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Post by bettafry on Jan 20, 2006 14:06:34 GMT -5
I have a male Betta in a 5 gallon eclipse tank. He's been in this tank since September, which is when I bought him. He's happy and content being in there by himself; he has toys to keep him busy. I think he gets lonely or bored when I'm not interacting with him, which is often cuz I go to college and I go home for the weekend. I was thinking about getting a tankmate for him, something like Dalmation Mollies or Mickey Mouse platties. I know Bettas aren't really community fish but platties and mollies are. I herad that the bettas should get along with other fish as long as they don't look "pretty", meaning they don't look like other bettas. Is this true? And if it is possible, how many tankmates could he have? I thought the general rule was 1 inch per gallon, and I know Mollies and Platties don't grow too big. I was thinking of getting one of each, probably both females. Is this a bad idea? Also, do they need different needs from bettas, ie temperature water, food, etc? I have a 1 gallon fishbowl/hospital tank, will that be able to house a mollie or plattie [or both] if they don't end up liking their new roomate situation?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated
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Post by accountingchick on Jan 20, 2006 17:05:02 GMT -5
You will always hear this comment from me everytime someone asks this question, but my opinion and experience says to leave him by himself especially since he has been alone for a while. The male betta that I recently bought was in a tank with platys and was getting his long fins nipped at constantly by those fish. He is still healing from it. Bettas are very territorial so there is the concern about the betta hurting the other fish, or because bettas have long fins and don't swim as fast as most other tropical fish it leaves them prone to attacks like mine was. I know that some of the other HB members have had luck with putting cories in with bettas, but everytime I put something moving in the tank with my bettas it has been disasterous. As long as your fish is well taken care of, he will be fine by himself.  |
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Post by bettafry on Jan 20, 2006 18:19:28 GMT -5
Thank you, I guess I'll leave him by himself. Are there any suggestions to keep him entertained? I have an aquatic plant [which he ignores] a plastic plant, a silk plant and a skull hidey hole for him. He lives in a 5 gallon tank, so I can't really add anything more, cuz of lack of space. I just think he's bored cuz he sleeps alot; he only seems to perk up when I'm paying attention to him. I do have a light for him, which is on during the day for about 8 hours, and then I turn it off to go to sleep. He sleeps in his skull to avoid the light during the day, and normally he just hangs out there unless I come to look at him.
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sawcat
Junior Bubble Nester
Posts: 237
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Post by sawcat on Jan 21, 2006 14:23:14 GMT -5
Try putting a mirror up to his tank and see if he'll flare at his reflection (he might do it just by the light in or near his tank too). I've noticed mine like to swim over and around things. The crowntail has a small column decoration, and it's leaning at an angle against the side of the tank. He'll swim under it then up and over and back under it. My cellophane does the same with his thermometer and statue when it leans against the side.
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Post by bettafry on Jan 21, 2006 16:18:48 GMT -5
I'll definitley get him a mirror. Hopefully he'll think its another betta and will flare.
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Post by kent1992 on Jan 22, 2006 16:11:56 GMT -5
If you want to get him a tank mate, a Corydoras Catfish would be good. My betta has no problems with the catfish, even though he is alot more agressive than my other betta. Also, the catfish do a really good job in cleaning up your tank.
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Post by accountingchick on Jan 23, 2006 12:13:17 GMT -5
I'll definitley get him a mirror. Hopefully he'll think its another betta and will flare. Flaring time in small doses is good for your betta, but don't leave the mirror up all of the time because constant flaring is not good. I would put the mirror up 2-3 times a day for five minutes at a time. |
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Post by twoluvcats on Jan 23, 2006 17:28:33 GMT -5
If you want to get him a tank mate, a Corydoras Catfish would be good. My betta has no problems with the catfish, even though he is alot more agressive than my other betta. Also, the catfish do a really good job in cleaning up your tank. except that cories really do MUCH better in groups of 3 or more (and ideally 6)...I've tried to keep single cories and they are skittish and easily succumb to disease. |
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Post by juniperaine on Jan 25, 2006 1:19:42 GMT -5
Hi there!
I wanted to get a couple friends for my bettas as well, and went and got some african aquatic frogs. Anyways, they are ( as i am told) bottom feeders that clean up the "poop", and never come out of the water.. they are really cute!! they float at the top and swim around.. I got a couple for my fish tanks as i have a couple, but found that when i put one into the tanks with the "mature"-*(fish i have had for a couple months at least) the fish went ape sh*t, trying to attack the frogs.. i got told that they would just leave them alone.. - last time i listened to someone at a pet strore -but with my new fish... as long as i put the frogs in before i introduced the fish to the tank they were all ok.. I ended up taking the frogs out and putting them together-(so they had common company) in a 10 gallon tank along with the friendliest betta, and they are doing great.. not sure how to post pics, but i would if i knew how.. lol
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Post by twoluvcats on Jan 25, 2006 9:49:58 GMT -5
...got some african aquatic frogs. Anyways, they are ( as i am told) bottom feeders that clean up the "poop", and never come out of the water.. wow...your guy at the LFS was wrong all over the place. NOTHING eats poop...and ADFs are not bottom feeders...they actually need to be fed specifically, and its better to hand feed them, or they easily starve. Here is a great article on these little guys...they are great buddies to have, and some bettas will get along with them. Extensive African Dwarf Frog FAQ |
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