23 gallon wild betta and rasbora blackwater tank

[elephantnose3334]

I'm planning to have a Fluval Vista/Curve 87 litre tank for my home. I'm actually planning to have a blackwater tank for a single male wild betta and either lambchop or neon green rasboras (all native to Thailand). The biotope will be 'still creek blackwater habitat somewhere in Thailand' I have watched Frank's Bettas as a reference point for my man-made habitat. You can get this tank from Petbarn, but I'm worried that the lights or filter will shut down after a few weeks (that happened to some customers).

Unfortunately, my parents won't let me have the tank until my eyelashes grow back (I have pulled my top lashes out for years). It's a shame because I have wanted this tank and recreating the fishes' natural habitat for a long time instead of a community tank like the 10 gallon at my home.

 

[Colin_T]

Don't get tanks with curved glass. They are too hard to work out water volume if you ever have to treat the fish. Just get a plain old boring rectangular aquarium, it will be cheaper and easier overall.

Which species of Betta were you getting?
If you get wild caught Bettas, buy a group and keep them in a single species tank so they don't catch anything from the other fish and have the best chance of breeding. Wild Bettas are endangered and anyone keeping them in captivity should do everything they can to breed them.

 

[elephantnose3334]

Don't get tanks with curved glass. They are too hard to work out water volume if you ever have to treat the fish. Just get a plain old boring rectangular aquarium, it will be cheaper and easier overall.

Which species of Betta were you getting?
If you get wild caught Bettas, buy a group and keep them in a single species tank so they don't catch anything from the other fish and have the best chance of breeding. Wild Bettas are endangered and anyone keeping them in captivity should do everything they can to breed them.

Plain rectangular aquaria are boring, but I appreciate your opinion. But I already have this type of aquarium at home. I want to try making a biotope in a 23 gallon Fluval aquarium. The biotope will be a creek/lake with slight water movement in Thailand. I'm getting Betta mahachaiensis, native near Bangkok, Thailand's largest city. It was only recently discovered in about 11 years ago. The IUCN Red List haven't added their endangerment yet. I will keep them as a single male. I'm not ready to breed fish yet.

There are tank mates to wild bettas according to some sources including the Wild Betta Blog. Small rasboras, like lambchops and Microdevario kubotai will do.