raptors_4

I've had my 5gal. Betta tank set up and cycled for about 2 months now and am thinking about some corys. I'm just wondering if the tank could handle about three of them and if they are ok with bettas.

atmmachine816

They are ok with bettas though it would be pushing it to have cories, do you have a hex or regular rectangle tank and what type of filter do you have. If you get the small species you might be ok, I would test your levels often for awhile though.

gammerus

I think I heard rose talking about having some ottos in a 5gal with a betta...but I'm not sure.

atmmachine816

Ya oto's work good too, though can be hard to get to live. Good idea gammerus, they eat algae to let you know raptors4

0morrokh

Cories need to be kept in groups of 3, and most get 2 inches long or more (there are a few pygmy varieties but they need to be kept in larger shoals).* So, Cories would add up to 6 inches or more, which would mean you'd have at least 9 or so inches of fish.* I think that would be pushing it too much in a 5 gallon.* 2 Otos wouldn't overstock the tank, but you'd need to do 50% water changes each week or the nitrates would get too high and make the Otos sick (they are pretty sensitive fish).* Also, I would not recommend getting Otos unless you have live plants in your tank.* Check out this site if you would like more Oto info --> www.otocinclus.com

raptors_4

I was thinking of otos too but i don't have live plants and probably couldn't keep any because my tank doesn't have a light. So I should just leave it as a Betta only tank, or are their any other small catfish that could live with a Betta?

atmmachine816

nope no other small catfish, just leave it as betta only. It does have a filter and heater right? I hope you have some sort of lid, bettas are known jumpers.

raptors_4

THe tank has a lid and power filter. I have the water at 79F.

0morrokh

You need to have a light on your tank regardless of what fish you are keeping. Fish need 10-12 hours of light each day. Otherwise, the get a vitamin d deficiency and die. You should go pick up a hood for your tank--get one that's fluorescent, not incandescent. The incandescent lights aren't very good--they produce mostly heat and not light. A fluorescent hood may cost you $30 or so (US) but you need to have one or your Betta will probably die.

And I agree with ATM, just leave it a Betta only tank. What's your Betta's name?

atmmachine816

If you want to save a little money you can buy a incadescent hood then put a fluescent cp bulb in instead of the incadescent bulb but definately don't use incadescent bulbs like 0morrokh said.

raptors_4

I'll probably just end up buying a light because my tank has a pretty awkward shape. Thanks for the info.

His name is Flame just to let you know.

0morrokh

What kind of light do you mean?

Welcome to the forum Flame!!!

raptors_4

I'll get a 12inch flourescent strip light i think and then just put it on top of the cover

0morrokh

Oh yes that would work perfectly. Sorry I forgot to mention you don't necessarily have to buy the entire hood. I'm assuming the cover is glass right?

raptors_4

The cover isn't glass, its clear plastic. Does that affect how much light gets through?

0morrokh

I don't know if you can have lights over plastic or not. Let's see if anyone else knows. Did you make the lid or did it come with the tank?

raptors_4

The lid came with the tank but i did have to modify it to fit the heater and filter. It actually did come with an incandescent light but I got the tank from my cousin and the light never worked so I wouldn't be afraid to put a fluorescent light on it.

0morrokh

The light was probably just burnt out when you got it. Since a light came with it I'm sure you'll be ok putting a strip light on it.