Separate tank for Betta?

Hi, It's my b-day soon and my parents asked me if I wanted another fish. Obviously I said yes. ;D They asked what kind I wanted, and I asked for a Betta, hearing some good things about them.

I currently have a 15 gallon tank with 6 Neon Tetras and 6 Zebra Danios.
If I was to get a Betta, should I get it a separate tank? And if so, what size?, And what other fish would I be able to put in there with it?

Thanks,
Gwenz

 

I would get a separate tank. I think the zebra danios would terrorize you betta. Anyway, that would be a good excuse to get another tank!

 

It's hard to say what fish a betta will get along with. As Chickadee will tell you bettas are not socialized fish, they often live in complete isolation from a young age and so they don't know how to share space with other fish.

According to some compatibility charts zebra danios can get along with bettas, but they are reputedly fin nippers and this might spread to the betta. Hard to say.

Otos and corys are a good bet, since they're peaceful friendly little fish. Be prepared for the betta to maybe chase them around a bit until he/she gets used to them.

Supposedly peaceful tetras like bloodfins and peaceful barbs like rosey barbs can get along with bettas.

Some of the sharks can reputedly do so as well.

Some people would rather never take a risk with this but I think that risks are the spice of life. Just have a backup plan. Maybe get a small tank for just the betta just in case. When I get my bigger tank I intend to be ready to keep my betta in his current one in case my community plan can't include him at all.

 

Thanks, I was thinking maybe to get another tank, but I don't really have much room for one. I'll have to try and move things around a bit. If I was to have another tank for a betta, I don't really want a tank just for him, and would have to think about other fish to join him. I will think about your suggestions poefox. Does anyone else have any ideas about what I should do? :-\
What size tank would I need for a betta?

Gwenz

 

a 5 gallon just for the betta but if you wanted more fish that just that you could get a 10

 

If you do get a betta you need a 5 gallon to have a truly happy one if you are going to put much in there with him. You could probably get by with a little herd of otos. (I have 3), but that means a lot of water changes and I don't recommend it for someone unless they are dedicated to at least 2 maybe 3 changes a week. Otherwise the betta should remain alone with maybe one bristlenose. (or a snail)

It is very true that bettas are not used to company. They are seperated from other fish from the time they are sexed and to make sure that they will not fight among themselves. Then they are shipped out in those stupid little cups and spend their time alone in the pet stores. They have never been with other fish since very soon after they were born. They don't even know what it is like to be with other fish, so if you are going to have other fish, do get the other fish first so their territory can be established before the betta is added. Otherwise, the betta will establish his territory and will be ornery to everything you put in the tank. They will not hurt them but they will chase them and keep them stirred up and stressed for a while until they get tired of acting out and that can be enough to make an aquarium owner very sad some days.

Bettas are a joy to own and they have great personalities and you will find you Betta really wants to get to know you. They are very interested in their humans. They react with their environment and want to see and know what is going on most of the time.

Have fun!

Rose

 

Thanks, Rose. I think I heard that you are the Betta Queen, am I right? I really wan't a Betta because, like you said, they have great personalities.
I went to my lfs the other day to have a look, but they didn't have any bettas.
There is another fish store I go to sometimes, I'll have to check with them. I hope the have some.

Thanks again

Gwenz

 

Check aquabid also.  You never know, and could get lucky with breeder nearby where it wouldn't have to be shipped.

 

Thanks Gunnie, except I live in UK and everyyhing there seems to be in USA Good site though! Does anyone know of anything like tjis for UK?

GWENZ

 

I had to put my Beta in a separate five gal. tank. I put a few corys in with her so she wouldn't be lonely. That being said, have you decided whether to get a male or female Beta? The males are prettier, but the females less agressive. I would love to get a male Beta, but don't really want another tank. I'm supposed to get a 55 gal. for mothers day, then I might get one for the five gal. and put the female betta in the bigger 55 gal. tank with my mollies and guppies.

 

You definitely need a separate tank for a Betta. I wouldn't trust Neons with one. If you want more fish with the Betta, I would recommend a 10 gallon with some Cories. Otos would be fine except that they are very sensitive to water quality. They ideally should have a planted 20 gallon tank, unless you are prepared to do tons of water changes. In a 10 gallon, you could have a male Betta or if you want you could have a few females. The girls don't have the huge, colorful fins but their personalities make up for it! Whatever you do, the Bettas need to be added last to the tank or they will terrorize any new fish you get. Females need to be added all at once for the same reason, and be sure to get at least 3 if you do to prevent one from being bullied. Also if you get them be sure to get at least 3 of one species of Cory. Sorry if you know this already, I just tell everyone that to make sure. Have fun with your Betta!

 

Betta Queen, I don't know, but I do spend nearly 24/7 with mine and usually 5 or 6 hours studying fish with bettas and otos being the most of it every day as I really want to know my fish, I have also cultivated quite a number of people from pharmaceutical representatives to fish vets to fish supply houses for knowledge as the need arises. So I went after the facts and of course I read books about fish disease, types of fish, just starting types of plants. Then there is the time I spend online reading what is on this forum and articles I find on some of the sites I have stumbled onto by accident. I am home all day usuall;y every day so I have the time and my fish have become a very important part of my world so they are worth the time.

I will try to help anyone I can about anything I can but there are things (many things) that I don't know and I may have to go to one of my sources or have one of the others help out. I may offend some of the members, but I do not back down ever about the subject of Betta Bowls or Unfiltered or Unheated Tanks of any size. I do not want just what the fish CAN SURVIVE in but what is the BEST for the fish. In fact there is a little known group that a couple of us have started called OSBO (the Organization for the Saving of Bettas and Otos) Actually Omorrokh got it started and I gladly joined as I believe in what it stands for.

I applaud you for the adoption of your Betta! I know he will be a source of great enjoyment to you and you will be so to him. They love humans and show it the more you get to know them and let them know you.

Rose

 

You definitely need a separate tank for a Betta.  I wouldn't trust Neons with one.  If you want more fish with the Betta, I would recommend a 10 gallon with some Cories.  Otos would be fine except that they are very sensitive to water quality.  They ideally should have a planted 20 gallon tank, unless you are prepared to do tons of water changes.  In a 10 gallon, you could have a male Betta or if you want you could have a few females.  The girls don't have the huge, colorful fins but their personalities make up for it!  Whatever you do, the Bettas need to be added last to the tank or they will terrorize any new fish you get.  Females need to be added all at once for the same reason, and be sure to get at least 3 if you do to prevent one from being bullied.  Also if you get them be sure to get at least 3 of one species of Cory.  Sorry if you know this already, I just tell everyone that to make sure.  Have fun with your Betta!

 

I would get a 5-10 gallon tank for the Betta, and get a Cory, a snail, or a shrimp.

 

Thanks Everyone. I want what's best for the fish so I'll probably get a 5-10g tank for a betta.

I think I'll be getting a male Betta, they are so pretty!
Everything you have all said has been a great help!

Thanks again

Gwenz

 

I would get a 5-10 gallon tank for the Betta, and get a Cory, a snail, or a shrimp.

Good advice, except that I have heard several reports of Bettas eating shrimp. And remember Cories need groups of 3+.

 

If the shrimp are small enough they may not eat them but they WILL kill them, my betta killed one of my smaller ghost shrimp.

 

Gwenz-

I have just recently added a couple of Zebra Nerita Snails to my tanks and the bettas get along with them and accept them the best of anything I have ever seen. Marty did one dive at the snail the first day and got a shock when he bounced off the shell, and has since left him alone. Noel has gone over and watched his a couple of times from a distance but seems to be just curious. It really is kind of cute to watch them try to figure out what they are. Bettas are very naturally curious. I love watching mine trying to find out what is going on.

Rose

 

I can't wait to get a betta, but mum sais to wait until my bday which is 25 may to get the tank! then I'll have to cycle the tank too, before actualy getting the fish. Why can't my bday be earlier!!

I went to a fish store I never knew existed yesterday. It was really big and had loads of different fish there. All the people there all seemed to know what they were talking about too. When I was there I was glad to see that they had bettas, as that is the first store i've seen them in close to me, another thing was I was glad to see that all the bettas had their own tanks and weren't in betta bowls or in any kind of small bowl. They all looked quite healthy, even though they didn't have many, but they had enough space to swim around

From now on this is my lfs. All the people there were great and the fish seemed to be healthy too!!

Gwenz

 

I can't wait to get a betta, but mum sais to wait until my bday which is 25 may to get the tank! then I'll have to cycle the tank too, before actualy getting the fish. Why can't my bday be earlier!! 

I went to a fish store I never knew existed yesterday. It was really big and had loads of different fish there. All the people there all seemed to know what they were talking about too. When I was there I was glad to see that they had bettas, as that is the first store i've seen them in close to me, another thing was I was glad to see that all the bettas had their own tanks and weren't in betta bowls or in any kind of small bowl.  They all looked quite healthy, even though they didn't have many, but they had enough space to swim around

From now on this is my lfs. All the people there were great and the fish seemed to be healthy too!!

Gwenz

Hi, where in the UK are you - I am in the UK too and I have only found a couple of good lfs near me Where is your lfs, I can see if I can go there too for when I get my betta tank set up. I do know one place near me that is good for the male bettas but it is always good to know of somewhere else.

 

ahhhhhhhhh!! the excitment lol!!!!

C W

 

HI Shorty, I live in South Wales. I don't think anyone else here lives in wales, do they?

Gwenz

 

I am so jealous! I have always wanted to go there. (and you live there all the time - LUCKY GIRL)

Rose

 

I love living here. Wouldn't want to live anywhere else I just wish the weather could be nicer sometimes though!! ;D Where do you live Rose?

Gwenz

 

I live in the very Southeast corner of a State called Nebraska in the USA. You couldn't get much more in the center of the USA if you tried. I guess the geological center is a few miles south of here. It is green and rolling hills and a river runs right through our town. Farm country and we produce a great deal of corn and soybeans for food and products like alternative car fuel and soybean health foods and oil. We also are famous worldwide for our Omaha Steaks and Nebraska Beef. (and nationwide for our Nebraska Cornhuskers football team) (although there are some of us in the state who are not fans and have never seen a game LOL)

As far as my town goes, I have some pictures in my website located on the bottom of my posts. They are mostly my garden photos, but I do believe there are some of the town and their events. We only have 12,000 people and Walmart and one other fish store I recently found out about that has decent otos, but nothing in bettas.

I love where I live too and would be hard pressed to think of a place I would rather be. I visited my birthplace not too many years back and it had changed so much I could never live there. (Cape Cod, Massachusetts)

Rose

 

HI Shorty, I live in South Wales. I don't think anyone else here lives in wales, do they?

Gwenz

I am in the West Midlands, England (for those who didn't know )
I like where I live too, there are planty of lfs, not all good though - I think there is a huge one in Nottingham but that's a fair drive from here (and as I am not allowed to drive) it means someone taking me :-\

 

There are plenty of lfs around me too but I never thought any of them were any good until I found another one about 15 minutes dirve from where I live. This is where I got now. It's great and everyone who works there knows what they are talking about. And I'ts great because my parents don't mind taking me because it's part of a Garden Centre so they can go there while I'm in the fish store! ;D There's just so much to see!

Gwenz

 

I get my folks to do that too - I go to check out the fish then join em later to look at plants

 

Yea. I rather them go somewhere else because they ask the people who work ther questions I already know the answers to after asking them here! It's really annoying!! :

Gwenz

 

Rose I'm so jealous of you! It must be so beautiful where you live. I'm stuck here in the suburbs...

 

I know, It sound lovely where you live!

Gwenz

 

It is beautiful, but I like you live in the center of town (literally) and only see the countryside when we go somewhere. But the town is very old=fashioned and being restored. Maybe I can post some pictures of some of the real old style buildings somewhere.

Rose

 

I went to my lfs today and saw that they had some bettas! ;D I go to this fish store at least once a week and haven't seen any with them before. I asked the woman there and she told me they would be getting them in every Friday from now on. I'm so glad. I really can't wait until my birthday so I can get one, and now I know of some where that's only 5 minutes down the road where I can get one! The only other place I'd seen them before now was in a store which was about three quarters of an hour away. :-\


I saw a tank that was about 7.5g(28L) today and was wondering if this would be OK for 1 male Betta and a Cory?
Should I get more than 1 Cory?

Thanks Gwenz

 

Now someone else can correct me if I am wrong but I believe Cories do best in groups of 3, but if you have a 7.5 gallon tank, I don't see a problem with 3 Cories and 1 Betta. BUT that would be the absolute limit. It would however be one beautiful tank, especially if you could find a Betta that would compliment and show off the color of the Cories. ( maybe dark gravel would help too, but for heavens sake don't let me influence you - I am just daydreaming!!) It sounds gorgeous.

Now if everyone agrees about the Cories you are set. I do know they do best with More than one.

Good luck, I know your birthday is not far off, so we are waiting on pins and needles with you. Be sure to let us know about the one you pick and the name as soon as you know. I do so like to get to know them by name.

Rose

 

Thanks Rose. I'm glad that tank should be fine.

I like to name my fish too. I did name my neons when I first got them because I could tell by their different sizes. Now they are all about the same size and it's hard to tell.

With the betta, I'd like to find a name that suits his coulor/personality.

I can't wait!!! ;D

Gwenz

 

Cories do need to be kept in groups of 3 or more. I would also say 3 Cories and a Betta is your limit in a tank that size. And try to get a smaller kind of Cory...bigger ones like Bronze Cories would overstock the tank. Panda Cories are the smallest you can get (besides Pygmy Cories, but they need to be kept in shoals of 6+), but they are also a bit more delicate. I think there are a couple of 2 inch Cories out there...

 

Thanks. I was thinking of getting some of the smaller kind of cory.

Gwenz

 

The following Cories are around 2 in:
C. adolfoi
C. arcuatus
C. bilineatus
C. concolor
C. elegans
C. gomezi
C. guapore
C. julii
C. leucomelas
C. metae
C. napoensis
C. panda
C. polystictus
C. rabauti
C. trilineatus
C. xinguensis
I got this from
I gave you the scientific names instead of common because I have seen the same Cory called 3 different things at 3 different stores, so you kind of need to know the scientific name to know what they are...
Note that there are 2 even smaller Cories (C. pygmaeus I think and something else), but both species are mid-level swimmers instead of bottom dwellers and need to be kept in shoals of 6.

 

Thanks. I'll see if my lfs has any of these.

Gwenz

 

I was just wondering, which cories would you recomend? If you have any, which ones do you have?

Gwenz