Buncha Betta questions

[SilverBlaze85]

Hey guys!

So, we set up and cycled a 3 gallon for our new betta. Everything is set to 0, we have 2 live plants and 2 silk plants in there, a heater set to 70, and a tiny filter (not 100% sure what the filter is, it came with the tank. Uses tetra mini filters. I liked it for the low current effect). We don't currently know WHAT the betta is... We snagged one of the "baby boy" bettas that Petco sells. I'll try to attach a picture. He's about a half-inch long.

I've tried ghost shrimp in the past with my tanks for clean up, but they always die pretty quick. I've only ever had a male betta by himself once.... Usually i put them in my community tank, so there's plenty of friends to clean up.

How often do you think this tank is currently going to need changed/cleaned? Would you recommend any particular shrimp/snail for clean up? There's currently black sand as the substrate... Any "hides" for a betta that might work well? (All i was finding was pretty rough castles and skulls and such.)

 

[goatnad]

3 gallons is a little small for betta but can work as long as you keep up on maintance. I prefer 10 gallon tanks as they give more then enough room. Since this is a 3 gallon daily or every other day do a 50% water change. I like ramshorn snails but many don't because if you give them enough food sources they will multiply like crazy. Shrimp are probably a no go since the betta more then likely will eat them or just kill them.

 

[SilverBlaze85]

3 gallons is a little small for betta but can work as long as you keep up on maintance. I prefer 10 gallon tanks as they give more then enough room. Since this is a 3 gallon daily or every other day do a 50% water change. I like ramshorn snails but many don't because if you give them enough food sources they will multiply like crazy. Shrimp are probably a no go since the betta more then likely will eat them or just kill them.

We're moving in October, and he'll likely go into a 10 gallon then, until we get our 100 gallon set up, then he'll go in THERE. We just figured since he was so tiny, and it was only for a few months, that a 3 gallon could work.

The snail would pretty much only be the few pieces the betta doesn't eat, tiny amounts of algae, and the plant. Would that cause mass reproduction?

 

[goatnad]

You should be fine keeping him in 3 gallons for that time. As for the snails it would really depend on how much food is available but it being only a 3 gallon and as long as you aren't overfeeding the betta then they shouldn't go crazy. If you are seeing any food the betta doesn't eat then reduce feeding just a bit or use a pipet and suck it out.

 

[King Fisher]

I would keep the tank at 80 degrees not 70. IMO, A 3 gallon is fine to keep a betta in long term. I've done it for nearly a decade and they've always lived a full life. 50% water changes once a week if it's cycled. Only feed 4-5 betta pellets once a day or 3 betta pellets twice a day.

If you add a snail for clean up, add a Nerite snail. They don't reproduce in freshwater and one will keep your tank clean. You can put the snail in a larger tank then move him over to your 3 gallon whenever you need it cleaned up.

Floating log they seem to like.