Snowfrog

Howdy all:

First off. I am sorry if I placed this in the wrong location on the forums.

We are considering adding a betta to our fish family. We have a 1.5g tank ( one of the starter setups you can get at any major "chain store" I need suggestions for making sure that our new friend ( when we get him/her will be happy. We have a air-driven filter and 'craft' marbles for the bottom of the tank. what i need help with is : do we need a heater? if yes suggestions please.

Regards:
Snowfrog

PS. I forgot, are tankmates a good idea? If yes, what kind? was considering a Cory cat.

JaneAustenAddict

Welcome snow!

Some bettas do well with cory cats and some do not. Unfortunately corydoras should not be kept in such a small tank. They also do best in groups of 5 or more.

My suggestion is to put the betta, and only the betta, in the 1.5g tank. But lets wait and see what some others have to say!

SWfreshmen31

yea you are supposed to have a heater for your betta since it is a tropical fish and they like warmer water.

iloveengl

Hi Snowfrog

Here is an excellent care sheet for bettas: Welcome and Betta Care Guide - Please Read First!!!

You'll notice that it says 2.5g is the minimum tank recommended; bettas are tropical fish, which means they need warm water to live happily and ward off any diseases (like ICH). Any smaller tank, and the heater can't keep the water at a warm, stable temp. Also, less water means it's much harder to keep the water clean and free of ammonia build-up (which comes when fish poop and fish food deteriorate in the water).

Is it possible to exchange your current setup for a slightly larger all-in-one version (like a 3g or 5g)? If you want corydoras (or otos might work) as tanks mates, the minimum tank size is about 10g because corydoras needs to be with others of their kind and they need a large footprint. I really wouldn't suggest any other fish as a tank mate; bettas are definitely solo swimmers because of their aggression.

Before you add a fish, I suggest this link: http://www.fishlore.com/NitrogenCycle.htm Basically, before you add fish, you want the tank to build up the proper bacteria that will convert fish waste into a much less toxic substance. You achieve this beneficial bacteria by going through the nitrogen cycle.

That's a whole lotta info to throw out there, so if you have more questions or need insights, explanations, or anything, just ask. We are all just here to help out as much as we can.

fishtroy

Hi! Your betta would probably prefer having the whole tank to himself. As for the heater it can depend upon the climate in the place you live. If it gets really, really cold in winter then the heater is a definite, but if it does not and just gets chilly you can make do with a lamp to heat your water. Let us know when you get your betta baby & post pics!

Snowfrog

I have read all the articals i can find on this site concerning betta care. I am also fully aware of the nitrogen cycle. I am thankful for all the people that have posted. I was just a bit confused on a few fine details about tank setup. Anyone else that has a suggestion I would gladly accept it, after all I am always learning.

Regards:

mr.fishy

hey maybe you could get a little 5.5 gallon tank or a kit around that size if you want to stay small. It would still be a small tank but a little better for your betta I would guess.