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It's a 10 gallon tank, that is heated to 76 degrees. I keep two (female, so no long fins) swords and some tetras in there, planning on getting some more tetras, and -maybe- another sword, depending on what colors they have in the store. I'm asking bwcause I recently lost my other male betta, he was pretty mellow, as bettas go. I kept him with some male guppies, and he never even looked at them. Anyway, my dad is strongly advising against putting a new betta in there, he says my old one must have been half goldfish, he was so sweet. In addition to that, the people at my LFS say the tank is too warm, but again, I know how clueless they can be. So, anyway, are the fish compatable, and is the tank a good temp?

Oh, I might be able to toggle around with the heater so it's warmer, but the swords can't take anything above 80.

I have a 55 gal tank that stays at about 80 degrees on average. I have paradise fish, tetras, many species of qouramis, some female bettas, a few plecos, a catfish and a few others. In addition I also have a beautiful pure white flourescent looking betta male and he is fine. I wish everyone knew that they make wonderful additions to fish tanks, as long as they are the only male. Sometimes he will get puffy at a fish if it's eye-ing up his food but otherwise they are all fine.

Actually, I would say your tank is pretty much stocked as is. Swordtails grow four inches, plus you also have a school of tetras. It could work compatibility wise, but I would advise againts it because you'll become overstocked.

HTH

You could certainly put a betta in that tank, but since you are already adding other fish, there won't be enough room for it. Your lfs must be pretty clueless, bettas prefer warmer temps, people just think they like things cold because they are often kept in unheated bowls.]:|

---

And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

76 is nearly perfect temp for a betta (I keep mine mid-upper seventies), but I have to go with the others who are saying that your tank is already pretty stocked. I personally wouldn't keep swordies in a ten gallon, as they get to be quite big.

On the other hand, my ten gallon is probably overstocked thanks to my guppies, so who am I to complain?

Oh... what kind of tetras? Some, like the serpaes, can be fin nippers which wouldn't be a good combo with a betta. Those long fins are too tempting!

As for sweet bettas, I have five males, ranging from a bit timid, to shy and sweet, all the way to Equity, who thinks everything is his own personal enemy (the thermometer, me, his food...) The girls are the same way... I have seven girls, six of which are in a community tank. The community girls are very sweet, with a couple slightly more dominant personalities. Jezebel the betrayer (she ripped all the other girls to shreds]:|) is in her own tank now. Bettas have verrrry different personalities, so you never know quite what you're going to get.

~Meow. Thus spoke the cat.~

one lemon, one neon.



For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett

Wait....Callatya...you mean one neon tetra and one lemon tetra?

Julia--you are going to have to decide which tetra you want to keep..then return the other one, and make a proper school for the one you keep. (a school includes at least six fish).

[span class="edited"][Edited by Solublefish 2004-08-15 13:49][/span]

I'd take both tetras back so they might be with others of their kinds..and put a betta in. The swords are gonna get big for that tank kinda..but wouldn't been ok compatibility wise. Bettas are great in tanks ..usually THEY are the ones picked on. I've had male/female bettas with guppies too, and no probs. Then I've had one male betta that did NOT do community..but he was the only one. On the opposite end, I had a male that was too petrified in a community tank. And yeah, your LFS is off a bit..they need warm water.