Well the LFS said...

Djay · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 33

High nitrite levels? That sounds like the tank is new and hasn't cycled
yet. What do your ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels read? Ammonia will
spike first, then nitrite and finally nitrate before they all return to zero
and the aquarium has cycled. If the aquarium is indeed new (weeks old) then
to reduce the nitrite levels you'll need to do water changes. Nitrite is
the second *new tank* syndrom to spike. Nitrate will be next. Handle both
with water changes and hopefully you'll save some of those fish.

HTH

DJay

"Cplus" wrote in message$111.3526@news04.bloor.is.net.cable.rogers.com...
>
> That I can't keep a male betta in with any other fish. I thought I had
read
> somewhere that you could keep them in a community tank, just not with
> gouramis or other bettas. Who's right?
>
> Just as a side note. I finally got my 20g up and running Smile

Put in 4
> lyretail mollies (two black, two white), two angel fish and a pleco. They
> seem to be doing ok, the angels are looking a little frightened, I think
the
> mollies may be too active. High nitrite levels, going to look on how to
> lower them. Still happy Smile

> --
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> You can pick your friends and you can pick your nose,
> but you can't wipe your friends on the couch.
>
>
>

Archived from group: rec>aquaria>freshwater>misc

Eric Schreiber · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 41

"Cplus" wrote:

>That I can't keep a male betta in with any other fish. I thought I had read
>somewhere that you could keep them in a community tank, just not with
>gouramis or other bettas. Who's right?

Depends a lot on the betta, really. I've had a betta in a well-stocked
community 20 gallon for a long time now, and he gets along with
everyone just fine. I had another betta that laid claim to a three
gallon tank, and tried to kill anyone who I put in with him.

If you're putting him in a 20, you'll probably be fine - he won't be
so territorial about that much space. And if it doesn't work out, at
least you can easily keep him in a much smaller (and cheap) tank.

>High nitrite levels, going to look on how to lower them.

Early on, probably your best bet will just be frequent (daily?) water
changes until the bacteria level catches up with the fish load. That
may take a week or two, just keep monitoring the levels.

> Still happy Smile

Heh, me too. Scored a 30 gallon tank (no extras at all, just the tank)
for ten bucks at a garage sale today. My wife may perhaps be less
happy about it than I am, but that's a risk I'm willing to take.

--
www.ericschreiber.com

Eric Schreiber · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 41

"blove" wrote:

>i wouldnt trust bettas with gouramis just because they are from
>the same family.

Generally, you're right about that, though as is always the case with
bettas, there can be exceptions. I had a nice gold gourami in my 20
gallon with a betta for several months with no problems. Occasional
flaring when they'd end up chasing the same bit of food, but no actual
fights.

Still, yeah, I'd be real wary of putting a betta with gouramis,
without a backup tank handy.

--
www.ericschreiber.com

Cplus · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 17

That I can't keep a male betta in with any other fish. I thought I had read
somewhere that you could keep them in a community tank, just not with
gouramis or other bettas. Who's right?

Just as a side note. I finally got my 20g up and running Smile

Put in 4
lyretail mollies (two black, two white), two angel fish and a pleco. They
seem to be doing ok, the angels are looking a little frightened, I think the
mollies may be too active. High nitrite levels, going to look on how to
lower them. Still happy Smile

--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You can pick your friends and you can pick your nose,
but you can't wipe your friends on the couch.

blove · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 86

a male betta can go in with community fish just fine, i have one in a 30
with community fish. just make sure the community fish dont have big fins
cuz the betta might mistake them for another betta like male guppies for
instance. i wouldnt trust bettas with gouramis just because they are from
the same family. id beware, angels are semi aggressive and mollies are
community and if your angels spawn then ur in trouble. angels are cichlids
after all. :0)

> That I can't keep a male betta in with any other fish. I thought I had
read
> somewhere that you could keep them in a community tank, just not with
> gouramis or other bettas. Who's right?
>
> Just as a side note. I finally got my 20g up and running Smile

Put in 4
> lyretail mollies (two black, two white), two angel fish and a pleco. They
> seem to be doing ok, the angels are looking a little frightened, I think
the
> mollies may be too active. High nitrite levels, going to look on how to
> lower them. Still happy Smile

> --
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> You can pick your friends and you can pick your nose,
> but you can't wipe your friends on the couch.
>
>
>

Djay · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 33

Sounds like you have everything in hand. FWIT just keep up with the water
changes and you should be alright.
I'm just thankful that there are NG like this one to help. 25 years ago,
we could only rely on the information our LFS provided. And if they didn't
give a darn about anything except moving product (like the one I went to as
a kid), we killed and replaced many fishes!

Good luck,

DJay
"Cplus" wrote in message$111.2576@news04.bloor.is.net.cable.rogers.com...
>
> "Djay" wrote in message
> $f83$1@news.chatlink.com...
> > High nitrite levels? That sounds like the tank is new and hasn't cycled
> > yet. What do your ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels read? Ammonia
will
> > spike first, then nitrite and finally nitrate before they all return to
> zero
> > and the aquarium has cycled. If the aquarium is indeed new (weeks old)
> then
> > to reduce the nitrite levels you'll need to do water changes. Nitrite
is
> > the second *new tank* syndrom to spike. Nitrate will be next. Handle
> both
> > with water changes and hopefully you'll save some of those fish.
> >
> > HTH
> >
> > DJay
>
> Yes it is a new tank and in the middle of cycle. The ammonia levels are
low
> if even there. I did a huge (90%) water change before I put them in but
> nitrite levels still coming out high. I will do daily water changes and
> keep an eye on the levels. I'm assuming they should go down soon. I've
had
> the tank up and running (cycling the fishless way) for about 2 or 3 weeks
> now. I had the ammonia kit and when I tested it about 2 weeks ago the
> ammonia had gone down. I didn't have a nitrite test so I went to the LFS
to
> buy one... got carried away and ended up with all the fish too (darn lfs
man
> should never have said "may I help you?"). When I got home, levels were
> almost off the chart they give you (3.3) the water change may have helped
it
> to a 1.6.
>
>

Mr.Nice. · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 12

Twas Sun, 22 Jun 2003 02:33:43 GMT when "Cplus" put
finger to keyboard producing:

>
>That I can't keep a male betta in with any other fish. I thought I had read
>somewhere that you could keep them in a community tank, just not with
>gouramis or other bettas. Who's right?
>
>Just as a side note. I finally got my 20g up and running Smile

Put in 4
>lyretail mollies (two black, two white), two angel fish and a pleco. They
>seem to be doing ok, the angels are looking a little frightened, I think the
>mollies may be too active. High nitrite levels, going to look on how to
>lower them. Still happy Smile

Fine in a community (see one within my fish on webshots).

--
Regards.
Mark.(AKA, Mr.Nice.)
___________________________________________________________
"To know the character of a man, give him anonymity" - Mr.Nice.
http://www.mr-nice.rulestheweb.com mr.niceATsofthome.net
http://community.webshots.com/user/mrnice106
___________________________________________________________

Mr.Nice. · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 12

Twas Sat, 21 Jun 2003 22:30:29 -0500 when Eric Schreiber
put finger to keyboard producing:

>"blove" wrote:
>
>>i wouldnt trust bettas with gouramis just because they are from
>>the same family.
>
>Generally, you're right about that, though as is always the case with
>bettas, there can be exceptions. I had a nice gold gourami in my 20
>gallon with a betta for several months with no problems. Occasional
>flaring when they'd end up chasing the same bit of food, but no actual
>fights.
>
>Still, yeah, I'd be real wary of putting a betta with gouramis,
>without a backup tank handy.

I have 3 pairs of gouramis in my community with my betta.

--
Regards.
Mark.(AKA, Mr.Nice.)
___________________________________________________________
"To know the character of a man, give him anonymity" - Mr.Nice.
http://www.mr-nice.rulestheweb.com mr.niceATsofthome.net
http://community.webshots.com/user/mrnice106
___________________________________________________________

Eric Schreiber · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 41

"Cplus" wrote:

>I've had the tank up and running (cycling the fishless way)
>for about 2 or 3 weeks now. I had the ammonia kit and when
>I tested it about 2 weeks ago the ammonia had gone down.
>I didn't have a nitrite test so I went to the LFS to buy
>one... got carried away and ended up with all the fish too

That sure sounds familiar - pretty much the exact same thing I did.

--
www.ericschreiber.com

Cplus · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 17

"Djay" wrote in message$f83$1@news.chatlink.com...
> High nitrite levels? That sounds like the tank is new and hasn't cycled
> yet. What do your ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels read? Ammonia will
> spike first, then nitrite and finally nitrate before they all return to
zero
> and the aquarium has cycled. If the aquarium is indeed new (weeks old)
then
> to reduce the nitrite levels you'll need to do water changes. Nitrite is
> the second *new tank* syndrom to spike. Nitrate will be next. Handle
both
> with water changes and hopefully you'll save some of those fish.
>
> HTH
>
> DJay

Yes it is a new tank and in the middle of cycle. The ammonia levels are low
if even there. I did a huge (90%) water change before I put them in but
nitrite levels still coming out high. I will do daily water changes and
keep an eye on the levels. I'm assuming they should go down soon. I've had
the tank up and running (cycling the fishless way) for about 2 or 3 weeks
now. I had the ammonia kit and when I tested it about 2 weeks ago the
ammonia had gone down. I didn't have a nitrite test so I went to the LFS to
buy one... got carried away and ended up with all the fish too (darn lfs man
should never have said "may I help you?"). When I got home, levels were
almost off the chart they give you (3.3) the water change may have helped it
to a 1.6.

Anna Hayward · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 13

Hi,
>That I can't keep a male betta in with any other fish. I thought I had read
>somewhere that you could keep them in a community tank, just not with
>gouramis or other bettas. Who's right?

You are. It is perfectly possible to keep a male betta in a small
community tank, provided it's tank-mates are not competition (other male
bettas or gouramis), don't nip fins (like neons, tiger barbs or red-
tailed black sharks for instance) and the water isn't too deep for it. I
have a fine blue fan-tail betta in an 8 gal tank with a school of black
neon tetras - never any problems from anyone.

>Just as a side note. I finally got my 20g up and running Smile

Put in 4
>lyretail mollies (two black, two white), two angel fish and a pleco. They
>seem to be doing ok, the angels are looking a little frightened, I think the
>mollies may be too active. High nitrite levels, going to look on how to
>lower them. Still happy Smile

I like mollies - very friendly, frisky little fish. I don't know why I
ignored them until fairly recently, when I bought 4 myself. I've got
mine in a 30 gal tank with some male guppies and a gourami (refugee from
another tank). The only problem is that when I clean out the tank my
mollies sniff around my hand and are at risk of getting in the way when
I move stuff.
--
Anna Hayward
mailto: alienvisitor@ratbag.demon.co.uk

Anna's Pregnancy, Parenting and Autism page:
http://www.ratbag.demon.co.uk/anna/

Cplus · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 17

"Anna Hayward" wrote in message+MwOz@ratbag.demon.co.uk...
> You are. It is perfectly possible to keep a male betta in a small
> community tank, provided it's tank-mates are not competition (other male
> bettas or gouramis), don't nip fins (like neons, tiger barbs or red-
> tailed black sharks for instance) and the water isn't too deep for it. I
> have a fine blue fan-tail betta in an 8 gal tank with a school of black
> neon tetras - never any problems from anyone.

All that would be in with them would be lyretail mollies and a pleco. I'll
see to adding others as I go along, but for now I want the betta for colour
(any idea if they can be put with guppies?)

> I like mollies - very friendly, frisky little fish. I don't know why I
> ignored them until fairly recently, when I bought 4 myself. I've got
> mine in a 30 gal tank with some male guppies and a gourami (refugee from
> another tank). The only problem is that when I clean out the tank my
> mollies sniff around my hand and are at risk of getting in the way when
> I move stuff.

Oh tell me about it! Very Happy

The mollies are the first to the water surface
whenever I open the tank. Personally I think they're just gluttons looking
for the next meal. They are cute to watch Smile

I have 2 black and 2 silver.
I have to always keep count when I'm vaccuming out the water

Ben Vizzier · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 2

In article ,
Cplus wrote:

> "Anna Hayward" wrote in message
> +MwOz@ratbag.demon.co.uk...

> > I like mollies - very friendly, frisky little fish. I don't know why I
> > ignored them until fairly recently, when I bought 4 myself. I've got
> > mine in a 30 gal tank with some male guppies and a gourami (refugee from
> > another tank). The only problem is that when I clean out the tank my
> > mollies sniff around my hand and are at risk of getting in the way when
> > I move stuff.
>
> Oh tell me about it! Very Happy

The mollies are the first to the water surface
> whenever I open the tank. Personally I think they're just gluttons looking
> for the next meal. They are cute to watch Smile

I have 2 black and 2 silver.
> I have to always keep count when I'm vaccuming out the water

I have a community tank with lyretail mollies, platies, guppies,
danios, swordtails, and plecostomus. The mollies have definitely
trained the other fish and made them much more personable. The platies
were used to cycle the tank and the mollies have been some of the most
recent additions to the tank. Prior to the arrival of the mollies, I
don't think that any of the fish took notices of us other than possibly
to run and hide. When we added the mollies, that changed.

The tank sits right beside a chair in our family room. If someone is
sitting in the chair, at least one of the mollies is over watching the
person. They are also the leaders of the pack running to the top of
the tank when I walk into the room. The fish are now worse than the
dogs when it comes to begging for food. (They only get their twice a
day feeding.)

Right now I only have a pair of mollies. I plan to get a second female
because the male continually harasses the female. I have read that
they do better with slightly larger numbers of females than males.

In my reading I was also surprised to find that mollies can become
fairly large (approximately 5 inches).

I also love the leopard danios. They are the clowns of the tank.

Ben

Glenn Woodell · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 5

In article ,
cplus@askme.com says...
>
>
>That I can't keep a male betta in with any other fish. I thought I had read
>somewhere that you could keep them in a community tank, just not with
>gouramis or other bettas. Who's right?

I've had a male Betta in my tank for quite a while. Let's see, I have mollies,
some small tetras, a black ghost knife, a head stander, a small pleco, a glass
cat, some 4" catfish - I forgot what it was called, a weather loach, a skunk
botia, a farlowella, two dwarf puffers, a couple of dwarf frogs, and a hand
full of other small fish that I forgot the names of.

He gets along fine with them all.

Glenn