Genuine fish lover needs advice!

[iDream]

now i really think this guy is trolling, but anyway

25 L is about 6-7 gallons, so that tank could be good for a small school of neons (say 5-6) or just the betta, i'm not sure about any platies though (no experience) so one of those plans would work, unfortunately for a tank that size there isnt much you can do in terms of stocking..

 

[cmor1701d]

Based on the current tank livestock I moved this to the FW side.

 

[jsoong]

This is certainly beginning to look like a troll .... After all we all suggested keeping the betta & nothing else .... But in case I am wrong:

22 fish + the betta will need a minimum of a 20 gal (or 80l). If you are really keen to keep a community tank with schools of colorful fish, I suggest getting a bigger tank (120l or more) for the community and keep the betta in the 25l by himself.

 

[Fishface01]

This is certainly beginning to look like a troll .... After all we all suggested keeping the betta & nothing else .... But in case I am wrong:

22 fish + the betta will need a minimum of a 20 gal (or 80l). If you are really keen to keep a community tank with schools of colorful fish, I suggest getting a bigger tank (120l or more) for the community and keep the betta in the 25l by himself.

Surely the betta will be lonely by himself? I know they're fighters and that but surely it's nice to be around other fish?

 

[iDream]

no, that's how they live, alone. hence why you can't ever keep a male with a male because they'll kill each other, only around females during breeding usually

 

[Fishface01]

no, that's how they live, alone. hence why you can't ever keep a male with a male because they'll kill each other, only around females during breeding usually

Well my fish seems perfectly happy if you ask me. Also note people only say they attack each other, or fish like guppys that have that sort of tail.

And why is it when you walk into a local fish shop you see beggar in tiny tanks all on their own looking like the unhappiest fish in the world, not even moving....but when you go to specialist fish shops you see them happily swimming round with other fish (like tetras etc) all the time...

 

[cmor1701d]

OK, it's been a while since I had a FW tank, but if you are not doing a ~30% partial change daily you will start losing fish soon. Even with the PWC's there are too many fish in a small space. That will lead to stress. Stress leads to problems and dead fish.
You can listen to those who have been doing for a while or you can go your own way and be out of the hobby soon wondering why it's so hard to keep fish.

 

[Deep Seven]

In the wild bettas live in some pretty harsh enviroments that would kill most other fish. They've developed a unique organ called the labrynth that allows them to breath air. In the wild some betta habitats are little more then mud puddles during the dry season, then during the rainy season they compete for mates and reproduce.

There is some debate on whether or not it is cruel to take advantage of this behaviour/ability.

 

[jsoong]

Yes, you can keep one betta within a community, but you will have to choose the fish very carefully, and even then, it is not 100%, as some bettas are more aggressive then others. Usually, it is suggested that you keep females in communities, as males are loners by nature.

AT any rate, your tank is waay too small to contemplate a community with a betta, you are looking at problems down the road....

 

[strokinbyeu]

i would highly recomend taking these ppls advice as the 1s that are comenting are 1s that i have seen giving the best and smartest advice. they'er trying to help you, and give you advice. that is the reason why you came to this site and asked your ??s in the 1st place isnt it?

i know this is a weak guide line but think about 1gal of water per 1 inch of fish at a minimum. all thoes fish minus the beta are about 1inch long, that would require 22 gal of water minimum so 5-6gal isnt even close

 

[bengoshi2000]

My first tank was a 4.5 gallon. I put it together, put in the water, turned it on, and 24 hours later added 3 guppies. Within 7 days 2 of the guppies were dead, the other one died 2weeks later.

The sad part is that after the first deaths, I read several posts here at AA. I determined that all of these folks were talking crazy with their advice about cycling tanks, choosing appropriate numbers of fish for a particular tank size.. etc. I heeded NONE of the advice here and my arrogance bought me three dead fish and three unhappy children (who wanted fish as pets).

In fish keeping there is one cardinal rule... It ain't about you or what you think you know. It's about providing the best quality of life for your fish.

You need to set your ego aside and follow to the letter the excellent advice you have been given. Stick with the one betta in that tank. Read about the nitrogen cycle. Read about the fish that interest you and be sure to provide a tank for them that is the proper size. Cycle any and all tanks FIRST before adding ANY fish!

 

[bengoshi2000]

Interestingly enough, 17 years ago when I first bought that 4.5 gallon tank (when there was no www yet). I put a single betta in there on the advice of a now defunct LFS. That single betta lived for nearly 4 years.

Do your betta a favor and return the rest of those fish. If you don't, I have a fiver that says everything but the betta will be dead within a fortnight. And the betta will have suffered ammonia burn to it's gills in such a degree that it's life will be dramatically shortened.

 

[Fishface01]

My fish are fine thanks

 

[cabezon]

I have yet to determine my fish's mood or if it is lonley. Glad your fish are ok. Good luck, or cheers as you would say