Keeping Betta Company

[mastergara]

Hey all

Been reading through the forums, and learning quite a bit, but nothing beats asking a question directly. But to open with a story:

I have a Male Betta (Name of MZ) in a 2.5gallon tank. I have tried a few times to get tank mates for him, but I do not know what I may be doing wrong. I added an Oto Cat to the tank a while back, but it didnt seem to do so well. Did not seem to eat the algae wafers provided, nor some swiss chard, nor some zuchinni. Sadly, I found him hidden under the driftwood in the tank, not moving atall. MZ was solo in his tank (well, he had a Blue Mystery Snail on loan from another tank (Large Marge, the female Betta in a tank not too far from him was not feeling well, so we took on her snail) for a few weeks, and then mine Girlfriend surprised me by getting another Oto Cat for the tank. The Blue Snail was migrated back to Marge, and it was MZ and CJ (the Oto). I added a heater to the tank (per some advice at a local pet store), and watched temperature closely. CJ was always a bit shy, and didnt seem interested in the food either. Try as I may, I didnt see CJ all that often, and eating even less.
The other day, I ended up doing a complete water change, as well as moving to almost sand-like gravel. Moved around the plants a bit, and gave some better hiding spots for the fish. In MZ's bowl, he was his usual tempermental self, waiting for his free space to return. CJ's little bowl I dropped a small algae wafer into, and checked on him a few times. At one point I saw him happily munching on the wafer, but he was still very tiny. After the water was back up to temp (and other water parameters within specifications), I checked on them both, and while MZ was happy to get put back into the tank, CJ was not moving atall.
I dont know if I just have bad luck with the Oto Cat, or if there is something else that I should look into putting into the tank to not just have MZ about.

Any advice on what I should do for another tankmate? Should I look into another Oto cat, or maybe another bottomfeeder that can get along with a slightly tempermental Betta?

For all my bad luck with Oto cats, the plants in the tank thrive, and grow quite well. There is hiding spots, about the greens, and even a little bit of driftwood half buried in the gravel. The girlfriend gets on me about wanting more plants in the tank, but that would give more spots for the Betta and his tankmate to occupy, yes?

I kindly look forward to your responses.

 

[zoekin8yg]

thats a shame about the ottos, they are usually good tank mates. I have apple snails with mine. Bettas dont really need tank mates though.

 

[starrynightxxi]

a betta in a 2.5 gallon should not have any tank mates. Perhaps one ghost shrimp, but nothing else. The tank is just too little.

As for the oto cats, there are a number of problems here:

1. You don't say whether or not the tank is filtered. The cat would definately need a filtered tank because they are sensitive to water quality, and also because without the filter disturbing the water's surface there will be very little absorption of oxygen into the water, which will suffocate the oto. Bettas don't need this oxygen absorption because they can breathe atmospheric air like you due to a modified organ called a labyrinth organ.

2. Otos are very shy when kept by themselves. They aren't a schooling fish, but like companionship and should be kept in groups of 3+. Being kept alone can quite literally stress them to death.

3. Otos often die of starvation in aquaria because many are caught from the wild and do not become accustomed to eating prepared foods.

4. finally, it's entirely possible that the betta is bullying your otos. some bettas do not like having roomates.

Apple snails also shouldn't be in these small tanks, especially if they are unfiltered because they make a lot of waste. Also some can get to be as large as baseballs and it isn't easy to tell the difference between species commonly sold as Appple or Mystery snails.

One last thing is, how often are you doing water changes? again you don't say, and if you are doing them, forgive my assuming you don't as there are a lot of folk who don't know this, BUT in small tanks like those you should be doing 100% water changes once a week, or partials (50%) twice a week. If it's filtered you probably ought to be doing 50% weekly.

 

[zoekin8yg]

yeah sorry didnt see the tank size!

 

[mastergara]

To address the most questions asked:

1. You don't say whether or not the tank is filtered. The cat would definately need a filtered tank because they are sensitive to water quality, and also because without the filter disturbing the water's surface there will be very little absorption of oxygen into the water, which will suffocate the oto. Bettas don't need this oxygen absorption because they can breathe atmospheric air like you due to a modified organ called a labyrinth organ.

The tank is indeed filtered. When I initially got MZ, it was just in a basic bowl, but quickly decided he would probably be happier with a little more room, plants, and space.

2. Otos are very shy when kept by themselves. They aren't a schooling fish, but like companionship and should be kept in groups of 3+. Being kept alone can quite literally stress them to death.

That is good to know about the companionship. I have been trying to find much information about the Otos, and how they feel about other fish, with little luck.

3. Otos often die of starvation in aquaria because many are caught from the wild and do not become accustomed to eating prepared foods.

That is something I feared as well. CJ never really took to eating anything that I could see. Had tried a variety of different foods, but nothing seemed to appeal to him.

4. finally, it's entirely possible that the betta is bullying your otos. some bettas do not like having roomates.

I dont know that MZ bullied CJ atall. I spent a lot of time watching for when CJ was out and about, but he seemed quite shy. I dont know that there is a causal link to MZ bullying, or just him hiding about.

Apple snails also shouldn't be in these small tanks, especially if they are unfiltered because they make a lot of waste. Also some can get to be as large as baseballs and it isn't easy to tell the difference between species commonly sold as Appple or Mystery snails.

Do apple snails have colorful shells? We got some Blue and Gold Snails that Petsmart sells as Mystery. Would be useful to know if the snail in the tank was not truly as advertised.

One last thing is, how often are you doing water changes? again you don't say, and if you are doing them, forgive my assuming you don't as there are a lot of folk who don't know this, BUT in small tanks like those you should be doing 100% water changes once a week, or partials (50%) twice a week. If it's filtered you probably ought to be doing 50% weekly.

Partial Changes, once a week. MZ does not seem to be bothered by the filter. The original Betta that was in the tank did not survive a 100% water change, so I have been cautious with such, and watching the levels of Ammonia, Nitrate and Nitrite in the tank diligently.

I guess I want a mate for my Betta, but seems that to do so, I would be looking at a larger tank, yes? Many thanks for the input.

 

[jollysue]

The vast majority of peopl have trouble keeping otos. They are a sensitive fish and because they are syrictly an herbavore are sometimes difficult to feed.

Otos imo should only be kept in very mature tanks with green algae growth. It has taken mine a year and more to get a good crop of green algae.They shoild be kept with a large number of their species--more than three. They are sensitive to water fluctuations. Did you say you removed the fish to change the water? While this is expected with Betta, it is probably unacceptable with otos. That is too much stress for an oto.

Otos very frequently fail to thrive.

Just because otos are small, people believe that they can be kept correctly in a small tank. I don't agree.

There are several varieties of apple snails. The non plant eatong apple which is very sought has a spiral end that swerls out to a pointed dome. If I remember correctly it is the c. apple. Check in the inverts forum.

I also think your 2.5 tank is too small to keep other creatures in.