Community Tank, Betta, And Feeding?

SO, yesterday the fish store came out to pick up all the fish in out 180g community tank. My dad is no longer interested and wanted out. While they were here getting the fish my dad and I went to get groceries as we didn't want to watch them take our babies away. Well I get back and my bettas tank, a 20 gallon long, has turned into a minI community tank. My mom had the guy put all the tetras. about 7 neon/orange tetras, in my tank as well as some corys because he said "They'll be fine with a betta" mentally I was screaming as I didn't want more fish.

He did find the 3 otos that were in the 180g and asked if I wanted them. So I have some corys, otos, tetras and a betta in my 20 gallon long.

My guy is doing fine, he flares at the tetras every now and them same with the otos. I've seen him charge towards a tetra only once but that was only when a tetra got really close. He doesn't acknowledge the spazzy corys- who by the way have body slammed my betta because they swim so wildly.

My real question- i'm used to feeding just 5-6 pellets to my betta. How do I feed the fish without my betta getting over fed and without the crew getting underfed? I'm so worried my betta will bloat or the other fish will get underfed.

Here is the tank with the new kids. I took 1 plant from my dads tank- the BRIGHT green one on the far left. I'm going to switch some plants around and grab more of his plants.






Here is peepers sleeping with the tetras. Literally he was laying on the floor asleep and the tetras were all asleep too.

 

Regarding the feeding, I tend to overfeed myself and just pick up what's left, I would put in small amounts at a time, like really small to make sure they eat it all, and then increase the feeding slightly each time, until they leave a few flakes left after eating. Not a professional opinion by far, but it's what I would do!
And pretty tank! I wish I had seen the 180G

Edit: just realized you said pellets... derp. I would put two different feedings on either side of the aquarium, so that the betta will go towards one end, and the other fish can go to the opposite end! If they're smart enough lol

 

Bettas tend to take food from the surface first while otos and tetras go for sinking pellets more naturally. You could put some pellets on top for your betta and drop some sinking pellets in for the other fish, or use a turkey baster and inject the food for the tetras/otos lower into the water while your betta is distracted at the top.

 

I put half of a frozen brine shrimp cube in after letting it defrost in some water. The tetras and spazzies(corys) got most of it. The betta got some and my 2 assassin snails got some too. I felt it worked out pretty well

 

I would be less worried about over feeding and more worried about stress. Most male Bettas don't do well in a community. Some do like company. The other issue is the temperature compatibly issues. There's no overlap of temperature requirements with your betta and some other fish there. It's either gonna be too cold for the betta or too warm for the others. TexasDomer is more acquainted with temperature requirements then I am. As far as the guy telling you those fish will be fine with your betta... He don't know much about fish keeping in my opinion.

 

Neons often require a cooler temp than most other tropical fish, so I would encourage you to find someplace new - like another tank or pet store - to keep them happy... nut in saying that, a lot of betta keepers have kept them with neons without too much trouble, but ideal scenario would be to keep them seperate.

If you still want to keep tetras - to keep the rest of the family happy - maybe look into a group of cardinals or ember tetras?

 

Agree with the temperature issues - completely missed that they were neons. Neons like the low-mid 70's, bettas like upwards around 80. You could feed the other tetras that aussieJJDude suggested the same way as described above though.

 

My tank is has been 78-79. same as the tank they came from. Before my dad got any of his fish he did hours of research to make sure all fish he has is good temperature wise and compatible with each other. What is their ideal temp???

As far as my betta in the community tank,
I've been out of town for 5 days but my dad has been keeping an eye on the fish. The betta doesn't have stress lines and doesn't bother the other fish anymore I watched them for an hour last night and my betta was just searching the substrate for food as he always does. I think he is one of the bettas that are fine in a community tank.

These tetras are about 2 years old too...

****EDIT:i'll most like be re homing the tetras anyways as I originally wanted just the cories only***

 

As the others mentioned, the fish are temperature incompatible.

I would HIGHLY recommend separating the betta from the others if possible. Even if your betta is ok now, there will always be a chance that he'll change temperaments overnight and go after your other fish, especially if he's flaring at them now. He may not have any stress signs now, but that can change over time -- bettas are by nature very territorial, and having other fish in their space (especially if it's only 20g) stresses them out and can leave them more prone to illness. Not to mention your other fish are at risk of attack.

 

As the others mentioned, the fish are temperature incompatible.

I would HIGHLY recommend separating the betta from the others if possible. Even if your betta is ok now, there will always be a chance that he'll change temperaments overnight and go after your other fish, especially if he's flaring at them now. He may not have any stress signs now, but that can change over time -- bettas are by nature very territorial, and having other fish in their space (especially if it's only 20g) stresses them out and can leave them more prone to illness. Not to mention your other fish are at risk of attack.

The tetras goes after the other fish more than the betta goes after the other fish. He doesn't flare at any of the fish, only the first day he did.

I really wanted to at least keep the corys but okay I will see about re homing the other fish.

Here is a picture of my tank this morning

 

The tetras goes after the other fish more than the betta goes after the other fish. He doesn't flare at any of the fish, only the first day he did.

I really wanted to at least keep the corys but okay I will see about re homing the other fish.

Here is a picture of my tank this morning

You're welcome to try to keep the other fish -- ultimately it's your call. But the tetras need cooler water conditions than the betta to be happy, and you'll run the risk of losing fish. But you're never forced to do anything

Either way, good luck!

 

The problem with researching temperature ranges of fish is 1 there's miss information out there, and 2 some fish like neons only have to endure the high 70s to low 80s for about 1 or 2 weeks a year in the wild. Unfortunately they don't thrive in those temperatures. Some don't even survive a particularly hot summer. Because those temperatures are found in there native waters, there included in there temperature range from from even the best source.

 

I love the plants in your tank. I think it’s an awesome tank.