Anybody Keeping a Marine Betta?

Beverly · #1 08-14-2006, 06:20 PM

One of the first fish we kept many years ago in our 75g reef was a marine betta, Calloplesiops altivelis. It was a very cool fish, but we lost it when an exotic and toxic-when-dead worm-thing died and killed all the larger fish in the tank

Anyway, we're thinking of getting another one for our 4' 120g. The only other inhabitants in the tank are a pair of ocellaris clowns (hosting in both our RBTA and GBTA

) and a solarensis wrasse. The rockwork currently in our 120g has lots of caves throughout the rock structure, which is perfect for a marine betta.

I know marine bettas can grow to 8" in length, but our first one grew very slowly over the three years we had it. I'd appreciate any comments, pro and con, about keeping a marine betta in a 4' 120g.

TIA

Willow · #2 08-14-2006, 06:36 PM

don't they eat inverts?

i have crabs · #3 08-14-2006, 07:34 PM

cool fish golds has one right now if your coming to calgary

Murminator · #4 08-14-2006, 07:39 PM

Stan aka Reefhawk1 used to have one......BTW haven't seen Stan in a while

Beverly · #5 08-14-2006, 09:17 PM

Willow,

I read that they eat shrimp and small fish. Don't have shrimp because I think our fairy wrasse eats them too, and our fish aren't small enough for 4"-5" betta to eat.

i have crabs,

Cool! Not going to Calgary any time soon, but I wonder if someone in Calgary might be coming up here? Will help pay for gas for the person who brings the betta up to us

BTW, do you know how much the betta at Gold's is and if it's in good condition?

Denis · #6 08-14-2006, 09:46 PM

I got one for about 6 years, it hasn't grown much.
Doesn't bother anything, mostly comes out for feedings, very shy fish.
I found this to be almost bullet proof fish.
Highly recommended.

Canadbis · #7 08-14-2006, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beverly

Willow,

I read that they eat shrimp and small fish. Don't have shrimp because I think our fairy wrasse eats them too, and our fish aren't small enough for 4"-5" betta to eat.

i have crabs,

Cool! Not going to Calgary any time soon, but I wonder if someone in Calgary might be coming up here? Will help pay for gas for the person who brings the betta up to us

BTW, do you know how much the betta at Gold's is and if it's in good condition?

Golds are always healthy and in good shape. go to www.cichlids.ca for the number and ask Dennis, or Albert will see this post and chime up

Delphinus · #8 08-14-2006, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beverly

Don't have shrimp because I think our fairy wrasse eats them too

What fairy wrasse do you have? I kept shrimp alongside fairies in several different situations and never had any issue. Both cleaners and peppermints. Fish were C. cyanopleura, C. lubbocki and C. rubriventralis.

Man I do miss having fairies, they are such wonderful fish. Stupid ritteri...

(Ok .. what I really mean is "Stupid me for failing to identify a risk and thus failing to take adequate precautions against such fragile fish against such a large anemone with defensive capabilities."

But I guess I digress...)

naesco · #9 08-15-2006, 04:30 AM

Never had one but am getting one as soon as I see one in the LFS.
Here is what I read about them.
Very Sensitive to light initially and will want to hide so make them a cave or overhang. Wouldn't get it if you are running MH all the time as they will hide all the time.
Need live food when first introduced than wean them away. (live brine shrimp)
Crabs and shrimp are not safe.
Wayne

Beverly · #10 08-15-2006, 01:25 PM

Quagmire,

I know you're just kidding, but what if ten other people drop in at Gold's looking for one now they know there's one there

Wayne,

Good information. Dang! Should post some pics or a video of the new aquascaping in the 120g since amalgamating the 37g and 67g rock and livestock into the 120g. Anyway, there are two piles of rock and both of them have extensive tunnels with lots of openings to both back and front of the tank. Since we've already kept a marine betta, I'm sure our current set up will offer the betta a few great choices for its lair.

We have also set up the lights this morning so there is 1.5 hours of dawn and dusk in preparation for the betta. Hope the current fish don't get freaked by the change and don't feed this morning.

Don't know how the wrasse is going to take the intruder, since it has had the run of the place for the last week since the switch, and for several months before that. But bettas are pretty tough, if shy, fish, so maybe the betta will put the wrasse in its place pretty quickly.

Dennis also assured me this betta is eating a variety of frozen and flake/pellet foods, so I'm not concerned about providing live food for it.