Looking Into Betas Seriously (Tank Mates, Conditions, etc. help needed)

Okay so, over the last year I've had bad luck with small pets. I bought a 10 gallon tank for mice, and it turns out our Bio class' females went through false pregnancies and the male died the next week. Then I was going to buy some kind of dragon fish from (don't shoot me) wal-mart, read up on them and saw how high maintenance they were, and gave up on the idea.

NOW, I have the original 10 gallon tank (no idea if it holds water or if its glass is loose, so will need to test it) and a second 10 gallon tank with an Alligator Snapping Turtle (not illegal in my state) that I just inherited last night. Found out the species is listed as vulnerable and the care this poor girl has had for the last 3 years is awful for her species. So, will be contacting aquariums on Monday about rehoming her.

My dilemma is, I have two functioning 10 gallon tanks (without lids), and a yearning for a few more pretty pets to spoil. I can't have something too high maintenance, and I'm thinking betas are within my ability, though please correct me if I'm wrong. I've owned them off and on as a very naive and abusive fish owner (I cringe at the poor conditions of my childhood tanks).

This time I want to own them seriously, and I have no idea what kind of conditions they need, or what tank mates they can have. Honestly, I have no idea how to correctly take care of fish. ( ) I was thinking one beta per tank, with a molly per tank and maybe one other kind of small fish, if that's not too crowded? Any help, guides, lists would be a tremendously appreciated. Thank you!

Note: As awful as it may be, I'll probably end up getting my fish from a local Wal-mart of some sort. Should they be quarantined some how? Is this just a bad decision all around?

You can house a male Betta in a 10g tank just fine. You can also put a few platys or guppies with it and a small bottom feeder like an Oto or BN pleco that doesn't get to big. You should have a filter and heater. The important thing with Bettas is to keep there water as clean as possible. Even with a filter you will want to do at least a 50% water change every week. Also do not over feed them. They are very prone to bloating. If you get the Betta pellets at the store he should only get about four pellets in the morning and four in the evening. Another thing with the Bettas is that by nature they are carnivores so you can also feed him frozen foods. They love frozen bloodworms and the other fish will like it too. The other idea would be to have a female Betta sorority tank. Most people don't realise how pretty females are. males you can only have one per tank. Females you can have two or three in the same tank. Hope this helps and if you get one please post pictures. I would be happy to sell you one but as of right now I only have two week old fry so it would be a few months before they can go. But I do have a bunch of females that can go. No males right now.

Thanks muchly, Whisper. I would love to buy from you (I've been digging through the forum since I posted this topic, lol) but I highly doubt my parents would go for an online sale.

I do have a few specific questions, after digging through topics.

1.) My house is always at a chilly 68 degrees Fahrenheit and I'm worried my fish would die terribly quickly because of this. With a 10 gallon tank, undivided, would I need to just get one heater for it? We always used some kind of lamp for my betta as a small child, but like I said, those were horribly cared for and I feel guilty for it now. Hence, my caution with the fish now.

2.) I'm actually going to be moving in the next 6 months max (likely in the next 2 or 3, really). Are betta fish easily upset with being moved around? Would I have trouble reintroducing them to their tanks and getting them settled in, etc.? Would it be easier to just transport them in their tanks, unchanged?

Basically, my biggest worries is I'm going to either overcrowd my tanks, my tanks are going to be frigid, or I'm going to have a horrid time keeping their water clean. 50% water change a week doesn't sound too much, I would just have to learn how. I'm taking it with the more fish you put in a tank, the faster it would get dirty?

As far as on line buying goes I ship fish all over the country and to shows. You will want to get a small heater of some kind for the size tank you have. Ask at the store. Bettas are very easy to transport. Just a jar with a top on it if it's not to far. Be sure to leave plenty of air in it. Bettas are air breathers so don't fill the jar all the way up. As far as that goes if your only going like across town you could use a zip lock bag. Put about a cup of water in it, put the fish in it, make sure it is zipped tight, set it upright in a little box or something and your good to go.

The farthest I'll be moving is 30 minutes away, so it shouldn't be a rough trip. I'm rather excited now, since all my worries seem to have simple fixes.

The dragon fish I was looking into, evidently they were very temperamental when it come to pH and another water factor (I believe it was KH or something similar). Do betta need specific levels, or do I mainly need to just worry about cleanliness and temperature? Sorry for all the questions, just trying to cover my bases. I'm probably going to clean my currently uninhabited tank (it'll take a week at least to find the turtle a new home, poor girl) tomorrow and run to the store by late afternoon to pick up my fish, if all goes well. Do you know if Petsmart/Wal-mart/Petco chain stores would usually carry plants that aren't plastic?

As for online shipping, its not so much the distance as it is my parents not liking the idea of me ordering stuff from people online, no matter how credible or reputable.

Whisper is good people. If you do order Betta online it should be thru her. She has a bunch of good refrences here.

Oh, I don't doubt that. My hands just might be tied on stock options. I don't think my parents would go for ordering online. :| Plus I'd feel awful if 2 months down the road I killed the poor thing, though I highly doubt that's going to happen.

When you say Dragon do you mean a Dragon Betta? Bettas are not temperamental about there water. You can do 100% water changes without cycling. You just need to dechlorinate the water or use Natural Spring water that you can buy at you local grocery store. If you use spring water you don't have to dechlorinate it. Clean water is high on the list of needs...For plants you will want a broad leaf silk plant in the tank. Because Bettas fins are so big they can get very heavy so they like to have something to rest on. You will actually see then laying on it like its a hammock.

KMX - Thanks for the endorsement.

No, not any kind of betta. The Wal-mart incorrectly labels it a Dragon fish (It was some kind of Goby, if I recall correctly). It looks like a small eel with a frilled head.

Very happy to hear all he needs is some dechlorinated clean water. I think I might pick up a male tonight from a local pet store, since all I need is a heater, some silk plants, and water.

One last thing. What kind of stuff should I use in the bottom of the tank? If I use generic aquarium rocks, will they tear their fins on them? Is there something I can buy that is smooth and I wouldn't have to worry about?

Oh I just had another thought. If you are planing on putting other tropical fish in with him then you will have to cycle the tank for them............If you are going to plan on doing 50% water changes once a week then you will need a small filter. If you are planing on doing 100% water changes (which you won't be able to do with other fish in it) then you will have to do water changes twice a week............As far as the bottom goes you can go with bare bottom (which I do only because it is easier to clean) or you can get a smooth edged gravel.............Oh another thing. Bettas love to jump so you'll want to have a cover of some kind or just leave the water level at about 1 1/2" below the top of the tank.

Hmmm, I want to avoid having to cycle the tanks, to be honest. I think I'll just pick myself up a male tonight and wait until I can research more before I start putting different species in the same tank.

Thank you for all the help, its much appreciated. I would have never figured out the no go on plastic plants, let alone some of the other betta specifics you got to watch for. If I can convince the mother to run me to the pet store, I'll post pictures of my pick tonight!

Yes don't EVER put a plastic plant in a Betta tank. It can shred there fins.

One betta + one 10 gallon with proper filtration + one aquatic plant (java ferns are the cheapest/easiest) = after the first month, you won't have to do weekly water changes. You'll be able to do monthly water changes.

Basically, the bacteria in the filter will turn betta poop into plant fertilizer. One betta will provide enough fertilizer for several java ferns. If the ferns are using up the betta fertilizer then your water quality will stay very good for a long time. (I only change water in my planted betta tanks twice a year. I do a lot of water testing though - being a chemistry teacher.... lol) An added bonus is that bettas love real plants like java ferns - and java ferns are the easiest aquarium plant to grow. Just tie them to a smooth rock, toss them in, and give the tank a spot near a window for light.

Play sand is the cheapest and easiest substrate for bettas. Mine like to rest on it after their one meal a day. I don't recommend two meals because bettas are prone to bloat. If you feed them once a day - they'll spend the rest of it searching for food they've dropped. This reduces the amount of waste and water changes.

As for tank mates, I'd start with a bottom feeder like a snail first. Its very funny to watch a lonely betta follow a snail around for the first few days.

make sure you get a good heater. The ones that are factory set at 76 seem to hold up the best. The majority of betta deaths and illnesses are caused by them first getting chilled (too cold).

As long as you set it up well and keep the numbers of your fish below 1 fish per every 2 gallons + a few aquatic plants - the most maintainence you'll really need to do is top off the water and sponge off the sides of the tank.

Have fun!

The important thing to remember about Bettas is that they need to have clean water. There fins are very prone to fin rot. Also it is fine to feed twice a day as long as it isn't to extreme. Usually 3 to 4 pellets in the morning and evening works good. Even with a filter I would still recommend a water change once a week at least 50%. My Bettas that are in tanks get water changes at least once a week. Remember clean clean water for Bettas.