Calling for Chickadee and any other Betta enthusiasts.

I am planning in the long run to use my 68 litre (I think its about 13 Gallons give or take) as a tank to house a male Betta. Now I know that there is plenty of room for him and the tank is well established with live plants etc.

What specialist things do I need for him when I get him - and can any other fish reside with him happily? Would he want bubbles? A gentle airstone perhaps, would he object to haveing a couple of corys round the place etc.. Would he be happy with flake food supplimanted with bloodworms, would he want all live food? I love Betta's and I refuse to go and buy one until I know how to make him happy.

I know chickadee has TONS of Betta knowledge and I know that you will give me the best advice to homing one of these darlings in best possible way.

I am all ears

 

Well, I have asked chickadee about every question possible about the female Bettas I am going to get, so I may be able to help here.
The Betta will LOVE you for such a big tank!
An airstone is not necesary.  Bettas like still water.  Since they like to hang around the bottom top , floating plants are recommended.  There should be enough plants to ensure some of the tank is protected from the flow of the filter.  Bettas don't seem to be able to take flake food.  I know chickadee has had the best success with HikarI Betta Bio-Gold pellets.  Bettas need lots of protein in their diet, so freeze-dried bloodworms and brine shrimp should be part of his diet--that is, if he will take them.  Bettas can be very picky eaters, and some will chose one food and they will eat that only.  You may need to experiment a bit.

If you want other fish in there, I would recommend Cories and/or Otos.  If you get Otos, the tank should be planted with real plants to ensure the good water quality they need.  If you get Cories, make sure the gravel is smooth.  I think you could have 3 Cories--chose one of the smaller species--and 3 Otos along with the Betta.  Be sure to add the Betta LAST to the tank to minimize the risk of him attacking the other fish.

 

I think 0morrokh means they stay by the top, good tank mates basically include whay she said along with anything that stays near the mid to bottom of the tank and is not a fin nipper, I think, and pretty much 0morrokh summed it up for you, no bubble, filter that doesn't disturb the surface much, they can take flake food I have found if it's real small, mine never ate pellets, but really I believe you have to expierement with food for your betta because they can or cannot be picky eaters and all eat different foods.

 

I am glad corys go with Betta's, I just love my corys. No problems with having corys as I have 3 already which will move into the big tank, and I can always get 3 more for the Betta (any excuse hey!)

I will ensure not to have an airstone and the plants are real anyways in the tank, although I have as yet been unable to locate any floating plants in any of my lfs, perhaps I can order some off the web? Any particular type?

 

Hello hello!

I had my betta in a tank with 4 cories and 2 loaches and they got along perfectly. The betta would almost rest on them trying to sneak pieces of sinking pellets away while they were eating. The only problem was that he was CONSTANTLY pacing back and forth along the front of the glass. I thought it was water quality or disease at first. But now he's in his own tank with very little current and happy, bubble nest and all. So be sure to set your filter on a low setting and put something in front of it to diffuse the flow.

 

My filter has a low setting which hardly disturbs the water at all, so that's good. I may get a bristle nose to go in with him - could I still get 3 corys in too?

 

68litres that's over 20gallons or just about 20gallons same as mine a bristlenose is a gr8 addition 2 about a 20 gallon

C W

 

That's cool then, for my betta I will get a bristlenosed plec and 3 corys? I can forgo the corys or the plec if they won't all fit. As I understand it I have to put the plec/corys in first before the betta?

 

from what iv read about bettas it will take them a while gettin used 2 company so I think ur better puttin the bristlenose and cories in 1st then add ur betta a few weeks later

C W

 

Well Craig my love, it sounds like we have a plan

Thanks for all the help, I was still kinda hoing to get Chickadees blessing also Just to double, triple, quadruple check that I am going about this the exact right way

 

No problemo! yes I would deffo wait 4 the betta queens (rose!!) advice as I haven't experienced bettas b4 at all but from what iv read I think that is correct but ur tank is def. bigger than a 13gallon lol its more than a 20 maybe about 21gallons around the same size as mine

C W

 

Yeah the tank size is ok for the Betta, he will have loads of room to show off and become a little personality all his own I think the 68 litres comverts to about 13 UK gallons and about 14/15 US gallons - I am rubbish at conversions!

 

its about 18 U.S gallons I'm from the UK and don't hav a clue what it is in UK gallons lol!!!

C W

 

Lol, I am in the UK too and I have no idea why UK and US gallons are different! I think it is to confuse people like me that are a bit thick lol

 

Ok folks I am going to try a reply but for some reason I am having trouble with the forum today so I hope this goes through.

I am going to have to disagree with you a little bit Omorrokh. Bettas do need a little bit of water movement because the water does tend to get a little dust or scum or whatever on top of it just due to exposure to air. Since bettas have to breathe air as well as use their gills to breathe they have to have access to the top surface of the water and it needs to be kept CLEAN so they can breathe through their Labyrinth organ (located on the top of their head). (any of you betta owners see the bettas come to the top and butt the surface of the water with the top of their heads - they are breathing air through this organ) If they cannot do this freely for any reason, this is one of the few fishes who may drown. Gouramis are another. (any of the Labyrinth fishes can) You must be careful about not covering the whole surface with plants but you can have up to half covered if you wish. The airstone should be set to barely ripple the water. They do NOT like a raging current just enought to keep the dust moved off the surface. Sometimes the filteation system will be enough by itself to do this, but if yours is not then you should add a bubble stone. I have them but I just happen to believe you can never have too much oxygen in the water.

Yes he will love you for such a large tank, especially if you treat him like a spoiled child. BUT I do agree for heavens sake do add all the other fish you want before the betta. They are very territorial and when they enter the homes of someone else they play nicer than if they must learn to deal with the others invading THEIR homes. BUT please do remember that no matter what, no bettas have been raised with other fish and they are going to go through culture shock being around ANY kind of fish for a while so they are going to be curious and aggressive and a little uncertain what to do with them. Don't be too upset if there is some misbehavior, because if you took in a child that had never been around anyone else and knew nothing about other humans you would understand and this is more or less the same thing. PATIENCE is more or less the whole of my recommendation with any new betta owner. Also since I usually end up recommending this sooner or later, try to get him to hand feed right away and take the time to hand feed him twice a day from the start. You will know then how much he is eating, whether he is eating what you are giving him and you will have a much closer relationship with him. They WANT a relationship with their humans. Actually they get closer to us than to the other fish in a lot of ways. You will find them watching you and the more you interact with them the more personality they will have.
Bless you for trying to rescue a lovely creature.

Have fun and enjoy.
Ask any questions you may have and we will try to answer. I hope I have helped. If I have not covered something you want to have covered by me, please let me know.

Rose

 

Oh, good point Rose, I never thought of that. :-[ So I guess you have to find somewhere in the middle...don't make the flow knock over the Betta, but don't let the water get crusted over.

I think 0morrokh means they stay by the top,

Oops yeah I'll go change that...right..."Bettas need floating plants because they stay on the bottom" : note to self: turn on brain : heh heh