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I am at the moment considering setting up a hex Betta tank with one pair and ????

I have not looked into the sizes of the hex tanks but it might not be the average size and could be just that bit taller if possible.

What do I have to consider as far a heater, filtration & airation.

Also the type of lighting as it will not have a top at all. I can assure it will be well planted. I intend to have plants that will grow both roots in water and leaves above plus plant above relying on humidity.

What other fish could I add if at all and how many.

I am not worried about the cost

The wife did not even shudder when I suggested it (may be because I am painting the house at the moment)

All helpful information will be appreciated

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
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A pair of what?

A pair of bettas??

If so, you better have a chatter to Kev at Slippery Little Suckers, as he is the only one i know of that is bringing in wilds. You would really need a wild pair if you want to keep a male and female together, as the fancies are rather vicious and the slightest nip will lead to infection, and brawling is certainly not uncommon.

If you want the colourful ones, i think you are best off going for a group of females, or a single male.

Otherwise its pretty much carnage


Have you looked at the hex tanks available at Big W? they are of a decent size and I think they have an inbuilt filter of some description.

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

yep, not a pair bettas. but anyway they have kits with lighting and filtering. if it is a five gallon then guppies, etc would work. but u also have to take in mind that all bettas have different feelings. some are more mild, while others are more agressive. when u get ur betta(i think) then u can find u bettas feelings.

Okay Keith, let me start by saying, welcome to the madness that is keeping bettas. It is highly addictive.

Now to set you straight, I DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT ever recommend keeping a male and female betta together in the same tank unless they are breeding and have been conditioned. As mentioned before, it would be carnage to keep a pair together when not breeding (sometimes even breeding brings carnage.)

Now, also, bettas need a lid of some sort. Bettas have a bad reputation of jumping out of their tanks (unless the finnage of the betta is so heavy that they have a hard time swimming, let alone jumping.)

The light factor would be difficult in my opinion because U would have no overhead light if u had nothing on top of the tank :%)... I also never recommend placing a tank in direct sunlight.

You will need the same heater you would use with regular tropicals, but I can't recommend a wattage unless you can give me a tank size.

Bettas like shorter tanks (in height) due to them always needing to come to the surface for air. A betta will suffocate if it can not get air. They can not get enough oxygen through their gills to sustain themselves.

Filtration is simple. Depending on tank size, I suggest a corner filter for smaller tanks, and a decent HOB filter for a larger tank. The only word of caution here is that you have something that you can adjust the flow on because bettas get quite stressed when they have a high level of water movement in their tanks.

There are many fish that you can keep with bettas. The basic principal is that if you have a male, that you do not put it with anything that has long flowing fins, as the betta may identify the other fish as another male and attack. A few species that I would suggest are: corydoras, livebarers, killies, smaller loaches, and anything else that is generally peaceful and definatly not a fin-nipper. The amount of fish in the tank is totally dependant on the size of the tank.

The betta does not need a high amount of airration, because it has the labyrinth organ, which allows it to use atmospherical air to breathe.

--Daniel

Last edited by Daniel at 16-Feb-2005 19:10

oh Keith.... poor Marge doesn't know what she's just agreed to !

I have a confession to make. I never thought much of Bettas. Always thought they were nancy wancy frilly fish that just sat there blowing bubbles (in my defense I'd only seen them in those horrible coffee jars).

But when I set up a small tank I decided a betta would look ok in there. Much to my surprise I discovered he was an incredibly active little bugger always on the go and poking around , the tanks well planted (I could never keep one in a bowl now). And they have personality to burn, very friendly , seem to recognise their owners and seek interaction. Mine is in my study and as I type he's dancing around the front of the tank showing off desperately trying to get my attenion. They are addictive little buggers. Females are great too.Just a shame you can't keep more then one in a tank (males that is).

As far tank mates, I have a small group of White Cloud Mountain Minnows and they get along fine. They also work with Neons.Any small peaceful fish that doesn't have much in the way of finnage should work.

Second the having a top on the tank, my first jumped

The most difficult thing will be choosing one , so many colors and varieties.Like the Crowntails myself.Got a beauty now that's purple with fins that are a mixture of blue and scarlet. Can't wait to see the pics when you've made your choice.

Last edited by bensaf at 17-Feb-2005 19:57

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Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

I don't have anything to add, everyone else did a good job. I just wanted to say, be careful with bettas, they are addictive! You can't just have one!

Steph

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I used to be Snow White, but I drifted.
~ Mae West

I would stay away from neons personally because they aren't very hardy and diseases like ick are very easily spread to bettas.

Thank you all for the advice. There are reasons I prefer the open top tank. It will be one and one only. I actually do have an area on my desk that will make Marg happier.

My bigest problem will be to locate a suitable tank.

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

the biggest piece of advice I can give you now is to at least keep a lot of plant leaves near the top to make it harder for him to jump.

but not to mant leaves they do need to breathe and i have 2 males in a 10 gallon (seperated of course) they have no top, but simply having a bright light and tinfoil on the top discourages the jumping (and the cat) so good luck, and if u do want a pair, get a wider tank, and slip a divider in there, have so gravel on the males side, and when u and them r ready u could make a little "door in the divider and shoo the female on in u could have babys and then, ur hooked oh, and there is a cure to MBS (multiple betta syndrum) treat ur self to a betta every now and then, that will hold off the insanity ()

Keith, trykeeping the water level down a few inches from the top if you are going to plant (i assume you are doing bog/marginals out of the top?) so that there is more up and less over that he has to jump

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