Betta + cories?

[Jaded_Pulse]

Hey everyone, I really want to get a betta, but I hate the thought of having him all couped up in like a little vase thing, so I wanna get him a proper tank or whatever. I would also love to keep something else with him....& I've fallen in love with cories & ottos - but ottos aren't available here, so just wondering how 3 or so cories & a male betta would go together? What size tank would be minimum, & what do I do about heating, lighting, filtration, waterchanges, etc.?

Any advice/ideas much appreciated.
Michelle.

 

[juliethegr8t]

When putting a betta with other fish, it really depends on the betta. If they have an easy-going temperment, they may be fine with cories. For example, I have a male in a 2.5 gallon with 2 albino cories - he loves them and they all get along great. On the other hand, most of my other males would attack cories if they were in the same tank.

For 3 cories and a betta, I'd say a 5 gallon would be nice. You probably could go smaller, but I wouldn't recommend it unless you've got smaller cories (pygmy or panda).

A 25 watt heater should be sufficient. Any type of lighting will be just fine, unless you want live plants. For filtration - I would suggest an Azoo Palm filter, they are adjustable so you can have a low flow rate and not toss your betta about in a strong current. Water changes depend on what you want to do - personally I gravel vac once a week, and usually do another water change mid-week.

Let us know what you decide.

 

[Crookster]

I have a male betta in 2 of my three community tanks. In both tanks they are the friendliest fish in the tank, always checking me out when I go over to the tank. Neither fish are aggressive to their tank mates, they just find spot to call their own and just sit their most of the time. They seem to pretty much keep themselves to themselves.

In one tank I keep small tetra's and in another I have discus and coreis among others.

As for size, get the biggest you can afford and have room for. Lighting and heating are just the same as normal tropicals.

 

[Jaded_Pulse]

Awesome, thanx. To answer questions/comments & make a few of my own:

I'm not sure what kind of cories I'm going with yet (any suggestions?) - I do like pandas, but I'm not sure what's available around here.

As for the maybe the betta won't like the cories - if worst comes to worst, would the cories be ok in my 15 gal (got 3 colombian tetras, 3 black widows, & 1 small apple snail)?

I've never heard of AZoo Palm filters - would a small powerhead with one of those sprinkle bar thingies be ok? (I live in a pretty small place with pretty small places all around....).

I would like live plants, because I've heard that fake ones can rip betta's fins - is that true? I have some java moss (I *think* that's what it is) in my 15 gal, + some other "true aquatic plants", so hopefully they'll start growing soon & I'll be able to get them growing in a 5gal or something.

BTW - can anyone tell me what dimensions a standard 5gal tank is please? (Better make sure I have room for it lol).

Also, just a general cory/betta thing - how hard are they to keep in terms of diet, water chemistry, tank set up (hiding places, substrate, plants, etc.) & all that kind of thing?

Orright, thanx a million guys n gals!

 

[Cossack1977]

i had a male betta with 6 corries, 3 bristle nose, 3 flying foxs, 4 dwarf gouramis (neon) 4 dwarf gouramis(honey)

and they all got along like a house on fire

try and see.
you dont try you'll never find out