I am a newbie to betta fish and am looking for some advice on the ideal tank setup before I start. I have a small tank which i would like to use (4 gallons).
Here are the questions:
1. What filter, if any would you recommend for this tank
2. How many betta fish could i have in this tank. Could i possibly have a male and a female?
The other option is my other tank (38 gallon) which currently contains 4 small angelfish, 2 bala sharks, a small clown loach, a common pleco and a bristlenose. This tank has a Fluval U4 filter.
Only one fish in the tank. Males and females will fight and seriously injure, if not kill each other in almost all cases if kept in that situation. I can't recomend a filter as i do not have a lot of experience with the variouse types. I wouldn't think about using the 38 gallon as a comunity for a betta, the angel pish would go after him/her. Stick with the 4 gallon and one betta.
Just the one fish should go into the four-gallon. The larger tank isn't a good idea; angels and bettas shouldn't be put together, not only because of the differences in enviromental needs.. They have small filters at my local pet shop.. Maybe you should browse around to find a suitable one.
Its not the greatest filter in the world- but it works and isnt too strong. It wont suck up the fish and it wont push them around too much. The aiirattor is a little noisy.
You can try sponge filters? I've heard a lot of good things about them and if I'm not mistaking there is a DIY sponge filter thread floating around somewhere. I might be confusing myself with tropicalfish forum though
More important than a filter, is a heater. Try to find a heater for your 4 gallon tank.
Ya know, I've been hearing good things about sponge filters, too ^.^ I'm tempted to try it, and while I do think you're right that there's a thread floating around about sponge filters, there are also DIY videos on youtube if all else fails! I just looked it up xD There might be better ones, but this is the first one I came across. All I'd have to do is buy a sponge, and I'm set! Everything else on the list is conveniently already at my house >.>;
Thanks for the replies. So i have established that i will use the 4 gallon tank and i will only keep one fish in it. I had not mentioned heaters in my post as i took that a little for granted and already have one but thank you for pointing out.
I am looking at the filters recommended and the sponge filter is looking quite interesting. I also found some DIY tutorials for building a sponge filter but at the same time they are rather cheap online so might just order one. Any comments about under gravel filters? I have seen many mixed reviews!
Undergravel filters work in big tanks- they collect bacteria and break it down. In a small tank, there simply isnt enough surface area to do so effectively. I would either do sponge or do a small internal filter
I am really liking this sponge filter. Easy to make considering i have all i need here at home. Now if i went with the sponge filter how frequently would i need water changes and how much water would i need to change. I read that without a filter i would need a 50% change every other day and a 100% change once a week.
In a 4g with one betta and the filter constantly running, you wont need a 100% change I would do at least a 50% change once a week, maybe 30% one part of the week, 30% the other.
Have to agree with the sponge filters. I think they're awesome for betta tanks. You don't have to worry about their beautiful fins getting sucked into an intake; the flow is low. But they are outstanding for nitrifying bacteria.
Heater= However, If you live in a warm environment, heaters aren't neccesary and overheat the tank.
I live in south florida, and my tanks go from 77-80 degrees all day, all night.
So, a heater isn't ALWAYS a given, like what everyone seems to say here.
If you are one of the majority who need a heater, be sure to get an adjustable one. They are much more reliable, and you can control the temp. It wont get too hot or too cold. The extra couple bucks are def. worth it!
Filter= I had the tetra whisper 3i, and it worked O.K. Its really just bare bottom though, not the best. But if you aren't getting a pesky snail or anything, it'll do. The cartridge has to be changed every couple weeks.
Big Tank Advice= Dont! The Betta will not be happy at all. They cannot mix with angels or loaches, and can only go in a tank with peaceful fish. Bettas cant be in a tank of semi-aggressive fish.
Little tank advice= Just have one betta. Dont mix bettas together... espescially in such a small tank. Also, be sure to get lots of decor. You can try your hand with live plants, which are actually quite easy and beautiful if you have a good light.
Big Tank Advice= Dont! The Betta will not be happy at all. They cannot mix with angels or loaches, and can only go in a tank with peaceful fish. Bettas cant be in a tank of semi-aggressive fish.
Thanks for this info. Sorry i have to come back with more questions. I was told that bettas are aggressive and cannot be kept with peaceful fish. I do have another tank wit some guppies, neons, mollies, and a common pleco. Would you recommend having a betta in this tank then?
Covermeinclay said in a post that you can only keep 1 betta per tank. I was under the impression that it is only males that will fight to the death. Does this also apply to a male and a female?
I thought I'd touch up a bit more on sponge filters 'cause I just found this great link that explains a bit about them and how they work, the pros and cons (although there's really not that many), and (with larger tanks, I'm sure) its actually a great coupling to have both filters. It also has a little bit of tips on how to lessen the agitation of the water. This is the standard sponge filter you can buy in a store, but making one is cheaper and reading this will, I'm sure, give you a few design ideas. Especially if you want to lessen agitation for your betta.
Yeah, I agree with dragonflie.. you really do have to be careful when picking a fish, but even so, some bettas are just born to be mean, no matter what the sex. My science teacher I had in the sixth grade heard that female bettas could live in the same tank. I think she had a 10 or 20g in the classroom with about 3 or 4 females... Yeah, they tore each other up and all of them died... it was sad, depressing, and didn't exactly show a great impression for someone teaching in that specific area... >.>..
You could always divide the 4g in half with a divider (if it's retangular) and have 2 bettas One on each side if you really wanted more then one. A 4 gal is great for a betta, but they can live happily in 2 gals.
Some bettas are aggressive to any fish, it's pretty much each individual's personality. But I wouldn't, a lot of bettas really don't like a whole lot of space, and prefer places such as a cave/big leaved plants, to hide among once in a while.
Females can live in a sorority, BUT it has to be set up right, and have luck. 10g+, lots of hiding places/plants/caves, and best to have 6+ per tank. So having 2 females wouldn't work, just in case you start thinking that
Hi Guys. Here is n update for you. Having read all your posts and as most of you have understood i would really like to have more than 1 betta, last weekend i got myself a 60 liter tank! I intend dividing it in 2 and that way I can have a male and a female.
so now i have new questions Would you still go with the sponge filters for this size? And would you keep a couple of plecos with the bettas in this tank?
Thanks
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