Is my twenty gallon tank overstocked? can i get a betta if it is compatible?

Question

I have a twenty gallon (cycled), and fake plants for sadly less nitrate absorption...

My Fishies:

6 Zebra Danios: Boom (alpha and a tad aggressive), zoom, pop, rrrr!, bump, and meow

2 orange platties: Eve and Anna

1 pl*co: Roy (hopefully can get a bigger tank for him when he is bigger but i do know a home for him if i cant get one at the time... He is a mere 2 1/2 inches right now...

I made a lot of little hide-z's in there with artificial plants and two pots with bottom knocked off...

other than my Boom all my fish are mellow, but i really want to get a betta in there or possibly even a more eye-flattering fish that will not overload my biomass... any suggestions?

Answer 1

Bettas might get picked on by the danios. It shouldn't overload your tank. Try a dwarf gouami, mfins aren't as long but the colours are still amazing. Both the Betta and the Gourami will fight and they both occupy the top and sometimes middle region of the tank.

Answer 2

you have room for a lot more fish for some eyecatching try glowfish they are a zebra danio that has been geniticly enhanced for color

a betta should be ok in your tank and they are normaly an upper level fish

you could also try a school of some type of tetra

maybe some corys but they are a bottom fish

maybe some swords

what ever you choose you could add quite a few more fish depending on type

so far of your 20 gallons you have added enough fish for about 6 gallons think of a cube when you think of the 1 inch rule and you will realize that it takes more than one zebra danio to make an inch of fish

Answer 3

Cookie4life.  Boy are you wrong.  Bettas can't handle tap water, it MUST be dechlorinated.  And, although they live in shallow pools, these shallow pools have a complete biosystem,  things that filter out the water.  Although its not neccessary to have a filter, bettas do well with them.

I think a betta should do fine in a tank like that.  I had my male betta in my 20 gallon tank with another female betta, 3 black skirts, a pleco, and an african dwarf frog.  (Only have male and female together if the male is very calm and mellow, i was lucky in having a very calm non aggressive male).

The only thing is bettas are top dwellers, so that will still leave an open space in the middle of your tank.

What I think you should do is get 2 or 3 female bettas.  They are still really pretty (minus the long fins) and are typically not aggressive.

You could also get a couple of african dwarf frogs, or an african clawed frog.  They do well with calm fish and its always fun seeing them dart around looking for food and going up to the surface for a quick gulp of air.

Answer 4

Sounds like a betta would fit in nicely.  You just can't put them with agressive fish or fish with long flowing fins that can be mistaken for another betta.

Answer 5

first i'd like to say ur fish tank sounds AWESOME!!!!

2nd- never ever ever put a betta fish eith other fish. betta fish are not like troppical fish... they just need NORMAL tap water... and filters are not SUGGESTED because they actually live in very low water areas and the tank is said to only be 3/4 filled with water.... less would be better like 2/3 they require a one habitat and no other fish with them.... they will fight other fish and in most cases get killed or kill other fish.. bettas are called siamese fighting fish for known reasons when put with another fish.. or it's own type in china they are fought to the death for money. never put another fish with a betta fish.... even male bettas can kill female bettas.. they re VERY independent and aggresive. plase do not get a betta......

Answer 6

Bettas stay around the top most of the time, as they breath surface air. If you want a betta in that tank, it must be a female as the male could possibly kill them. Just wondering...why did you put pl*co? its ok to say pleco...lol

Doesn't seem overstocked to me, but an upgrade tank wouldn't hurt :)

**EDIT TO ADD**

after reading the other answer above me, I noticed it is incorrect, female bettas do fine with other fish, its males that shouldn't be with other long tailed/finned fish, but even males can live with other non-betta fish. I suggest you get a female betta if you want a betta, not as pretty because of the lack of long fins, but with good coloration, they can brighten up any tank.

**EDIT 2**

Shelby: I soo wish I had a mellow male! Those are hard to come across.

Answer 7

OK, this is to cooky4life. BETTAS ARE JUST LIKE ANY OTHER TROPICAL FISH AND NEED HEATED, FILTERED, DECHLORINATED WATER! They can be put with other fish, just not any that will nip its fins. So I'd say no to your tank, as you have an aggressive fish. If you really want to try it, do, but have a back up 2-5 gallon for the betta if things don't work out. Maybe try a gourami, they are pretty flattering.

By the way, I love your fish's names. They are awesome. I have three bettas, myself (all housed separately of course). My two males are Hemlock and Foxglove and my lady is Belladonna. All poisonous plants. Bella came first and I decided to stick to the theme.

ONCE AGAIN, BETTAS DO NOT LIVE IN NORMAL TAP WATER. THAT WILL KILL THEM IN DAYS.