betta help please

[lloyd1]

ive just bought a 35 gallon fish tank called a arc 35l.really nice small tank it has a lihght a good filter built in and im puttimg just 1 betta fish in siamese fighter.Do these fish need heater as pet shop says no and also can i put other fish in with him or am i best leaving him on his own will he be more active on his own.And what decorations i was gona fill it with live plants and a bubble blower will this be ok thanks alot for ur help.1 more thing how do u know what a healthy fighter looks like as they are all crammed in little jars sum are hardley moving atalll and floating

[MJ75]

Originally Posted by lloyd1

ive just bought a 35 gallon fish tank called a arc 35l.really nice small tank it has a lihght a good filter built in and im puttimg just 1 betta fish in siamese fighter.Do these fish need heater as pet shop says no and also can i put other fish in with him or am i best leaving him on his own will he be more active on his own.And what decorations i was gona fill it with live plants and a bubble blower will this be ok thanks alot for ur help.1 more thing how do u know what a healthy fighter looks like as they are all crammed in little jars sum are hardley moving atalll and floating

Are you sure it's not a 35 litre tank rather than gallons? Bettas do better at warmer temperatures around 28C so the water needs to be heated. I can't be bothered to check the spec of that tank, but the shop may be telling you that yoou don't need a heater as it may have one built in? If not, you will need one to heat the water.

You're best keeping them on their own. Add a couple of floating plants or even Nymphae lillies to give some surface cover etc. Don't use a bubble blower (airstone) that causes too much surface disturbance in a Betta tank.

Look at the fishes eyes and gills. Avoid anything with split fins, cloudy eyes or reddening around the gills etc.

[lloyd1]

sorry it is litres lol i have another heater so will put it in i havnt got my betta yet looking for a realy nice 1 bide my time also im putting sand in btm of tank .what other fish can i have with him will a few neons be ok?

[Sweetcorn]

You'll be pushed really to have any tankmates with your Betta. They are very territorial and in such a small environment you would more than likely have problems and definately not neons as they will nip at your bettas fins.

Depending on the temperament of your Betta he may tolerate a snail but that's about it for that size of tank.

For decor you could get some nice silk plants and a coconut cave as they love sleeping in them. Also as said previously, some nice floating plants would look good too

[Trillian]

I would definitely put it in a heater set to around 26C. Re: tankmates, IME Otos and Amano Shrimp are fine with Bettas.

[Gemificus]

I have a 30liter ufo corner unit in my kitchen, its set up with white sand and a largeish live plant places into the corner branching out across the tank to create hiding spaces, and a few rocks around the bottom for decoration and to weigh it down,

i that i have 1 male fighter, 2 female fighter, 2 swordtails one of each, 1 male guppy a cherry barb and a small plec, my fighter is more than happy in this set up he has bright colours and eyes he eats well and is very active,

he's the best looking fish in the tank and he knows it he's an arrogant little bleeder but he isn't territorial or aggressive in any way and all fish are thriving happily in this home and have been for many months,

i don't have a heater in the tank as the light fitted into the top of the keeps the water at the idea temperature thruout the day and its is switched off at night,

i have seen many of theses fish in community setups

[MJ75]

Originally Posted by Gemificus

I have a 30liter ufo corner unit in my kitchen, its set up with white sand and a largeish live plant places into the corner branching out across the tank to create hiding spaces, and a few rocks around the bottom for decoration and to weigh it down,

i that i have 1 male fighter, 2 female fighter, 2 swordtails one of each, 1 male guppy a cherry barb and a small plec, my fighter is more than happy in this set up he has bright colours and eyes he eats well and is very active,

he's the best looking fish in the tank and he knows it he's an arrogant little bleeder but he isn't territorial or aggressive in any way and all fish are thriving happily in this home and have been for many months,

i don't have a heater in the tank as the light fitted into the top of the keeps the water at the idea temperature thruout the day and its is switched off at night,

i have seen many of theses fish in community setups

Thats a very interesting set up. Have you been reading "A guide to keeping fish" by G Raylod by any chance?

[Gemificus]

no should i have?

[Trillian]

Originally Posted by Gemificus

I have a 30liter ufo corner unit in my kitchen...1 male fighter, 2 female fighter, 2 swordtails one of each, 1 male guppy a cherry barb and a small plec

The tank is far too small for that many fish plus guppies and barbs are shoaling species. Everything may be ok atm but I reckon you're going to run into problems in the long run especially with the female fighters who shouldn't be kept with the male in case he kills them.

[Gemificus]

its only 7 fish