FishProfiles.com Message Forums

Hi all. new to Bettas here. just wondering if they are a particularly hardy fish or not. I'm thinking about putting one in an empty 10 gallon tank I have. Also, I'm wondering what tank mates might be good with him. Please help. Thanks in advance

Hi Diver

The betta itself is a pretty hardy fish, I have used them on occasion to cycle tanks, and they do put up with 100% water changes and unfiltered water.

The problem only sems to come with the fancier varieties, as they are quite inbred in order to set the traits. This is often done at the expense of the fish's immunity and temperment, and often means that the more you pay, the more likely it is to just drop dead for no particular reason that you can see.

horribly annoying!

For a 10 gal, you may want to steer clear of extremely longtailed bettas, like halfmoons and doubletails, as they have some difficulty swimming and staying bouyant.

I'd go with either female/s or a crowntail. If you can't find either, a veiltail is ok, but make sure it is very active and not weighed down by its tail.

What type of filter are you planning on using?

Cories, otos, kuhlies and shrimp all make good tankmates for bettas

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

Hi Cally. Thanks for the reply. What set up would be good? Currently on the tank is a marineland penguin 100 bio wheel. Will that be good? There are currently a few snails in the tank but it is otherwise uninhabited. I read somewhere (I think it was a site by petsmart) that they need cultured gravel? whats that and is it necessary? Thanks

Last edited by divertran at 19-Sep-2005 11:08
I like khulis and think I can find some but will they do well in the 10? Otherwise I would go with an oto or two and perhaps a few cories

Last edited by divertran at 19-Sep-2005 11:12

Cultured gravel is just a saleable way of describing a cycled tank. It makes it sound like you should buy some

Your tank sounds like the gravel is fine

The filter MAY be a bit strong. you might want to add some driftwood or large rock or something the betta can use to get out of the current as they can really only use their pectorals to propel themselves around.

Kuhlies should be OK in a 10, they don't get very big really. I have 4 in a 26, and i'd be happy to see 3 in a 10 providing they weren't sharing with other bottom feeders.



Last edited by Callatya at 19-Sep-2005 11:22

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

well, I like to keep the tank topped off so the return from the filter just skims along the top and doesn't create too much of a wake. I can always put some foam around the return to lessen the current.

Oh, and what about plants, there are a bunch of plastic plants in there now, along with a couple large decorations (large pots I got at petsmart) to break it up, but I'm thinkin about taking some/most of the plants out as it looks too busy at the mo.

Last edited by divertran at 19-Sep-2005 12:08

The filter thing, the main problem is bettas getting stuck to the inlet, not problems with the output.
They get so much of themselves attached to it that they have trouble getting off.

Plastic plants are fine providing they aren't rough or sharp, as this can tear longer fins.







Last edited by Callatya at 19-Sep-2005 12:36

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

Thanks. There's a pretty good strainer screen on the inlet tube but I can always wrap some foam around that as well. Still gonna pull some plastic plants, just too many. Had it set up as a DP tank but that didn't work.

with the loaches, i think they are best(so they dont hurt them selves) with a sandy bottom.

with the bettas, long fin males like veils do best in a tank with no filter current, Y? b/c in the wild this fishes have short fins, Y? b/c it helps them swim, so these altered long fins, make it harder for the fish to swim in a current, again it shouldn't be too bad, so some stuctures would be better, like tall plants. but really bettas do best alone.

I also have a smaller whisper filter I got with a 5 gallon starter kit. the Flow on that is much less than the penguin, and I could easily swap it.