Buying a new Betta tank

[Kiara1125]

I want to get a male betta and set up a 5g tank for him with maybe a few tetra buddies. And I can't believe how many people ask me, "Are you going to breed your bettas!?" No!! It's a waste of my time and money, not to mention the fact that you spend a lot more money caring for the fry then you get as a profit for selling them. I just want to know what would be some good additions (decoration and tank mate wise) to the aquarium. I'm buying thew aquarium on Saturday and getting it setup up and running asap. I was just wondering if I should cycle the filter in my 10g community tank or if I should try something like Cycle or Bio-Spira.

Also, since my computer is broke, I'm sitting here in my Web Design class typing this and people are looking at what I'm typing, asking questions, messing with my computer/keyboard, and having guys freak out because I threaten to hit them. Mind you people who don't know me, I'm a girl and a sophomore in high school. What fun it is to sit here and rot. Just 12 more minutes and I get to go HOME!!!!!

 

[Thyra]

Everything, of course, depends on the betta's personality, but in my experience it would be better to add the other fish first and the betta last. Otherwise the betta might claim the whole tank as his territory.

 

[FlameTetra333]

I want to get a male betta and set up a 5g tank for him with maybe a few tetra buddies. And I can't believe how many people ask me, "Are you going to breed your bettas!?" No!! It's a waste of my time and money, not to mention the fact that you spend a lot more money caring for the fry then you get as a profit for selling them. I just want to know what would be some good additions (decoration and tank mate wise) to the aquarium. I'm buying thew aquarium on Saturday and getting it setup up and running asap. I was just wondering if I should cycle the filter in my 10g community tank or if I should try something like Cycle or Bio-Spira.

Also, since my computer is broke, I'm sitting here in my Web Design class typing this and people are looking at what I'm typing, asking questions, messing with my computer/keyboard, and having guys freak out because I threaten to hit them. Mind you people who don't know me, I'm a girl and a sophomore in high school. What fun it is to sit here and rot. Just 12 more minutes and I get to go HOME!!!!!

I have Wisteria, Argentine Swords, and Anubias in my Betta tank. My betta loves to hide in this rainbow cave you can find at walmart for only $2-$5?

Lol, just a quick tip. If you get the Petsmart 5.5 Gallon Starter kit, you get: A free bottle of Cycle & a sample fish food container, plus a 5.5 gallon (half a gallon more lol!) with a hood, light, and a top fin 10 filter. plus its only $34 (a good deal considering those minibows are like $50 and the fluval chi is like $60)

 

[skjl47]

Hello; Too bad about the computer, figgured some thing was keeping you off the forum. Tank mates for a betta need to be fish that are not likely to nip at his fins. Tiger barbs and serapae tetras are not good for sure. I seem to recall having zebra danioes, cherry barbs, cory catfish and kuhli loaches in with bettas without any nipping problems in a 20 gallon tank. Perhaps others can veto fish on this list if they have had particular problems. Neon tetras may be a good choice and you have already had some of them. White cloud mountain minnows are a lovely and peaceful small fish, although they may not do as well in the warm temps that bettas like.

Using the filter material from another tank is a fine way to cycle a new tank. The bacteria will need a source of food (ammonia) or they will not flourish. Some like to add chemical ammonia each day in a fishless cycle. I put plants and snails into a new tank for a week or so and have had good results this way. The plants and snails should have the bacteria on them and will add respiration products to the tank. Some have reported throwning in a raw shrimp and letting it decay for a week or so to get a cycle started. After a week or so one fish is added, usually a zebra. I am planning to set up another tank soon and have placed a sponge filter in an established tank already so that it will be seeded with bacteria when i am ready. Good luck.

 

[Kiara1125]

I know how to put the fish in the tank, no offense. But I was thinking about getting some Glo-Fish. It would be a new addition for me and I saw that my lfs has the new Cosmic Blue ones. They're very beautiful and I think my lfs, although a very small business, has the most well care taken fish I've ever seen in stores. They're happy, active, and vibrant and I can't wait to get my new tank tomorrow!! *BOUNCINGS I'll look to see what type of aquariums my lfs has, because they have some new ones coming in today; hopefully some 5g kits. I'm hoping to snag on for around $30 and if I supply him more fry, hopefully he'll deduct the price for me. The customers seem to like my fish, for they are gone within a few days. Mine seem to be the only platies that have an irridescent shine to them. They have pink, green, and even blueish-purple tints. I don't know why they have it, but I'll take it as a good sign. *crazysmil

Also, can I just squeeze some water from my sponge filter and squish around the cartridge from my power filter in the tank and then try to cycle it?? Or should I just run the 5g filter in one of my 10g, leave it for about 2-3 weeks, and then put it in my 5g with some water from the other aquariums?? That's what I did with my other 10g when I only had 1 aquarium and I was trying to set up the other 10g. Since the filter was cycled, I was able to add fish (including week old platy fry) in the tank without any ill affects (clouding, fish dying or becoming sick, etc).

 

[lauraf]

Also, can I just squeeze some water from my sponge filter and squish around the cartridge from my power filter in the tank and then try to cycle it?? Or should I just run the 5g filter in one of my 10g, leave it for about 2-3 weeks, and then put it in my 5g with some water from the other aquariums?? That's what I did with my other 10g when I only had 1 aquarium and I was trying to set up the other 10g. Since the filter was cycled, I was able to add fish (including week old platy fry) in the tank without any ill affects (clouding, fish dying or becoming sick, etc).

You can do either. If you insta-cycle your tank by squeezing some gunk into it, just be sure to add fish almost immediately to keep the bacteria alive . . . .

 

[Kiara1125]

Ok, thanks laura. I can't wait to go home and walk to my lfs. It's 54F outside and its an 8 mile walk, but it's totally worth it!!

Now, as for buying the tank. What's more reasonable: 5g kit- $32 or 10g kit $25?? Thank you Walmart!! XD

 

[ValRasbora]

5g kit- $32 or 10g kit $25?? Thank you Walmart!! XD

Oh walmart... you fail XD

I was going to say if you're putting him in the community, add him last and have a backup plan, but clearly you have everything figured out
aand on a totally unrealated note- awesome on the platies! Mine NEVER breed, I have a trio with A red, a calico and a white MM and they haven't given me any fry yet, nor have they even shown interest in breeding -.- good for you !

 

[MdngtRain]

Just wondering, are the flo fish schoolers? If so, the 10g is better. While still small, you can have a proper school w/o too much over-crowding.
Way to go on your platys. Mine breed like guppies, but the irridescent sheen is hit-or-miss, and I have to beg people to take the fry off my hands.
Keep us updated!

 

[Kiara1125]

Thanks on the platies!! The glo fish are schoolers cuz they are just genetically altered danios. And yes val, walmart does fail. Lol!! My goldfish have now started following my finger lol. They love to eat and they're fun to watch.

 

[Fuzz16]

breeding bettas can be very profitabe-at least enough to pay for the hobby and a lot of fun if your working with good stock. but good ones are expensive too...lol

have you thought about female bettas? they may not be as pretty but there are some very colorful ones out there and you might be able to keep a coupe ina smaler tank...

if your doing a 5g then i wouldnt do more than a betta and maybe a snail or ADF...maybe a trio of white cloud minnows.

 

[Kiara1125]

I already have a female betta. But I finally got my male!! He's a blue halfmoon butterfly betta. I paid $20 for him alone!! But he was do worth it!! I'll try to get a picture up as soon as possible. Idk what to name him though. Just by chance my lfs had them in stock so on that one fish I spent about $50. I'll grab a picture from the internet right now but I promise I'll put one up of him and probably as my avatar.