem to see anything obvious

 

[mike455555]

its wierd you say you want plastic plants i allways though that they cost more than real ones or not far off the price of real one's just watch what your buying plant wise good plants to start would be,
java fern
anubias
mosses (most aquatic ones, e.g weeping moss, java moss, flame moss)
crypts
swords

 

[the_lock_man]

ps. is there a thanks or rep+ button on this forum? i cant seem to see anything obvious

No there isn't.

 

[psycanna]

its wierd you say you want plastic plants i allways though that they cost more than real ones or not far off the price of real one's just watch what your buying plant wise good plants to start would be,
java fern
anubias
mosses (most aquatic ones, e.g weeping moss, java moss, flame moss)
crypts
swords

i dont want plastic, the opposite is true. but for now funds will only allow plastic, as my petstore charge alot more for life plants (established)

maybe i'l go abit further a field and try other pet shops. thanks

 

[mike455555]

try online, how much would it be for a silk plant? in the store?

here, postage is about £3 from these but the plants have gota be cheaper than silk http/www.plantsalive.co.uk/aquarium-plants/individual-plants/cat_50.html?sort_by=price&sort_order=low&page=2