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	Betta in a 20 gallon
jboston19 Fingerling Posts: 37 Kudos: 45 Votes: 1 Registered: 31-Mar-2004	I recently bought a male betta to add to my 20 gallon tank. He seems thrilled to be out of that little cup they sold him in, as he's making use of all the tank now. I know they can be aggressive towards females, but is a 20 gal enough space to give him everything a betta needs to be happy by adding a female or 2 and keep the girls safe? Thanks.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:48
sirbooks Moderator Sociopath Posts: 3875 Kudos: 5164 Votes: 932 Registered: 26-Jul-2004	Even given that much space, the bettas would probably still fight. You should never keep male and female bettas together, unless they are spawning. You'll have to look to other kinds of fish to keep your betta company. Have you thought of anything else? Gold barbs would be good, or cories, maybe rasboras, etc. And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:48
jboston19 Fingerling Posts: 37 Kudos: 45 Votes: 1 Registered: 31-Mar-2004	He has 4 cories and 2 otos in there now, not that he pays attention to them. I was just curious whether it was a good idea to give him some female company.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:48
sirbooks Moderator Sociopath Posts: 3875 Kudos: 5164 Votes: 932 Registered: 26-Jul-2004	Nah, it would just lead to trouble. Adding females would certainly not make your male happy. However, I recommend adding at least two more cories and ottos. Each of these fish fare best when kept in good-sized groups. Six is a good number for a shoal of cories, you will see a marked increase in their activity if you add two more of the same species. The same thing goes for the ottos, they like each others's company as well. And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:48
rainbowman Fingerling Posts: 35 Kudos: 39 Votes: 0 Registered: 02-Aug-2004	sorry to send the topic toward my own query... But, do bettas become really active when put in a decent sized tank?
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:48
sirbooks Moderator Sociopath Posts: 3875 Kudos: 5164 Votes: 932 Registered: 26-Jul-2004	That depends on a few factors. Bettas do not like current (would you, if you had super long fins?), and prefer higher temperatures than most other fish. If they are kept in a tank with lots of water movement, they will hang out in the area with the least current pretty much all the time. Also, warmer water seems to make bettas happier, and more active. If it is too warm however, they get lethargic. I've kept a betta in a good-sized tank (29 gallons), and he was pretty happy. And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:48
jboston19 Fingerling Posts: 37 Kudos: 45 Votes: 1 Registered: 31-Mar-2004	I did have 6 cories and another oto, but I lost a few and haven't replaced them yet. I should get on that. As for being in a bigger tank, my experience is with this one betta only, but he seems to love it. His first few days were spent only at the top, usually behind the filter or the heater, but now roams freely about from top to bottom. Should he be lounging in a plant when I come to the tank, he comes charging up looking for food.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:48


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