I have been watching the tank closely and so far I see no evidence of any issues. The betta is mellow and the tetras keep their distance. The way the tank is scaped there are lots of areas to swim so I think I am fine. I do a 50% wc w/ gravel vac every 5 days and the tank stays pretty clear. If I see any evidence of stress I will pull them out but the Eclipse does a good job of keeping the tank clean.
stocking options for 3 gallon tank with betta
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Lupin
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- Sep 21, 2006
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You didn't indicate, on another note, what species exactly are nippy. There are plenty of tetras out there that are not as nippy as the likes of the ever infamous serpae tetras.
ADF-short for African Dwarf Frog.
What are your water parameters California?... Still think for a 3g that you are overstocked...yes I agree that serpaes can be nippy but not if you keep them in a school I have also seen my white skirts get a little nippy on occasion. Hope everything continues to go well.
Yeah, I would have to agree, I think you are overstocked too. I would not keep a betta with another FISH, in anything smaller than a 10G. For your tank, maybe a few small shrimp, if they dont get eaten, and / or a small mystery or apple snail or two, and that would be IT. Remember, general rule of thumb is 1" of linear fish per gallon of water. The Betta and a few small shrimp and / or a small snail or two would be about the extent of the bio load you would want to put on a 3G. I have a 2.5G betta tank, and the only other things that would go in there with him ever are a couple of shrimp, or snails.
I guess if your set up is working for you, thats great, but you really will need to keep a close eye on the fish, and espeically on your water quality readings / parameters. Also, Betta's are very soliatary fish, and usually dont like tank mates of the fishy kind.
I guess if your set up is working for you, thats great, but you really will need to keep a close eye on the fish, and espeically on your water quality readings / parameters. Also, Betta's are very soliatary fish, and usually dont like tank mates of the fishy kind.
Everything looks good as far as water parameters are concerned. I do have to be more agressive about water changes than I do on my 6 gallon so that could be an indicator of too much stuff in the tank. The interaction between the fish seems ok. The beta was in a very small bowl so I am sure he feels like he has more room than he knows what to do with. The frog, the oto and the snails seem ok. The ones I am most concerned about are the tetras. The beta leaves them alone and they stay clear of the beta. There are also plenty of places to hide in the tank but for the most part they swim around together.
Based on the feedback I think I will at least step up the water changes to 3-4 days from 5-7.
Based on the feedback I think I will at least step up the water changes to 3-4 days from 5-7.
I agree there are many exceptions. So, I setup my betta tank last night and the little guy seems fine. I'm now trying to decide what plants should go in there -- I put in a small stalk of Brazilian penny wort and some HC just to see how they'll do. I figure that with a high enough plant load, ammonia spikes won't be a problem since it'll be absorbed by the plants anyway. And if that's the case, I could possibly put in a small school (3 to 5) of golden white clouds.
First, the plants will have to grow in some before they absorb any nitrate. Second, unless you have a severely understocked tank and a whack of plants, you can't fishy cycle safely.
I'd like to add white clouds get 2" long full grown, and are almost as active as danios. I feel bad putting mine in a 15 gallon. I think it's a pet store "trend" to keep white clouds and bettas in tiny tanks (virtually all you see where I go as "display tanks"). It would also overstock the tank completely, and even if you had 3 white clouds, the bioload would be more than doubled.
I personally would not cycle the tank with a betta you will expose the poor thing to ammonia spikes and nitrite spikes before you get levels of good nitrate. Why subject the betta to that? Like I said before a danio or two or two white clouds should cycle the tank nicely. My white clouds aren't even near 2 inches and I have had them a while my danio is about an inch maybe inch and a half. You can also go the fishless cycle route but since I have never done cycling that way you would have to ask other members how to do it. If it were me I would wait to add the betta until your water is where it should be but it is up to you what you decide. Ammonia and nitrite do bad damage on a fish's gills the white clouds seem to withstand the cycle they are VERY hardy fish. Even in a small 3g you will get an ammonia spike but daily wc's will help lower the levels don't just rely on your plants to do that the ammonia level shouldn't get above .25 same thing with nitrite when ammonia converts it shouldn't go above .25. Once it levels out and you have good levels of nitrate you are cycled but you have to check the water daily and do aggressive wc's daily. It took me about a month to cycle my 3g. I have had my white clouds and danio in my 36 g since I started only lost one white cloud not sure how it died could have been injury or maybe another fish got to him. I wish you luck with whatever you decide to do.
