Betta alternative?

[DaveSch]

I set up a 16 gallon cube aquarium as a betta tank a few years ago. However, I am getting discouraged by the short life spans of bettas. I buy them at the closest non-big box store, some 150 miles away, where the bettas are in small cube aquariums with filtration and appropriate heat. The longest I've kept one alive is about a year. I've been buying only plakats since I understand they're less inbred and the shortest lived one, which passed away this morning after 3 months of apparent happiness, was a koi so I figured it wouldn't last too long, but 3 months? Yes, the tank is fully cycled, kept at 79 degrees F., pH of 7.5, low kH and gH, and I periodically add some Indian Almond Leaf. It is well planted with dwarf sag, valisneria, rotala, java ferns, an anubias, a couple crypts, a couple buces, and salvinia. It also contains 7 ember tetras (they actually bred in the tank with a very chill betta present), an orphaned glowlight tetra that is 5 years old, and a couple ramshorn snails. Everything except the bettas seem to thrive. I have 2 other larger aquariums that are also thriving and I've been keeping fish for decades, so the issue is betta quality.

I am open to suggestions for an alternative to a betta as a centerpiece fish that might be happy in that tank and longer lived. I was wondering about getting an imbellis or alien betta instead of splendens, but the LFS (which isn't all that L) only rarely carries them.

 

[Mudminnow]

Other smaller anabantoids could make nice substitutes for a betta. Here's a couple I have personal experience with:

1. Paradise Fish
   • Hardy, beautiful, but a little grumpy, a solo paradise could work very nicely.
   • I've kept these with White Cloud Mountain Minnows and wild type Gold Barbs without issue. Therefore, I suspect they'd be ok with Ember Tetras and a Glowlight Tetra as well.
2. Croaking Gourami
   • These almost looks like Betas (at least to me), but they're easier going.
   • I have 10 in one of my tanks right now. I love the way they hover around and study everything, a bit like puffers. Their occasional audible croaking sounds are pretty cool too.
   • I haven't kept one singly, but these seem like the sort of fish that'd be fine with it.

 

[DaveSch]

Thanks for those suggestions. I was wondering about Croaking or Sparkling Gouramis. I know the Sparkling Gouramis are a little smaller so maybe I could get a pair, although they'd both probably have to be females.
I do like Paradise Gouramis but I've never had them due to their reported aggression. I'll have to ponder this one a bit, but I do like both ideas.

 

[Mudminnow]

I was wondering about Croaking or Sparkling Gouramis. I know the Sparkling Gouramis are a little smaller so maybe I could get a pair, although they'd both probably have to be females.

Sparkling Gouramis are awesome too. I was thinking they might be a bit small for a true "centerpiece" fish, but they could be a good choice nonetheless. I had 3 in a 20 gallon, and they did ok. But, they can sometimes be hard on each other in small numbers. When I've kept 12 or more Sparkling Gouramis together in a larger tank, they did great together.

I do like Paradise Gouramis but I've never had them due to their reported aggression. I'll have to ponder this one a bit, but I do like both ideas.

Yes. I do think it'd be a bit of a risk keeping one with your other fishes in just 16 gallons. When I kept my Paradise Fish, my other fishes had more room to get out of the way if needed. Still, my Paradise Fish were more interested in each other (I had 3 in a 150 gallon) and pretty much ignored the smaller schooling fishes.

 

[kansas]

I've been asking the same question. I have a heavily planted Flex 9. The problem is, what happens when you buy several small fish, all the same species. and sooner or later most of them die, but not all? Do you then have to get more of the same fish, or wait, maybe a year or two, for the lone elder to die? That's a commitment I don't want to make.

 

[DaveSch]

Sparkling Gouramis are awesome too. I was thinking they might be a bit small for a true "centerpiece" fish, but they could be a good choice nonetheless. I had 3 in a 20 gallon, and they did ok. But, they can sometimes be hard on each other in small numbers. When I've kept 12 or more Sparkling Gouramis together in a larger tank, they did great together.


Yes. I do think it'd be a bit of a risk keeping one with your other fishes in just 16 gallons. When I kept my Paradise Fish, my other fishes had more room to get out of the way if needed. Still, my Paradise Fish were more interested in each other (I had 3 in a 150 gallon) and pretty much ignored the smaller schooling fishes.

I did some research online and found the resounding consensus was that a paradise fish/gourami should have a 20 gallon tank minimum. I don't think it would be the best to add a paradise to a smaller tank with other fish in it already. Sparkling or Croaking Gouramis seem like a safer choice, although I'm still open to other options.

I've been asking the same question. I have a heavily planted Flex 9. The problem is, what happens when you buy several small fish, all the same species. and sooner or later most of them die, but not all? Do you then have to get more of the same fish, or wait, maybe a year or two, for the lone elder to die? That's a commitment I don't want to make.

That's why I have the one glowlight tetra, it was part of a larger group and all the others died within a year but this one just keeps plugging along. I also have one black neon in a tank with pristellas, cardinals, and pygmy cories and an Asian community tank with one neon green rasbora. So, I say just go ahead and get whatever fish you want to replace the ones that died and let the "orphan" hang out to live its best life.

 

[chromedome52]

so the issue is betta quality.

This is the crux of your problem right here. Bettas from stores are usually poorly bred and badly abused before they even get to the store. Even stores that give the Bettas cubes usually don't give them adequate care. Go online and buy from a more reputable dealer/Betta breeder. It's likely that they would have younger fish to sell, rather than the older ones you see in stores. You could also check around for local clubs that have auctions, as the fish sold there are likely from breeders and treated much better.

Paradise fish are aggressive in general and would likely eat the Embers. Sparkling Gouramis, despite their small size, are known killers of shrimp almost as big as they are. Not sure I'd trust them with Embers, either.

 

[kansas]

Bettas are so inbred that even if you use a good seller, it's still luck.

 

[BlueRaccoon]

I've had the same problem as you. my bettas just don't last. I think my longest one was a year and a half. That betta that lived the longest came from a chain store, not a nice store like the others .....

Maybe a honey gourami? You may be able to do 2 if it's well planted. They are precious and bright colored.

 

[DaveSch]

Yes, honey gourami. I had a pair in my 75 gallon aquarium and the male turned into a total jerk a month ago. He had his lair in the back corner behind some tall plants with lots of cover. He suddenly decided that no other fish could come into "his" half of the aquarium. So, I have exiled him to the former betta tank where he's with the embers and it's going rather well. He is sufficiently disoriented I guess, has not made any attempt to set up a home base, and he leaves the embers perfectly alone. He is glass surfing a lot though. It's only been 2 days so that ought to diminish in time. The female honey is probably relieved not to have this jerk chasing her away, and the other fish have reclaimed the entire aquarium. If Mr. Honey Gourami turns against the embers I will move the embers to my tetra tank (they were there to begin with before I decided my betta needed some friends) and he will then be in jail. In the meantime, it's a nice combination of colors with all the plants.