Betta question.

[Falina]

Still best to cycle first IMHO althoguh bettas are pretty hardy.

There is a biospira post, in which the pros and cons of biospira, or the European equivalent is discussed. If you are adding him right away, maybe use biospira or the equivalent?

[Lt.Dan]

well im a patient person and dont neccesarily want to spend to much money, would putting in some of my other fish waste plus running the filter for 2 weeks do?

[Rue]

You can 'instant cycle' a tank...add established gravel with some mulm from a cycled tank...and the sponge from the established filter...

...and off you go!

But go ahead and try adding mulm and waiting two weeks...it will certainly speed things up...I know that because I did mulm and sponge for my 25 l tank...added the betta...

...water is good!

This is the best general betta info. I've found so far:

http://badmanstropicalfish.com/articles/article44.html

I do disagree on her point of keeping males and females together...I think if the tank is big enough and there's enough plant cover you can do it...

[Lt.Dan]

thanks

[Falina]

Yep I say go for it.

I wouldn't recommend the cories in a 5g though. But you say you just want the betta so definitely go for it! :)

[Rue]

...why not 3 pygmies in a 5g? The one on my desk (well, it's 6.6 gallons I think)...is certainly big enough for 3 corys...

...I just don't want to since I already have the snails in there...

[Falina]

Originally Posted by Rue

...why not 3 pygmies in a 5g? The one on my desk (well, it's 6.6 gallons I think)...is certainly big enough for 3 corys...

...I just don't want to since I already have the snails in there...

It can be done, as can many things, I just don't recommend it because they are such an active fish,andpreferto be ingroupsof 6 ormore. It's onlymy opinion.

[Rue]

Yes...the 'rule of thumb' for any schooling fish is 6...

...but 3 will do fine in a smaller space...

...not ideal perhaps...but not unacceptable by any means...

[Falina]

Originally Posted by Rue

Yes...the 'rule of thumb' for any schooling fish is 6...

...but 3 will do fine in a smaller space...

...not ideal perhaps...but not unacceptable by any means...

Not unacceptable at all! I was just saying I didn't recommend it because it's not the ideal conditions.

It's just advice really and I'm only speaking from my one experience. I used to keep 3 cories in a 10g, then moved them to a 30g where there are 12 and I see such a difference in them! They weren't unhappy before by any stretch of the imagination, but now they are really happy, and have started to breed.

[Andyandsue]

I always say that if you want other fish with a betta, get a dark colored one and a 3 Golden White Clouds. They have all the beauty (and more) of a gold fish without the hassle of one and you can have 3 in the space for 1 goldfish, AND they get along fine with bettas. I also think a 3 gallon is just fine for one betta. Mine seems to do better in a small tank. Eclipse makes a nice 3 gallon with a top-mounted filter and biowheel. Of course I would never say no to 5 gallon if that is what you are looking for, and then you could have some golden white clouds too.

I'm also all for the instant cycle with your own gravel, and you can always add BioSpira too- that combo works like a charm, I've done it.

Post a photo when you get the tank up!