Male Fighter

[DAL]

Hi quite new to fish keeping only had the tank up and running for a couple of months.Anyway got a male guppy and felame guppy in the tank along with other fish but my daughter wants a male fighter.Our local aquatic shop advised us not to as it might see the male as a rival and fight/attack it as it does have quite a large tail and is very colourful.But then this site here http/badmanstropicalfish.com/community/c...community5.html has people listing their tanks and what fish they have and there are a few on there that have male guppies with male fighters.

Would you advise it to be ok to introduce a male fighter or against it?

Thanks

 

[Bloo]

Just because some lists them in their tank, doesn't mean that fish are living in health an harmony - without fear to hide in a small tank or stay out of each other's way.

It's really not a good idea to keep a male Siamese fighter (betta) in a community tank with guppies - nipping just one of the reasons. There are always exceptions to a "rule" but I'd rather avoid a very likely problem

Best get a single 2 gallon tank for the male betta

 

[DAL]

Just because some lists them in their tank, doesn't mean that fish are living in heath an harmony - without fear to hide in a small tank or stay out of each other's way.

It's really not a good idea to keep a male Siamese fighter (betta) in a community tank with guppies - nipping just one of the reasons. There are always exceptions to a "rule" but I'd rather avoid a very likely problem

Best get a single 2 gallon tank for the male betta

Ok thanks for the reply.What about a female then?
I know they're not as nice as the males but as an alternative if they are not as agresssive as the males we could get a female instead or would they again still go for the guppy?

 

[Bloo]

Same issue with females I'm afraid - it can work - it may not work. Females can be very pretty too btw

 

[Herbert]

Hi,

I am ashamed to say that I had a betta with some guppies - I did not know any better
I got up one morning, took a look at the tish and it was all death ahd destruction. All of the teails of all but 2 guppys had been dessimated. I now have 2 gupppies in their original tank, and had to go out straight away and buy a new second tank for the male fighter. He now lives with a couple of bristlenoses.

I dont think it is worth risking your guppies. By the time you find out it isn't working, it may be too late

 

[James007]

I have also learnt this lesson the hard way but the other way round. The guppies completely stripped my fighters fins and I lost him

 

[DAL]

Oh dear sorry about your losses so it's probably best if we leave the bettas then thanks anyway

 

[DAL]

Just another quick question on a different subject.Is there any other way of bringing down nitrate levels apart from adding a chemical?

I ask as my tap water is about 80 to 100 when i test it for nitrate so everytime i do a water change i am just adding 80 to 100 back into the tank.I am now starting to boil some water and leave it for 2 or 3 days and then add some more boiled water to bring it up to the same warmth.I haven't done this yet.I did boiled(cold) water last night and will proabbly do the change on Thursday or Friday but will this make a difference in the nitrate levels,leaving the water for a few days?

 

[FreshwaterFishie]

Just another quick question on a different subject.Is there any other way of bringing down nitrate levels apart from adding a chemical?

I ask as my tap water is about 80 to 100 when i test it for nitrate so everytime i do a water change i am just adding 80 to 100 back into the tank.I am now starting to boil some water and leave it for 2 or 3 days and then add some more boiled water to bring it up to the same warmth.I haven't done this yet.I did boiled(cold) water last night and will proabbly do the change on Thursday or Friday but will this make a difference in the nitrate levels,leaving the water for a few days?

You could try adding Reverse Osmosis (RO) water if there is a Local Fish Store (LFS) that sells it. You could also try filtered water and treat it with NovAqua or a good de-chlor. The de-chlor may affect the test results though. But, the de-chlor is needed. It is fine for your fish and you should use it every time you do a water change.

 

[DAL]

Just another quick question on a different subject.Is there any other way of bringing down nitrate levels apart from adding a chemical?

I ask as my tap water is about 80 to 100 when i test it for nitrate so everytime i do a water change i am just adding 80 to 100 back into the tank.I am now starting to boil some water and leave it for 2 or 3 days and then add some more boiled water to bring it up to the same warmth.I haven't done this yet.I did boiled(cold) water last night and will proabbly do the change on Thursday or Friday but will this make a difference in the nitrate levels,leaving the water for a few days?

You could try adding Reverse Osmosis (RO) water if there is a Local Fish Store (LFS) that sells it. You could also try filtered water and treat it with NovAqua or a good de-chlor. The de-chlor may affect the test results though. But, the de-chlor is needed. It is fine for your fish and you should use it every time you do a water change.

Ok thanks

 

[Neal]

Fighters do have different personalitys, you can get some you can keep with anything, and some that you have to keep on there own, it totally depends on the fish i'm afraid, but do you want to take the risk? You could buy your daughter a 1-2G tank for it, she might be happy with that.

 

[DAL]

We do have a cheap old plastic tank which we could use but how much are heaters to keep it at the right temp?
They don't need a lot of space do they?

Edit:Just looked at http/www.maidenheadaquatics.co.uk/eshop/index.php?cPath=8 and notice they sell them for about £20 which i think is a bit much just to heat a small plastic tank and for what we want it for.Can you buy smaller types or mini ones say for a very small tank?

 

[DAL]

Just another quick question if i may?

We have a 50 litre tank and now have

1 Dalmation molly
1 silver molly
2 neons
1 male and 1 female guppy
1 cory
2 golden barbs
1 pristella(or xray) tetra
4 lamp eyes
1 leopard danio
2 rummynose
25 baby dalmations some still in the trap but they are about 5mm big or thereabouts it's hard to tell really

Now how many more if any fish could we add to our tank in the future?

It doesn't look that busy in there apart from the fact we have got them 25 babies.Now i know it's going to get clogged up when they get bigger so before they get too big i'm hoping the LFS will take them but if i remember correctly they said when they are an inch

 

[england]

just wondering what area in england you live in.............try southern aquatics theres 1 in christchuch dorset also spread over england i brouht a nyceee tank with undergravel filter/ heater/light in canopy for £36 not bad me finks you can see my tank here http/public.fotki.com/nellyc/my_fish_shots/

.....

 

[catxx]

a 50 litre tank is under 20 gallons, so you are pushing your stocking levels already

if i were you i'd rehome some and build up schools of others.
tetras need to be in schools of 6+
corys groups of 3+
danios 6+

and i'd get a seperate tank for all the baby mollies