17 replies to this topic

[ajuniceuhamsters]

So basically after asking my brother a bunch of questions it doesn't seem like our care is that great.... Advice would be helpful!

 

We have a male guppy (his tank mate just died- presumably by age, he was about 2.5 yrs old) and a male betta in a 10 gallon tank split into two, they each have 5 gallons. They're both around the same age, 2 years old. 

The tank has substrate of aquarium gravel, and each side has a few silk plants. The betta's side has 3 silk plants, a betta leaf, and a castle hide thing. The guppy's side has two small castle hides, 2 silk plants and a shell hide. The pump and heater are located on the guppy's side of the tank.

We run the pump for 12 hours since the betta can't swim well with it. It's this filter and pump https://www.petsmart.ca/fish/filters-and-pumps/filter-media/top-fin-if-s-4-in-1-filter-cartridges-5282570.html

I know the tank size isn't ideal- we had them in a 20 gal long until parents....

The betta gets fed a pinch of brine shrimp in the morning and evening, and betta flakes mid-day. Normally the amount we give him lasts 1 minute. 

The guppy gets a pinch of guppy flakes in the morning and evening, and brine shrimp mid-day. the amount lasts about 1 minute.

We do 1/4 water changes each week and use water conditioner and waste control every week. Once a month we add 1 tsp of aquarium salt. 

ATM, we're doing 1/3 water changes every other day due to fin rot in the betta.

 

Is this care any good? I have a feeling it's not....

 

 

[♥️fluffy♥️]

So basically after asking my brother a bunch of questions it doesn't seem like our care is that great.... Advice would be helpful!

 

We have a male guppy (his tank mate just died- presumably by age, he was about 2.5 yrs old) and a male betta in a 10 gallon tank split into two, they each have 5 gallons. They're both around the same age, 2 years old. 

The tank has substrate of aquarium gravel, and each side has a few silk plants. The betta's side has 3 silk plants, a betta leaf, and a castle hide thing. The guppy's side has two small castle hides, 2 silk plants and a shell hide. The pump and heater are located on the guppy's side of the tank.

We run the pump for 12 hours since the betta can't swim well with it. It's this filter and pump https://www.petsmart.ca/fish/filters-and-pumps/filter-media/top-fin-if-s-4-in-1-filter-cartridges-5282570.html

I know the tank size isn't ideal- we had them in a 20 gal long until parents....

The betta gets fed a pinch of brine shrimp in the morning and evening, and betta flakes mid-day. Normally the amount we give him lasts 1 minute. 

The guppy gets a pinch of guppy flakes in the morning and evening, and brine shrimp mid-day. the amount lasts about 1 minute.

We do 1/4 water changes each week and use water conditioner and waste control every week. Once a month we add 1 tsp of aquarium salt. 

ATM, we're doing 1/3 water changes every other day due to fin rot in the betta.

 

Is this care any good? I have a feeling it's not....

Your care is better than some people. It isn't great. I have kept platys, tetras, guppies, and bettas before and none have suffered fin rot. I recommend you get a bigger tank. https://www.thesprucepets.com/fin-rot-1378481. I hope I did  not come come across as rude.

[Robin~]

I’m just going to run down a couple things I noticed if you don’t mind

-Guppies are technically social creatures, so more than one would be ideal, but considering your tank’s stocking situation I wouldn’t recommend getting more.

-Any way you can get a sponge filter instead of a pump? Those tend to do less water disruption. If not, you can clog the part that releases water into the tank with a bit of filter floss to buffer the water flow. I did this with my betta (I have a HOB filter) and it worked great.
In any case, the filter should be running 24/7 regardless of whether or not it disturbs the betta. Not only does a lack of filtering cause ammonia buildup since the ammonia can’t reach the nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the filter, but the filter will cause some water disruption, which allows oxygen to diffuse into the water.

-Can’t say how much for the guppy, but for the betta he should only be fed an amount about the size of his eye twice a day. Pellets would be preferred if possible.

-Why are you adding aquarium salt? As far as I’m aware both are freshwater fish, and healthy fish don’t need consistency brackish water.

Other than that it sounds fine to me!

[Lightning~]

you should get live plants, ive found my bettas like amazon swords and hornwort, also, i would get another 10 gallon and put the guppies in there, a 5 gallon should only house a few snails and shrimp, thats really it. i would change the bettas substate to sand, play sand works well if its washed out and sanitzed well, but live sand is only for saltwater, and i told you about cycling in another post (: also i would not feed them so much, they can become sick and.....die.....

Edited by unicornblast5000, 04 May 2021 - 08:47 PM.

[ajuniceuhamsters]

Your care is better than some people. It isn't great. I have kept platys, tetras, guppies, and bettas before and none have suffered fin rot. I recommend you get a bigger tank. https://www.thesprucepets.com/fin-rot-1378481. I hope I did  not come come across as rude.

no you didn't dw!

i wish that we could have a larger tank, and I did before. i've explained this before about 2 months ago, but I used to have a larger tank. I was out of the house for a few days and then my mom downgraded them to a 2.5 gal. I've negotiated with her and the 10 gal is the biggest she'll allow now....

I’m just going to run down a couple things I noticed if you don’t mind

-Guppies are technically social creatures, so more than one would be ideal, but considering your tank’s stocking situation I wouldn’t recommend getting more.
the other one just died the other day......we're looking for another atm but if it's not good then okay
-Any way you can get a sponge filter instead of a pump? Those tend to do less water disruption. If not, you can clog the part that releases water into the tank with a bit of filter floss to buffer the water flow. I did this with my betta (I have a HOB filter) and it worked great.
In any case, the filter should be running 24/7 regardless of whether or not it disturbs the betta. Not only does a lack of filtering cause ammonia buildup since the ammonia can’t reach the nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the filter, but the filter will cause some water disruption, which allows oxygen to diffuse into the water.
hmm i'll look into that thanks!
-Can’t say how much for the guppy, but for the betta he should only be fed an amount about the size of his eye twice a day. Pellets would be preferred if possible.
we have pelleted betta food but it expired last week when it wasn't finished the container...new one is shipping tho
-Why are you adding aquarium salt? As far as I’m aware both are freshwater fish, and healthy fish don’t need consistency brackish water.
I'll have to ask my brother- he decided to buy it for the fish. most likely marketing got him since he doesn't know too much on care
Other than that it sounds fine to me!

 

you should get live plants, ive found my bettas like amazon swords and hornwort, also, i would get another 10 gallon and put the guppies in there, a 5 gallon should only house a few snails and shrimp, thats really it. i would change the bettas substate to sand, play sand works well if its washed out and sanitzed well, but live sand is only for saltwater, and i told you about cycling in another post (: also i would not feed them so much, they can become sick and.....die.....

like I said above, the fish used to be in a larger tank, then they got downgraded to a 2.5 gal, the 10 gal is the largest my parents will allow now unforunately :(

i'll look into sand, thanks!

[ChinchillaDude]

I’d honestly keep them split in the 10 until one goes. If the betta goes first I’d remove the divider. Then add another fancy guppy. If guppy passes before the betta I’d want to keep it divider and get second betta. If the divider is dark enough or they’ll be flares at each other. Just what I’d do.I’ve had a 10 gal with 2 male bettas.

[Sarahs~Hamsters]

The size is fine for the betta fish, but is quite small for the guppies. Unfortunately, you have very few guppies in the tank. These social creatures need at least a group of 5 at minimum. Although they are not 'perfect' shoaling fish, they enjoy each others company. 

 

Your male betta should be STRICTLY kept alone, it is extremely stressful for male bettas to be housed together. I saw a member suggest this above and I strongly disagree. You should also look into purchasing a betta hammock so that it can rest on it near the surface. Since they have a labyrinth organ, they do appreciate sleeping spots close to the surface. Also look into getting a handheld mirror to give him 5 minutes every second day to flare in the mirror. This helps to stretch out his fins, increase muscle and bring a sense of joy to them when the mirror is removed, they think they successfully chased away another male betta which is rewarding and enriching the wild. Although ensure that they have a heater, filter with a very low current as well as an aeration system. 

 

For a minimum tank range for guppies, if you want to keep a group of 5 I would suggest a 15 gallon at least. The more guppies you get, the larger the tank should be. 

[ajuniceuhamsters]

The size is fine for the betta fish, but is quite small for the guppies. Unfortunately, you have very few guppies in the tank. These social creatures need at least a group of 5 at minimum. Although they are not 'perfect' shoaling fish, they enjoy each others company. 

originally the group was 4 i think, then 2 died last year, now another so we only have one. 

Your male betta should be STRICTLY kept alone, it is extremely stressful for male bettas to be housed together. I saw a member suggest this above and I strongly disagree. You should also look into purchasing a betta hammock so that it can rest on it near the surface. yup we have a betta leaf near the surface, he's usually on it a lot Since they have a labyrinth organ, they do appreciate sleeping spots close to the surface. Also look into getting a handheld mirror to give him 5 minutes every second day to flare in the mirror. This helps to stretch out his fins, increase muscle and bring a sense of joy to them when the mirror is removed, they think they successfully chased away another male betta which is rewarding and enriching the wild. okay i'll tell my brother to do that Although ensure that they have a heater, filter with a very low current as well as an aeration system. we're looking into a sponge filter atm

 

For a minimum tank range for guppies, if you want to keep a group of 5 I would suggest a 15 gallon at least. The more guppies you get, the larger the tank should be. yup i know this

i'll tell this to my brother, thanks!

[Sarahs~Hamsters]

i'll tell this to my brother, thanks!

Awesome

[Ling313]

I’ve had both kind of fish for years. For fin rot, it is usually a water quality issue. If you can, do more frequent water changes until he gets better. There is also medication if no improvement.
The filter needs to run 24/7. Make sure your filter is made for at least a 10gallon tank, and make sure the divider allows for flow between the sides.
Gravel is fine for both types of fish. Don’t exchange it. More cost and you will disrupt your good bacteria.
Live plants help with water quality somewhat. There are some easy to care for plants like Java fern sold in stores, but live plants need light to grow.
For a 10 gallon tank, you can have it divided for 2 bettas, but need a non see through divider. You can also set up a really nice 10 gallon tank for one betta and get snails or amano shrimp (and hope he doesn’t eat them). Guppies need a social group (at least 5) because they, like most fish groups, need to have a pecking order. They need at least 10 gallons for their 5 member group. The guppies can be fewer in number but are much happier with a larger group. I don’t recommend you buy any more guppies with your current setup. Let your current fish live as is until one passes, then switch to one type of fish or the other.
Lastly, you’re way over feeding both. Cut back to once a day. I feed my older fish every other day, younger fish once a day (different tanks). It is hard, especially with flakes to feed the size of their eye, but pellets are easier. The more food you add, the higher the bio load, the more you dirty the water, then fish get sick. I’d recommend getting a water testing kit for at least ammonia and pH (use a liquid one, no strips). If there is any ammonia, this can help guide you in water quality and when to do water changes. I won’t bother talking about cycling as I saw someone else addressed that.
I hope this helps. Fish are fun but can get complicated, especially when sick. Good luck.

[Brownie~s♥️buddy]

We run the pump for 12 hours since the betta can't swim well with it. It's this filter and pump https://www.petsmart.ca/fish/filters-and-pumps/filter-media/top-fin-if-s-4-in-1-filter-cartridges-5282570.html

Can you share a picture of the current tank/setup? As already shared above, the filter really needs to run 24/7. Also if you can look into permanent filter media, that will help improve your fishes water quality as well.

I know the tank size isn't ideal- we had them in a 20 gal long until parents....

The stocking level is fine, and with the age of both fishes, I wouldn't stress them by adding new/younger tank mates myself.

We do 1/4 water changes each week and use water conditioner and waste control every week. Once a month we add 1 tsp of aquarium salt.

What brand & type of water conditioner? You should only need the water conditioner for all regular water changes. How deep is the gravel, do you use a gravel vac/siphon to clean the substrate? I would increase the the volume of water being removed and probably stop using the waste control product. The aquarium salt is really only recommended if dealing with freshwater parasites, as they can't survive the salt additions well.

ATM, we're doing 1/3 water changes every other day due to fin rot in the betta.

Is it fin rot; or is it fin nipping; or fin damage due to the plastic plants? Bettas usually do best with silk or live plants, due to their finnage, just in case
 

Is this care any good? I have a feeling it's not....

You are looking for more info, that is very commendable!

[ajuniceuhamsters]

I’ve had both kind of fish for years. For fin rot, it is usually a water quality issue. If you can, do more frequent water changes until he gets better. There is also medication if no improvement.
The filter needs to run 24/7. Make sure your filter is made for at least a 10gallon tank, and make sure the divider allows for flow between the sides.
Gravel is fine for both types of fish. Don’t exchange it. More cost and you will disrupt your good bacteria.
Live plants help with water quality somewhat. There are some easy to care for plants like Java fern sold in stores, but live plants need light to grow.
For a 10 gallon tank, you can have it divided for 2 bettas, but need a non see through divider. You can also set up a really nice 10 gallon tank for one betta and get snails or amano shrimp (and hope he doesn’t eat them). Guppies need a social group (at least 5) because they, like most fish groups, need to have a pecking order. They need at least 10 gallons for their 5 member group. The guppies can be fewer in number but are much happier with a larger group. I don’t recommend you buy any more guppies with your current setup. Let your current fish live as is until one passes, then switch to one type of fish or the other.
Lastly, you’re way over feeding both. Cut back to once a day. I feed my older fish every other day, younger fish once a day (different tanks). It is hard, especially with flakes to feed the size of their eye, but pellets are easier. The more food you add, the higher the bio load, the more you dirty the water, then fish get sick. I’d recommend getting a water testing kit for at least ammonia and pH (use a liquid one, no strips). If there is any ammonia, this can help guide you in water quality and when to do water changes. I won’t bother talking about cycling as I saw someone else addressed that.
I hope this helps. Fish are fun but can get complicated, especially when sick. Good luck.

i'll tell this to my brother, thanks!

 

Can you share a picture of the current tank/setup? As already shared above, the filter really needs to run 24/7. Also if you can look into permanent filter media, that will help improve your fishes water quality as well.
i'll see if i can get my brother to take a pic

The stocking level is fine, and with the age of both fishes, I wouldn't stress them by adding new/younger tank mates myself.
okay

What brand & type of water conditioner? You should only need the water conditioner for all regular water changes. How deep is the gravel, do you use a gravel vac/siphon to clean the substrate? I would increase the the volume of water being removed and probably stop using the waste control product. The aquarium salt is really only recommended if dealing with freshwater parasites, as they can't survive the salt additions well.
i'm not sure, i'll need to ask my brother. i think the gravel is about 2" or so deep? we have the gravel vac too

Is it fin rot; or is it fin nipping; or fin damage due to the plastic plants? Bettas usually do best with silk or live plants, due to their finnage, just in case
 
like i said in op post, it's silk plants and he was never housed with any other fish so i'm guessing it's fin rot. it's no longer as bad though!

You are looking for more info, that is very commendable!

thanks i'll tell this to my brother!

 

btw- my parents said we could upgrade if only there is no substrate, is that okay?

[Lightning~]

i'll tell this to my brother, thanks!

 

thanks i'll tell this to my brother!

btw- my parents said we could upgrade if only there is no substrate, is that okay?

its fine, but not recomended, you can grow your own plants if you have a substrate and have a lot of advaniges, but if you get to upgrade without it, i would do it (:

[Robin~]

No substrate is fine (honestly it’s easier to clean without it); it would absolutely be worth going without that for an upgrade. While there are some downsides (no ability to have bacteria in the substrate, no place for live plants to grow, no anchoring for ornaments, etc), I think the upgrade is more than worth it. +20g would be what I would go with if you have the choice.

[ajuniceuhamsters]

No substrate is fine (honestly it’s easier to clean without it); it would absolutely be worth going without that for an upgrade. While there are some downsides (no ability to have bacteria in the substrate, no place for live plants to grow, no anchoring for ornaments, etc), I think the upgrade is more than worth it. +20g would be what I would go with if you have the choice.

20 gal long is what I can get, do you think if I added suction cups to the bottom of the plants to attach it to the tank would it be okay?

Do you think spliting it so the betta has 4-5 gal and then I get more guppies for the rest is that okay?

 

Tysm!