Project Pimp My Betta Tank!

[Bri]

Hi i am setting up a nano tank for my betta fish. I had problems with the wrong advice before and as I feel guilty for my incompetence I want the best home possible for him this time. My tank will be a heated small nano tank around 20 plus liters with a filter. I wont have specific details for another few days.

So I only plan on housing my betta with a few other tiny fish. I dont want to house the betta on his own as he is incredibly social, currently living with a black moor without any trouble and I dont want to go changing him now. So I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations for
1. Fish for him,
2. Cleanup crew, i have some trumped snail ready to go, (considering a blue lobster)
3. Nice interior decorations. I plan to get silk plants as i dont think im ready for live ones and maybe some coral for him.

Basically I want to create the nicest home I can for him and need help coming up with ideas and plans.
I will upload a photo and specific details on wednesday when I see the specific tank.

any help would be great. He is house in the wrong tank now and I was going to wait till i had the money for a much bigger thank but i cant let him stay there if its bad for him so he now gets his own special tank and in a few months i will upgrade, but i might still leave him on his own (bar the few small fish) as it seems to be best for them that way!!

So id really love ideas for project pimp my bettas fish tank!!

 

[Fatknee]

Cory catfish are an option or snails for clean up crew,I'm sure you'll get plenty of ideas and great advice on here look forward to the pics

 

[the_lock_man]

In a 20 litre, there won't be much room for anything else, except the betta. Maybe, at a push, some chillia rasboras or celestial pearl danios, but I personally wouldn't recommend it.

I once saw a lovely turquoise halfmoon in a tank with a blue lobster, in an LFS which comes highly recommended by one of the more regular forum members. I say halfmoon tail, that's what it was before the lobster got hold of it. When I saw it, it was more of a quarter tail. As a rule of thumb, don't put anything with large pincers in the same tank as anything with fins.

Coral in a freshwater tank? I'm not sure that would work. Even if it did, I feel certain it would have an affect on the pH of the tank.

Live plants look so much better than silk ones, but if you don't feel up to it, then fair enough. Just don't get plastic.

 

[Bri]

When i say im not up for live plants, There is room for ideas, this will be my first tropical tank so id like to start easy, plus i adore this little fish and think safer is better for the moment, however i have been reading about some easy to grow plants and bettas love them so i could be persuaded. Dam i really wanted that lobster, he's housed in the shop with other fish, but i would be so sad if he went for my betta.. so better safe than sorry, my betta is blue and im thinking of matching some other fish with that so any ideas for other cleaners would be fabulous!!!!

 

[the_lock_man]

You said about trumped snails, I assume you mean Malaysian Trumpet Snails, which would be a good choice, as would an Assassin Snail. The other option would be a few shrimp, but something bigger, like an amano. Smaller shrimp, such as cherries, risk being eaten.

 

[pablothebetta]

You said about trumped snails, I assume you mean Malaysian Trumpet Snails, which would be a good choice, as would an Assassin Snail. The other option would be a few shrimp, but something bigger, like an amano. Smaller shrimp, such as cherries, risk being eaten.

In saying that though, my betta seems fine with his recently added cherries(around 1 week ago), though I can see how bettas would find them easy snacks. I suppose it's all down to the individual betta. Cories can make great tankmates for a betta (bottom-middle dwellers whereas the betta is predominantly top-middle, no long fany fins, etc), though I don't think you'd be able to have any in a 20L.

I'd say shrimp and snails too for that tank size. Nerite snails are fairly attractive though especially if you were considering live plants, assassin snails would get rid of any strays that might come in with the plants and they're pretty attractive too

heated...currently living with a black moor

So he's in a coldwater (as in non-heated) tank right now? Heated is definitely the way to go

 

[Bri]

Those snails are pretty, (Nerite snails), im kinda going with colours that would match my betta fish he is blue with the bit of maroon colour. So crustaceans and fish that would complement his colour. I know im being super picky but dam i cant resist.... Ya he's in a non heated tank, guy in the pet store went on and on about how it can sometimes be better but i know now, He is fine at the moment but i reckon he could be in alot better shape so i want to organize the whole tank around him, as well as pretty thats important too. Are there any cool coloured shrimp that would suit although im not the keenest on them. http/www.google.com/imgres?[media]httphttp/www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http/watershed3.tripod.com/betta_splendins.jpg&imgrefurl=http/watershed3.tripod.com/types.html&h=475&w=673&sz=35&tbnid=kniIyVORivXC1M:&tbnh=97&tbnw=138&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dbetta%2Bblue%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=betta+blue&docid=GpX34EaCAaOrVM&sa=X&ei=-YTKTrKfAY2JhQeyq7nVDw&ved=0CCoQ9QEwAg&dur=1319[/media]

that is the colour that he is so idea ideas along that line for fish and stuff to put in the weirder the better would be great but am very greatful for all the advice. as a side note does anyone know if I will be able to put my lobster into any kind of a tank with other fish? he is the coolest thing ever in my eyes.
He is called a blue crayfish not a lobster, excuse me im very new to all this...

 

[betta989]

Probably not crayfish need alot of sand to burrow and you would have some agression towards the betta.

 

[Bri]

So are there any blue hermit crabs or other crabs that i could put in my freshwater tank??? All the cool ones are for saltwater.. I'm just not found of shrimp and they are the main recommendation for living peacefully with my betta. The search continues....

 

[ZoddyZod]

as said in the salt water thread......no.

I've yet to see any crab/lobster in the trade that is really suitable for a freshwater community set-up.

 

[Louiseness]

as a side note does anyone know if I will be able to put my lobster into any kind of a tank with other fish? he is the coolest thing ever in my eyes.
He is called a blue crayfish not a lobster, excuse me im very new to all this...

Please don't put a blue lobster with ANY other fish, they will without a doubt get attacked. I have one, and it is an utter beast, and not even fully grown. Those claws are lethal and they can climb, so don't think they'll stay on the bottom, even without any plants or ornaments. Mine climbs the silicone seal in its tank

 

[the_lock_man]

as a side note does anyone know if I will be able to put my lobster into any kind of a tank with other fish? he is the coolest thing ever in my eyes. He is called a blue crayfish not a lobster, excuse me im very new to all this...

I stand by my previous advice, which was

As a rule of thumb, don't put anything with large pincers in the same tank as anything with fins.

In saying that though, my betta seems fine with his recently added cherries(around 1 week ago), though I can see how bettas would find them easy snacks. I suppose it's all down to the individual betta.

Yes absolutely right, bettas are such individuals. Mine ate two red cherry shrimp, yours didn't eat any. In fairness, I did say "risk being eaten"

 

[Bri]

Ok so after the worst day ever one good thing emerged, I know what I want from my tank. I would like a big tank about 30 liters or more and i want it to be just my betta and a few shoals of small fish that will live nicely with him. I think he would suit this kind of set up as he is very docile and like minding smaller fishes (believe it or not) i have a nipper in the tank he is in at the moment and he leaves the betta alone but goes for the smaller dude, now they siwm under the betta and he circles them so the nipper will leave them.

What i would like to know is will the shoals of fish freak him out. I know its hit or miss and im sure ill know pretty soon but I think this set up could suit him and also look deadly. If i have enough plants and hiding spaces i think everyone could be content. He is social as it is now and i think a few shoals of fishes three tops, could be beautiful with plants. I have a list of species that are said to suit him.
Im thinking of
Guppies (i know its a bit hit or miss) but the black moor has long flowing fins and it doesn't bother him,
some red little fish i cant remember their names (small red, ones,cherry?) ,
Neon Tetras
Shoals of each

A few snails and real plants mixed with silk.
Ive made mistakes in the past so the new plan is to focus on The betta and small fish that are know to be super nice a community fish.

I also have a confession to make my betta has never made a bubble nest , well not that ive seen. im a bad mom.

So long story short what do you guys think? YAY or NAY?
All opinions truly welcome and im so excited, why go small when you can go bigger and make something awesome. Opinions on filter flow are also badly needed as i do not want his fins hurt, although he was in with a bubble thing in his last tank and seemed fine with random attacks of bubbles but better to be safe than sorry.
A shopping list of things for my betta would also be awesome like must have things for him. If he hasnt built me a bubble nest its for a reason so i got ALOT of making up to do. but im thrilled to do it so lead me fish people and i will follow (sorry for the over excitement im just thrilled to be finally settled on an idea in my head)
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[papuzka]

red little fish - cherry barbs?
I keep some with my betta and they are doing great

 

[Fishy friend2]

A 30 liter is not that much bigger, you could have maybe some endlers with the Betta or a small shoal of neons with him maybe 5 or 6