Betta With Tankmates!

[Trabetta]

I plan on getting a 5 gallon tank and getting 1 Betta, 4 Glofish & Zebra danio (2 each), 3 Neon teras, along with 2 Ghost shrimp and one Mystery snail. Do you guys think it is a good combination?

 

[Curiosity101]

Neither glofish, zebra danios or tetras are suitable for a 5gal tank. Also they should be kept in larger groups of their own species.

Neons - 10gal
Danios (and glofish which are also danios) - 2ft long tank bare minimum. And frankly I personally wouldn't put them in anything short of 30" long.

The shrimp and snail should be fine.

 

[phil140701]

Neither glofish, zebra danios or tetras are suitable for a 5gal tank. Also they should be kept in larger groups of their own species.

Neons - 10gal
Danios (and glofish which are also danios) - 2ft long tank bare minimum. And frankly I personally wouldn't put them in anything short of 30" long.

The shrimp and snail should be fine.

i have to agree with Curiosity101, as a rule of thumb (but not always 100% acurate) stocking should be kept to 1gallon of tank space to 1 inch of fish

 

[Trabetta]

What about 1 betta, 4 ghost shrimp (will most likly be eatten by betta), with 2 Otocinclus? Because I have read that Otocinclus can live in 5 gallon tanks. http/www.fishchannel.com/freshwater-aquariums/tankmate-tips/5-gallon.aspx

 

[Curiosity101]

Ottos are definitely a much more suitable fish
And the ghost shrimp should be fine if you give them plenty of places to hide.

Just make sure you target feed the ottos aswell cause if they're just left to feed on algae they can easily starve.

Oh and have you decided how you're going to cycle your tank?

 

[Trabetta]

I heard of one way of using some safe bacteria from a already existing tank to start and finih the cylce in about 3 days. I am not sure what way I want to cyclye the tank yet though. Do you have any segestions?

 

[Curiosity101]

I would go fishless but with mature media to kick start your cycle either way should be safe enough. Find the guides in the beginners resource centre.

To get enough bacteria to kick start your cycle you need either alot of filter gunk from someones filter or you need some of their media which has been in use for a long time.

 

[Trabetta]

I have had a betta fish befor and I knew nothing about cycles. I just got him and put him in the new fish tank and he lived 2 years. And I think all I used was water conditioner. I also just found this http/www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2752206

 

[Curiosity101]

I really wouldn't buy that. It'll more than likely be a waste of your money. If you want to boost your bacteria try the methods I mentioned.

Also if you want shrimp then you DO need to cycle the tank. Bettas can cope with the cycling process unaided (sometimes), as they breath air so when their gills are burnt by ammonia it doesn't affect them so much. But it's still not good to put them through it if avoidable, which with all the info available it really is avoidable.

 

[nessar]

That bacteria in a bottle stuff does not work. I tried 2 different types during my fishless cycle and it did nothing to help at all.

 

[Trabetta]

That bacteria in a bottle stuff does not work. I tried 2 different types during my fishless cycle and it did nothing to help at all.

What size did you have when you tried it?

 

[Curiosity101]

The size doesn't matter. The problem is that bacteria can only live for a limited amount of time without food and you have to get the right bacteria.
There is some bacteria in a bottle that 'may' work. But it's never a certainty.
Basic rules are - if it's not refrigerated then it definitely wont work and that generally speaking it's not worth your money. Just do a proper cycle with some filter gunk or mature media from and already cycled tank.

 

[Trabetta]

I got a good set now. Male betta, 3 White Clouds, 1 Mystery snail, 3 Ghost shrimp. I was thinking a female dwarf Gourami but I read a lot about it being up in the air on if they will do well with a betta or not.

 

[GuppyGoddess]

I have had a betta fish befor and I knew nothing about cycles. I just got him and put him in the new fish tank and he lived 2 years. And I think all I used was water conditioner. I also just found this http/www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2752206

It totally depends upon the fish as to how long they handle cycling (or I mean a non-cycled tank). One of my bettas, who I've had since August, looks like hell. . .I cannot seem to help him out. He's in a 5-gallon. Another of mine, in a 3-gallon, is doing wonderfully. Neither tanks were cycled and neither still are.

I've read of many who have had bettas in bowls for years and their fish did great.

The three bettas I adopted from Petco have ALL done really well. It was the fish I got from a fancy LFS that's had the worst luck.

 

[Trabetta]

I have had a betta fish befor and I knew nothing about cycles. I just got him and put him in the new fish tank and he lived 2 years. And I think all I used was water conditioner. I also just found this http/www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2752206

It totally depends upon the fish as to how long they handle cycling (or I mean a non-cycled tank). One of my bettas, who I've had since August, looks like hell. . .I cannot seem to help him out. He's in a 5-gallon. Another of mine, in a 3-gallon, is doing wonderfully. Neither tanks were cycled and neither still are.

I've read of many who have had bettas in bowls for years and their fish did great.

The three bettas I adopted from Petco have ALL done really well. It was the fish I got from a fancy LFS that's had the worst luck.

Yeah, its funny because I got my 1st betta from walmart and the cashier lady said that hers only live for 2 weeks, mines ended up living for 2 years and I think it would have lived longer if I knew that during the winter when they get cold it makes them not want to eat a lot. So eventually it died some weird death where it seemed to get cover with like a white glaze.