I have an Eclipse System 12 (12 gallons) with male betta, what would be some good additions?

Question

I've been up and running for over 3 weeks now, which is a new record for me. The betta is all alone, and I assume the tank has cycled, or at least enough to add a few fish... I was thinking a trio of platies, one male, two females. A local shop sells one type of fish for 99¢ each the first hour of business Saturday morning. This week, it is red wag platies. Sometimes it is neon tetras, sometimes black tetras. Generally something that goes for $1.49 each to $1.99 each. Last week it was Giant Danios, which I knew wouldn't work out in this tank. Thanks for your opinions.

Answer 1

Go ahead and buy a few cheap water testkits. They last a very long time before they expire. Then you will know where you are in the biocycle of your aquarium.

This also helps you by telling you about how often the water needs changed.

Dont forget your 12 gallon aquarium is not a 12 gallons of water aquarium. Just pretend you take out all the stuff in your aquairum. How much water do you have left in there? Maby 10 or 11 gallons now? Also Eclipse tanks tend not to be as long as most tanks so you have less surface area.

This surface area is where your fish will get all of it's oxygen.

So safely I would only put 9 full grown inches of fish into the tanks. You dont have to count the tailfins just the bodies of the fish full grown.

With the betta you have 8 inches left to play with. Use them wisely, dont get any liveberring male and female fish unless you dont mind the fry getting eaten. To be safe go with males because even the best shops sometimes get pregnant females. Any longfin fish may make the betta think its anouther betta so try to avoid longfins.

Mix up your choices / colors of fish because hopefully you will be looking at these same fish for atleast a year.

Also have a few fake or real plants and a little hiding nook for for fish. Keeping them feeling safe goes a long way to keeping them from getting stressed then sick.

Answer 2

I wouldn't assume the tank is completely cycled yet, so any addition at this point should only be done after an ammonia and nitrite test on the water. Assuming you are good to go the platys would make a great addition to the tank. After that I would wait for cory cats to make the list for a discount or just limber up the wallet and pop for them in a few weeks. That's still room for a few more very small fish with no problem after a few more weeks.

MM

Answer 3

Barbs and bettas do not mixture nicely. maximum barbs, noticeably tiger barbs, tend to nip fins. Bettas have long, flowing fins that the barbs might nip at. i might use the rasboras. additionally, upload the betta final. Bettas are territorial fish. He might attack new fish. and attempt to not upload decor with tough edges as those might tear the betta's fins. As continually, determine you cycle the tank first and upload fish 3-5 each and every week. a minimum of wait some days between additions. this might provide the micro organism time to technique waste. in case you upload too many fish at a time, the micro organism won't have the skill to technique that plenty waste. ammonia and nitrite levels could get dangerously extreme. have relaxing! Nikki

Answer 4

I like using Cory Hasbrosas (prolly spelled it wrong) they are a very small species of corycat and are great bottom cleaners for smaller tanks. 3-4 of them work fine, or get 2-3 of any other type of cory.

I keep a male betta in a similar tank with 4 Black Neons and 2 Cory Julii.

Answer 5

Try this:

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=16&cat=1911&articleid=3284

Happy fish days!

Answer 6

Im not sure what fish to put in it just make sure it is not another betta fish because they will fight until one of them dies.