The Marine Betta

I have decided to give a Marine Betta a try IF I can get my hands on a healthy specimen. 125 dt with 75 gal sump/fuge with current lives stock of Majestic, Purple-Yellow-and Blue Tangs, 2 Clowns, Mandarin, and 2 Chromis. FYI I will be getting rid of the Chromis soon. Beautiful and interesting fish IMHO. I know they are shy. Will my 3 Tangs bother him? My Purple Tang is a bully but the other two are very peaceful. Any info I can get is appreciated. Thanks! ;D

 

bump

 

give him 1-2 big caves AND overhangs for it. maybe some smaller ones

 

It depends on how the tang feels about the betta. Very beautiful fish though, extremely shy, make sure you actualy see it eat though.

 

Why get rid of the chromis? They are peaceful, busy, low maintenance fish?

 

Good question. You are correct they are busy and low maintenance. Very hardy and have tripled their size since I first bought them as babies. However, I walk a very tight line of never overstocking my aquarium. I believe water quality is the #1 key to success in this hobby and this thinking has served me well. No more than 9 or 10 fish in my aquarium is all I want. The Betta would make 10. I also have plans for another addition and that would make 11. Plus I fear the Betta might make a meal out of them.

 

I have some questions about feeding them. I have heard it is very difficult to get them to eat. I have a Green Mandarin that I tried and tried and tried to get to eat prepared foods but failed miserably. He is a complete "fat ass" so no worries. Just never could get him to eat anything I gave him. He eats natural food in my reef. So what is the trick to getting a Betta to eat shrimp which is what I would feed him?

 

I doubt the betta would eat it, even though they are similar to groupers, i find them very reclusive and the chromis could actually starve the betta by stealing its food, smae goes with all your fish, so you just gotta make sure you see it eat.

 

I was thinking about getting him to eat out of my hand. All of my fish eat out my hand every day and even peck at my arm if I am working in the tank. I plan on QT him where I want him to learn to eat from my hand. This is the biggest challenge I have heard. Thank you though for the info.

 

Yeah i did ALOT of research on these guys. the biggest problem is the not taking frozen, pellets or flake, and that they are really shy, and already established fish can out compete them for food.