Something to live with the betta...

[HeatherB]

So, since I am redoing my tank this weekend I plan to rehome all of my platys to my mom and sister. They both have only about two platys, so I decided that this was it would help them both to increase their schools and would not have any fry in my tank for Mr. Betta to be tempted to snack on!

I had 5 platys, but one was floating this morning, so now I am down to four. Two Sunburst Wag and two Gold Twin Bar.

So...My question is: What other fish can I get to put with Mr. Betta? He has succesfully (at one point in his life) tolerated Platys, Cherry Barbs, Plecos, and Ghost Shrimp.

He much prefers the ten gallon ( I had to stick him in there b/c of an unfortunate incident involving the cat and the tank falling to the floor) he has been swimming more than anything.

So what kind of fish? I would prefer something low on the cost end, only b/c I hate to put expensive fish in to possibly get eaten or die for some reason! (You never can tell when Mr. Betta will turn!)

[s72450]

Try some cory cats! They are awesome and will go great with Mr. Betta!

[HeatherB]

Well, I have the ghost shrimp, I don't really need cory cats. I would like something that is brightly colored, and showy. I plan on lots of plants, a few decorations etc.

[sleeby]

Just avoid fin nippers as they will terrorize Mr. Betta and make him ill.

and avoid guppies (esp of like color) as he will probably terrorize them.

Otherwise, I have always had great luck with male bettas in communities. The guppy thing was only a problem once and that was a smaller tank (12G).

[Rue]

Problem is, that other fish that are bright and showy are likely to either bother the betta or vice versa.

Having said that,

Zebra danios would work I think. I've had them together and have seen no problems...

Platies would work too...again, I've had them with bettas...

[HeatherB]

Yes. I have had my betta with Platys. What about glofish. They are the same as Zebra Danios. How many could I put in a 10 gallon with Mr. Betta and 3 ghost shrimp?

[terrapin24h]

normally i would not hesitate to suggest the glofish, but i think the betta might not like their color--they have excellent color vision and use it to spot other bettas. Maybe regular danios?

--chris

[HeatherB]

Hmm....yes yes...I will have to look into that. I am thinking of getting another 10 gallon tank so maybe that will get some glofish instead.

[MCHRKiller]

Id personally avoid danios, they can be a bit more prone to being nippy of the bettas long fins expecially if kept in a small shoal. I have had great success with some simple neon tetras and kuhli loaches in my 15G planted betta tank its completely harmonious in there. Probably my most relaxing setup.

[mac]

Problem is, that other fish that are bright and showy are likely to either bother the betta or vice versa.

I agree. Had the same thing happen to me.

Neon Tetras tend to work okay. So do Harlequins.

Having said that,

Zebra danios would work I think. I've had them together and have seen no problems...

Had quite a few Bettas torn to peaces with Danios. I find them much to nippy and fast for a Betta

Really I beleive fish like small Tetras, like Neons Cardinals, Glow lights ect are great choicesw. They are less likerly to fin nip, and they are quite flashy.

mac

[*Sarah*]

so far so good with my zeb danios and male betta.
How about endlers?

[mac]

so far so good with my zeb danios and male betta.
How about endlers?

Enderls live bears. I have never tried keeping them with Bettas. But they are very similar to Guppies so there may be trouble depending.

mac

[HeatherB]

I've been looking around. I am thinking sand substrate, planted, some 'fake' driftwood, and maybe a few rasboras or tetras. I rehomed all of my platys tonight, so how many in a 10 gallon with betta and 3 ghost shrimp?

[mac]

I've been looking around. I am thinking sand substrate, planted, some 'fake' driftwood, and maybe a few rasboras or tetras. I rehomed all of my platys tonight, so how many in a 10 gallon with betta and 3 ghost shrimp?

A school of 5 would be fine. Neon Tetras would be slightly better. Because they are less active than the Harlequins.

But the choice is up to you.thumbs2:

mac

[HeatherB]

The Neon Tetras at my LPS are quite small. I will have to look again today, but if they are small, do you think that would be a problem? I don't want Mr. Betta to eat them! All of the rasbora's I have seen there were slightly bigger.

Again though, I am re-doing the tank, so that should upset any boundaries that the betta wants. Everything should be fair game when they all get put together.

[sleeby]

The betta in my community never ate anyone and I had adolescent neons in there once.

My daughter has a crowntail betta in a 12G with three glowfish, a pair of platies, four dwarf cories and a mystery snail and they have no issues with one another at all.

[*Sarah*]

Enderls live bears. I have never tried keeping them with Bettas. But they are very similar to Guppies so there may be trouble depending.

mac
Well the trouble with Guppies is their flowing tails, which make the betta think it's another betta...Endlers don't have that. I have 1 endlers, 5 zeb danios and my male betta together in my 10 and all is well. The danios pretty much ignore the betta.

[jd6405]

My betta, Barbosa, has lived with glo-lites and dwarf plattis (current tank mates). He has also lived with a dwarf frog with no problems and ottos. However, snails are always a problem as he eats them, no matter how big they are! Hehe...

[bluebluecow]

I have about 20 neons with my betta, and no probs, but i had 5 neons in there before he went in, so they where there already.

The tank is heavly planted so lots of hidy places, he tends to keep up top, and the neons near bottom lol. It looks great and I love it, I spend ages watching the tank

Liz

[Michaelt]

Jumping into this one if you folks don't mind...

We just moved our betta "blue" to a ten gallon planted aquarium; had a black algae problem and removed all the rock, infected plants, water changes, and now things seem to be going in the right direction, readings are good.

So the betta is in there all by his lonesome now; was thinking about a small school of white clouds?

Thoughts?

[*Sarah*]

There's another thread that asks the same q about what to add to bettas...white clouds I believe were said to be too nippy.

[mac]

All people seem to have had nice Betas. Two of mine have killed anything 3 times there size. As for neons they were the only fish that got left alone.

I don't know what it is my Bettas are just killers.

But as for the young Tetras it all is up-to your Betta as to wether he will eat them. With rearranging the tank it will help or it can make things go bad. I changed one of my tank around which my once very peaceful betta lived in, after the changes he went syco. Killed everything. Cat-fish Kulies Rainbows, Rasboras.

mac