Betta housing question

[MSmith]

I'm trying to figure out the best housing for my bettas, considering the tanks I already have. I think I'll need to buy another one though.

I currently have 3 tanks: a 20 gallon community tank housing 6 glowlight tetras, 6 zebra danios, and 5 cory trilineatus (sp?). I have a divided mini-bow 2.5 with 2 bettas, and a 5 gallon tank with one betta. The betta in the 5 gallon was an impulse "rescue" buy. When I decided to buy him, my plan was to nurse him to health in my empty 5 gallon, and then move him to the mini-bow. I'd already decided that the divided mini-bow was too cramped, so I was thinking of getting a 5 gallon & dividing it, and then giving the new guy the mini-bow. I'm not sure if I want to do that now though--he seems to like all the room.

Is there any chance a betta would work in my community tank? I'm inclined to think no, because I think that tank is already stocked pretty full. Additionally the zebras are pretty active. Has anyone had any luck keeping zebra danios and bettas together? If putting a betta in the community tank won't work, then I'll get another tank--either another 2.5 (leaving the new betta in the 5 gallon) or a 5 gallon to divide (moving the new betta to the mini-bow).

As a side question, If I get another 2.5 gallon & leave the new betta in the 5 gallon I currently own, then would a cherry barb pair work with the betta or would there be stocking/compatibility issues?

Sorry about the length of this message, but I'd appreciate any advice.

Thanks,

Melissa

[OrionGirl]

I'd put one in the 20, and get another 5 for the third, and take down the 2.5 completely. My 2.5 was a pain to maintain--tough to keep the temp stable, required more frequent water changes, etc. Bettas are fine in a community as long as a) no nippy fish are included and b) no fish with long flowing fins that resemble the betta. My betta is currently in a 55 with a spiny eel, 3 UDC, a killie fish, and some tetras. No problems, and he swims through the entire tank.

[Wippit Guud]

My betta ain't acting like a betta.

In a 29g with, among other fish, 1 female betta and 2 male guppies. He chased each for 1 day, and now completely ignores them.

I think he's impotent or something.

[tomm10]

Unless your danios are long finned I wouldn't worry at all about putting him in a 20. Even if they are I would just keep an eye on them but I would think they'll be fine.

I have a betta in an 8g hex with four panda cories and they get a long completely fine.

[MSmith]

So adding a betta won't make my 20 gallon overstocked? If I put him in there, I'd need to take out all the plastic plants right and replace them with silk, right?

Also, how do you feed a betta in a community setting? Mine attack their food, but there's no way they are as fast as the tetras and danios.

Maybe I should just get two more 5 gallons. Wonder if I can sell my husband on that idea . . .

[OrionGirl]

The plastic plants can tear their fins. I can't really offer much on that--all my tanks have real plants, so I have no experience with plastic.

For feeding--I've never had a problem with a betta not competing. Mine was in with danios and always got his share. I would make sure that the food gets well distributed, but don't think it shoul dbe a real problem.

Adding the betta won't overstock the 20. Yours is fairly lightly stocked--which is good!

[TKOS]

I found that my betta was always ripping his fins on plastic plants. But you could always get soem easy to care for Java Fern. It doesn't really need much in the way of help to survive in a tank and can do good, using up extra nitrogen and CO2.

[MSmith]

I actually have two somewhat pathetic looking Java Ferns in there right now. That's what I was at the store to buy when I got the third betta. I'm hoping they'll make it, even though I have a 15W bulb on a 20 gallon tank. I'll probably just take out the plastic plants and put in some silk ones. Sounds like a nice tank decorating project for the weekend.

Sorry to keep asking questions, but my filter won't be too powerful for him will it? I have a Penguin 125. I also have an air pump for my castle decoration, but I can easily turn that off if it will bother him.

[shewlett]

Make sure the silk plants don't have have metal wire stiffeners in them.