New Betta Tank

M

minnesotagal866

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May 30, 2005
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Yesterday I bought a 5 1/2 for my Betta. I transferred his plant, added another, and used his rock along with some from another tank and got a small whisper filter. He's adjusting to the larger space (was in a 2 gallon bowl) and to the current. . I was thinking about putting my 4 pristella tetras in with him. They are currently in my 55 and tend to hang out with the 5 bleeding heart tetras. Other options include leaving the betta alone, adding a few corys, or getting something totally different. Would shrimp last in this tank? I don't mind keeping the betta in alone, but I was thinking . . . if adding a few fish is an option . . . why not?

Jackie
 
In a 5 gallon good tank mates would be ADF or shrimp. I probably wouldn't go with the tetras or cories, I think a 10 gallon would be better for something like that. Your betta must be loving the larger tank =).
 
I think all of the options you mentioned will do fine. I have my Beta in a 10 gallon planted with 5 cories and no issues. Ghost and Amano Shrimp are cool and help with Algae and waste, but I have had bad luck with those guys getting out of the tank. I do have a flower shrimp in my 55 gallon and it is one of the coolest things in my tank...so i definatley would reccomend one of those if you can find one. If you do get cories...get pandas as they stay pretty small......Good luck
 
Unfortunately the betta is not exactly loving it yet . . . He stays at the bottom a lot and isn't eating as much as usual, I think he's trying to adjust to a slight current. He seems to like the extra swimming room. I usually feed 2-3 betta bites twice a day, one at a time to minimize waste. I think he likes the warmer temp with the small heater, and will really like it this winter.

Not sure what to do about tankmates, perhaps I'll see if I can find a cool shrimp, since I have lace catfsh and julii cories in my 55.

Jackie
 
I'm glad to hear your betta tank is heated - most people don't get the fact that they need higher temps. I have my betta ina 5g on my desk at work - in fact he is begging for food as I write this! I imagine yours will come out more with time. A couple cories may help loosen him up a bit - especially albinos - i don't know why, but they seem to be the most gregarious and active. They will make him feel safer without bugging him too much. Have fun!!
 
I'm with reignman, 5 1/2g is great for a betta, but too small for tetras, and corys too IMO (except for maybe the dwarf kind). If you want other things in the tank I would go with an adf, shrimp, or a snail
 
Thanks for the responses. I have one white cloud in with the betta right now. I have one black molly fry (came with a plant) that I might add. The molly is currently in an unheated tank with a couple of newts, I thought maybe he'd be lunch but the little guy has lived for a couple of weeks so I guess I should move him. I don't think the white cloud would bother him. Decisions, decisions. Ultimately the white cloud will go to my husband's school tank and the black molly I guess will go to the 55 gallon. I didn't plan on the black molly but when he showed up in the plant bag I figured it was meant to be . . .

Eventually I'll be back to one betta in the tank, and then I think I'll go with the coolest looking shrimp I can find.

Jackie
 
Unfortunately my black molly fry has disappeared. I pulled apart the filter and didn't see it, but I assume the filter got it. Wasn't thinking about that since it had been in a filtered tank, was more concerned about it being harrassed/eaten. I guess that's a possibility, but neither the white cloud or the betta has the guilty bulge. Bummer, although I didn't buy/want this fish, it grew on me.
Jackie
 
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