question....betta, livebearers, tetras...

[Danya]

okay, so here's the deal. i was thinking about trading all my tetras
(because they're mean and they nip) and perhaps getting a male betta.
i have 2 male swordtails, 3 male guppies, and also 3 corys. i don't
want my tank to be sparse (32 gal), so what other type of fish would
you suggest? perhaps some female swordtails and guppies? or maybe a
school of neon or cardinal tetras?

all suggestions are welcome!
thanks

[blove]

the male betta might think the guppies are another betta because of their
long tails and attack. and it is my opinion that swordtails are nippy. why
not get an odd number of female bettas? they can be mixed aslong as you
have atleast 3 so they can establish a pecking order and they come in a
variety of colors like the males only sans the long flowy tails. they have
funner attitudes and are more frisky. just be sure to make sure the females
have a white dot (ovipositor) on their belly to make sure its a female and
if it doesnt then its a young male.
"Danya" > wrote in message
om...
> okay, so here's the deal. i was thinking about trading all my tetras
> (because they're mean and they nip) and perhaps getting a male betta.
> i have 2 male swordtails, 3 male guppies, and also 3 corys. i don't
> want my tank to be sparse (32 gal), so what other type of fish would
> you suggest? perhaps some female swordtails and guppies? or maybe a
> school of neon or cardinal tetras?
>
> all suggestions are welcome!
> thanks

[Danya]

well i guess i'll be the first to reply... hahaha

i think i might end up getting the male betta and some female
swordtails and guppies so they focus more on mating rather than
bothering the betta. 1 question though...should i have at least 1
more female than male... so in other words, i should have at least 4
females to 3 males / 3 females to 2 males? or.......???

[Danya]

"blove" > wrote in message >...
> the male betta might think the guppies are another betta because of their
> long tails and attack. and it is my opinion that swordtails are nippy. why
> not get an odd number of female bettas? they can be mixed aslong as you
> have atleast 3 so they can establish a pecking order and they come in a
> variety of colors like the males only sans the long flowy tails. they have
> funner attitudes and are more frisky. just be sure to make sure the females
> have a white dot (ovipositor) on their belly to make sure its a female and
> if it doesnt then its a young male.

oops, guess i wasn't first to reply.
thank... the thing is, i have never seen any female bettas around
here, all the stores only seem to carry males. i wish i would have
started with zero fish when i set up my 32 gallon! :\

[blove]

the rule for livebearers is one male to 3 females that way the females get a
break when the male is harassing the others.


"Danya" > wrote in message
om...
> well i guess i'll be the first to reply... hahaha
>
> i think i might end up getting the male betta and some female
> swordtails and guppies so they focus more on mating rather than
> bothering the betta. 1 question though...should i have at least 1
> more female than male... so in other words, i should have at least 4
> females to 3 males / 3 females to 2 males? or.......???

[Dick]

On 27 Aug 2004 14:25:23 -0700, (Danya) wrote:

>well i guess i'll be the first to reply... hahaha
>
>i think i might end up getting the male betta and some female
>swordtails and guppies so they focus more on mating rather than
>bothering the betta. 1 question though...should i have at least 1
>more female than male... so in other words, i should have at least 4
>females to 3 males / 3 females to 2 males? or.......???
Live bearers are colorful and active, they eat algae, BUT, consider
what you will do with the off spring. One male can keep all your
females bearing new fry and those fry will grow up and produce more
fry. It is the only downside to live bearers I know and I do know it.
I have lots of live bearers, lots more than I would choose to have.

dick

[Dan White]

"Dick" > wrote in message
...
> On 27 Aug 2004 14:25:23 -0700, (Danya) wrote:
>

> Live bearers are colorful and active, they eat algae, BUT, consider
> what you will do with the off spring. One male can keep all your
> females bearing new fry and those fry will grow up and produce more
> fry. It is the only downside to live bearers I know and I do know it.
> I have lots of live bearers, lots more than I would choose to have.
>

Don't the other fish just eat all the fry?

dwhite

[Danya]

Dick > wrote in message >...
> Live bearers are colorful and active, they eat algae, BUT, consider
> what you will do with the off spring. One male can keep all your
> females bearing new fry and those fry will grow up and produce more
> fry. It is the only downside to live bearers I know and I do know it.
> I have lots of live bearers, lots more than I would choose to have.
>
> dick

exactly what i was worried about! that's why i only bought males, but
then someone on here said i need my tank to be "peaceful" and i should
buy some females for them... blah.

thanks for letting me know how many males to a female, but i think
i'll just stick with the males...

gouramis do good with livebearers, don't they? i really want to get
rid of my tetras because they are mean (althought the long finned
serpae are so pretty!). so perhaps i will think about some small
gouramis. i can't make up my mind! (incase that wasn't obvious)

[Christy84065]

"> Don't the other fish just eat all the fry?
>
> dwhite

NOPE! There will be some that are smart and fast enough to hide and
stay out of view! Some will get eaten, but not all. Even in an empty
tank with no hidey places the babies will manage to hide and live