New Tank - Betta Time?

[Million]

You could go with a Dwarf Puffer, two at a push if it has plenty of plants and decent filtration.
As for your lfs, they haven't given you the right advice, I'm afraid. Barbs are shoaling fish and do a lot better in a group. Your Tinfoils may be small now but when they get bigger, they will become a threat to your other fish. Not only are they boisterous but they will also cause havoc if the tank isn't big enough.
I know you say about rehoming your Common but the longer you keep him, the more attached you'll become. They are great characters and not easy to part with when the time comes.
We end up having to rehome quite a few Commons/Gibbiceps at our store because they've outgrown the tank. Unfortunately, not many of them will be rehomed as people only want them when they are small so they can watch them grow.

Oh, I see. Well I spoke to my LFS today, and they said they would exchange happily - I was looking at a crown pleco, and some rainbow fish as replacements. Thanks for the advice Stang.

 

[rossyt99]

3. Could I put a female betta in the community tank? It contains 3 tinfoil barbs, 8 tiger barbs, 8 silver mollies, 8 platties, 2 angels, 1 talking catfish, 1 blue gourami, 1 common plec, 1 giant african fan shrimp.
4. If I had a male in the 28, could I eventually think about introducing the female with a view to breeding?

Sorry about all the questions - it's just that the idea of breeding these magnificent looking fish is fascinating to me. Thanks for taking the time to read this!
Cheers
[/quote]

Hi, Answer to 3. .. You look to be already over-stocked. TFoil Barbs will need a bigger tank soon (get up to 14in.) + Angels, Tlk.Catfish, Plec and Gourami will grow big. + The barbs would probably have a nick at fins of Betta.

Answer to 4.. It'll be risky. Heard it's not straightforward (> loads of Info. on Betta section in Forum.)

Good luck.

 

[Million]

Hi, Answer to 3. .. You look to be already over-stocked. TFoil Barbs will need a bigger tank soon (get up to 14in.) + Angels, Tlk.Catfish, Plec and Gourami will grow big. + The barbs would probably have a nick at fins of Betta.
Answer to 4.. It'll be risky. Heard it's not straightforward (> loads of Info. on Betta section in Forum.)
Good luck.

Well thanks rossy, you're a little behind in the discussion. Tinfoils and pleco have been arranged for replacement. The angels, catfish and gourami are very slow growing as yet, so i'm not worried about them now. Would you say i'm overstocked now, or that I will be when the fish all grow?

 

[rossyt99]

Ah, I see now> I read first few posts then eyes started to get blurry> Anyway,<the Barbs + Plec it will reduce waste a lot and give good amount of room.
Probably would stick with remaining stock as you know how big the Angels/Gourami/ T.Cat will get.

Is your Talking Cat black and white striped?? + have u heard it yet? Used to hear weird noises from mine, especially at night.

 

[Million]

Is your Talking Cat black and white striped?? + have u heard it yet? Used to hear weird noises from mine, especially at night.

Ok, will do. The talking cat is a spotted one, Agamyxis pectinifrons. I don't think i've heard him yet, he seems very shy - we've only had him a few weeks. We do sometimes hear clicking, but no croaking yet! I made a slate cave for him and our giant african fan shrimp today, hopefully he will move in tonight

 

[Million]

OK, so, after some more thought I have some more ideas. I've decided not to bother with a female, as I don't really have time to be fussing with breeding.

As for fish to go in with the male betta, here are a few thoughts:
Otos
Some sort of small corydoras
Khuli loaches
Shrimp?
Some kind of small tetras without fancy fins or anything

Now bear in mind this is not a list of all the fish I will get - Don't intend to over-stock. I would like one species of bottom dweller/cleaner, and one of small mid level fish. What would people recommend?

I now have the tank, and it's actually bigger than I thought, about 35 litres.

I want to plant it too, so will have a plant substrate, and over that i'm thinking about fine gravel or black sand. I know people say substrate is more trouble, but I have it in my main tank and I like it (i've never used sand though...)

 

[Jaiden]

I temporarily have 2 Cherry Shrimp with one of my males. He seems to enjoy them lol Swims down to the bottom to chill out with them...follows them around...it's cute lol And Cherries are really pretty, too.

 

[stang1]

35 litres is a great size for a Betta. It's not really big enough for any shoaling fish though.
You could add a small group of Pygmy Corydoras, although you're best waiting for the tank to mature before adding them.

 

[Million]

35 litres is a great size for a Betta. It's not really big enough for any shoaling fish though.
You could add a small group of Pygmy Corydoras, although you're best waiting for the tank to mature before adding them.

You don't think it would be ok for maybe 5 ember tetra?
I'm still deciding between khulis, otos and corys - anyone kept any of these with a betta before?

I really like the look of nerite snails too - do they add to the bioload much?

It's taking me ages to get the tank set up for the plants: substrate, CO2, fertilizer, lights, bulbs... I JUST WANT TO GET SOME FISHIES! There's a beautiful blue CT in my LFS, and I don't think i'll be able to put any fish in for at least 4 weeks, dammit! Maybe I could put a deposit down on him

 

[MermaidMel]

Not many I'm afraid. You could go with a small group of Pygmy Corydoras or a group of Ottos, although they do like well filtered tanks.
Some people have had success with Shrimp but not sure what type would be best.

My betta girls ate 20 very expensive shrimp in 3 days flat, biatchez

 

[liz2]

naughty little girls! Hope you told them that was the first and last live food they would be having!

 

[MermaidMel]

naughty little girls! Hope you told them that was the first and last live food they would be having!

I was so gutted lol, good job I love them enough to let THEM stay and not be REPLACED with new shrimp lol

 

[AngelOfDeath]

how would a tiny betta eat a massive armoured shrimp anyway?

 

[Million]

I just found the answer to one of my questions:

'Another eater of algae is the olive nerite snail, which doesn't reproduce in fresh water, but will make any algae choked tank algae free. But a single snail takes up 2.5 gallons of bioload.'

Yipes! 2.5 gallons?! I only have 9 to play with!