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.

chickadee

I would not put Cories in a 5 gallon with the betta, I do have 2 cories with my betta in a 5 gallon but I am changing the water 3 times a week and it still gets really dirty. I want to upgrade to a 10 gallon tank for them but am going to have to take a bit to do this. Also you never want to put more than 2 otos in a 5 gallon tank as they do not get enough to eat.

Pygmy cories can be kept in groups of 3, they like 6 but can survive quite well in groups of 3 and do well. Otos are the best choice for a 5 gallon tank though. They are tempermental for a first 30 day period but once they are through the first 30 days they can live a long and healthy and very hardy life. Many of us have otos who have become our oldest fish and are quite healthy and happy. I have 3 tanks with otos in them (2 in 2 of them and 1 in the 3rd) The one with the single oto in it is very nontypical as they like to be with others of their own kind but he shows no tendency for socialization and I needed to put him in a tank away from the others.

You can put the otos in a tank like you are describing even without real plants as long as you have some type of hiding places and an airstone running (or airwand they love those and will sleep on them). Plastic or silk plants are fine with them as well.

Rose

0morrokh

I guess it depends on the individual Pygmy Cories. I used to have 6 of them and they were always swimming around together. Now I'm down to 3 and they just hide all the time. Most good sources I've found say to keep them in larger shoals. But I guess some might be ok in a group of 3, idk.

If you don't have plants and want to get Otos then you'll need to monitor the nitrates very closely. They can get sick if the nitrates get too high. Plants help that a lot.

raptors_4

I think I'll stick with just a Betta for now I don't know how much longer he'll last though because I've had him for almost 4yrs.
About the light I'm pretty sure it was the wiring because I tries changing the bulbs and that didn't work.

0morrokh

Wow that's a long time for a Betta to live!

AesSedai

I'll be adding a Clown Pleco as a tankmate for my Betta Zen. Have you looked into those? NOT the 'common' Pleco mind. They get huge.

I read on in the thread and see that you've decided on just keeping Flame alone so nevamind

raptors_4

Do you know how big a clown pleco gets? I might not be able to fit one in my tank either.
I am still open to suggestions I just said I would keep him by himself b/c I didn't think there were any more options.

atmmachine816

Clown plecos don't usually get more than 4" but minimum tank size should be 10 gallon with a betta would be pushing it. they do NOT eat algae and need wood in their diet. They are messy fish so you will need a good filter and need to test your water often to make sure the levels do not change. 10gallon is bare minimum and much more than a betta as a tank mate is pushing it.

chickadee

Clown Plecos are Clown Loaches and get to 12 inches in length when full grown..try Googling them. They need a huge tank and do not eat algae but will eat shrimp pellets and other carnivore sinking foods.

No they are not suitable betta tank mates for a lot of reasons, size being one of them.

Rose

atmmachine816

Actually Rose there are clown plecos. This is the common one http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog...species_id=734 rather peaceful like all plecos and one of the smaller species. Not recommended for a 10gallon but can live in one as a species tank. But yes clown loaches need large tanks, clown plecos no.

chickadee

Sorry, when you google Clown Plecos they take you directly to Clown Loaches. I didn't check the other site. OOPS

Rose

atmmachine816

LOL no problem. Both are cool fish, just different lol.