View Full Version : bettas in community tanks
nursie
02-07-2005, 10:34 PM
I have tried a betta in a community tank..once in a 10 gal and the other in a 55 gal. Both times...and it was the same fish..he just didn't like the current. I would find him wedging himself in places, to keep from drifting around. I ended up taking him out an putting in a bowl with no filtration and he was happier then. Unfortunately I lost him one winter when our power went out and he got chilled.
Do you guys see this or was my betta unusual? I'd like to start up a 10 gal and stock with a betta and a few neons but if this is the norm for bettas, I will look at something else.
I have tried a betta in a community tank..once in a 10 gal and the other in a 55 gal. Both times...and it was the same fish..he just didn't like the current. I would find him wedging himself in places, to keep from drifting around. I ended up taking him out an putting in a bowl with no filtration and he was happier then. Unfortunately I lost him one winter when our power went out and he got chilled.
Do you guys see this or was my betta unusual? I'd like to start up a 10 gal and stock with a betta and a few neons but if this is the norm for bettas, I will look at something else.
Once again, it really does depend on the betta. There wasn't necessarily anything wrong with your specific one. I've had bettas that absolutely love currents and some that do the same as yours did. If you stock it with plants, that should allow him to get away from the current comfortably. I say give it another try and good luck :)
SnakeIce
02-07-2005, 11:18 PM
my betta started out in a 5 hex with a small filter on it to strengthen him befor he went into the 20. now he doesn't play in the filter flow but it doesn't bother him either.
it does take some time to get them used to it though, try going from only being able to chase your tail to currents and wide open space... he would get used to it but it would take a lot of rest time at the beginning
chrisinha
02-07-2005, 11:23 PM
i just got my first betta last week. i've been trying to make him get used to the current and aeration slowly. i started out with the filter first. i would turn it on for just a couple of hours, then turn it off. little by little i increased the amount of time until i noticed the filter wasnt bothering him anymore. then i started with the bubbles, and he seems to getting used to it too. but, again, i did it slowly. i still have to turn off the air pump in order to feed him though.
as Ems said, it's nice to have plants. i guess they helped my betta a lot.
today i introduced some feeder guppies' fry to his tank (it's a 10 g as well).
gsk177
02-07-2005, 11:50 PM
WHen I first started fishkeeping about 3 years ago, I bought a male Betta for a 55g community tank. He never did seem to mind the current, and actullay seemed to hang out near the current from the filter.
Unfortunately, he was a victim of fin nipping and eventually perished before I knew any better on what to do.
Just be very carefull of what you put him in with. Those long fins are eay prey for nippy fish. I even saw guppies nipping his fins.
freeless2002
02-08-2005, 12:20 AM
I've had no problems ( as from some nipped fins) with bettas in community tanks.
Jason01
02-08-2005, 12:36 AM
I keep my rescued betta(from Walmart) in my 29 planted community. He loves to lay on my melon sword, and in the hairgrass. The first time he did it, I thought that he had died, but after watching him for a few min., he got up, and went to the surface took a breath, and went right back to laying on the leaf.....
Mine doesn't seem to mind the filter current, but he only feeds on the oppisite side of the tank(from the filter).
Tank mates are: Harlequin Rasboras, Mollies, Platies, Ghost Shrimp, Rainbow Shrimp, a corydora, and a trio of ottos.
What is really the minimum size tank for a Betta? I have considered getting one, if for no other reason then to save him from those stupid little jars at the lps. We currently have an empty 2.5g that may be suitable, or we have a 10g with a bunch of platy fry in right now. Would the Betta eat the fry if we were to add one to the 10g?
I have no intent of just rushing out and grabbing one, but once the fry grow up and get given to a friend of mine, the 10g will be empty and I HATE having an empty fistank in the house. :D
gsk177
02-08-2005, 1:10 AM
If all you wer going to add to the 2.5g would be the betta then Id say its perfeclt acceptable. You could swap him in the 10g as space allowed.
Think of it this way, anything is better than the 2 cup capacity bowls they are in at the fish stores.
Jason01
02-08-2005, 1:36 AM
When I say that I rescued mine, I mean I rescued him. I had to buy a bottle of water at the same time, as he was in about 1 inch of water(in a 3" dia. cup). :thud: All of his buddies on the shelf were about dead as well, so I just let my 3 year old niece pick out the lucky one, and he is the one that I got. I have had him for about 2 months now, and I am really glad that I was able to save him :dance:
I think that he loves my tank. Anybody who says that they like to be kept in a small tank/bowl(less than 2.5 gal IMO) should be locked in a closet for a few months, and see how they like it! I'm getting angry now. I'll stop while I'm ahead! :)
Think of it this way, anything is better than the 2 cup capacity bowls they are in at the fish stores.
I couldn't agree more!
racingjason
02-08-2005, 10:32 AM
I have one in my 270g tank. There is not a lot of current as it will be a discus tank in a few weeks. He LOVES it in there and bothers nobody, the only problem is one neon tetra keeps nipping his tail. :confused: In typical betta fashion he is always "flexing" when you get near the glass!
bigfishguy
02-08-2005, 12:08 PM
alot of times with
colorful fish like bettas,neons,guppys, they dont get along..
this is because of the bright and attractive colors they have
my girlfriend kept a betta in with a male and female guppy...
the male was a bright light blue finned one....
female was grayish blackish.....
but i noticed the betta would always nip at the male and ignore the female...
female was unatractive.....the male guppy got the bettas attention.....
one day the male died....
and the betta never picked on the female..EVER!!!!
kind of wierd.....
so color has a greater deal on when your choosing fish then most ppl belive....
especailly with labyrinth fish like bettas, gouramis and blah blah....
having neons a betta and some guppys in a tank is trouble....
especally for the little neons because a betta could kill them instantly .
its almost like thier jealous!!!
asd159263
02-08-2005, 4:17 PM
its not just the colouring, it depends on the betta too, i put mine into a 5.5 gallon tank with a few silver tetra and he killed one the second the lights went out
Yes it does really depend on the Betta itself.
Like I have said before, I have kept them with neons, male and female guppies, and other colourful fish. Some have problems, most don't. Depending on the living conditions, and the setup of the tank (size, plants, etc) they can act differently.
chrisinha
02-08-2005, 6:52 PM
my betta is in a 10 gallon tank with 5 male feeder guppies (the ones that look like endler's livebearers) and some guppies and mollies fry (probably about 15 of them; honestly i dont know, because they are sooo tiny). anyways, so far so good. the betta completely ignore them.
nursie
02-08-2005, 7:11 PM
I have a friend in a fish club and I'll wait til their next auction and get a betta there. I hope to have my tank up and cycled by then because they have good stuff there, and a lot from private stock. It's the first weekend of April. so I have a little time yet to figure out which direction I'm going!
I have 4 male betta in a 10 gallon which I divided up using binder clips and plastic canvas. I have a penguin bio-wheel filter and an airstone and heater in the tank as well.
I put a piece of plastic canvas over the outlet of the filter to slow the current down and also over the top of the of the airstone at the surface of the water. Here's a pic....
http://wetwebfotos.com/usermedia/high/4/6434_31.jpg
The bettas seem happy enough in this tank and they don't drive each other crazy flaring either. They do at first when you put them in, but after awhile they get used to who's territory is who's and they only occasionally make faces at each other. I have flourite substrate under the smooth stones, live plants and 2 compact flourescent 10W bulbs in place of the 15W incandescents the hood was intended for.
I plan on making another one of these for even MORE betta...lol...can never have just one........I have 10 males and 7 females...at present..that number can go up at anytime...lol. I'm always looking for interesting colors and finnage and can't help bringing them home when I find them.
I have some pictures of some of them at this site......if anyone wants to check them out.
http://wetwebfotos.com/Home?actionRequest=userview&userID=6434
chrisinha
02-08-2005, 10:19 PM
lol i love your avatar!!! "mine?"
here's a couple of pictures of my betta, taken a while ago
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v217/peixes/DSC01719.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v217/peixes/DSC01712.jpg
gsk177
02-08-2005, 10:29 PM
Very nice setup EMg! And VERY well done. Im not a big fan of Bettas but I sure can appreciate them and setups such as yours make it quite easy.
If I ever get into Bettas, I know who the authority on AC is!!
Lol Gsk....what's AC ? And thanks for the compliment. I do love buying and caring for these fish. What a great hobby !! :)
Oh Chris ! Nice tank !! :cool: Your betta looks very much like one that I have...he's in the far compartment on the right in my picture up there.. ;)
gsk177
02-09-2005, 9:47 PM
Lol Gsk....what's AC ? And thanks for the compliment. I do love buying and caring for these fish. What a great hobby !! :)
Oh Chris ! Nice tank !! :cool: Your betta looks very much like one that I have...he's in the far compartment on the right in my picture up there.. ;)
AC = Aquaria Central
dilettante84
11-02-2005, 3:48 AM
my betta was fascinated with the current in his new 5g luxury pad. The first few days he was out of his little cup he would pruposely swim into the upflow from the UGF and let it sprial him around only to swin back and do it again. At first I thought he was doing it by acident, but after watching him for a while it was clear it was intentional.