What can live with Bettas?

[BookWorm243]

Thanks everyone for the replies. I plan on getting a bigger tank, I was looking at a 25 gallon. Our pet store has more fish during the warmer months because they keep them outside ( which I really don't agree with ) Once it gets cold they cut back on there fish stock because they don't have as much room inside the store. So I want to get the fish that will work with him before they get rid of them. I was also looking at getting some live plants to put in the tank, are there any that are better then others?

 

[Miyashi]

They have those nifty little "Betta Bulbs" at most pet stores, they come in a little package.
The are decent.
I don't know much about live plants....I was never good at it!

 

[Stacykins]

Two plants that will thrive in most tanks and are very hard to kill are both java moss and java fern. They do fine in low light, too. I had a tank full of breeding Betta simplex that was a jungle of java moss, I had to thin it out it was so thick! But it was great for the fish.

A note: plants DO NOT replace regularly scheduled water changes. Plants may use up some of the nitrates, but not enough to mean you don't have to do weekly 10-25% (depending on your needs, testing determines amount) water changes. Duckweek (don't put this in your tank if you ever want a duckweed free tank again!) or salvinia minima, both fast growing surface plants can put a good dent in nitrates (but need much higher light). But still, water changes are good.

 

[shelleyd2008]

I'm also not familiar with live plants much, haven't really tried them yet. But I do know that Bettas generally breath oxygen from the atmosphere like we do, and they make those big leaf 'hammocks' that stick to the side of the tank for the fish to sleep on. I'd think some kind of plant that would have big leaves would be good. Remember that you need special lighting for live plants, the little bulbs that you normally get for fish tanks aren't good enough.

 

[SourRoses]

I agree with the Java Moss and Java fern suggestion... Usually I see Java Moss in the stores but sometimes it's actualy Java fern... theres not a huge difference between the two. I LOVE Banana plants... (thats just what they are called) ... they have a bulb that sits above the substrate that resembles a bunch of green bananas

and my Bettas seem to love them as well, as the stems grow much like a tropical water lily (they are related) with small leaf pads at the surface.. great for fish naps!

These also do not clog up the tank if you plant them moderately.

Thats the end of the list of plants that have done well for me (with minimal care).. except for those bulbs you can buy for Bettas.. the Temperate water lillies are what those packages usually contain.. and they do grow very VERY well... But too well, they clog up the tank horribly and end up not as attractive when they have grown a bit. They are temperate, not tropical, water lillies... so their leaves are a different shape (like an arrow) and they just aren't as nice a plant.


If you are going to get a much larger tank... remember with your Betta you are going to want to under-filter it. The strong currents of most filters can swish your Betta around like he is in a toilet bowl, and trust me, they don't much appreciate that. You will be able to tell his happiness level based on where he "hangs out" in the tank. A healthy and happy Betta will occupy the bottom, middle, and brief moments at the top of the water column. Bettas who hang out at the surface may be having trouble with airation and/or ammonia in the tank limiting gill function and forcing them to rely on their Labyrinth lung. Bettas who hang out too long at the bottom may be hiding out from strong upper currents caused by strong filters.

There are several good submersible filters that are adjustable you can find for your new tank. Most that hang on the back will leave your Betta holding on for dear life at the bottom. I have had good results with a Duetto filter made for 10 - 15 gallon tanks in my 20 gallon. It has an adjusting doo-hicky on it so I can change the flow level. If you end up with one of those kits with the filter already in it, or simply have limited choices at the pet store and have to use a hang-on type of filter... try putting the filter far to one end, and maybe make a little "Betta cove" with a line of taller plants.. so he can hide out from the current when he needs to.


One more stab for Fancy guppies.. hehe... If you get a trio of guppies now you will likely have a lot more of them by the time you get the bigger tank.. provided Mr. Betta doesen't gobble the fry

 

[shelleyd2008]

I've read that you shouldn't put Bettas and Fancy Guppies together because of the Guppies' appearance? It said that the flowing tail of the guppy looks like another Betta to the Betta

I'm sure I read that on the fishlore forums.

 

[hollyclyff]

Along with java moss and java fern (the ones I have are very different plants), the other ones I've had most success with in a low-tech tank are anubias and dwarf sagittaria. Java moss and dwarf sagittaria are both very fast growers for me. In fact they would take over my tank if I let it them. I only have an incandescent hood on my tank, but I use 65k mini compact fluorescent bulbs in it and my plants do very well with that.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Neon Tetras, Black Mollies, Glass Catfish... the list goes on and on for small pretty fish that would live well with a Betta. Betta are very docile unless they see another Betta or fish resembling.

 

[dainerra]

white clouds and danios are also great to put in with bettas.

 

[thekid]

trying to get a betta bulb to sprot is like trying to hatch a egg with only your behind