pet fighting fish or platys?

[Fastasflames]

does anyone keep either of these types of fish?

someone gave me a bioorb tank, its not that big but i called pets at home and they said it would be ok for either one japanese fighting fish or 2 platys. Both look pretty but Im worried the platys will breed and then id have no space for them!

 

[shortstuff99]

Ta-da! https://forums.horseandhound.co.uk/threads/fishkeeping-photos-woes-and-other-chat.790769/
Lots of info on fighter fish on here. I would make sure to research the bio orb as they're not really the best for keeping fish in. I have seen mountain cloud minnows kept successfully in them.

 

[Fastasflames]

great! thank you, off to read up

 

[Bellasophia]

Please be kind to your fish..buy the biggest tank you can for them and oxygenate / filter well..
just because a siamese fighter was reputably reported to “carry out a life cycle in a puddle of water” has perpetrated the idea they make perfect designer pets for A Six inch deep ,well lit,rectangle to lie across the back of a sofa...or now bio orbs..
they are an interesting species,can be integrated well if you consider the other occupants( not too many showy fin displays)...but give them their right to their space and let them swim freely.

 

[Chinchilla]

My betta is a fabulous companion. He's in a 30 litre blackwater with APS adjustable HOB and 5 watt nicrew heater. It makes my desk a lot prettier and he is so much fun and very people-orientated, it's adorable.
Tank cost about £50 all told to set up. I agree with BS about treating them right to get the most out of owning them though.

 

[Bellasophia]

?wot she said........?

 

[Fastasflames]

can you tell me more about what its like to own one? in what way is he people oriented. thanks

 

[Chinchilla]

 

[Chinchilla]

He eats from my hand every day and when I sit down by my computer in the morning he swims from his "bed" in the Buddha nut to see what I'm doing. He begs for food too lol (though to be fair my goldfish do that too.)

 

[Fastasflames]

he is so lovely! thank you!

 

[Chinchilla]

Oh and he bites me ?

 

[Carmen6]

I used to keep only Bettas, mostly Plakats, which are larger than the average variety, and more closely related to the wild Bettas.

They are amazingly inquisitive and characterful, and absolutely full of heartbreak if you're unlucky.

Pic 1: male and female Plakats
pic 2: Dumbo Betta, aka Mr Frilly Sleeves
pic 3: Double Tail Betta, aka Fish-shaped Dark Matter (growing his fins back after ladies thought he was food)
pic 4: cheeky baby girls, rescued from being eaten by siblings in a fish shop.
pic 5: Black Copper Plakat
pic 6: Black Copper Half Moon, aka Mr Frilly Pants (the first and only 'normal' betta male)
pic 7: One of my many tanks. This was an Aqua One tank, which originally had 3 dividers designed for Bettas (an example of the outdated idea that bettas don't need space). I removed the dividers and I didn't like the filtration. Expensive and not fit for purpose in my opinion.

 

[Carmen6]

Also, they like to hide...

 

[Carmen6]

Sorry, I got excited about Bettas. To actually answer the original question; Biorbs are a pretty piece of furniture, but probably suited to three Cherry Barbs (a male and two females) and two shrimp. Water filtration will always be an issue.

Imagine being confined to a room where you have to breath in, and can't get away from, your own poo and pee. A problem in ANY sized tank, but the bigger the water volume, the more diluted the fish waste is, and the better the bacteria in the filter is able to break down the harmful elements.

 

[Mynstrel]

Male guppies can be a good alternative, we moved over to keeping endlers after a bad run with losing fighters. They're pretty, colourful, not too big and don't seem too fragile.

 

[Chinchilla]

Both platys and guppies are shoaling though so bear in mind you'd need at least 6 for them to be happy. When not kept in shoals they're duller, more prone to illness and hide away much more, and then obviously any tank also needs to be big enough for multiple fish too.

That being said I do think guppies are absolutely gorgeous and would love some when I have the room....I'm a bit betta-bias though it must be said. I've always said since I was about 11, (before I got into fishkeeping properly) if I ever did have a fish, it would be a male betta, and now I do have one and he's even more wonderful than I thought he would be.

 

[xxcharlottexx]

What size is the biorob? I had fish when I was younger and started again about 6 years ago. Threw ourselves in at the deep end and got a 330l tank! Downsized last year to a 200l tank when we moved house as there was no where for it to go. I have always loved the betas but not good in the community tanks as the flow is too great for them so I asked for a small tank to house one separately. This small tank has caused the biggest problems and have really struggled with it. I have found that the smaller tank is difficult to clean as too small to siphon properly without taking too much water but struggle to actually get any waste off the bottom. We have had 3 betas in the last year so none have thrived. We ended up with a cross of endlers x normal guppies that were a random find in the pet shop so were small but with the same fins/colours as guppies. If you do go for platies and they do breed then you have to be quick to catch the fry before the get eaten (even by mum). When we have managed to catch them and put then in a breeding net or tank within the main tank they have still been eaten as they slowly all escape so I can't imagine you would be over run!