Plants

[tibby25731]

Your betta is living in a vase with no filter so I think he would do better in the new tank even whilst it is cycling! I think that if you do at least 25% water change every day or so for the next few weeks, then your ammonia levels shouldn't be too bad. I did a fish in cycle when I first got fish, and I ended up doing daily water changes just to keep the ammonia under control. however I had quite a few fish in there! So every other day should be OK, I think you should be doing that anyway with the vase so just move him to his new tank and watch him carefully. you will soon notice if he is looking under the weather - and you can then water chage asap. Then when you can afford a liquid test kit, test every day for ammonia and nitrite. You want both to be zero, or at worst 0.25. Any more and you are in trouble. Once the levels go to 0, and stay at 0 for a few days with no water change, you are done!
I would go for fake plants if I were you, live ones are a pian in the #### and harder to look after than the fish in my opinion! The only thing i have kept successfully is duckweed and java moss

Well done on convincing your boss to get a bigger tank!

 

[Amunet]

I agree with Tibby. I would just put the betta in to the tank. That vase water gets fouled up alot quicker than the tank is going to.
Just do as tibby suggested w/ the small daily water changes. That should be ok until you can go out and get a test.

Also make sure to check nitrates every once in a while as well. You just wanna make sure that there are some in there so there is some indication that the tank is cycling.

 

[AnakBettaMoon]

UPDATE
He is so happy in his new home. Wanted to post up a couple pictures here he is!

And his new home compared to his old home!

Its amazing how skittish he is even with his own reflection he doesn't flare too much, he doesn't like things out side his tank and he attacks bubbles from the bubble stone i put under the heater.
What would be the chances of him getting along with a pair of clown loaches if i ever wanted to add them in later in the future?

 

[snapefish]

Clown loaches! You know they get over a foot long? A big no in other words. He'll be quite happy on his own in that set up - in fact very happy I should imagine. Your set up isn't really suited to bottom dwellers because food will dissapear between the largeish stones on the floor of the tank. I'd avoid all bottom dwellers (which includes plecs, ottocinclus, cory and 'sucking loach'), tetras, barbs and danios because they have a reputation for tearing up delicate fins and anything that grows over 12 inches long! If you really want other fish in there I would go for a small rasbora species such as harlequins, Galaxy or similar. You might get away with a group of 6 but no guarentees - each betta is different in what they will tolerate.

I would also wait for the plants to grow a bit and also wait for at least a couple of months to make sure your filter has fully matured.

Mark

 

[Amunet]

Ditto what snapefish has said specially about the clown loaches! EEP!
They are fish you should NEVER consider for a small tank.

I wouldn't put anything in to the tank with him. Just let the plants fill out alot more so it doesn't look too empty and it should look great.
MAYBE some shrimp would be ok when the tank is done cycling, but your betta may find them to be tastey treats so that's always iffy.

 

[lilfishie]

AS said no clown loaches, although you could have African Dwarf Frogs or possibly shrimp, although he may eat them

 

[ReMz]

You now have the input on clown loaches. nope nope and nope.

But REALLy glad too see that you have him in a sufficient tank! I'm sure you see why a tank this size is recommended now. I bet he is having a ball

 

[Netty]

Excellent that's so much better for him and you can now see him more clearly and enjoy him more too!!!!

I wouldn't put anything else in with him. He's such a gorgeous betta.....so let him enjoy his kingdom