New To Betta Keeping

[fee de mer]

I have had a 60 litre tank setup for three years and have always admired the betta fish, unfortunatly the fish i have at the moment are not compatible with the betta so i bought a 5 gallon tank it is empty at the moment, any advice on keeping bettas?

 

[blinky000]

If you can, set up the tank in a busy part of the house. My bettas get bored without human company so try to spend some time with them. As far as tank mates go, it very much depends on the temperament of the betta. One of mine is very placid so he lives with some corys, snails and otos. If any of those were to go in with another one of my bettas, they wouldn't last 5 minutes.
A sponge filter is probably the best kind of filter to get. Bettas can't handle much current. They love resting on the sponges at night, too. I highly recommend a betta log. They love making bubble nests and sleeping in them.
Don't use plastic plants. They can tear his fins. Silk or real is fine.
Try to avoid using gravel. It can cause tatty fins. Sand works well though.

That's all I can think of right now

 

[fee de mer]

Should the betta be the first fish I introduce to the tank?

 

[Fishy friend2]

Yes the Betta should be first, but you can only have fish like endlers in a 5 gallon tank, I would recommend 2 or 3 male endlers and a Betta...... But before you add ANY fish make sure you cycle your tank. The link to the. Beginners resource center is under this post. There should be some info about cycling in there

 

[fee de mer]

Yeah i have been cycling it for a week now, i was thinking of just having the male betta and a few ghost shrimps, would this be ok? Also what does everyone keep with their bettas?

 

[Fishy friend2]

That should be fine, as long as you have enough cover for the shrimp

 

[fee de mer]

What does everyone keep with their betta?

Okay thanks, any more advice would be much appriciated.

 

[Fishy friend2]

I have neons, endlers, Pygmy cories, guppys, and ghost shrimp with mine, but your tank is not big enough for any of those exept some endlers and ghost shrimp

 

[fee de mer]

Yes I didn't want anything much in there other than the betta my other tank is my main one, the endlers look beautiful!

 

[fee de mer]

Is there any way of telling a bettas personality from seeing them in a pet shop?

 

[Fishy friend2]

By observing them for short periods of time

 

[Cazgar]

I have endlers & a couple of shrimp with mine

 

[fee de mer]

Thanks for the advice guys, i will definatly do as you have said

 

[Fishy friend2]

I hope everything goes along well, and that you find an awesome betta

 

[fee de mer]

Thanks, how many bettas do you have? You seem like a big fan!