cherryrose

Hi Miriam and welcome to fishlore. I currently have four bettas in a divided 20 gal long tank. They love it and so do I!

Since I have been absent from here so much I don't know that my opinion is worth much. What I think is that I like having this topic stickied here as I would probably never read it if it was in the DIY area. I may not be on here much but this is one topic that I always read. Of course I am crazy about bettas.

Cherry Rose

snughaven

Hi: Can you tell me what are the best kind of Algea eaters to put in with a Betta? It's a 5 gallon tank. Any help would be much appreciatted.

lili70

Anything but a Chinese Algae eater. They are fighters like betta. For a 5 gal .... snail maybe. Otto is a good choice but they like to be more than 1.
L

0morrokh

You could get a snail but they are big waste producers and don't eat much algae.

Otos are the only algae eating fish small enough for small tanks. However, think twice about adding any fish to the tank at this point since it sounds like there's already a Betta in it (is that right?)...the Betta would view new fish as intruders and may attack them. You could try it but only if you have another tank they could go in if the Betta won't tolerate tankmates. The other problem with Otos in small tanks is that they are very sensitive about water quality, which is harder to maintain in a small tank.

Barbrella

That's mostly true, except for Zerbra Nerite snails. If you can find a couple, they are superior algae eaters and do not reproduce in aquariums. They're very pretty too.

But there's no guarantee a betta will allow one in his tank.

I tried in one of my 5 gal tanks, and here was the result. I had to remove the snail.

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0morrokh

Good point, I'd forgotten about zebra nerites.

That's a really funny pic...I can just imagine what the Betta's thinking- "oh my gosh there's a slimy black blob slithering across my territory!!!"

voiceless_kat

First I tried Wink Jack Sparrow and Tiny King in a 10g divided. Even tho I had plants in front of the divider Wink spent his day swimming behind it and flaring. If I was at TK's end of the tank, WJS had to be watching, and flaring. I gave them each their own tank.

Then I thought since WJS was in a 10g I would add 2 otos. I added a couple more hiding places, moved the decor around and added what I was told were 2 oto,s they were a Chinese Algae Eaters. Very aggressive, but a good match for WJS. Didn't eat algae and I didn't like them.

I traded those for 2 little otos. I thought I slipped them in when Wink wasn't looking ( duh) but whenever he saw them move , he was after them. He would stalk these little guys constantly, hanging out by their zuchinni or algae flakes, and generally being a bully. The otos hid almost all the time.

One day I was looking for the otos, and saw the smallest one, on the zuchinni, with no eyes -- both eyes were gone. this poor little oto was swimming around, blind as a bat and I know the only thing that could've happened was Wink got him. ( " Name me like a pirate, I act like a pirate," Wink told me.)

I caught both otos ( couldn't believe how hard that would be) and put them into another tank with other otos that will go with the guppies, when their tank is a bit more mature. He is still alive, swims, eats, and piles up with his mates, but looks so sad and pathetic. None of them hide now.

From this I decided -- no more room mates for my bettas. ( Except Tiny has 2 cories) He is a much better host than WJS was, just plays with the cory food, but shows no aggression.

I imagine it depends on the individual fish, but I wouldn't do either again - and although I liked the divided tank, I think that too depends on the individual fish. For now, Wink and Tiny both fooled me into their own 10g tanks, and we are all much happier.

I hope your experience is more positive -- keep an eye on them until you are sure things are working out.

Good Luck, Val

0morrokh

Definately depends on the individual Betta. I had a huge male who was a big teddy bear, had him with a bunch of yound dwarf cories and otos. My others are little terrors and won't tolerate tankmates....

COBettaCouple

Wink Jack Sparrow is known to Otos in all the seven seas!

Bettas have such personalities that it's hard to say anything that applies to every one of them, but Cories are the most compatible and accepted tankmate, followed by Otos. Some Bettas, especially among females, can't even accept those though as WJS proves.

If you try cories or otos, watch how your Betta acts around them. The true feelings should come out pretty soon. Another thing that helps is to take your betta out into a temp. container and acclimate him/her back in after you've put the other fish in the tank and moved the decor around some. I'd acclimate the new fish and take the betta out right before releasing the new fish into the tank to minimize how long your betta is in a temp. container. Watch for jumping too.

LuvaBetta

My male, Ripley (fins ripple beautifully as he swims!) is in a 5g hex. Originally he had two otos with him and chased them for about 10 seconds and lost interest.
I moved the otos to a 10g to help finish cycling it but I want to get another oto for the hex. This time Ripley will be there first so I have my fingers crossed that he will have the same disinterest and not have gotten territorial about his tank in the last two weeks!

I love the otos, they're very hard-working and non-confrontational. But they're kinda big poopers if there's enough algae so watch the bio load!

voiceless_kat

Isn't it strange ( well, amazing) how each betta has his own personality. Sadly, I found there was something mesmerizing about watching Wink stalk those poor little mites! ( Shame on me). I never saw him actually hurt one, but he always was between the food and the oto, and squeezing into decs meant for the otos to hide in - that he just ignores now. Just a bully ( but so very cute and charming, now that he is alone...LOL)

Now Tiny & Sammy & Scooter are a hoot to watch -- with them it is always about the food, Tiny eats it then spits it out ( cuz he doesn't want it, he just doesn't want them to have it) But I am comfortable with this pairing since the cories have that armoured kind of "suit" ( whatever).

I didn't realize the otos were "big poopers" - I must consider that prior to putting them into the gup grow out tank.

HatchetHaven

KittieKat

whatever u do DO NOT try this method in a bowfront tank!!!!!!!! i tried this.. before i even read this thread only to have my males end up on the same side with nearly no fins left!!! currently have one in a 5 gal and one in a slightly smaller tank (i think a 3gal) just do not try to split a bowfront... the convex bow is nearly impossible to contour with while sizing the mesh!!

HatchetHaven

shellbell4ever

I just made my own divider's with the suggestion here and it's GREAT!!!I like the look much better than the store bought one... Thanks so much cherryrose!!!

chickadee

The only important thing to remember when you use this method on a BOWFRONT tank is to measure in the CENTER of the tank and not on the ends. Some people try to use the end of the tank as their pattern and it is smaller than at the center and will not make the divider wide enough. You HAVE to measure the spot where the divider is going to be placed and not the end of the tank. If you have a standard rectangular tank you can used the end of the tank for a pattern as there is not a difference but this does not work with a Bowfront. BUT the Bowfront can be done if you just be sure to measure at the correct place. You can do this with ANY tank if you just measure at the correct spot. The only caution I have is that if you are going to use it on a larger than 10 gallon tank the plastic needs to be heavier than plain craft canvas. You will need to get perforated PVC or something like that as the weight of the water on each side will make the divider bow so much that it will not hold. I got Perforated PVC and had it trimmed to fit for my 25 gallon tank and it worked beautifully and I did not need seperate filters or heaters as it was just like the craft canvas but gray in color. It is also very easily cleaned with a small piece of filter floss and a quick wipe when cleaning the tank just like the rest of the tank walls. (much easier than the craft canvas which really needs to be removed to be cleaned) If can also be ordered in sizes that vary the sizes of the holes in it to be larger or smaller (1/16", 1/8", 1/4", etc.). to allow more or less water flow or fish to see what is on the other side.

Rose