New To Bettas....

[Azaezl]

Hi,

My husband surprised me with a new 5g tank yesterday, it's setup with some black(well it looks grey) gravel and a japanese pagoda.

I've decided to have a betta, but not sure which to get, my lfs has blue VT and red VT but they all look very tatty, prob due to being kept with tetras! I don't know whether to rescue one from the lfs(once my tanks cycled) or if anyone knows of an online breder who delivers(or very local to me) I'm in cambridgeshire, UK. Also can a bulldog plec be kept with it in such a tiny tank? I fancy having something else in with it, someone suggested cherry shrimp but I thought the betta would eat them?

This is my new tank, I'm planning on getting a few fake silk plants(exscuse the air bubbles);

 

[loggerbomb]

with the size of the tank and the size of the pagoda, I wouldn't recommend putting anything else in there really. Maybe a little neon tetra? I am having good results with 2 of them and my betta.

 

[Azaezl]

I wasn't sure if you could have just 2 neon tetras, I thought they liked to be kept in larger groups 6 or 7+,

 

[loggerbomb]

I wasn't sure if you could have just 2 neon tetras, I thought they liked to be kept in larger groups 6 or 7+,

Seem rather happy to me. One is a tad shy, but the other one is just full of zip. Wish I could say the same for my Betta though!

 

[stang1]

Neon tetras are best kept in groups of 6 or more and need a bigger tank as they are an active fish.
If you remove the pagoda the the tank should be fine for a Betta. A pleco would not be suitable for that size tank but you might get away with 3/4 Ottos or Pygmy Corys.
As for other fish, Bettas are solitary fish and are more than happy with their own company.

 

[faithless1294]

I think that tank is just right for a betta with pagoda but i agree i think bettas do best on their own i have had neon tetras with one of my bettas and they nipped an inch of his fin i wouldn't recommend it.
Good Luck

 

[Commander Cool]

Tetras really need to be kept in groups of 6 or more. Also they are bright so the betta might attack them. I have had success with a shrimp , but other people have not, it all depends on your betta. As for getting a betta it is up to you. aquabid.com has really nice fish but they cost more and you might have to get shipping from Thailand which will be much more expensive.

 

[fiki]

as stated before... kick the castle w/e thingie majig...

try out a small ghost shrimp or something that has plants to hide in... the betta might be entertained

if it ends in a shrimp death... lesson learned... you lose like a couple quarters... (or pence? to our UK brahs here)

 

[Azaezl]

Thanks for all the replies Well I've seen the betta I'd like at a lfs, just hope they still have him in a few weeks, he's a lovely black / dark blue VT.

I've decided to have just the betta, but eventually I might try a shrimp or 2, if they don't get on the shrimp can go in 1 of my bigger tanks. I thought that there would be enough room for him with the pagoda as there's a good 7 inches of free water space above the pagoda and about 3/4 inches all around, although that will be a little less when I can find some decent plants to put in.

I've looked at aquabid but I'm in the UK so it's not really an option for me.

 

[zoekin8yg]

If you don't want a VT from the lfs there are lots of breeders in the UK, some are listed in the section in the FAQ

 

[fishboy619]

i would add any other fish to your tank with a betta other than ottos, and if you remove the pagoda and replace with plants/hiding places a few pygmy cories.tetras need to be in shoals of 5 or more.personally i would remove the statue thing, plant a few live or silk plants, (ferns, java moss, moss balls - easy to look after)add a nice looking betta, 3 or 4 ottos and a few shrimp. if the shrimp get eaten, never mind, you have kearnt a lesson, most bettas dont bother with shrimp tho.or atleast mine doesnt.looking at all the bubbles, it seens to me you have lots of water movement, bettas dont like this and prefer calm water.