I'm Getting A Bigger Tank, And What Kind Of Tank Mate For My Betta

[Volleyball_Rox]

Hullo fish lovers!
What's up?
Well with me, it is getting a bigger tank and tankmates.
!!
My mom said I (might) be able to get a bigger tank than my current one gallon, and a tankmate for my betta. So what kind of fish do you think is the best for a blue, non agressive male crowntail betta? He is very nonagressive, I've seen him flare once, when I accidently ran into his cup at Petco, freaking him out. When I hold a mirror in front of him, he stares at it for a moment and then keeps on swimming like nothing happened. If I stick my finger in, he comes up, kind of takes it in, and swims away.
I am assuming he isn't very agressive.
And I would like to get him a tankmate, and I don't know which in particular would be a good friend for my betta, Cupid.
Would a goldfish be a good buddy?
I've always wanted a goldfish.
But my main concern is what fish would be a good bff for him
THX!

 

[silverrabbit]

Good to hear about the tank well done for convincing her!

Goldfish are a deffo no-no - they are coldwater fish and are verrrrrrrry messy and need HUGE amounts of space (30-40gals for just 2 or 3 fancies!)

It also depends on what size tank you'll be allowed to get - if you're able to get bigger than 5 gals, i'd say you could have some shrimp (some are really cute!) or some pygmy cories. I've had a betta in with rummynose tetras and they lived together really happily. They're pretty too.

 

[Gourami123]

why dont you get a dwarf gourami or a kribensis when you get a new tank

 

[woodstock]

Yeah, tank size is crucial. I've alwaaaaays wanted shrimp... but I'm gonna leave my bettas to be alone. Avoid all things with longer / colorful tails. Avoid fin nippers, avoid things much bigger than a betta... I'll try to think up some more. You could get a snail, but I hear they're crazy poopers. Lol! IMPO, I wouldn't get a tankmate. Diseases could be transferred easily, and you have to quarantine before putting in. And it also might not work (and what would you do if it didn't work?) Not to scare you, but just things to consider!

 

[OneOnion]

Shrimp! Shrimp are good tank mates. They are very peaceful, and wouldn't hurt a fly. The betta on the other hand... Sometimes they can live with tankmates, other times... not so much. Sometimes the betta seems peaceful at first, then goes crazy when his tankmates arrive(there's a good way to stop this from happening I'll bring up later). However, I've done it with my HM betta, Candy Corn, a curious but relatively laid back betta, with Red Cherry Shrimp(great beginner shrimp, very small, peaceful. Read up on them!). All Candy Corn did was chase them around a bit, but he doesn't mind them at all anymore. Anyway, the way I did it was like this:

1. Take out betta
2. Rescape tank, move around stuff so that the betta thinks it's a totally new place
3. Add shrimp
4. Wait 10 minutes or so, let shrimp get settled
5. Add betta

Simple. But it's even simpler for you, since you can add the shrimp to the new tank first so that you skip step 1, 2, and 3, if that makes sense.

In a five gallon you may have...

- 1 betta
- 5-10 red cherry shrimp

Betta may eat baby shrimp <i>if</i> the Red Cherry Shrimp decide to breed, but it helps control population! And, once you've got a lot of shrimp you can sell some on ebay and get money for more tanks , lol. Or some people give them to fish stores for store credit.

EDIT: Ah, yes. I remembered. Remember, bettas have a tendency to be mean; it's their instinct! You can breed in and out colors and fins, but not instinct. Tankmates will not necessarily make them happier, but it will give them stimulation so that they're not always bored. That's why it's also good to have plants and caves, so that your betta will have fun exploring his place.

 

[jacko32]

dwarf scarlet badis would be good or apistogramma borellii
you could also have dwarf gourami or otocinclus
i would avoid kribensis unless your new tank is 25 gallons or bigger as they can be territorial and agressive if confined to a small space

 

[lljdma06]

It all depends on the size of the tank. I'd hold off on planning for now until you know exactly what you're getting. It could be that bigger means just a 2g.

Congratulations on the idea of a new tank. Just remember that you don't have it yet, so keep up on those waterchanges.

It's all about creating a routine and sticking with it. Whether the tank is big or small.

Good luck.

 

[Volleyball_Rox]

Yeah, tank size is crucial. I've alwaaaaays wanted shrimp... but I'm gonna leave my bettas to be alone. Avoid all things with longer / colorful tails. Avoid fin nippers, avoid things much bigger than a betta... I'll try to think up some more. You could get a snail, but I hear they're crazy poopers. Lol! IMPO, I wouldn't get a tankmate. Diseases could be transferred easily, and you have to quarantine before putting in. And it also might not work (and what would you do if it didn't work?) Not to scare you, but just things to consider!

Okay, I might get this tank. It's Tetra Aquarium Starter Kit. It is 5 gallons.
It is a glass tank with:
A hood with light,
Power Filter
Starter sample of foods
instuructions on water changes.
Sound good?
It is 29.99 on walmart.com
So here's a picture,(with added not included accesories) will it work?
http/www.walmart.com/ip/Tetra-Aquarium-Starter-Kit-5-Gallons-Fish-Aquatic-Pets/12177653?sourceid=1500000000000003260550&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=12177653#rr

 

[silverrabbit]

Looks perfect

 

[Gourami123]

you can get a few more fish in that i recommend

1 dwarf gourami
4 corydoras
4rummy nose tetra

hope it all works out

 

[OneOnion]

Hm. That might be the exact same kit that I got! Shrimp and a betta would be perfect in that.

you can get a few more fish in that i recommend

1 dwarf gourami
4 corydoras
4rummy nose tetra

hope it all works out

I think OP already has a betta fish and wants to put it in there with tankmates.

 

[woodstock]

Lol I think I mentioned that one in your other thread, hahaha. I would get it, I have that one! Never failed me.
Go ahead and buy a fluorescent bulb as well. Incandescent does nothing good for you, and highly unflattering to all colors in your tank, including your betta. You can get a fluorescent bulb (up to 15w only) at Walmart as well. Got mine for $4 TOTAL.

And yeah, it'll work just fine

 

[OneOnion]

Go ahead and buy a fluorescent bulb as well. Incandescent does nothing good for you, and highly unflattering to all colors in your tank, including your betta. You can get a fluorescent bulb (up to 15w only) at Walmart as well. Got mine for $4 TOTAL.

Will fluorescent bulbs work on incandescent hoods? My bulb right now is horrible, and I'd like a fluorescent one. Thanks!

 

[Volleyball_Rox]

Lol I think I mentioned that one in your other thread, hahaha. I would get it, I have that one! Never failed me.
Go ahead and buy a fluorescent bulb as well. Incandescent does nothing good for you, and highly unflattering to all colors in your tank, including your betta. You can get a fluorescent bulb (up to 15w only) at Walmart as well. Got mine for $4 TOTAL.

And yeah, it'll work just fine

Oh haha good! That's awesome so ik it works!
I'm sooo excited.
Yay.
Sad I get excited over this, right lol.

you can get a few more fish in that i recommend

1 dwarf gourami
4 corydoras
4rummy nose tetra

hope it all works out

I might be wrong, but I've heard that gourami's shouldn't be kept with bettas because they look similar, and that can lead to fights.

 

[woodstock]

Lol, no it's not sad at all! I was so excited when I was making up mine! Not sad at all. Other people just wouldn't understand, lol.