Taking Betta Out Of Breeding Box

[crabbylion]

Hello. I have a 10 gal which has 1 x M Guppy and 2 X F Guppies which i'm trying to breed for color. I also have a community 29 gallon tank which has a Betta in a breeding box hanging off it for obvious reasons. It doesn't look to happy being in there so what I was thinking is to relocate him to my 10 gallon and return the aforementioned Guppies to the 29 gallon. I purchased the poor Guppy from a Walmart and I really wanted to rehabilitate this guy. Is all white complexion looks so drab and his body language shows that he's been through a lot. I just wish that there was something else I can put in there with the Betta.

 

[Honeythorn]

Cories are usually a safe bet for betta tankmates. Pygmy cories would be best for a ten gallon, a group of 6-8 is good .

Add the cories first and get them settled for a week, then move your betta in the week after. He should see them as part of the decor/habitat and not bother them. Plus being in the breeding trap he will be used to seeing other fish and so will be less likely to be bothered by tankmates.

Some Male endlers livebearers may also be worth a try. They have been kept successfully with friendly bettas and are peaceful bright little fish. You could go for a group of around 6 of those with your betta, or the cories and the betta ( not all three types grouped in together though as this will overstock the tank )

Shrimp and snails are also safe tankmates too. Snails ( as in, an apple snail ) will count as 1-2 fish in terms of how much waste they produce, but shrimp barely register at all on the waste scale so you could have quite a few without making an impact on your water quality

 

[crabbylion]

Cories are usually a safe bet for betta tankmates. Pygmy cories would be best for a ten gallon, a group of 6-8 is good .

Add the cories first and get them settled for a week, then move your betta in the week after. He should see them as part of the decor/habitat and not bother them. Plus being in the breeding trap he will be used to seeing other fish and so will be less likely to be bothered by tankmates.

Some Male endlers livebearers may also be worth a try. They have been kept successfully with friendly bettas and are peaceful bright little fish. You could go for a group of around 6 of those with your betta, or the cories and the betta ( not all three types grouped in together though as this will overstock the tank )

Shrimp and snails are also safe tankmates too. Snails ( as in, an apple snail ) will count as 1-2 fish in terms of how much waste they produce, but shrimp barely register at all on the waste scale so you could have quite a few without making an impact on your water quality

Thanks a bunch for your feedback! I notice that the norm around here for "perfect" Betta buddies are Cories. I think i've owned two in 20+ yrs of fish ownership. I'll give the Cories a research, though. I do like the idea of shrimp. What are the odds of that 10 gallon I have becoming a breeding grounds for him if he has tank buddies? Thanks.

 

[nessar]

Betta would probably eat any shrimp babies . Have you tried your betta in the community yet?
Im looking to try the same thing so just wondering how its going

 

[Jenste]

another great tank mate to consider are african DWARF frogs - I have a few, and a school of albino cories in with my giant betta and they get along great!

 

[crabbylion]

@Nessar: Well, we're going on 36 hours of adding our female Bettas to the community and its doing surprisingly well. They are being sweethearts!

@Jenste: Ya, know i've been thinking hard about those frogs. Do they need areas in the tank to perch above water?

 

[Jenste]

no - - they are fully aquatic - - but do need space at the surface to access air

just please please PLEASE do research first or send a message to me before buying the frogs! it is VERY important that you learn to differentiate between aDf and aCf