Could I?

[fenwoman]

I will be stocking my tank soon but as I want to keep a community tank, I understand I cannot keep a betta, so, Could I buy one of those perspex breeding trap thingies and keep a betta in it? Can they be bought large enough?
I still want a betta. I must admit, when I had community tanks years ago, I always had one male and a couple of female bettas sucessfully. Perhaps I was just lucky?

 

[zoekin8yg]

Its not very kind to keep one in a breeding trap and the other fish will cause him to flare a lot and he will get stressed and possibly ill. If you want a betta as well get a small 2.5 g tank and keep him on his own

 

[jollysue]

Once you know him and his personality and the tank's dynamics, you may want to try him in the community. Frankly I would get a shorter finned Betta: a HM female, a plakat male, etc.

 

[matty101]

or what I did, which worked for a bit, keep him in a .5 or 1g bowl/jar and put decorativescenes completely around it (background for bigger tanks) so that he can't see them and feels more confortable and relaxed..

 

[Glod]

The short answer is - no, a breeder is too small for a Betta.

And now I shall digress...

What else are you planning to keep in the community fenwoman ?

Generally keeping Betta males in community tanks is not recommended, tho many people have success doing so. There are many things your Betta needs in order to be happy in his tank.
No fin nippers allowed... those trailing fins are too much temptation.
Not much water movement, strong currents will wear him out.
If the tank is too big then patrolling it may wear him out.
Other fish competing for his territory will lead to conflict, this means no angels, gouramis or other top level fish.
Boisterous fish will stress him, if he has to compete for food in a scrum, he'll probably just go hungry and back off.
And lastly other brightly coloured fish may be taken as a challenge/enemy and be attacked.

A lot of that depends on the personality of your Betta. but even if you do try it and all seems well be prepared to move him to isolation if it is needed.

If your heart is set on a Betta for your community your better options would be

1) a Plakat male (short fins)
2) a female (also short fins, usually less brightly coloured but you do still get very nice specimens.)

If you're having other fish then don't add more than one Betta of any type, and be ready to separate it if needed.

 

[jollysue]

If your heart is set on a Betta for your community your better options would be

1) a Plakat male (short fins)
2) a female (also short fins, usually less brightly coloured but you do still get very nice specimens.)

If you're having other fish then don't add more than one Betta of any type, and be ready to separate it if needed.

Or a sorority in the appropriate tank. Frankly sorority tanks are very attractive and personable, A nice selection of good looking sisters from a breeder will make an active and attractive tank. The same restrictions on tank mates apply as the ones listed by Glod for the community.

 

[Glod]

Or a sorority in the appropriate tank. Frankly sorority tanks are very attractive and personable, A nice selection of good looking sisters from a breeder will make an active and attractive tank. The same restrictions on tank mates apply as the ones listed by Glod for the community.

Ahh, thanks JollySue, I wasn't sure about the sorority being mixed with other fish. Thought they were reccomended as species only tanks. I haven't kept females so I bow to your experience.

 

[fenwoman]

or what I did, which worked for a bit, keep him in a .5 or 1g bowl/jar and put decorativescenes completely around it (background for bigger tanks) so that he can't see them and feels more confortable and relaxed..

I wouldn't be able to put a heater in a bowl.

grrr. I was hoping to be able to find a large perspex breeder type trap, sort of like a tank within a tank. I do have a smaller tank to put him in but the only place it can go is in front of a radiator and I worried about the changes in temp' as the heating comes on and off.Besides, the cats have their bed right where the tank would go. Looks like I'l have to rearrange stuff, or put the small tank under the main large one on the stand and not have my cichlid tank.

 

[Glod]

Temperature fluctuation is one of the main problems with smaller tanks. It would be better to keep the tank away from the radiator and direct sunlight if possible. Bettas are fairly hardy but wide temperature fluctuations are not good for them.

Just found your post of community stocking, I agree a Betta in that tank wouldn't be a good idea Even if you did find a big breeder he'd probably be stressed by the other fish. Going with the small tank is the right choice I think.

 

[fenwoman]

Temperature fluctuation is one of the main problems with smaller tanks. It would be better to keep the tank away from the radiator and direct sunlight if possible. Bettas are fairly hardy but wide temperature fluctuations are not good for them.

Just found your post of community stocking, I agree a Betta in that tank wouldn't be a good idea Even if you did find a big breeder he'd probably be stressed by the other fish. Going with the small tank is the right choice I think.

Thanks Glod. I will have to see if I can put a betta tank somewhere else in the room. The trouble is the power points are on the wall beside the radiator. Perhaps I can get less community fish and put a divider in the tank? I do so want a lovely red male betta.

 

[fishboy619]

depending on what size your tank is, devide about 4-5 gallons off for your betta, maybe a few ADF's or shrimps to keep him company, plus the other side of the divider you can get what ever community fish you want.thats what did first time round, second time i risked it in the community and he was fine along with the platies and tetras, depends on temperant of betta.put lots of talle plants next to the devide so he doesnt see much of the other fish

 

[OohFeeshy]

I think dividing off a section would be a bit of a pain, due to the larger height/width of tanks your size, you'd end up dividing off a big chunk of the tank just to ensure you don't end up with the betta in a section a few inches x12x12 or similar. It would be possible to do a 'tank within a tank', my 4ft came with a DIY glass 'fry trap' style thingy siliconed inside, holds about 1.5g. It probably isn't too hard to find a suitably sized tank and adapt it a bit- for example, haing lots of small holes in the bottom or a mesh bottom would allow detritus to fall into the main tank where it can be better handled, and the same water for eah tank to keep temperature and similar ideal and constant.

 

[jollysue]

Yeah, I really don't see why a tank in a tank would not be a possibility. I have never done it, but with care and thought it seems like something could be worked out. Once you have the trap and the boy, then you can see what extra needs he might need: privacy, etc.

I would like a built in fry tank.....

The main considerations are his privacy, the circulation of fresh water and cleaning--like OohFreeshy said.

Sorority tanks a totally cool--with care. Like the boys the girls are courious and fiesty. Bottom fish are the first choices. There can always be the occasional girl that just won't tolerate mates, but after a though investigation my six girls are very happy with 3 ADFs and 3 Botia straita. Eventually I will probably replace the straita with a different bottom fish. I don't do Cories with Bettas anymore because they can be easily intimidated and lose their joy.