boon111

Hi guys and gals,

This is my new hobbie, I have a small tank I think it will be good for me since I am new. It is a 12 gallon tank 48 litre.

I currently have 8 Neon tetras and one betta in the tank. I'm just not sure how many more fish I can put in the tank??

Also another thing my tank is a Heto HT 400-B it has a built in filter I also dbought an under gravel filter I think that's what it is. I find that the filter seems to blow quite strong, just wanted to know if that's normal??

Feeding the fish is fine with the neon tetras but the Betta doesn't seem to really eat. I am feeding them granules which I tend to break up so they are easier for them to eat.

Any advice is appreciated.

Tony G.

Welcome to FIshlore!!!


Its great that you are getting into this hobby! We love to see pictures! lol if you can

If the filter is blowing out alot of water, you could try using a sponge to slow down the water current...

Time

I would like to Welcome you to fishlore so......Welcome!

angelfish220

WELCOME TO FISHLORE!!!



Hello! First off do you know what the nitrogen cycle is? If you don't I suggest reading this just some things that all fishkeepers should know...

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but... I wouldn't suggest keeping the neons with the betta. 98% of the time they just don't work together... the betta will start eating the neons or the neons will start nipping the betta... either way they don't work. Neither would adding more fish. 12 gallons isn't much space and when you have an aggressive fish like the betta, it's just a problem waiting to happen.

The good news is that bettas are WAY cool fish and believe me when I say there are PLENTY of people on fishlore that have dedicated their lives to bettas!

Undergravel filters (UGF) are really not good investments. They tend to collect the 'bad' bacteria (anaerobic, it think its called) that created toxic gases that will hurt fish. The only way to prevent this is a Very regimented cleaning cycle, which will mess with your nitrogen cycle and create a very large mess, as they are UNDER all the gravel.

You didn't mention a heater of any sort in the original post and I would just like to either 1 affirm that you DO have one or 2 tell you that bettas and tetras need a filter, if not they will die.

I think that's it and I say again WELCOME TO FISHLORE! and GOOD LUCK!!!

boon111

Thanks guys for the warm welcome and for the advice,

Angelfish220 appreciate the advice, I do have a heater and the tank has a built in filtration system.

I have heard mixed veiws on those neon tetras and bettas my mates dad must be lucky he's had his for over a year no problems.

I have read briefly on the nitrogen cycle and will read up some more, the aquarium I go to buy my fish and tank helped me quite a bit and told me to come down in a week so they can test the water.

I never new having a UGF could be bad. Will it be ok if I leave it there and say turn it on every now and then or should I just remove it from the tank.

I'll keep you guys updated, I've attached a photo if you guys see any problems please let me know.

Attached Images

IMG_0476[1].JPG (800.7 KB, 52 views)

angelfish220

Personally I would take it out before it creates a problem... I've never seen a post on here that said "Oh I just love my UGF..." Most people say they wished they never put them in and it caused them all these problems... Also you can't have a UGF and put live plants in, in case you would ever want live plants it would have to go. The tank setup looks great! The only thing you have to worry about when it comes to decor is the betta's fins. They can get snagged really easily. If you can take a piece of woman's pantyhose over the decor and it snags, that decor can also tear your betta's fins! I really like that red flame plant thing in the back though, really cool.

boon111

Done and done,

Thanks a lot angelfish220, really appreciate it.

I'll keep an update every so often.
Now to keep my fish nice and healthy.

abc123d30

I agree with angelfish about the betta. Bettas are just one of the fish that do best when kept alone. My sister and I used to have a couple when we were younger and they always did best when they were in a tank by themselves.

Maybe you could return the neons and keep the betta or if you really want a community tank return the betta. Even if the betta is coexisting with the others and there doesn't seem to be any problems you never know if the betta could turn on them, so don't be too surprised if you one day find your betta terrorizing your tetras.

Also, Welcome to Fishlore! This really is a great site and everyone here is so helpful!
EDIT: One more thing I forgot to mention, you can't always trust the pet stores as they are notorios for misleading and giving false information. I think it would be best to get your own test kit. If you do end up getting your own kit make sure to get the liquid kind and not the strips.

iloveengl

Welcome to fishlore

Bettas tend to be REALLY picky eaters. Sometimes you have to soak their pellets in a kind of betta garlic stuff, or crush them like you do, or some will only eat certain foods & you have to starve them for two days before they'll eat a pellet. I feed mine a few thawed blood worms. He slurps them down. My danios like them too.

I really like your tank - those red and orange plants *pop*.

boon111

No worries, I'll keep that in mind,

I have decided to take out the betta, I've noticed the little guy hiding in the plants looking to wait to ambush the quick neon tetras, although it looks really cool like a national geographic sequence, I like my tetras they do indeed look very nice together but I don't want to lose any of them.

I don't trust pet stores to but this place I go to is only a aquarium store, I'll get them to check and I will get a friend of mine to also check since he does have his own kit.

boon111

Yeah they are picky eaters aren't they,

hehe thanks, I wanted an eye popping plant to get people to take a look at the tank twice. I'll get my digital camera out and take a photo in a few weeks and see how it goes. I'm not sure what fish to put in when I take out the betta. Any ideas on what fish would be nice??

peacemaker92

Firstly, WELCOME TO FISHLORE!

Nice tank! You could get a cory catfish with your Neons and it should be fine enough. I really don't think you can stock much with a 12 gallon. 8 Neons and 1 Corycatfish is cool! Other members might have other suggestions so stick around for them Good luck and welcome to the great hobby of hardwork, $$$ spending and fun!!

ABCDemily

Hi! And welcome to FL! I really imploore that you get your betta a nice little tank all to himself, a five gallon minibow is really good. Make sure you read up on the nitrogen cycle as suggested by other members.

The reason betta's live better on their own, is A) aggression issues, they are a highly strung, very easily stressed fish, especially by fast moving fish like tetras. B) They need minimal current, by the picture it looks like there is too much current for a labyrinth fish to get oxygen comfortably. C) Betta's are just too cool to be kept with other fish! D) He will most likely be prone to more finrot from being stressed by the fast moving tetras.

It's a really nice looking tank, but I'd invest in a five gallon tank, a filter with a ridiculosly low flow output, and plavces for him to rest when he sleeps so he can get oxygen.

Good luck!

aquarist48

to Fish Lore! So glad you came aboard. Some great information and advice above. Here is a link concerning Betta's that you may find helpful.
Welcome and Betta Care Guide - Please Read First!!!

You've done a wonderful job on your tank!
Have fun and I hope you enjoy the site!
Ken

navyscuba

welcome to FL.

Diggly

Welcome to FL tank looks great!!

abc123d30

With only a 12 gallon tank you are kinda already at your limits with 8 neon tetras, although if you had more room I think some cherry barbs would look nice in your tank.

redlessi

Welcome to fishlore!!!