betta fish for beginners

[Lioness]

Hi everyone, I've been convinced it's best to rehome my 5 Cherry Barbs from my 30 litre Biorb, as they're thriving with zero ammonia and nitrite readings. Now I'm considering a Male Betta, but I have a few concerns.

Looking at my current tank decor, I'm worried it might be too sharp for a male Betta - I'll attach some pictures so you can take a look. If that's the case, I have two options: either replace the decor with something safer, like real or silk plants, or get a new tank altogether. I've attached a picture of the kind of tank I'd be interested in.

Aesthetics are important to me, but of course, the fish's welfare comes first. If I were to get a new tank like the one I've pictured, I'm not sure where to start with a filter and heater that are discreet, as I've only used Biorb's own brand filter before.

To sum it up, can I make my current Biorb work for a Male Betta, or should I consider a new setup? And do I definitely need to rehome my Cherry Barbs?

[daintree]

Hi everyone, I've been convinced it's best to rehome my 5 Cherry Barbs from my 30 litre Biorb, as they're thriving with zero ammonia and nitrite readings. Now I'm considering a Male Betta, but I have a few concerns.

Looking at my current tank decor, I'm worried it might be too sharp for a male Betta - I'll attach some pictures so you can take a look. If that's the case, I have two options: either replace the decor with something safer, like real or silk plants, or get a new tank altogether. I've attached a picture of the kind of tank I'd be interested in.

Aesthetics are important to me, but of course, the fish's welfare comes first. If I were to get a new tank like the one I've pictured, I'm not sure where to start with a filter and heater that are discreet, as I've only used Biorb's own brand filter before.

To sum it up, can I make my current Biorb work for a Male Betta, or should I consider a new setup? And do I definitely need to rehome my Cherry Barbs?

I think investing in real plants would be the way to go. The decor you've got should be fine, to be honest. Bettas aren't exactly known for being reckless - they'll avoid anything that might hurt them.

If you're looking at getting an Orchid, Koi, or Veiltail betta, I'd definitely get rid of your Cherry Barbs. Those breeds can be quite aggressive. A Butterfly betta might be a better option - they're still feisty, but not as bad as the others.

I've got a Pink Orchid Betta myself, and let me tell you, he's a handful. I came home one day to find he'd been cornering and jabbing at a tank mate for about 30 minutes. Not exactly what I wanted to see. Luckily, I was able to separate them and my betta's stress-free again.

[Giggletons]

Hi everyone, I've been convinced it's best to rehome my 5 Cherry Barbs from my 30 litre Biorb, as they're thriving with zero ammonia and nitrite readings. Now I'm considering a Male Betta, but I have a few concerns.

Looking at my current tank decor, I'm worried it might be too sharp for a male Betta - I'll attach some pictures so you can take a look. If that's the case, I have two options: either replace the decor with something safer, like real or silk plants, or get a new tank altogether. I've attached a picture of the kind of tank I'd be interested in.

Aesthetics are important to me, but of course, the fish's welfare comes first. If I were to get a new tank like the one I've pictured, I'm not sure where to start with a filter and heater that are discreet, as I've only used Biorb's own brand filter before.

To sum it up, can I make my current Biorb work for a Male Betta, or should I consider a new setup? And do I definitely need to rehome my Cherry Barbs?

I think investing in real plants would be the way to go. The decor you've got should be fine, to be honest. Bettas aren't exactly known for being reckless - they'll avoid anything that might hurt them.

If you're looking at getting an Orchid, Koi, or Veiltail betta, I'd definitely get rid of your Cherry Barbs. Those breeds can be quite aggressive. A Butterfly betta might be a better option - they're still feisty, but not as bad as the others.

I've got a Pink Orchid Betta myself, and let me tell you, he's a handful. I came home one day to find he'd been cornering and jabbing at a tank mate for about 30 minutes. Not exactly what I wanted to see. Luckily, I was able to separate them and my betta's stress-free again.

I agree with the others, those decorative white skeleton pieces will likely get covered in algae, so getting some plants would be a good idea. Java moss or Christmas moss could be a nice addition to the tank. I've seen instances where a betta's fin has gotten ripped on a sharp rock or decoration, which can be painful for them. Since they have such large fins naturally, they're not used to navigating around sharp objects, so it's something to consider when setting up the tank.

[daisymay]

I had a similar concern about the white decor, it was actually discussed in another thread. I've got a male Betta in a tank with the same capacity as the one in your 4th image, and he's doing great. My tank's rectangular, so the water's shallower and there's more surface area.

[sSjey]

In a Biorb, live plants can be a great option, but you'll need to think creatively. Since the rocks on the bottom serve as the biomedium for the filter, they're often too large for plants that root in the substrate. You might consider using floating plants or attaching plants to decor instead.

If you decide to go with a different tank, I'd recommend looking into sponge filters powered by an air pump. They're a great choice because they don't create much current, which can be beneficial for a Betta. Just keep in mind that you'll need to cycle the new tank before introducing your fish. You can do this with a fishless cycle using ammonia, or if you choose to use live plants, you can do a plant cycle.

[bronze_shield]

Hi everyone, I've been convinced it's best to rehome my 5 Cherry Barbs from my 30 litre Biorb, as they're thriving with zero ammonia and nitrite readings. Now I'm considering a Male Betta, but I have a few concerns.

Looking at my current tank decor, I'm worried it might be too sharp for a male Betta - I'll attach some pictures so you can take a look. If that's the case, I have two options: either replace the decor with something safer, like real or silk plants, or get a new tank altogether. I've attached a picture of the kind of tank I'd be interested in.

Aesthetics are important to me, but of course, the fish's welfare comes first. If I were to get a new tank like the one I've pictured, I'm not sure where to start with a filter and heater that are discreet, as I've only used Biorb's own brand filter before.

To sum it up, can I make my current Biorb work for a Male Betta, or should I consider a new setup? And do I definitely need to rehome my Cherry Barbs?

I've got to say, I still think you're better off ditching the biorb for a proper tank. Those things were designed to look pretty, not to keep fish happy and healthy. If you're serious about getting into this hobby, you'll be wanting a bigger, better tank sooner or later, and that little biorb will just be collecting dust.

If you do decide to stick with the biorb and get a betta, you'll need to sort out those decorations. They're just not suitable for a fish with big fins. You've seen what happens when they get damaged - it's heartbreaking. Real plants would be a great idea, but let's be real, they're a bit of a hassle. If you don't want the bother, silk plants are a better bet than plastic. And as sSjey pointed out, the biorb isn't exactly designed for real plants anyway.

Just to reiterate, if you do decide to get a new tank, make sure you cycle it properly. We don't want a repeat of your previous mistakes.