Okay, So I Have Probably Made A Few Mistakes With My Fighting Fish...

[Jnoosh]

Okay...
So I am new to tropical fish keeping, probably should of done a lot more research to start, but here is my story so far...

Bought a aquamode 600, 65l tank.

Ran it for a week with some filter start stuff and conditioner that came with it.

Went to my local fish store and they recommended a betta to start with, so I bought a betta.

I then wanted to add fish, I didnt realise how much the betta would affect what else I could have.

I was then sold 4 scissortails and 2 females as they said they would all get on peacefully etc etc... The male would have fun but not breed because there were other fish species and it was moving water.

One day later, the male has a bubblenest, is mating with the female, eggs falling down, scissortails eating them. the bettas have pretty much been constantly mating for two days now. Im presuming this isnt good, as neither of the bettas are resting and he keeps failing. He is constantly chasing either the female bettas or the scissortails.

The tank is still pretty new, and has highish nitrate levels.

I wanted a varied aquarium, you know, a few pretty fish, a small shoal and a few bottom feeders or invertebrates.

What do I do now?

Just let it carry on?
Take the two females and the scissortails back, but keep the mail?
Take the male back and keep the others?
Re-home all the fish and start again?
Keep it as it is until the bacteria colony's have formed?

I understand I have made a few mistakes, and should of researched it better.
Looking for help though, not sarcasm or diggs.

Thanks in advance.

Josh

 

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

I'm not sure on the other fish but definately separate the females and male betta.


You could keep the male betta and take back the girls; OR you could keep the girls and get a few more, two isn't a good number; you need 4-5 girls minimum (as they bully the weakest one; getting more girls means less bullying per fish so to speak).

 

[LilyRose Tank]

as dipsy doodle says, but also, you need to get rid of most of the fish, when you are in a fish in cycle, you should add a maxmimum of 2 fish every fortnight, do daily ammonia and nitrate testing and do water changes accordingly, high ammonia (anything higher than 0.25)irritates fins, and high nitrate( anything higher than 0.25) burns the gills so all in all not happy fish.
The male betta would be my choice to keep. although in a tank that size it will take forever to cycle.
The male betta will fight anything that has long fins and in my limited experience will squeeze anything with short fins thinking they are female bettas.
I personally love betta splendens as they look beautiful, but if you are looking for variety, I would take all the bettas back, and keep the other 2 as starter fish. Then add two more fish once your ammonia and nitrate levels have been 0 at 12 hour intervals for a week
there is a section in the newbies section on fish in cycling...i don't think i know where it is exactly to link it, but if you search for it you should find it. this info will help you
you must get a master fluid testing kit, as paper kits arent reliable.
Hope thats helpful, and dopnt be afraid to ask cheers x

 

[ArnieStinger]

male betta's must be kept on their own.

 

[Essjay]

LilyRose, you mean nitrite not nitrate. Nitrite's the one that needs to be kept below 0.25, like ammonia. Just don't want Jnoosh to get mixed up.

 

[Ryefish]

male betta's must be kept on their own.

not entirely true. they can fit quite nicely into a community tank depending on the tank mates

 

[ArnieStinger]

male betta's must be kept on their own.

not entirely true. they can fit quite nicely into a community tank depending on the tank mates

Maybe, but Jnoosh's tank is 65L, I would consider that all a male betta's territory.

He is constantly chasing either the female bettas or the scissortails.

not a good sign

 

[Curiosity101]

As the others have said really.

But just a note, some males will HAPPILY live in a community tank. And this male can't be judged on his current actions.
Male bettas do the parental care when bettas breed. Once the females job is done she is 'removed' from the area in the wild. As are all other fish as they're a threat to the babies.

Obviously you'll need to pick one group or the other as dipsy said. And this needs to be done ASAP before you end up with deaths.

Another thing is that you need to read up on cycling. You need to do this straight away to avoid the fish being poisoned by ammonia.
Please check out the links in my signature.
You need to read about cycling, then fish-in cycling (which is what you're doing), and also read fishless cycling. That way you can decide if you really want to continue fish-in cycling (2 x daily testing and probably 2 x 80% water changes every day for a number of weeks).

 

[Aqua Dungeon]

I really like the TFF they show love never baggering a member,Unlike other betta forums that seem to be Bent On Spanking One's @$$ If They Appear(notice the word appear) to have made a mistake "Utimately" In the Eyes Of the ADMINS & Super MODS

Some not all but alot of "the common folk" aka members and I say not all but alot! have also adopted a "Verocious"Drill sargeant type convo when ineracting with One so it is all ways nice to come Home and see Betta/fish lover/animal lovers InerAct Humbly/HumanEly/Friendly and it is called "The Friendlist Fish Forum-Tropical Fish Forum"

*Aqua Dungeon since~1989~* P.S I Know your Happy You Found This Site!!!!!!!!!!!

Good Luck on your new tank Peace Be Unto You All

 

[Aqua Dungeon]

Okay...
So I am new to tropical fish keeping, probably should of done a lot more research to start, but here is my story so far...

Bought a aquamode 600, 65l tank.

Ran it for a week with some filter start stuff and conditioner that came with it.

Went to my local fish store and they recommended a betta to start with, so I bought a betta.

I then wanted to add fish, I didnt realise how much the betta would affect what else I could have.

I was then sold 4 scissortails and 2 females as they said they would all get on peacefully etc etc... The male would have fun but not breed because there were other fish species and it was moving water.

One day later, the male has a bubblenest, is mating with the female, eggs falling down, scissortails eating them. the bettas have pretty much been constantly mating for two days now. Im presuming this isnt good, as neither of the bettas are resting and he keeps failing. He is constantly chasing either the female bettas or the scissortails.

The tank is still pretty new, and has highish nitrate levels.

I wanted a varied aquarium, you know, a few pretty fish, a small shoal and a few bottom feeders or invertebrates.

What do I do now?

Just let it carry on?
Take the two females and the scissortails back, but keep the mail?
Take the male back and keep the others?
Re-home all the fish and start again?
Keep it as it is until the bacteria colony's have formed?

I understand I have made a few mistakes, and should of researched it better.
Looking for help though, not sarcasm or diggs.

Thanks in advance.

Josh

Ohh Yeah and Thanks for Choose'n a Betta 4your first Fish

*Aqua Dungeon*