pamd

I have a new six-gallon Eclipse tank. I started cycling it fishless about a month ago with BIO-spira, but I think the BIO-spira was weak. It didn't act as expected. It might have helped, but I've continued cycling the tank the "old-fashioned" way. Now, I think the water parameters are nearly perfect for adding the fish:

Ammonia = 0
Nitrites = 0
Nitrates = 5.0 ppm

Please help me decide! My original idea was to add two small cory cats to it and let them acclimate, and I've done quite a bit of research on them. There are quite a few small and attractive cories (< 2 inches). Then to add a female betta since she's smaller than a male so the bio-load should probably be acceptable. Add her after the cories so she doesn't go *MY TOYS* *MY TOYS* I will attack you and won't accept you into *MY* territory.

But now I'm thinking perhaps I should just go with one male betta and no cory cats. What if one of them gets sick? I have a backup three-gallon Eclipse, but what a hassle to set it up. On the other hand, it would be soooo fun to have a couple of cories and a female betta in the six-gallon Eclipse if they get along with each other.

I also thought I'd go with a female betta because from most of what I've read here, they have all the personality of the males, if not more so. I've said before and will repeat myself that personality and health are much more important than looks to me. Male vs. female? A LFS store guy who seemed to know what he was talking about (but don't they all act that way?) said the females are even more fragile than the males. Is that true?

I know this all comes down to personal preference, but any advice you offer will be much appreciated!

Barbrella

More fragile in what way? I can't imagine what he was talking about. For one thing, females don't have those long flowing fins that get shredded, torn, and rotted. My girls are tough little things, but I guess a petstore that keep bettas living in cups full of ammonia so that they all get sick may think they're fragile.

The general consensus is that if you want a girl with a few other fish (3 dwarf corys?) dont' get a Cambodian! Try green or blue.

COBettaCouple

The LFS guy didn't know what he was talking about. Females tend to be healthier than the males.

I like the idea of female bettas and corys. Just have a backup in case she doesn't get along with them.

pamd

So, is my original idea of the six-gallon cycled tank with two cory catfish, and a girl betta introduced a bit later, okay?

Barbrella

What kind of corys are you thinking of? Most of them get too big for a 6 gal tank. The gravel, plants, decorations etc. will cut down the volume of water even more.

I would try and find dwarf species and get at least 3 or 4.

COBettaCouple

Yea, I think so. The little albinos or juliis might be the best ones for your tank.

0morrokh

If you go for a dwarf species make it habrosus, not pygmaeus (not sure about hastatus but I suspect they're more like the pygmaeus). I've found the pygmaeus super skittish and shy if in smaller groups. I think habrosus would be ok in a group of 3-4.

pamd

Thanks to all for the advice! I think, based on it, I'll go with three of the smallest cories I can get plus a girl betta. (Three tiny cories instead of two panda-sized ones). My fave for the bit I've read is the Melini cory or Habrosus, but don't know if I can get them. Here's a summary of my cory research in case it helps anybody else.

My LFS store should receive their shipment of cories Friday. Here are ones they commonly get in stock, but they don't know what will actually arrive:

1.3" (dwarf):

Hastatus (silvery/brown, B/W tail base, very lively, swims in mid-water a lot, high 78.8 degrees)

Pygmaeus (looked it up before and X'd it.)

1.4":

Habrosus (very cute, silver with black blotched stripe and dark blotches, high 78.8 degrees) OKAY, probably my first choice (thanks, Omorrokh):

1.8"

Melini (very, very cute, silver, black mask, diagonal stripe dorsal fin to bottom of tail base, no habitat info, high 78.8 degrees)

2"

Axekridu (cute, goldish/silvery, black dorsal fin, black eye mask, no husbandry info, high 78.8 degrees)

Matae: Temp caution: (very very cute, gold, black eye mask, black in dorsal fin that runs along back then down to tail base, High TEMP 75.2)

Nanus (Cute, B/W, silvery/gold, 3 horiz. black stripes plus splotches. Not much habitat info. High 78.8 degrees.)

Punctatus (Cute, silvery/gold, small dark spots, brownish vertical stripes on tail, juvenile looks peach colored, high 78.8)

Barbrella

Cute
Very cute
Very, very cute.

Are those part of the scientific descriptions?

Let us know what you get. I have no doubt they will be "cute" at the very least.

voiceless_kat

Hi Pam, sounds like you have your new fish figured out ( cute; cuter; cutest) and the water parameters sound good.

However, in the future, if you use Bio Spira, you should put your fish into the tank at the same time as the BioSpira, it will be cycled completely in 7 days, and safe for your fish right from the very beginning.

I am looking forward to seeing what you choose. Hope you post pics!

Val

Blub

0morrokh

Wow, I wish my lfs got that variety of cories! I didn't even know half those species, had to go look them up on Planet catfish. On that note I couldn't find 'axekridu'-did you mean axelrodi? I love melini and nanus. But I still think habrosus is the cutest species. Let us know what you end up getting.

pamd

I know that's the "usual"/"right" way. The reason I did it fishless was that I was afraid the BIOSpira might be expired/weak, which I believe turned out to be the case. It's strange Marineland doesn't provide an expiration date, even though it could vary. It seems they could provide a conservative date along with the disclaimer that it is contingent on the package being handled properly. I guess they'd have to raise the price a bit to cover dumped lots, but seems they would have a pretty good idea of how much they'd sell in a given time frame. Anyway, not knowing how old it was and if it had been handled properly along the way, I didn't want to risk killing any little fishies.

Oh, I did mean axelrodi! Cute typo, huh?

Thanks to all for your replies. I was so excited because the lfs said they'd get their cory shipment tomorrow. Now they're saying next week.

0morrokh

Ok...I was wondering why I couldn't find "Corydoras axelkridu" anywhere...I'm thinking, is this some newly classified species or something?? lol

Make sure you post lots of pics of your new cories.

pamd

Thanks and I will post updates and photos, although it'll ever-so-embarrassing because of my uhhhg glorious brown tank algae. Not pretty, but not worried about the tank parameters! Yay!.

COBettaCouple

I think we've all had diatoms. Bring on the pics.

chickadee

It is called "new tank syndrome" and I would worry if you did not have a bit of it. It wipes off easily and will go away on its own eventually.

Rose

LuvaBetta

The julii corys are really cute, cuter, and they're hard workers too.