Tank Mates For My Betta?

[Assaye]

I have my pretty cambodian VT male in a 4.5 gallon tank. I want some other fish in there to give him someone to play with and to make the tank look more interesting. My red VT perked up loads when I put him in a community.

Any suggestions? Would pygmy corys be OK in 4.5 gallons?

 

[lilacamy931]

No expert here hon, but believe that pygmys you need in groups and they will not fit comfortably in there at all. There is a good list here somewheres...off to search

 

[loraxchick]

pygmy cories would depend on the bottom surface. a hex tank for example would be no good due to the small footprint. you could try a an african dwarf frog, some snails and shrimp. it also depends on how long your tank has been set up.
good luck.

 

[jennybugs]

I have my pretty cambodian VT male in a 4.5 gallon tank. I want some other fish in there to give him someone to play with and to make the tank look more interesting. My red VT perked up loads when I put him in a community.

Any suggestions? Would pygmy corys be OK in 4.5 gallons?

Pygmy cories are only tiny so fine if the tank is big enough for a shoal of 6 or so. With 18 litres you will be pushing it with a betta as well. At 3cm each you wouldn't have room for a shoal of 6.

I find that bettas are so individual you would have to do a Plan B type scenario where you have another tank available if your betta hates sharing his domain. I've had 4 bettas now and each has been so different. I don't put them in with anything other than snails or amano shrimp now as I lost some neons to a feisty betta once.

When you say your red VT perked up...he wasn't zooming about too much and chasing tank mates was he?

 

[lilacamy931]

If your bettas temprament is good I would personally recommend african dwarf frogs, they are very lovely! (But only personal recommendation )

 

[jennybugs]

I think they look like they have severe arthritis, ADF's not bettas

 

[Assaye]

He he!

My red VT is active but not a bully. He swims around his domain, exploring and looking for things to munch, but rarely so much as flicks his fins at his tank mates. Sometimes there will be a flare over food but rarely, and he's never chased any of them. However, he was much less active on his own and would often sit in a plant for hours. I can just tell he's happier.

I've put some shiny pebbles on the bottom of my cambodian's tank and he just sits on the bottom, looking at his reflection. He's getting some kind of mental exercise, I guess, but he doesn't really have much to do in there.

Maybe some shrimp would be a good idea, and I like the sound of the frogs. If it all goes wrong, I have plenty of other tanks to play with.

(lol, just looked over at Orion, and he's staring at his reflection and cocking his head as if to say "well, well, who's a pretty boy then?")

 

[jennybugs]

He he!
However, he was much less active on his own and would often sit in a plant for hours. I can just tell he's happier.


If it all goes wrong, I have plenty of other tanks to play with.

Don't tell me you actually have a betta that smiles? Mine are all such grumpy whatsits!

 

[Assaye]

He he!
However, he was much less active on his own and would often sit in a plant for hours. I can just tell he's happier.


If it all goes wrong, I have plenty of other tanks to play with.

Don't tell me you actually have a betta that smiles? Mine are all such grumpy whatsits!

LOL!

I wish he would smile.

He comes to see me though, and follows my finger around the tank. He's nibbled my nose before, when I was reaching into the tank! Cheeky so and so.

 

[lilacamy931]

I think they look like they have severe arthritis, ADF's not bettas

LOL they sure do, especially one of mine that has an injured foot bless him. They are quite comical and Calcifer likes them