What fish should I get?

[graceluvsplatys]

heres the scoop;
I am starting my first real fish tank. ( fishless cycle) It is aboout 21 gallons glass. I am getting an appropriate filter,heater, etc. I want it to be tropical, and I know I want platys. I am also hoping to somehow get my female betta in, as she is in a puny 1.5 gallon, which, no matter what people say, is NOT enough for any fish ( I got her in the tank from a moving friend who couldnt keep her. Before I have to set up a 5 gal for her, I would like to know how she will do with other peaceful fish.

Any fish reccomendations?

[Wild Turkey]

Bettas tend to be agressive to other fish unless they have been in a community tank for the majority of their lives. Also i believe platys enjoy a small amount of salt in the water like mollies.

[graceluvsplatys]

thanks....... I know the salt thing, but I needed a double check. I forgot to ask, but u answered it anyway!
I have had about 4 bettas in seperate tanks, and this one is the sweetest. She will eat off of my finger! I have heard mixed answers, that fem bettas are good in community or bad. the lfs is no help, the fish guys have NO IDEA what theyare talking about!
(If) i plan to introduce the betta, should I get the platys first, and the slowly introduvce the betta? orshould I do betta, then other fish?

[MandyL]

I've had female bettas in community tanks... But if it makes a difference they were bought specifically for those tanks, so they were young. I've never seen a female betta be aggressive.

[travie]

Possibly-most aggressive fish should always go in the tank last. There is a chance the betta will be aggressive and there is a chance the betta won't be aggressive.

[angelcakes]

I've had female bettas in community tanks... But if it makes a difference they were bought specifically for those tanks, so they were young. I've never seen a female betta be aggressive.
ive a female shes not aggresive either..............:19:

[Sasquatch]

For the betta, it'll depend on her temperament. If she's not too aggressive, she'll be fine with the platies.

As for other fish, that'll depend on how many platies you have. Keeping in mind that, ideally, they're in groups of 4 (3 females, 1 male), you'll have to figure out how many groups you want ... or you could just get 1 male and a bunch of females.

After that, it'll depend. 20 gallons gives you a fair amount of option.
- Bottom: a school of 5ish panda cories
- Algae eater: 5ish otos or a bristlenose pleco
- Mid water: Any small schooling fish, tetras, rasboras, danios .... the list goes on.

Those are just the more common ones, go to your LFS and see what strikes your fancy, then do research and find out if it's compatible.

One last little thing. You do not need salt for platies. They can tolerate it, even do well in it, but they don't need it ... and having salt will reduce your options for other fish.

[k2x5]

When my parents used to keep fish, they always had a betta in the tank, and they swear it was never a problem.

Of course, they also never had a problem with Guppies and a Betta in the same tank either, so it could be that they were lucky, or it could be that the tank was a 90g and simply provided ample distance.

In any case you can try and if it becomes a problem, continue with your plan to move the betta to a 5g. Just put them together on a day when you'll be around, and can keep an eye on them.

[LosC]

Make sure you have hiding places. Corydoras are excellent tank mates for Bettas.

[sncrowe]

it doesn't really matter what kind of platies they are. i personally like the sunburst ones and the mickey mouse ones... but whatever you like.

[Mvjnz]

Female bettas tend to work better in community tanks than males do. And if she bullies anyone, just get another female betta or 2 and they can bully each other instead.

[xbox360blue]

heres the scoop;
I am starting my first real fish tank. ( fishless cycle) It is aboout 21 gallons glass. I am getting an appropriate filter,heater, etc. I want it to be tropical, and I know I want platys. I am also hoping to somehow get my female betta in, as she is in a puny 1.5 gallon, which, no matter what people say, is NOT enough for any fish ( I got her in the tank from a moving friend who couldnt keep her. Before I have to set up a 5 gal for her, I would like to know how she will do with other peaceful fish.

Any fish reccomendations?

In my life I've had aquariums since childhood. And well everytime I've added a Betta male to a 10 gallon sized tank or bigger. They eventually end up dying becuase the enourmous amount of room they now have, is overwelming to them. It's actually stressful for them. And when you buy them in thier little cups with one hole at the top it's filled with a special fluid to keep the water fresh and all that safe for the Betta ever buy them and it's like in a blue water. Also to enhance thier appeal. Well anyway thier breed like that, they are more comfortable like that actually. We look at them want to buy one cuase thier beautiful and then we feel sorry for them becuase they have no room. But most the time I transferred them to my bigger tank they end up dying from the stress of sucha big place. And they are very territorial. A 21 gallon tank. Should be ok in my oppinion, plecos are good, catfish, Guppys, but sometimes you just never know how they will react. I say go for it. Do some investigating on what fish they get along with. But just keep in mind how thier stress level. Get something like plants little cave for the Betta to take refuge, to get away. Good luck let me know how it goes.

[LosC]

Small containers or bowls have proven to shorten a Bettas life span, more so then in a large aquarium. Some Tetras will nip at the Bettas fins.

[NickFish]

In my life I've had aquariums since childhood. And well everytime I've added a Betta male to a 10 gallon sized tank or bigger. They eventually end up dying becuase the enourmous amount of room they now have, is overwelming to them. It's actually stressful for them. And when you buy them in thier little cups with one hole at the top it's filled with a special fluid to keep the water fresh and all that safe for the Betta ever buy them and it's like in a blue water. Also to enhance thier appeal. Well anyway thier breed like that, they are more comfortable like that actually. We look at them want to buy one cuase thier beautiful and then we feel sorry for them becuase they have no room. But most the time I transferred them to my bigger tank they end up dying from the stress of sucha big place. And they are very territorial. A 21 gallon tank. Should be ok in my oppinion, plecos are good, catfish, Guppys, but sometimes you just never know how they will react. I say go for it. Do some investigating on what fish they get along with. But just keep in mind how thier stress level. Get something like plants little cave for the Betta to take refuge, to get away. Good luck let me know how it goes.

If you can find me any shred of scientific evidence that supports your theory, I'll believe you, but there is none.

Bettas, in their natural habitats live in the rice fields. These rice fields are fairly big, and the bettas stay pretty far away from each other to prevent fights. In the wild, bettas have tons of space, just because they are kept in small cups doesn't mean they don't like space. The only reason bettas are kept in cups is because they are labyrinth fish. You wouldn't put an equally sized malawi or SA in a cup would you? How about a demasoni or a small convict? They produce almost the same waste as bettas, and they are about the same size.

Now, do you realise how counter-evolutionary it would be for an animal to die from too much space? If you were kept in a glass box all your life, it doesn't mean that you liked that box.

Bettas should be kept in at least 5 gallons, but the bigger the better. The cups are cruel, but they are just for commercial purposes. Don't let this reflect on the bettas upkeep and temperment. It is impossible for a fish to be stressed from too much space. On top of that, bettas have the equivalent of hundreds if not thousands of gallons of space to themselves in the wild. They are used to this amount of space. Putting them in a 21 gallons is nothing, and it surely wouldn't stress them out.

Your fish could have died from another cause, but it is impossible for a fish to be stressed from too much space, it is a common myth wtih bettas, the pet stores (the bad ones anyway, the good ones use bowls or small tanks) keep them in cups, does not mean that they like to be in cups, it is just because it is more economical for the store, albeit cruel.

[graceluvsplatys]

I know. I have a thing for mickey mouses

[graceluvsplatys]

ok........... who should I listen 2?

well, what I might do is try her in there alone for a while, and see isf she remains active. She is extremely friendly, and i have had mean bettas.
I still beleve that no animal likes to only have a small space, you know?

I may get her a special cave to hide in

[shockshockshad]

You don't have to get the salt. In fact, don't. Most fish can die from salt. The only fish that really need it are mollies, and of course saltwater fish.

[graceluvsplatys]

I do not want to get over my head in fish...........

I am thinking of starting with:

3 or 4 platys

3 cories or plecos, maybe a cat fish

maybe my betta, if it works

remember I do not want to get overstocked when the platys start breedoing

I hate it when people buy way to many fish at first!

[MandyL]

Bettas will not be stressed by more space. Likely the reason xbox's bettas died was simply that they were sick and weakened by being kept in cups at the store. The coloured water they are kept in is simply medication to keep them alive until they are purchased.

[MandyL]

I do not want to get over my head in fish...........

I am thinking of starting with:

3 or 4 platys

3 cories or plecos, maybe a cat fish

maybe my betta, if it works

remember I do not want to get overstocked when the platys start breedoing

I hate it when people buy way to many fish at first!


Sounds like a good plan. With the Platies, try to get 1 male and the rest female. I would step it up to 5 cories if you get them, to allow for a school. If you get a bristlenose pleco, one is plenty (don't get regular plecos, they get huge). Or, Otos would work better than a Bristlenose even.

You definitely don't want to add salt if you get cories/otos/plecos.

[Sasquatch]

Sounds like a good plan. With the Platies, try to get 1 male and the rest female. I would step it up to 5 cories if you get them, to allow for a school. If you get a bristlenose pleco, one is plenty (don't get regular plecos, they get huge). Or, Otos would work better than a Bristlenose even.

You definitely don't want to add salt if you get cories/otos/plecos.

Yup, what MandyL said is right on the mark.

If you're worried about overstoking, get the smaller cories like pigmies or pandas.

Pleco wise, 1 bristlenose is fine. If you go with Otos, get 5-6. Like the cories, they like to be in groups.

[graceluvsplatys]

Sounds like a good plan. With the Platies, try to get 1 male and the rest female. I would step it up to 5 cories if you get them, to allow for a school. If you get a bristlenose pleco, one is plenty (don't get regular plecos, they get huge). Or, Otos would work better than a Bristlenose even.

You definitely don't want to add salt if you get cories/otos/plecos.


How big do the bristlenoses get? how about the cories?
I want to have enough room , you see

[MandyL]

Bristlenoses get about 4", Cories depending on the species around 2-3".

[graceluvsplatys]

are bristle noses a good idea? my tank is
24 inch long, 12 wide, and 15 high

[MandyL]

Sure, I don't see why not. Just realize that a Bristlenose won't clean up excess food and such, so just watch that you don't feed so much that any falls to the gravel. You will have to supplement his diet with algae tabs and the like.

[Lady Hobbs]

Mollies need salt but not platies. I think your Betta would be best left in a tank alone. He decides to go on a killing spree, you could lose all your others. They are solitary fish for the most part. Some do OK with others but on the most part, do not.