Bettas

[degbowl]

I purchased 3 Bettas today that I put in a 5 [acronym:dd4808db99="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:dd4808db99] tank. I also have a small Pleco, small Algae eater and a small cory cat. If the Pleco and the algae eater get too big then I have a 46 [acronym:dd4808db99="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:dd4808db99] tank that I can put them in. When I bought the bettas(1 male,2 females) they were all in the same tank. I read on a Betta forum on the internet that I should never keep a male and a female together. I know about 2 males but I never heard of male and female. They were fine in the [acronym:dd4808db99="Local Fish Store"]lfs[/acronym:dd4808db99] and they are doing fine in the 5 [acronym:dd4808db99="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:dd4808db99]. I can move the females to my 46 gallon or get a bowl for the male betta if I have to. Should I just leave it as is and watch closely. I bought Betta bites dry food. What else should I feed them? Thanks!
Jim

[bettacove]

There probably ok together becuase they were raised together. If they are ok now, then you may as well leave em. Just make sure there are lots of hiding places.

You can also feed them Bloodworms (frozen, freeze dried), mosqito larva(frozen or live), mysis shrimp (frozen), ect..

ashley

[degbowl]

I have a couple of live plants and a cave for hiding. I was going to leave them but keep an eye on them. Thanks for the advice on the food. I want to give them a variety of food. Thanks again!
Jim

[TankGirl]

I think the thing with bettas is that if you want to breed them then you separate the male and female after they do their thing.

Otherwise, I believe you are overstocked. I think the 3 bettas are enough for that tank. The pleco, if it is a standard one, will get so large that even a 55gal won't be a good home for it, though it will take a little time to get there The cory cat will do so much better in a school, and the tank is too small for the school. There are several different fish that are called algae eaters so it is hard to say, so unless it is an otocinclus, which stays very small, it should be removed as well. Even if it is an otocinclus will want to be in a school and will likely not do too well alone.

Just my opinion, let us know what you decide to do!

[degbowl]

I think I will take out the pleco, cory, and the algae eater and put them in my 46 [acronym:52826040ea="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:52826040ea]. Then I will buy 3 otos and put them in the 5 [acronym:52826040ea="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:52826040ea]. Otos are small and I think 3 together would be ok. It is very hard to find otos at my [acronym:52826040ea="Local Fish Store"]lfs[/acronym:52826040ea], but once I find them I will move the other fish to the 46 [acronym:52826040ea="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:52826040ea]. I have a peguin bio-wheel mini on the 5 [acronym:52826040ea="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:52826040ea]. I think it is too strong for a 5 [acronym:52826040ea="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:52826040ea] tank with bettas. I want to find a [acronym:52826040ea="Hang On Back"]hob[/acronym:52826040ea] filter that has a flow adjustment. I will look on bigalsonline. They seem to have the best prices. If anyone has any ideas for a new filter plmk. Thanks!
Jim

[degbowl]

I just purchased a Whisper 10 [acronym:36de330e1a="Hang On Back"]hob[/acronym:36de330e1a] filter from bigalsonline. $13.94 total with shipping. It has a flow adjustment for when you feed your fish. I will just adjust it so it slows down the flow of filtering the water. I think it will make my bettas happy.

[TankGirl]

I think a Whisper is a great idea. They don't have BioWheels on them, but hey, you can live without them! When you do get your otos, be sure there is some diatom algae (the brown stuff) or feed some algae wafers as they are often rather starved since most [acronym:b3c1bf6c65="Local Fish Store"]LFS[/acronym:b3c1bf6c65] tanks don't contain much algae for them. It is very common for them to die when you bring them home, so don't be discouraged if this happens. Make sure there is a return policy on them (stop me if you have kept them before and know this already ) and it is a good idea to ask them how many in their supply they have lost at the store. Sometimes it is good to wait and get some after they have been there a while and prove to be strong.

Good luck, and your plan sounds fine.

[malkore]

I'm sorry, but you shouldn't put more than 1 betta in that 5 gallon tank, and I really wouldn't keep anything else in with them. maybe a couple smaller species of cory, maybe even the 3 ottos, but that's it. 5 gallons is just a big puddle, and despite what you may have heard, bettas don't usually live in a muddy puddle in a rice paddy.
I think 5 gallons is perfect for 1 betta...that's it. I know people who won't put a single betta in anything smaller than a 10gallon.
Right now your tank is like a crowded elevator, and though the 2 males and female might be getting along today, in a few days you might have one or more dead bettas in the tank, as they establish dominance.
I'm sorry if I'm too harsh, but your tank's overcrowded and the fish aren't happy.

[degbowl]

Originally Posted by TankGirl

I think a Whisper is a great idea. They don't have BioWheels on them, but hey, you can live without them! When you do get your otos, be sure there is some diatom algae (the brown stuff) or feed some algae wafers as they are often rather starved since most [acronym:33a07e075e="Local Fish Store"]LFS[/acronym:33a07e075e] tanks don't contain much algae for them. It is very common for them to die when you bring them home, so don't be discouraged if this happens. Make sure there is a return policy on them (stop me if you have kept them before and know this already ) and it is a good idea to ask them how many in their supply they have lost at the store. Sometimes it is good to wait and get some after they have been there a while and prove to be strong.

Good luck, and your plan sounds fine.

I had a couple of otos in my 46 [acronym:33a07e075e="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:33a07e075e] and they both died. Probably for the reason you said. Maybe I can feed them algae wafers that I would feed plecos. I will let you know what happens.

[degbowl]

Originally Posted by malkore

I'm sorry, but you shouldn't put more than 1 betta in that 5 gallon tank, and I really wouldn't keep anything else in with them. maybe a couple smaller species of cory, maybe even the 3 ottos, but that's it. 5 gallons is just a big puddle, and despite what you may have heard, bettas don't usually live in a muddy puddle in a rice paddy.
I think 5 gallons is perfect for 1 betta...that's it. I know people who won't put a single betta in anything smaller than a 10gallon.
Right now your tank is like a crowded elevator, and though the 2 males and female might be getting along today, in a few days you might have one or more dead bettas in the tank, as they establish dominance.
I'm sorry if I'm too harsh, but your tank's overcrowded and the fish aren't happy.

I will keep a close eye on them. If I see any problems I can put the 2 females in my 46 [acronym:418d2b5a19="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:418d2b5a19] community tank. I appreciate your advice. Thanks for replying.