Minimum Tank Size? (Betta & 2 Cories)

A

Aristotle

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Feb 16, 2005
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Reston, VA
Being new to the hobby, and quickly becoming intimidated by the amount of responsability attached to it, I'd like to do a small tank with a Betta. And a couple of other fish. The #1 recomendation thus far to partner up with the Betta has been cory cats. I'm particularly fond of the Elegant Cory (corydoras elegans) and was wondering how large a tank would need to be to allow these fish adequite space and comfort.

I would be adding a small piece of driftwood, and a healthy selection of live plants.

I was thinking of getting one of the Eclipse System Six (6 gallon) aquariums, but I'm afraid I'm going to be told that it isn't enough space for the fish I've chosen.
 
A 6 gallon Eclipse would be just fine for that with proper tank maintenance. Be sure to get 3 cories though, they like to be in groups of 3-5 at least, and get either pygmy or panda cories since they stay nice and small (about 1.5" as adults). Then of course the betta of your choice :)

However, for about the same cost, you can get a 10 or 15 gallon plain tank and all the equipment (filter, heater, lighting, etc). If you can't find good prices on equipment locally, check out www.bigalsonline.com or www.drsfostersmith.com
 
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I'll chime in since you obviously want as many opinions as possible, even if they are redundant: Having kept bettas for a bit now, I would never place one in anything smaller than a 10 gallon aquarium. They really do love that much room and colors are bright and they swim all over, seeming so happy. In a ten you could easily keep one betta and 6 pygmy cory cats. A few live plants and you could have a very nice show tank that is fairly active on all levels; lower, middle and top with a beautiful look.
 
Okay, follow up question.

In the instance of the pygmy cories. Would it be better to put them into the tank a few weeks before the betta, put the betta in first, or put them in any order at about the same time? (For the record, my guess is that the cories go in first). If I'm right, then I'll likely run the aquarium with the cories for a three or four weeks before introducing the betta.

Oh, and another question. The pygmy's are to large for the betta to eat in one go, right? I mean... I don't want this to be a betta buffet. I realize

I'm going to pick up a tank, basic maintenance equipment, and some of the landscaping (waterscaping?) materials this weekend. I'll be doing a flishless cycle (once I've read a little more about how to do one) and probably just running the aquarium with the plants for a few weeks until I am sure I am capable of keeping conditions stable within the tank.
 
In the instance of the pygmy cories. Would it be better to put them into the tank a few weeks before the betta, put the betta in first, or put them in any order at about the same time? (For the record, my guess is that the cories go in first). If I'm right, then I'll likely run the aquarium with the cories for a three or four weeks before introducing the betta
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For a fishless cycle , at the end you can put a full bioload in the tank (so all fish go in at the same time). Using biospira would be easier than a fishless cycle.

Oh, and another question. The pygmy's are to large for the betta to eat in one go, right? I mean... I don't want this to be a betta buffet. I realize
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The betta won't eat the pygmy cories (unless they are tiny tiny tiny and your betta is big)
 
My betta started out with 4 emerald cories and himself in a 15, then more friends came. Cories do their thing, the betta does his.
 
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