Advice with starting a betta tank

[sdb]

I've got a 10 gal. tank and I would like to keep a betta in it. I have an AquaClear Mini filter and a heater on the way to put in it. I hear so much conflicting advice about keeping bettas: must be in a small tank or bowl only, must have other fish to "see", should have filter/shouldn't have filter, the list goes on. Any advice would be appreciated.

[dwayne]

I kept a betta for a long time in a nice 1.5 gallon bowl on my desk here at work (with a heater and every other week water changes). He lived for almost 3 years!! I had another betta at home in a 3-gallon eclipse tank, and he lived for 2 years!!

Bettas are probably the easiest fish to take care of - though not the best for a community tank. The main thing is you want to make sure that he's not in a tall tank because he goes to the surface to breathe, and a tall tank will tire him out. A regular 10 gallon tank is awesome! You can get some cories for teh bottom!

The only problem I've ever encountered w/ a betta in a tank w/ a filter was when I had one in my community 29 gallon - he always hung around the side of the tank away from teh filter intake/output.

So that would be my only advice for you - jsut make sure the filter intake isn't up too high. You will do just fine!

Oh no, I thought of one other problem (and then I took him out of my 29 gallon), I had plastic plants, and they ripped his tail up a bit... so you ahve to be careful - either use no plants, or else use real or fabric ones - not plastic.

Good luck!

~Tara

[tomm10]

Most of what you seem to have heard is bunk. Bettas have a labrynth organ so unlike many other fish, they can breath from the surface. This is a trait that's developed as a result of a natural habitat that has a rainy season and a dry season. The bodies of water would shrink to puddles leaving the fish to breath surface air in a small amount of water for a while until the rains came.

From this come many mistruths: "Bettas are happy in dixie cups with dirty water", "Bettas can't handle large tanks", "Bettas don't need to have their water changed" All cr@p. Males bettas will fight other male bettas incessantly which is why, in pet shops, you see bettas in little bowls. The LFS can't keep them all in a tank so, for the few weeks they have them, they keep them in little jars. That doesn't mean they like it or that they can thrive in it.

A 10g is great for a betta. Because they are kept in those little jars for a while he may look like he's not using the whole tank at first. Lets just say if someone kept you in a closet for a few weeks you wouldn't be doing a lot of walking right away when they released you. Same thing. He'll grow stronger. Same goes for the filter current. Its going to seem strong to him so he may avoid it at first but eventually he'll get used to it.

Tom

[TKOS]

My betta has moved to a 5 gallon but has spent time in a 10 gallon. Filters are not a problem if they are healthy. I would suggest putting it to one side of the tank, thus giving them a side with low current, but mine loves to hang out in the high current area.

Live plants are a great additon, at least some java fern which is oh so easy to care for.

A small group of cories would add a little excitment to the bottom as was mentioned and would fill out the tank nicely. 4 dwarf or 5-6 pygmies.

Keep the temp in the mid 70's and they will be nice and healthy. Change water weekly.

These are great fish.

[dwayne]

Originally posted by tomm10
Most of what you seem to have heard is bunk...Same goes for the filter current. Its going to seem strong to him so he may avoid it at first but eventually he'll get used to it.
Tom

Are you dissing my advice, Tom? ;)

~Tara

[tomm10]

Originally posted by dwayne


Are you dissing my advice, Tom? ;)

~Tara


:p Of course not, Tara!

I was actually refering to the other things that sbd said they had heard.

:D

[brookelyn]

A heated and filtered 10 gallon tank would be a -great- home for your betta! You could even place a tank divider in if you wished, and then place two bettas (one on each side) in instead of simply one.

I don't think the filter you have should bother your betta. I think there are some filters out there (can't think of the names of them at this time) that allow you to adjust the flow.

As for tankmates, corys (dwarf or pygmies) would be good additions as mentioned, so would 3-4 ghost shrimp (some bettas may eat these guys, however), an oto, a snail, or an african dwarf frog (without claws). Of course not all of these should be placed in a single 10 gal tank. I am merely listing some options.

You may also want to consider cycling your tank before placing anything in it. You'll run into fewer problems this way.

[sdb]

All the advice is wonderful, thanks!! I've picked up some fabric plants (as advised), and a couple of ornaments for hiding places, ones that have smooth edges. The tank is a reg 10 gal. (20"x10"), so there's lots of "breathing space" up above.
The AquaClear Mini filter has a switch to reduce flow into the tank, without compromising the effectiveness, so I think it'll be perfect, and the filter will be to one side. I'll definately add some extra critters for the bottom, maybe even a frog (my son would love it).
Anyway, when I was picking up the plants, the clerk at the store said not to put the betta in for at least a week after setting up the tank. Is that right? I was also wondering about cycling for bettas (brookelyn?), should it be done. I did a water change in my other tank today, and I still have the old water (about 4 gal) in clean buckets. The water's murky, to say the least, as I cleaned the filter medias in it and such. Is it an idea to save this water and put it in the betta tank to give it a head start? I am still waiting for my filter and heater to arrive (within next week), and have not even started to set up the tank. I wanted to know whether to start with clean water, or use this old stuff.
Sorry this is so long!

[tomm10]

You don't have to wait with an empty tank for a week. I can't imagine what that would do for you except maybe drive you crazy. Its nots a bad idea to set up the tank and run it for 24-48 hours testing the water to make sure that pH is stable but if you're using a dechlorinator (like stress coat or similar products) that really isn't even all that necessary.

With one betta in a 10g tank cycling isn't a huge issue. he won't contribute enough to the bioload to make the tank dangerous to quickly. Still, you should invest in a test kit and check for elevated levels of ammonia and nitrite daily for the first month or so. Its pretty unlikely that you'll see a real spike with one betta in a 10g but if your testing on any given day registers any ammonia or nitrites in the tank, do a 20% water change. If ammonia is higher than 1 or nitrites higher than .25 I would do a bigger change of 50%. You should be changing water every week regardless of the test results. Usually about 20% which is pretty easy with a 10g tank. This will kep the water fresh and clean and your betta happy.

Tom

[dwayne]

sdb... Ditto Tom's advice :D

As long as you add dechlorinator he should be just fine. Wait a couple of weeks before getting cories (or the frog :D), so that the tank has some time to cycle a bit...

My office betta was in a non-cycled bowl from day 1, and he lived a loooong healthy life!

Have fun!

~Tara

[sdb]

OK, this all sounds great. I've printed out the advice so I have the numbers handy for the tests and for references. I'll have to buy a test kit (I have a PH tester, but I will be using Aqua Safe) for the amonia and nitrates. I'll use my old water from the water change for my flowers, and start fresh for the aquarium. Thanks for the help!

[brookelyn]

Good luck, SDB! Let us know how it goes. I am sure your betta will be happy! :)