The background:
Yesterday I picked up a small female betta who's owner didn't want her anymore - I got a 6.6 gallon fluval chi a few days earlier (not cycled - I know not a good idea but I wasn't expecting to get another fish - she was living in a tiny bowl and didn't know what her previous owner was going to do with her so no time to cycle).
I was worried as the Chi isn't the best tank for a betta as so tall - have a leaf hammock near the top for her and as she is female she swims better than that males.
Was also concerned about the swimming space in a taller tank but when I got her I was less concerned as she is tiny!!! A bit bigger than a large guppy so she seems fine with the space.
I have added some seeded media from an existing cycled tank and will do 30% water changes to help her out (she has heater and filter).
The question:
1. How do I know in future if she would be okay with a companion or two (tiny companions as a 6.6 isn't a lot of space) - she has lived alone in a small bowl so have no idea if she will get along with anything else. I do have a 15g tropical if I needed to move something out (I will wait a while until 6.6 is cycled).
2. Do I need to stir the sand? I am usually a gravel person - as the space is so small I didn't want to get MTS which breed a lot. I have two plants in there and am worried about anaerobic sand pockets.
Thank you for any help!
Yesterday I picked up a small female betta who's owner didn't want her anymore - I got a 6.6 gallon fluval chi a few days earlier (not cycled - I know not a good idea but I wasn't expecting to get another fish - she was living in a tiny bowl and didn't know what her previous owner was going to do with her so no time to cycle).
I was worried as the Chi isn't the best tank for a betta as so tall - have a leaf hammock near the top for her and as she is female she swims better than that males.
Was also concerned about the swimming space in a taller tank but when I got her I was less concerned as she is tiny!!! A bit bigger than a large guppy so she seems fine with the space.
I have added some seeded media from an existing cycled tank and will do 30% water changes to help her out (she has heater and filter).
The question:
1. How do I know in future if she would be okay with a companion or two (tiny companions as a 6.6 isn't a lot of space) - she has lived alone in a small bowl so have no idea if she will get along with anything else. I do have a 15g tropical if I needed to move something out (I will wait a while until 6.6 is cycled).
2. Do I need to stir the sand? I am usually a gravel person - as the space is so small I didn't want to get MTS which breed a lot. I have two plants in there and am worried about anaerobic sand pockets.
Thank you for any help!
