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If you have a fish pond, fish tank or are seeking advice about keeping tropical fish, you can find advice on our Fish forum.

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Original poster

Very confused!!

16 replies

GothicRainbow · 19/04/2015 13:56

We have a 35l tank which I was planning on getting a betta for. However I've just been to my local Maidenhead Aquatics and have been told that a Betta won't be happy on its own and I should get some tetras or another type of small shoaling fish to go with it.

I then asked whether this would be overstocking a 35l to be told no it would still be under stocked.

This conversation has left me doubting myself and I left without any fish as I wanted come away and do more research.

Does anyone have any advice?

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EauRouge · 19/04/2015 14:10

They told you a betta wouldn't be happy on its own? That's cobblers. Bettas are territorial and a 35 litre tank is too small for shoaling fish anyway. And tetras can be a bit nippy, depending on the exact species. Bit shocked at that, Maidenhead are usually very good!

A betta will be just fine on his own in that tank. It's a little on the small side so do keep an eye on the water quality. And don't forget a fishless cycle.

Endler32 · 19/04/2015 20:04

My beta lives on his own, a lot of people do now keep them with other fish such as neon tetra or danios but when ever I see them like this in shops they do not look happy. Males like their own company.

Original poster

GothicRainbow · 19/04/2015 20:48

This is exactly what I thought! Thanks Eau we have just completed our cycle but I wondering if we should now do a 50% water change before we get a fish?

I'm wondering whether this was just a weekend staffer trying to get a sale. I'm going to pop back this week and speak to someone else and see what they say. The Betta's there are £18 each so I don't want to get it wrong and have an unhappy fish that doesn't live for very long.

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EauRouge · 19/04/2015 20:55

Wait, are you going to a Maidenhead Aquatics in a parallel universe? £18 for a betta?! Is it a super-rare strain or possibly made of gold? That's bonkers. I wouldn't pay much more than a fiver for a bog-standard betta. They must be a rare strain to be that much money.

Yes, you should do a water change at the end of the cycle, the nitrAte will probably be quite high. It needs to be below 30ppm but the lower the better.

It is possible to keep bettas in a community set up but you need to choose tank mates very carefully and they need plenty of space. Overcrowding can result in aggression as well as poor water quality.

Endler32 · 19/04/2015 21:00

Is it a king betta? My local Maidenhead sell king betas for £15 and normal ones for £6.50.

EauRouge · 19/04/2015 21:37

Ah, I assumed we were talking about Betta splendens (siamese fighters). There are lots of species of betta, but Betta splendens are often just referred to as 'betta'. King bettas are either a hybrid or a different species. Rarer species are likely to cost more and they may also be trickier to keep.

Original poster

GothicRainbow · 19/04/2015 21:55

Wow thanks both that's really good to know. I'm now thinking they totally saw me coming!!!

They were just labelled Betta and then in brackets (Siamese fighting fish). I just assumed they were expensive as you would only buy one on its own and they were a specialised fish.

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shatteredstudentmum · 19/04/2015 21:57

My betta has been on our 35l tank on his own for about 15 months now, he's very happy, lovely colours, very friendly, unless he's hungry! But I certainly couldn't put any other fish in there, he's very aggressive to anything floating around.

Endler32 · 20/04/2015 09:28

I wouldn't pay more than £6-£10 for a betta depending on its tail shape and colour, veil tails are the most common and are often red or blue ( don't pay more than £6 for one of these ), dumbo betas are pretty and have fins that look like elephant ears, I would pay up to £10, then you have half moons which are quite common, crown tails which are very pretty and sometimes cost a little more and double tails ( slightly rarer ). Most of the ones I have seen in Maidenhead aquatics are veil tails and are priced around the £6.50 mark, king bettas are bigger but often less colourful, they will need more space.

I bought a yellow and blue veil tail from Maidenhead aquatics a few weeks ago, very pretty colour but still only cost me £6.50.

EauRouge · 20/04/2015 11:07

There are some bettas that will go for a lot more if they are a rare strain or colour. People show them so they will want something that will impress the judges. You don't normally see those kind of fish in a shop though, people normally get them from a breeder or an auction.

Your average Betta splendens is not really specialist, they are very popular and so readily available.

This is a pretty good website for betta info (although their minimum recommended tanksize is smaller than what I would go for) and they even rescue bettas! Legends. This page has photos and descriptions of different shapes of betta.

You are all making me want a betta now. I haven't got time or space for another tank. Or have I....

Endler32 · 20/04/2015 11:22

We saw loads yesterday at our local Maidenhead, most looked poorly, I almost caved in and got one but had to stop myself. Female bettas are amazing too, not as pretty but can live with other fish ( unless you get a really aggressive one ).

I think everyone needs a betta , go get one Eau.

Original poster

GothicRainbow · 20/04/2015 12:43

Will be heading back to Maidenhead on Wednesday and will be prepared.

Thanks for the links Eau I will give them a read now.

Will aim to spend no more than £10. I'll update you once I've got him home!

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Original poster

GothicRainbow · 22/04/2015 21:01

So we went and got our betta today and also got some glowlight tetras. They are all in the tank and seem to have settled ok. Will be testing the water over the next few days to make sure it's all settling ok. Here are some pics

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Original poster

GothicRainbow · 22/04/2015 21:02

Overall tank and the glowlights

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Buttholelane · 23/04/2015 22:26

That looks like a bog standard blue veil tail to me, I hope you didn't pay much for him as he's the standard pet shop betta.

Also, a touch more negativity, sorry.
I would have a second tank set up for those glowlights just in case.
Bettas vary wildly, some are very aggressive and sometimes, in the early days when they are a bit unsure, appear angelic then become nightmares flaring at and threatening the other fish.
At the other end of the scale, tetras can be a bit nippy sometimes, especially when overcrowded.

Buttholelane · 23/04/2015 22:31

Just realised we're talking about a 35 litre tank.
I would definitely return the glow lights.

35 litres is woefully inadequate, each adult glowlight is going to be approximately 5cm long and they should be in a group of at least six....
I would not entertain the idea of a glow light tank of less than 60 litres.

For your tank size, the only companion I would suggest would be snails (lots of different varieties and colours) or cherry shrimp (lots of different colours BUT may get munched)

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