russ757

im thinking about getting a betta but i need advice / tips etc.i have a ten gallon and i hope to put one male betta and a couple cory cats just some ideas,pics,links etc. would be nice im goin on vacation today so i wont be here but ill catch up on what yal said when i get back.(hopefuly yal do post)

Lucy

First, what happened to the gourami?

Second, cycle your tank first. Here's how:
http://www.fishlore.com/NitrogenCycle.htm

Third read this:
Welcome and Betta Care Guide - Please Read First!!!

russ757

ok the gourami had irindovirusso i took him back and im determined to get it right this time ty that info was really helpful i want to do it right and cut no corners.

Lucy

Your welcome, good luck

russ757

ok ty i dont leave till this afternoon so i have a little time to get betta info

sirdarksol

Personally, I try to get my bettas from places that don't keep them in the little cups, as I don't want to encourage these places to continue their methods of overstocking bettas in order to make more sales.
For some people, this isn't really an option, though. I'm lucky enough that I have three local stores that keep their bettas pretty happy.
Get the tank fully cycled, and I would put the cories in before the betta (normally the cories go in last, because they need a really stable water quality, but putting them in first makes the betta less likely to see them as intruders). Either way, though, introduce either cories or betta, and let the tank go for a week before adding the other(s).

chickadee

If you had a fish with the iridovirus in the tank did you clean it good before starting this cycle? I am just afraid that it will transfer to the betta if you didn't clean the tank in between.

Rose

sirdarksol

Thank you, Rose. I didn't even think about that.

The iridovirus, if I understood things correctly, can survive for a week or two without a host.

COBettaCouple

I'd definitely sterilize the tank fully after losing your gourami to that iridovirus.

russ757

ok ty guys i actually learned that it wasnt irindoviros it was ICH but yes i have the cories in first if that is bad or good

Alessa

its good as it was already posted above but the tank needs to be FULLY cycled.
the most important thing is to cycle the tank before you add anything, otherwise you'll keep loosing fish and getting them sick.

Devon

Yes, it's best to have the corydoras in first, if you plan on housing them with a betta. The betta is less likely to get territorial if he's not the first one there; violence is more likely from him if he feels that "his" space is being invaded, as opposed to being the new arrival.
How long did you have the tank empty before you added the corys? And what temperature was it at when it was empty? The ich parasite can stay dormant in your tank for several weeks without a host in cold water, and can even survive up to 5 days in warmer water (79-80F). It's important to be sure you don't have a "sick tank" before you add more fish, or your new fish are going to suffer from ich infestation as well.

sirdarksol

Agreed. Ich almost never hurts healthy fish, because their bodies can fight off the parasites before a population explosion. This means that most cases of ich are preventable. Keep your fish from getting stressed, and you'll probably never see ich.

Lucy

I feel like the bad guy here.

Russ, did you cycle your tank before adding any fish?
When you first started, you said your mom wouldn't let you do daily water changes. Has that changed?

I really want to see you and your tank succeed, but when I think you're making the same mistake, I must speak up.

sirdarksol

Don't. It's a valid concern that Alessa and I both expressed.

Lucy

As I did in my first post.


and added cories anyway.

Alessa

I do not want to sound rude russ but you need to understand something that we have all been trying to tell you, but you have not listened to:

If your tank isnt cycled your fish will keep getting sick. You cannot just ask a question about "what fish to get" and then run to the store and get them.

Cycling with fish is not a good method for cycling. We warned you several times in this AND in the other thread that you shouldnt do that and you did it anyways. You got the Dwarf Gourami and then told us that your mom "wouldnt let you cycle your water" or do the 50% water changes.

I am sorry to tell you this, but if these situations continue, you are not in conditions to keep fish responsibly. You better decide wether or not you can take mature descicions and stop buying fish impulsively without having a proper way to care for them.

sirdarksol

Lucy: I know, but we can only give information. In the end, everyone can make their own decisions. We can't make anyone do anything, nor can we keep someone from doing something.
Most people here have done something that isn't suggested at some point, whether it's putting fish into an uncycled tank, adding a betta to a community tank, or keeping goldfish in a tropical tank.

Lucy

sir, you're right, of course.

russ757

ok guys heres where im ahead of you i have a week left tio cycle my tank and my mom will let me cycle 50% daily and the tank is eighty degrees even. as some of you might know we have a hurricane/tropical storm hitting us soon so i most likely wont be able to post but ty

Lucy

You and your family stay safe, Russ.

Devon

Why are you being given only a week?
And what is a 50% a day cycle...?

Alessa

I agree with devon... in one week your tank will not cycle. it is not a matter of "how much time you have" but of how long will it actually take to cycle.

russ757

ok then i will test the water every two days for te nitrates to rise a little before i get the betta and i meant a 50% WC daily

Alessa

you do not only need the nitrates to rise. Both ammonia and nitrite need to be 0.

russ757

ok i did not know that but thank you

Lucy

Test for ammonia and nitrites too, not just nitrates

I'm quoting Miss MTS from another thread this is what you should see happening with your tests over the course of a few weeks to a month or so:

Ammonia Spike, Nitrites 0, Nitrates 0
Ammonia 0, Nitrites Spike, Nitrates low reading
Ammonia 0, Nitrites Zero, Nitrates Normal

Please be patient with the cycle, Russ, you'll get there.

russ757

ok ive had .5 ammoniathen 0 then 0 then 0nitrates and nitrites

Lucy

I'm sorry I don't understand.

russ757

those are my readings ok first reading, .5amm. 0nitrates 0nitrites
2nd. reading oamm. 0nitrates 0nitrites