10g Thailand Betta Biotope

Hi, I been planning this since I redid my substrate. I put a layer of potting soil under my sand. I have a HOB sponge filter and one I've hid in my drift wood and behind plants. The following rules will be used.

1. Fish from Thailand

2. Plants from Thailand

3. Water Parameters from Thailand.

4. Lighting Similar to Thailand.

Wants
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5. Natural Food based of their natural diet.

6. Ratio of Bettas (Read Below Fig 1.)

7. Natural Light Hours

8. Natural Filtration ( Read Below Fig 2.)

9. No Water changes

Fig 1. I will *try* having females in the tank permanently. I will always have a backup tank (20 High) set up if it is needed.

Fig 2. I will always have extra filters if needed and have a cycled sponge filter rated for 20 gallon)


I have also been experimenting with keeping 2 bettas together. 1 male 1 female. It has been 3 months. At first there was some flaring but now there is none at all.

I am thinking this stocking depending on feedback.

Stocking 1.
1* male Bettas
2+* Female Bettas
2* Flower Shrimp (already have)
any ideas?

I'm going to try rice

 

I wouldnt try the betta idea with regular bettas. But some wild bettas can actually live together! Heres something that cory from aquarium coop did.

 

I wouldnt try the betta idea with regular bettas. But some wild bettas can actually live together! Heres something that cory from aquarium coop did.

Do you think I could put a a male Betta splenden with others?

 

Having a sorority in a 10 gallon is asking for trouble. A male with females in a 10 gallon is just..... no.
Why no water changes?
Wild bettas is a much better idea! Much more natural and you can have multiple.

Do you think I could put a a male Betta splenden with others?

Wild bettas? No.

 

Abby565 I want a no wc to see how a complete ecosystem will work. I will definatley be trying wild bettas after some research.

 

Abby565 I want a no wc to see how a complete ecosystem will work. I will definatley be trying wild bettas after some research.

In a bigger tank that might work, with top offs to replace minerals, but in a 10g, water chages are necessary to remove nitrates. Glad you are going with wild bettas.

 

I disagree, I have seen no water change 5 gallon tanks. I am going to make sure the tank is stable and like I said I always have a backup tank. ( not trying to be rude)

In a bigger tank that might work, with top offs to replace minerals, but in a 10g, water chages are necessary to remove nitrates. Glad you are going with wild bettas.

TexasDomer What do you think? Do you think I could do Betta albimerginata?

 

The plants will not remove things like nitrates, and without rain/soil turnover (as in fresh soil/minerals/rocks/salt e.t.c) flowing like it does from streams, runoff and from rain, it won't work. In a natural ecosystem, aside from being a lot bigger than a 10g, there is a form of natural water changes in constantly flowing, changing water, evaporation, rain, death and more. It's a lot more complex than animals working with each other and affecting each other.

 

The plants will not remove things like nitrates, and without rain/soil turnover (as in fresh soil/minerals/rocks/salt e.t.c) flowing like it does from streams, runoff and from rain, it won't work. In a natural ecosystem, aside from being a lot bigger than a 10g, there is a form of natural water changes in constantly flowing, changing water, evaporation, rain, death and more. It's a lot more complex than animals working with each other and affecting each other.

really?

 

What a great setup with all those natural tanks, amazing!

 

If you're not going to do water changes, I would't recommend any fish.

 

If you're not going to do water changes, I would't recommend any fish.

okkk, I guess I'll stick to waterchanges.

 

You could do sparkling gouramis! They get about 1.5 inches and are pretty peaceful. Just get one male and the rest females, maybe some kind of schooling fish? And neon tetra are farmed in thailand if that counts

 

You could do sparkling gouramis! They get about 1.5 inches and are pretty peaceful. Just get one male and the rest females, maybe some kind of schooling fish? And neon tetra are farmed in thailand if that counts

I going to try this.

~15-20 Neo. Shrimp
~ 1 Honey Gourami
~ 6-8 harlequin rasbora

 

That sounds pretty freaking sweet man. Best of luck and I hope you don't get a bad gourami. Sometimes the honeies or dwarf gouramis are sick due to bad breeding.

 

That sounds pretty freaking sweet man. Best of luck and I hope you don't get a bad gourami. Sometimes the honeies or dwarf gouramis are sick due to bad breeding.

Thanks I have my eyes on one actually. He has been in the store for months

 

Thanks I have my eyes on one actually. He has been in the store for months

That's wonderful. Best of luck!

 

I hate to have bad news again, but honey gouramis are pretty social and just need a bit bigger of a tank. IMO, they need a 20 gallon and at the very least one other honey. Harlequins do best in 20g+ also.

Why not stick with the wild Betta idea? They are really cool and they seem really interesting to keep.

 

Sparkling gourami, if the honey isn't viable, is a wonderful alternative and a lovely nano centerpiece.

 

I hate to have bad news again, but honey gouramis are pretty social and just need a bit bigger of a tank. IMO, they need a 20 gallon and at the very least one other honey. Harlequins do best in 20g+ also.

Why not stick with the wild Betta idea? They are really cool and they seem really interesting to keep.

My LFS can't get them. Online is very expensive per fish also.

 

I see.
Then I suggest some Sparkling or Licorice Gouramis. They kind of look like wild bettas actually, and stay just above an inch. I'm not sure if they come from Thailand or not. You can have a small group in a 10g. I have a trio of Sparkling Gouramis in one of my 10 gallons actually. They are really pretty and fun to keep. Licorice Gouramis are also nice, I haven't kept them though.

 

I see.
Then I suggest some Sparkling or Licorice Gouramis. They kind of look like wild bettas actually, and stay just above an inch. I'm not sure if they come from Thailand or not. You can have a small group in a 10g. I have a trio of Sparkling Gouramis in one of my 10 gallons actually. They are really pretty and fun to keep. Licorice Gouramis are also nice, I haven't kept them though.

I am going with licorice Gourami. Maybe 2-3?

 

Are you going to have other fish with them?

 

Do you think I could put a a male Betta splenden with others?

In such a small tank no

 

Are you going to have other fish with them?

15-20 Neo. Shrimps
? Licorice Gourami(s)
2* Filter Shrimp
*some sort of schoaling/schooling fish

 

How about this?

3x Licorice Gouramis
6-8x Ember Tetra
15-20 Neo. Shrimp
I don't know anything about filter shrimp so....

 

How about this?

3x Licorice Gouramis
6-8x Ember Tetra
15-20 Neo. Shrimp
I don't know anything about filter shrimp so....

What about Ruby Tetras (a red variant of the Ember basically)

 

Ruby tetras are a total different species than ember tetras. They'd be fine in a 10 gal.

Licorice gourami will likely eat the Neos, so I'd leave them out.

 

Ruby tetras are a total different species than ember tetras. They'd be fine in a 10 gal.

Licorice gourami will likely eat the Neos, so I'd leave them out.

Forgot about that!

What about Ruby Tetras (a red variant of the Ember basically)

Yes, you could do Ruby Tetras instead of Embers.

 

Ruby tetras are a total different species than ember tetras. They'd be fine in a 10 gal.

Licorice gourami will likely eat the Neos, so I'd leave them out.

What centre piece fish would you recommend from Thailand or just go without

 

What species from Thailand do you like? Have you gone through the 10 gal stocking list and seeing which fish are from Thailand?

 

What species from Thailand do you like? Have you gone through the 10 gal stocking list and seeing which fish are from Thailand?

I actually have not, I probably should but that is going to be a lot of work lol. I'm going to browse and research tonight.

TexasDomer what about 1-2 glass cats

 

TexasDomer what about 1-2 glass cats

Glass cats are schooling fish and need more than 10 gallons.

 

Glass cats are schooling fish and need more than 10 gallons.

Really? Darn I saw them on the 10 gallon stocking list

What about something like this

8-14 CPD

15-20 Ghost Shrimp (eliminates the problem of being eaten and they are more visible to me)

1 white cheeked goby

What about something like this

8-10 CPD
15-20 Ghost Shrimp (eliminates the problem of being eaten and they are more visible to me)

 

Yes, you probably should put in a lot of work and do your research instead of asking us to do it for you

Glass cats are not on the 10 gal stocking list, unless you mean a different species than the ones commonly called glass cats?

You would need a specialized setup for the goby, so I'd leave it out.

CPDs won't eat ghost shrimp, but that stocking sounds fine otherwise. I'd personally do fewer ghost shrimp though, maybe 10-15.