First tank set-up!

MakoMaui

This is all so confusing. It'll take me time to get all of this down. Hopefully I learn it sooner than later though. If I go with the 5 gallon, probably a betta with a few snails and at least two plants. If I go with the 55-Gallon though...I'm not sure if I even want to make it a freshwater. But since I'm a newbie, I might want to because saltwater will just confuse me on so many levels. What would you reccommend for the 55-Gallon if I were to do it?

JDM

The 5 gallon betta is a decent first plan.

Do some reading here, the sticky posts are a good start. There are ones for plants, cycling, fish stocking and more. Ask questions. Get your water parameters GH, pH mainly, from the water utility.

Once you have those numbers, you can scan the profiles for fish that will fit them and that you might like. Many here have their preferences and experiences to make suggestions for your possible setup and fish combinations. Definitely look at plants.

Taking it slow isn't a bad thing, gives you time to get the info you need first.

If you go salt... You need to check out the salt water forum stuff.

Jeff.

FishyFishy89

Ditto on the planted betta tank
These guys prefer to live alone but there have been successful attempts to house them with other fish.

The bettas very easy to care for and come in a variety of tail types and colors.

stephenhelsel

Bettas are the pitbulls of the fish world. Misunderstood. Lol they get along well with other community fish , they just hate eachother. Its very important u just keep community fish with them though because any aggressive ones will nip their fins.

I have guppies, neon tetras, rams, and a cory cat with mine.

JDM

Welcome aboard.

Be careful with the Betta promotion, it seems that we "Betta in a community tank" are the underground of the fish keeping community. Mine sleeps with the catfish and eats with the barbs. Although having said that, I wouldn't have done that mix except the Betta was first and I wanted to get him into our larger tank when it arrived.

Jeff.

stephenhelsel

There is one Guppy in the tank that causes the betta, or Bruce as my wife calls him, to flare up. Kinda funny. Never attacks, just puffs out his gills and the Guppy swims away.

This is the second time I have housed a betta with other fish. Never had no problems.

Byron

Betta are not community fish, and I could cite a plethora of experts so this is not my thinking. It is simply fact.

Sometimes things work, oftentimes not. Individual fish--and here we are considering not just the Betta but the other fish, as the problems can be two-way--can be outside the norm. For the sake of the fish, it is always better to assume the normal rather than the exception.

Byron.

JDM

I agree.

I think that every time it comes up in my posts that I do have a betta in my tank it is by default rather than design and I provide the caveat that I would not recommend it and, usually, that I was lucky that it has.

I will also admit that it is working "so far" and it may not continue to be so sunshine and roses down the road, I don't know.

One last thing to mention; when I say there is no sign of aggression or nipping, our tank is on our main floor livingroom area which is an open concept living/dining/kitchen area where we spend the vast majority of our time, so we get to watch the fish a LOT as opposed to being in a room where we might only go to see the fish sometimes.

Jeff.

1077

Betta's are what they are, and may or may not get along with other fishes .(prolly not)
Large tank's would be preferrable to small ones if housing more than a single betta. (more room for territorial dispiutes).
Fish can turn nasty in an instant and larger tank provides more avenues for escape if needed.
I personally feel the Betta's are the most abused,misunderstood fish in the hobby,right behind Goldfish.
But that is for another time/climate.