File :-(, x, )
Anonymous
Dear /an/,

last week, I bought a used fishtank. The tank can contain about 25 litres (6,6 gallons). Thing is, I'm planning on keeping a betta, but I find that 6,6 gallons is a bit huge for one single fish. Since you can't keep two bettas together, someone with more experience suggested that some neon tetras would go along well with the betta. I'm not too sure if it's true, but if it is how many neon tetras should I get considering they live in schools and the size of the tank? Any suggestions for a different kind of fish? Or should I just keep the betta alone in the tank?

Thanks!
>> Anonymous
keep it alone.
25 l is not too much for one fish.
>> Anonette
you can still add some females.
And describe the tank (filtering, light, anything).
>> Anonymous
>>107511
They beat the shit out of each other normally, though.
>> Anonymous
I'd get three tetras, at most. It's one tiny tank you've got there.
>> Anonymous
get a corey, they're non-aggressive, the beta wont bother it and it'll help keep the algea down in your tank.

they also live at the bottom vs the beta that lives on the top so it spreads out the fishness.
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
Neon tetras, in my experience, are very fragile. I'd assume the tank won't be heated, so why not consider something like a few white cloud mountain minnows instead? Pic related. In my experience, they're really hardy, just as pretty (IMO obviously) and can tolerate cooler temperatures.

Have you considered, instead of another animal, a live plant? A java fern will thrive in a betta tank. The betta will enjoy having the space to himself, and the fern to swim through as it grows. Just rubber band it to a rock or a decoration and let the roots grow over it. It doesn't do as well if you bury the roots.

Another option, too, is something like a dwarf aquatic frog. Stressing that - dwarf! African clawed frogs will get huge, but the dwarf ones will just be a couple of inches long. The food I've seen marketed specifically for them isn't much different than betta food, just another sinking pellet, so they'd probably nibble on each other's meals. You could also offer something like brine shrimp or blood worms, they'd both appreciate that.
>> Anonymous
>>107518

The only problem with getting corey cats is that they like to school. Maybe if the OP could find panda cories, or a similiar dwarf species, and get a couple of them.

I did forget to mention snails. You could probably put in a snail with no problem. Not the little mass reproducing plant snails, but something like an apple or mystery snail. Mystery snails come in a couple of different colors and are pretty cool to watch.
>> Anonymous
I worked in a pet store for two years, and we regularly kept male bettas in the same tanks as our various tetra species with no problems. Male bettas are typically only aggressive with other male bettas and only occasionally female bettas. In tanks with mixed species, it is, oddly enough, usually the male betta who gets picked on by the others because of his long fins.

Also, I was always told that a good rule of thumb for determining how many fish could go in a tank is "one inch of fish per gallon of water." So, taking out a couple for your betta, you should be able to add in up to four tetras. Five would probably be pushing it.

Also, someone mentioned that it is a good idea to heat the tank if you have neons. True. It is also beneficial for the betta also, since they are a warm water fish and will be much happier and healthier with heated water. Also, I recommend getting a few plants for your various fish to hide in, especially if they are having diffoculty getting used to each other.
>> Anonymous
>>107490I find that 6,6 gallons is a bit huge for one single fish.

My sister has a 10 gallon with a betta and a cleaner fish in it. If you decorate it nicely enough you wont need to further populate it. :)
I was surprised how well it looked.

Personally I've yet to have a companion fish that didn't delight in picking at and tearing up a bettas fins though.. :/
>> skelletina
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>>107506
agreed. i have a betta Sparky in a 5gal tank and trust me its not too much the fish will actually tank you for it. and get him a heater too. they need to stay warm
>> Anonymous
A 6 gal tank is not too big for a single betta I'd even say that it is perfect. In fact, bettas like solitude and they tend to be extremely territorial towards other living creatures. If you really want to get other fish avoid very colorful fish with fancy fins as your betta can be dumb enough to take them as other male bettas and attack them to death. White cloud minnows are ok you can get 2-3. You can also add 1 or 2 black (or gold) mystery snails (aka apple snails) and 3 ghost shrimp. Your betta will not, in theory, attack the shrimp but sometimes you can have a very violent one that will so just buy 1 or 2 shrimp just to see how your fish will react to their presence.

Also since your tank is big, try to recreate the natural environment of your Siamese fighting fish. They naturally live in rice-fields in Thailand so be sure to add lots of algae (java fern are quite nice) and lots of rocks too. I'd suggest you make hiding places (small caves) with the rocks as bettas like to hide and if you get other fish and shrimp it will provide spots to protect them against the attacks of you betta. Be sure to keep your water clean and to keep it at a temperature between 70 and 80'F as betta are tropical fish.
>> Anonymous
NO THEY NEED A 60 GALLON TA-
NO! THEY NEED A WHOLE POND FOR THEM TO BE HAPPY! BE SURE TO PLANT RICE OR YOU ARE JUST TORTURING THE POOR FISH!
>> Anonymous
I don't know what you guys go about feeding bettas but I feed them mosquito larvae. 8x times better than the 25 gallon tank. Don't get it any tank, get it a turtle tank.

If you're going to put a male and some female bettas together, put lots of vegetation and perhaps some hiding places ie. cups, rocks.
>> Anonymous
Do you have a filter for it? There are some small ones you can get. Heaters aid digestion

Also many smaller fish are fin nippers when alone, but the more you have the happier they are and will leave your betta alone.

If you do get more fish. Try to get ones that aren't fast or energetic. They might stress your betta.
>> Anonymous
>>107746
ONLY A POND? YOU MONSTER, THEY NEED A WHOLE OCEAN!
>> Anonymous
OP here.

Of course I've purchased a heater, as well as a decent filter and airpump. I did my research about keeping bettas, I just wasn't sure if the suggestion of putting more fish into the tank was a good idea considering its size, and as I thought, it isn't.

I'll just keep the betta alone, I don't want to risk putting another betta in it and end up with dead fish.

I don't think I will use the airpump though, considering bettas generally don't like the waterflow so I was already planning on putting some live vegetation into the tank, seeing how they're good for the oxygen levels and provide hiding spots for the betta.

Thank you /an/!
>> Anonymous
They do not live well with other male betas. hense the name siamese fighting fish!!, It would do well with tetra's they are pretty harmless and generaly stay out of the way. However anything larger the beta will see as a threat and attempt to kill resulting in BETA BATTLES!!! You could get another male put it in the tank then place bets on who would win??
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
Fishing Cat would love to keep your betta company
>> Anonymous
>>108113
damn, look at his face. he hungers. FOR MOAR
>> Anonymous
beta's are best in a small bowl. Don't put them in anything to big, and keep it away from other fish. Mine is a killer and attacks anything within 1 foot of it(Mine gets pissed off if you just look at it from across the room).
>> Anonymous
>>108318

Shut up and GTFO! you know nothing of bettas. Small bowl, pathetic. I feel sorry for your betta. no wonder hes so mad all the time.
>> Anonymous
>>108325

Agreed, and that includes how to fucking spell it.
>> te-kun !H.C.nOOtsU
www.aquahobby.com
This is a good site
>> Anonymous
>>108325
60 GALLON!!!!!!!!