Betta Tank

[Pittsford_Pets]

Hey all!

This isn’t really a question, and it’s a freshwater one. A friend at school keeps her betta in an unheated, unfiltered, bowl. I informed her that that isn’t the best tank for it, and she immediately wanted to try and get it a tank. I’ve been recommending some all in one tanks, just because 1) they look nice 2) easy and comes with everything 3) they generally have good filtration, and I’ll be providing the media from my own tank.

I directed her towards the Fluval Spec. It’s just about 5 gallons with 2 in the in tank sump, and I think it’d be great for her betta and maybe even a few small fish, eventually an otocinclus or two. I know Bettas can live in a tank with other fish, but I’m not sure about a 5 gallon. I know 10 is the standard for community Bettas, but they’re just otos.

I plan for this tank to be as easy as possible, so that means live plants and some nice substrate. I’m thinking we can do some nice java fern as a background plant, java moss on a cool dragon stone scape, and dwarf Sagitarria as a foreground plant. The moss should grow in well, the java fern will thrive, and the dwarf Sagitarria will hopefully take off. Once there’s some nice foliage and hiding spots, I’d like to try some cherry shrimp. Do you guys think I’ll be able to do that? It’s still a baby betta.

Dwarf Sagitarria will eat up nutrients in the substrate, so I’ve been considering a few options. I currently have SeaChems Black Fluorite Sand and that’s growing all of my plants well. Do you think that’s a good option, they come in small bags, so I think that’s work.

There is the issue of high flow in that tank, I’ll have to figure that out.

I have a ton of extra media in my tank, and I’m hoping that we can avoid a cycle. I can’t wait to set this tank up, so if you’d like to follow along, I’ll be posting pictures on this account as updates.

Thanks everyone, and I know this is a saltwater forum haha!

 

[B-rad]

Don’t waste your time with Neos. They will either have to hide from sight all day, or they will be eaten. As far as flow, just put a rock with dense moss growth in front of the outake.

 

[Pittsford_Pets]

Don’t waste your time with Neos. They will either have to hide from sight all day, or they will be eaten. As far as flow, just put a rock with dense moss growth in front of the outake.

So are there any shrimp that’d be able to survive? I really wanna incorporate shrimp into the tank but if I can’t that’s fine.

 

[BringingThatDottyback]

I wouldn't put any fish besides the betta in a tank that small.

 

[Pittsford_Pets]

I wouldn't put any fish besides the betta in a tank that small.

I’ve heard people successfully House a single oto in a 5.5 with a betta, and I’ve done it before. Then again, every betta is different! I’ll keep an eye on it. The oto also won’t be going in unless there’s algae everywhere [emoji23]

 

[BringingThatDottyback]

I’ve heard people successfully House a single oto in a 5.5 with a betta, and I’ve done it before. Then again, every betta is different! I’ll keep an eye on it. The oto also won’t be going in unless there’s algae everywhere [emoji23]

I'm not saying its physically impossible, I'm saying it's a small tank to keep a Betta and a single individual of a species that likes to be kept in groups. If you're worried about algae I'd recommend Amano shrimp. I've kept the shrimp with a Betta before and didn't have a problem.

 

[Pittsford_Pets]

I'm not saying its physically impossible, I'm saying it's a small tank to keep a Betta and a single individual of a species that likes to be kept in groups. If you're worried about algae I'd recommend Amano shrimp. I've kept the shrimp with a Betta before and didn't have a problem.

We have a ton of Amanos at work. I’m worried about that - I watched a video on someone’s tank with amanos, the betta murdered 15 in a day!

 

[BringingThatDottyback]

We have a ton of Amanos at work. I’m worried about that - I watched a video on someone’s tank with amanos, the betta murdered 15 in a day!

I might have been the exception to the rule. But I kept a good size Betta in a 30 gallon community tank with I think 2-3 Amano shrimp. Never saw it go after the shrimp. Though in a smaller tank they might run into each other more. I don't know if you'd neccasarily even need an algae eater in a tank that small if you have plants.

 

[Pittsford_Pets]

I might have been the exception to the rule. But I kept a good size Betta in a 30 gallon community tank with I think 2-3 Amano shrimp. Never saw it go after the shrimp. Though in a smaller tank they might run into each other more. I don't know if you'd neccasarily even need an algae eater in a tank that small if you have plants.

Wow, that tank must’ve been cool. We have a 25(?)g cube at work with a betta. It’s also not my tank, so I don’t know if she’ll be doing as much maintenance as needed, so I thought it’d be cool addition. Maybe just a few ghost shrimp, they’re cheap, but I’d hate to send them to their deaths.

 

[Sorcha2]

Be aware not all betas are ok with other creatures in their tanks. Some really do prefer to live alone. I have an old veil tail who occasionally kills off all the snails in his tank. He also freaks out if he can even see another fish tank. He has several plants which he loves including a moss ball . All my betas have loved the plastic leaf things that stick to the side of the tank.(Admitably my old fella has his just on the bottom of the tank and sleeps underneath it.) Also he hates any sort of flow in his tank being a veil tail even a little bit can knock him around. So be aware what you think of as a nice tank and what the beta thinks are two different things.

 

[Pittsford_Pets]

Be aware not all betas are ok with other creatures in their tanks. Some really do prefer to live alone. I have an old veil tail who occasionally kills off all the snails in his tank. He also freaks out if he can even see another fish tank. He has several plants which he loves including a moss ball . All my betas have loved the plastic leaf things that stick to the side of the tank.(Admitably my old fella has his just on the bottom of the tank and sleeps underneath it.) Also he hates any sort of flow in his tank being a veil tail even a little bit can knock him around. So be aware what you think of as a nice tank and what the beta thinks are two different things.

Yep! I’ll be extra careful with the betta. I had one in a 5.5 a while ago and he was great with snails. Now to find out what kind of betta.

 

[gr8birds]

I have a betta in a fluval spec with lots of plants, mopani wood and rocks. I also have about 10 cherry shrimp and 2 tiger snails in there and they all get along just fine. I have a small exoterra canister filter running with a small spray bar and the betta is more active, eating a lot better and more social than he has ever been.