Can anything live happily in a 5.5 gallon with my betta?

[Ms.Bubbles]

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for a tankmate to share a 5.5 gallon with my male betta. I have no idea if he's aggressive or not, he's been constantly building bubble nests since he moved into his new tank & flaring crazily at noone in particular. I'm wondering if a tankmate might cool him down a little, or just make things worse.

I understand the tank is a little small...anyone house a male betta successfully in a small tank with a tankmate?

Would a female guppy be OK? Would he be better off alone?

[kyperman]

Maybe a snail or two...or maybe a female betta....!!

[Minnesota Fats]

Maybe a snail or two...or maybe a female betta....!!

I don't know about the female betta. I put a female in with my male betta and she tore him to shreds. Snails should be fine or a few ghost shrimp would work.

[cyberbeer65]

Put a few head and tail lights.

[Ms.Bubbles]

cyberbeer65--head & tail lights?

[sumthin fishy]

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=1580

[Ms.Bubbles]

Thanks sumthinfishy--I thought maybe he was suggesting running over my betta with a car to put it out of its' misery lol. Also, thanks for the link, it contains a compatibility chart.

I'm wondering about the accuracy of the chart. It shows bettas working well with: cory cats, danios, minnows, guppies (I'd heard this was not a good match), platies, plecos, rasboras, swordtails, tetras (heard that tetras nipped betta fins or something).

I guess the only way for me to determine a good tankmate (besides asking forum members) is to put in a few fish & hope a fight doesn't break out...

[graphicdesign_r]

Bettas are really territorial when it comes to other bettas (especially males). Avoid similar looking fish... tetras are OK, fish with long flowing fins (like fancy guppies) are probably a gamble.

I am not sure your tank is really big enough for more fish. I think the "mythical inch rule" should apply here. At 1 inch of fish/gallon of water that leaves you with about 2.5"... I'd stick to a snail (one big enough that the betta won't eat). To add enough buddies for a truly interesting mix you need more space.

At least 5.5 gallons is better than a vase/bowl/smaller tank, but I'd still say it's about the absolute minimum for a single betta.

[portosat]

yeah fancy guppy + betta = a very ravaged guppy. I had to take the betta out within 24 hour hours. Don't even consider that one, it was an all out brawl. On that note, a black moore + a betta = a very dead betta (he started the fight and just had more bark than bite)

I need to stop keeping betta's. Or keeping betta's with other fish, I got one solo in a tank and he's perfectly happy, every time I've tried to combine the betta or another fish ends up dead or injured

[Boohoo]

You could get an African dwarf frog and try that.

[graphicdesign_r]

You don't think 5.5 allons with a betta and an ADF is overdoing it?

What kind of filter does the tank have (does it have one?).

[minnesotagal866]

I keep three white cloud mountain minnows in my 5.5 gallon with my betta. Several plants, a piece of driftwood, everyone is happy. White clouds spawned once so far, someone had a snack (could have been the hitchhiker snails). I do a 50%+ water change once a week and run a whisper filter. All is well.

Jackie

[Ms.Bubbles]

graphicdesign_r: the filter I'm using is a Hagen Elite Mini, the kind with stick-on suction cups. I think it's designed for a 3 gallon or so, but I'm using it because it's low-flow as my betta HATES active current. I'm wondering if this filter would even support more fish. I also have some java fern & a crypt plant...perhaps that would help the water quality if more fish were added.

I like the white cloud idea--sounds peaceful

[indiginess]

well, this might be pushing it, but a single clown plec (only CLOWN) might be nice. they stay at 4" or under.

but with that tiny filter, you might be pushing your luck.

[fish_breeder_05]

I don't think the betta itself is happy crammed in there. I think all tank ten gallons and below are only suitable for fry tanks or to breed feeders (broblem snails, guppies, shrimp

[Ms.Bubbles]

I don't think the betta itself is happy crammed in there. I think all tank ten gallons and below are only suitable for fry tanks or to breed feeders (broblem snails, guppies, shrimp


Crammed in there??? Are you kidding? He's got so much space I can't even find him sometimes. In fact, since moving him into the 5.5 gallon, he basically stays in one corner of the tank, hardly utilizing the rest of the space!

[knashash]

I don't think the betta itself is happy crammed in there. I think all tank ten gallons and below are only suitable for fry tanks or to breed feeders (broblem snails, guppies, shrimp

I think youre probobly alone on that thought.....

[palmbreeze]

I have a 5.5 gallon aquarium! Mine has two male bettas and four ottos. It is split of course! I have a betta and two ottos on each side. They are all very healthy and happy!

[Ms.Bubbles]

palmbreeze: How did you split your 5.5 gallon? This may be a good idea if things don't work out between tankmates.

[palmbreeze]

I used a piece of plexiglass from Lowes. They cut it to size for me, and I drilled slits into the lip of the aquarium to slide the plexiglass in so that it is pressure fitted in. Before that though, I drilled small round holes into the plexiglass so that the water flows through the tank. Make sure not to drill the holes too big, you don't want the bettas trying to fit through the holes and get stuck. The filter is on one side and I put another piece of plexiglass where the water dumps out of the filter b/c it was too much current for my betta. On the other side is the heater. I can take pictures if you want. It was a pretty easy set up and the Bettas like it.

[Ms.Bubbles]

Man, I can't find anyplace in Toronto, Canada that will cut plexiglass to size for me!

[palmbreeze]

Can you cut it yourself? I don't think it is very hard. Some pet stores sell dividers for aquariums. Would any of your local pet stores?

[Boohoo]

I'm going out on a limb here...but, would the plastic canvas that is sold for crafts work? It is already full of tiny little holes.

[Ms.Bubbles]

I think I'll go to Home Depot & see if they have sheets of plastic mesh, or something plastic with holes in it that I can cut to size myself. I'm not sure exactly about the canvas idea, but I'll check it out. Thanks for the ideas.

[TJT]

Check what kind of tetra your getting, some can be nippy and nippy fish wont be nice to a betta. Personally I have african dwarf frog, and neon tetras with my betta. Ive had him with cherry barbs, and white cloud mountain minnows. The mountain minnows are a cooler water fish from what ive read, so that might not be the #1 choice although most stores sell them as tropical fish.

[Prez]

Well when I had my Betta (RIP from ICH), we had 3 White Clouds, 3 Amano Shrimp, and a Gold Nugget Pleco all going at once. It was in a six gallon eclipse tank. So that's about 13.5 inches in that tank. No Ammonia or anything else ever spiked up.

We also have 2 small pieces or driftwood, java moss, and a couple of fake plants.

We kept Ghost shrimp and ADF but the ADF killed the shimp (I think), the ADF died from Nitrates or something of the like since I knew nothing about cycling at the time. The ADFs are a pain to feed though.

[graphicdesign_r]

Translated with a babelfish (remember the babelfish?):

"Well I had a really overstocked tank and it worked fine. We never got no ammonia that I could smell, and I never even cycled it. Of course my ADF died from nitrates, my betta died from ich, and my ghost shrimp were either eaten or died. Overall I think it was a rousing success. I don't know why you people are saying you can't fit TWICE the amount of biomass in a tank that is recommended, I thought it was great... Livin' on the edge baby, it don't get any better than that!"

As long as they keep setting themselves up,
I'll keep knocking them down.
That's a promise.

[Ms.Bubbles]

As long as they keep setting themselves up,
I'll keep knocking them down.
That's a promise.

Sure, but can you answer my question??? ;)

[minnesotagal866]

Ms. Bubbles,

Certainly you could divide your 5.5, but why? My betta loves the 5.5 gallon tank. It fits on top of my microwave and Oscar greets me every morning when I get up begging for food. I keep the tank between 76-78, the white clouds do fine, they have spawned but I believe the betta had a nice snack--it was either Oscar or the nuisance snails I haven't been able to totally get rid of. I have several plants and driftwood, including a couple of red melon swords and a bunch of anachris floating on top. The betta swims across the entire tank, in and out of the plants, and is very happy.

In a 5.5 gallon, I change at least 50% of the water every week. No ammonia spikes in this tank--it's been up about six months. If I didn't have white clouds, I might do a few ottos, tetras (smaller ones, neon or pristella perhaps), or cories. I personally wouldn't do an ADF just because I am worried about feeding, but that would be another idea.

Jackie

[tlsimon]

I have my male betta in a one gallon tank. He seems rather pleased. I've heard any more space than that isn't good for them because they're used to a cup of water and don't take well to multiple gallons of their own space.

If my current siuation gets worse then I'll scrap that tank and turn it into a betta habitat for him with some non threatening friends, like a snail, maybe a frog and some ghost shrimp.

[indiginess]

Translated with a babelfish (remember the babelfish?):



had to check mine at the door, once. it kept complaining about my taste for a Vogon delicacy... almost as good as the show at one particular restaurant.

and marvin wont shut up today. seems he found out life is only as good as the towel in stow....

[palmbreeze]

OMG! :thud: No bigger than a one gallon tank? Just b/c they are shipped in a small cup doesn't mean thay can't live in a nice large aquarium. I think it's horrible when people put their bettas in little bitty bowls. They can do find in a larger aquarium, and I really believe they would prefer it.

[Prez]

Translated with a babelfish (remember the babelfish?):

"Well I had a really overstocked tank and it worked fine. We never got no ammonia that I could smell, and I never even cycled it. Of course my ADF died from nitrates, my betta died from ich, and my ghost shrimp were either eaten or died. Overall I think it was a rousing success. I don't know why you people are saying you can't fit TWICE the amount of biomass in a tank that is recommended, I thought it was great... Livin' on the edge baby, it don't get any better than that!"

As long as they keep setting themselves up,
I'll keep knocking them down.
That's a promise.


Thanks for the smart *** and insulting remark. My 6g Eclipse tank has been up for over 2 years and we test the tank and perform regular water changes. You should do a search on posts that people make, like myself, and you would learn,

1) How long we had this tank
2) Why we got ich and how we treated it
3) What we do for maitenance and have for equipment to do it


People like you who downgrade others before looking into them further should STFU if you have nothing contructive to offer.


I apologize to the OP for taking this thread off course a bit, I was just very insulted by this person.

:fairy:
There, all better =)

[mdbaskett]

I've heard any more space than that isn't good for them because they're used to a cup of water and don't take well to multiple gallons of their own space.

I've heard that if you go to a bar in Florida you might wake up in a bathtub missing a kidney.

OK, now that I have that off my chest :-), I fall somewhere in the middle on the mini tank debate. If your 5 gallon is well planted, has a good filter and you are regularly testing and doing water changes you should have no problem upping the bioload a bit. The plants not only improve the water quality, they create a natural barrier in the tank so that your territorial betta won't feel as threatened by other fish swimming around in HIS space. If you've got the time, knowledge and energy to care for a small tank appropriately there's no reason you shouldn't get a few more not-nippy, not-messy, not-too-big fishies to enhance your experience of the tank. I'd avoid the dwarf frogs as they are WAY too messy, tetras and rasboras as they are WAY too nippy and almost everything else which will get WAY too big.

Both white clouds and otos sound good. I have a couple cute little dwarf cories that are only about 1/3" long and like to hide along the bottom and play in the plants. They pretty much leave the open water to my rasboras so they might be a good choice as well.

[Ms.Bubbles]

OK, looks like there's hope for 3 white clouds.

minnesotagal866, may I ask what kind of filter you have in your 5.5 gallon? I'll need a better one if I'm going to add more fish, and I'm having trouble finding a good small one that doesn't create too much current for the betta.

Also, a)does the sex of the 3 white clouds matter, ie. 2 girls 1 boy, 2 boys 1 girl?
b) Do you quarantine them before adding in with the betta?

[graphicdesign_r]

Yes, if anything. There are two kinds one kind of look like a colorful little danio type fish (a type of minnow), and one variety (I believe called "meteor minnows") has longer fins. Try to get the ones with the shorter fins, less chance of mistaken identity.

I don't really know on the filter, but I'd suggest just baffling the outflow with plants or really anything to disperse the flow.

[Roan Art]

I think I'll go to Home Depot & see if they have sheets of plastic mesh, or something plastic with holes in it that I can cut to size myself. I'm not sure exactly about the canvas idea, but I'll check it out. Thanks for the ideas.
Craft shop. Try the plastic stuff they use for Cross-Stitch.

Roan