betta new home...

[BOD]

hello, just moved my betta into an 18 gallon, and i know they are not the best of tankmates but its sooooo empty, well apart from the two little mollies....but i was wondering what i could possibly put in the with him which make got tankmates, i need some sort of algae cleaner...and a few others would be nice....

 

[RandomWiktor]

Whatever you do, don't get a chinese Algae eater. They may only get 5 or so inches long, but they will grow up to harm other fish. I had huge problems with my betta with the dern things.
I would suggest perhaps looking up the adult sizes of algae eaters, as many would outgrow an 18 gallon. I know there's one kind that only gets about 2 inches, but its name alludes me.
As for tank mates, I'm not sure what you would put in with a betta, but I can say this: No female bettas, and no guppies.

I hope that was at least remotely helpful.

 

[BOD]

i know no CAE....nasty buggers....and yes no guppies, or females.....i already have ottos in another tank just wondered if ne thing else algae eating would be compatible and small enough to live in an 18 gallon......ne more ideas plzzz...

 

[Joby]

Bristle nose plecs are excellent algae eaters and grow to about 4"

I also have L134 plecs, 5 month old guppies and cories in with 2 betta juvies and an adult female betta and they get along fine I did however have problems putting anything in with males they used to bully the cories.

Give it a try with a small algae eater but be prepared to move it should the betta not like it

 

[ManyFISH4Me]

I have a corie in my female tank. every once in a while one of the girls will flare at him (?). Otherwise they don't seem to bother him (?) much. I don't think they eat algee though. I think they mostly eat the left over food in the gravel. How about a Snail. I've been thinking of getting 1 for my 20 gallon Female tank.

 

[BOD]

snails and bettas lol!!!! dont they eat snails??? well i think mine did i 2 apple snails who got mysteriously eaten...!!!

 

[RandomWiktor]

I wouldn't reccomend any type of apple snail in an 18 gal, maybe one tops, because they have a bad tendency to produce a TON of bacteria in their waste, and since bettas have such sensitive skin and fins, it could probably cause health problems. Snails aren't very efficient as algae eaters and often times like to munch on your plants instead. And yea, sometimes bettas will eat them. My betta had a snail with him but it produced a ton of waste so I took it out. He never tried to eat it, but I'd never trust a snail in with say, Shyboy, who has an amazing prey drive.

The plecs sound like a possibility, you'd probably only need one or two for an 18 gallon, depending on how many other fish you have (wouldn't want to get overstocked). I wish I knew what those little 2 inch algae eaters are... argh.

 

[newfishies]

ottos!!!!! i couldn't even begin to spell the full name though!!!

 

[BOD]

how would one or two of those siamese flying fox things get on with a betta...i already have ottos in another tank so would like to try sumink different...also ne suggestions on other fish to put with my betta which normally get along..i know it depends on the fish but ive had him with others before and he gets along alrite i just wanna try sumink new....