too much?

[asparagus]

What do you think of a male betta, 2 adf and a mystery snail in a 5 gallon mini bow?
Too much? Think they'd kill each other? Sounds like a really really fun tank to me, lots to see and do, but I know so little. Id be heartbroken if someone died or got hurt b/c they didnt get along.

Im thinking also maybe a 10 gallon w/ 4 adfs and 2-3 mystery snails and a platy or two.

Or a 10 gallon split into 2 (or 3) with 2 (or 3) male bettas separated by that mesh tank divider. Would put a snail maybe in each?

Or, a male betta and 3 cories in the 5 gallon minibow.

Just kind of thinking up new community tanks for myself. grin

I think Ive finalized my 29 gallon will be as follows:
8 platys
4 female bettas
2 black mollies
5 panda cories
2 apple snails
Sound good? Would you put anything else in there? What would eat the livebearers fry before I could see them?
Would ADFs go in there?

Just rambling.

 

[Sorrell]

I don't know much about snails, so I can't comment on those, but bettas will kill smaller snails

I think your first three scenarios looks great with exception to the snail part The 5 gallon is too small for the cories though


I think your 29 looks great too. Two things, watch the female bettas and have a back up plan for them as not all of them work in communities. You'll need lots of hiding spots, meaning almost excessive, to provide refuge from the other bettas and the filter flow

If you decide to have ADFs you'll want to provide them with areas close to the surface so they have an easy time getting to the top for air. Also make sure they get enough to eat in a large community like that

Good for you for asking these questions before you buy the fish In the longrun the planning and research will really pay off

 

[modernhamlet]

I don't know much about snails, so I can't comment on those, but bettas will kill smaller snails

I think your first three scenarios looks great with exception to the snail part The 5 gallon is too small for the cories though


I think your 29 looks great too. Two things, watch the female bettas and have a back up plan for them as not all of them work in communities. You'll need lots of hiding spots, meaning almost excessive, to provide refuge from the other bettas and the filter flow

If you decide to have ADFs you'll want to provide them with areas close to the surface so they have an easy time getting to the top for air. Also make sure they get enough to eat in a large community like that

Good for you for asking these questions before you buy the fish In the longrun the planning and research will really pay off

Great advice, Sorrell.

The betta/snail issue always comes down to the temperment of your particular betta. Also, the bigger the snail relative to the betta, the more likely you won't have a problem.

I'll just add one suggestion with regard to the 29g...

29g are a relatively tall tank. There is a much clearer differentiation between the bottom, middle and top portions of a 29g than a 30g. I mention this because most of your fish (livebearers, bettas) are going to spend much of their time near the water's surface, which can possibly throw off the visual balance a bit. I've seen this before, specifically with gourami and danios. While livebearers, female bettas and corys sound like they'll make a lovely community (particularly in a 30g or 40g), I'd suggest a nice school of mid-water schooling fish to provide balance in the 29g.

That sure was a longwinded way to make a minor point of aesthetics. Sorry. )

 

[bluefire]

in ur 29 the bettaswill eat all the guppy fry before u see them so u won't hav to worry

 

[asparagus]

Ok, so what would you suggest as a mid-level community adn what would you replace?
I really really love the female betta colors- and the platys. I could skip the mollies and get a small mid level school of something.... suggestions? I thought the mollies would stay more or less midlevel w/ the bettas.
My thoughts on the female bettas- I found a lfs (about an hour away) that really really seems good. Lots of selection, healthy looking fish, extremely friendly and knowledgable staff. They take pride in being "the best lfs in NJ". They have a tank of female bettas. I was going to watch them for a few minutes before I purchase and try and pick the less aggressive ones. Plus, if they've been in a tank together for a while, they'll kind of know eachother, right?
Think it'll work?
I think asking the questions and doing the research is a big part of the fun- lots of options and no one dies. lol

Oh, and the snail thing. I found a site where a lady sells the snails and they're about the size of a quarter. Is that a good size? The snails Im thinking of are the ones that get to be about 3 inches I think. Mystery snails or Apple snails?