Getting Neons to School Tighter

[moghedan]

As long as the Neons are not picking on the Betta, you can leave him in.

Harlequin Rasboras are the classic pairing... but even their active swimming will not school the Neons.

[ameliaaahx]

My Harlequin Rasbora school most of the time, and when I had Lambchops they schooled even moreso. Not to mention Lambchop rasboras would look lovely with the neons. Talldutchie will offer more insight to the Lambchops, I'm sure.

Gorgeous tank, by the way. Love the driftwood.

[nikelodeon79]

As long as the Neons are not picking on the Betta, you can leave him in.

Harlequin Rasboras are the classic pairing... but even their active swimming will not school the Neons.

The Betta is more likely to pick on the neons (or steal their food) than the other way around, but it's not as likely in a large tank. Some bettas will actively hunt down smaller fish, but most ignore them, other than stealing food.

Regarding the rasboras, I meant THEY would school, not that they would force the neons to school.

[CrazedMichael]

Schooling is a natural defence tactic that occurs when they come under threat. The tighter the school the harder it is to be hunted. Since they feel no such threat in your tank, they don't feel the need to school. So basically it means they are satisfied and happy.
Not many, if any, tetras actually school on a permanent basis. The only true schooling fish that i have owned are Silver Dollars, but i would not recommend them in your tank for many reasons.

Personally, adding a dither fish to encourage schooling is not the way to stock a tank. Choose wisely and accept that they will never school.

[steeler1]

The Betta is more likely to pick on the neons (or steal their food) than the other way around, but it's not as likely in a large tank. Some bettas will actively hunt down smaller fish, but most ignore them, other than stealing food.

Regarding the rasboras, I meant THEY would school, not that they would force the neons to school.

+ 1 nikelodeon79, neons will not bother the betta. They are one of the most peacefull fish you can keep.

[moghedan]

+ 1 nikelodeon79, neons will not bother the betta. They are one of the most peacefull fish you can keep.

Actually, the Betta is too slow to be any real threat. He puffs up, the Neons teleport behind him, give him a little fin nip, and chase him back to the other side of the aquarium.

My Betta does guard the special food, if I cut up a shrimp or drop in some cucumber.

[nikelodeon79]

Actually, the Betta is too slow to be any real threat. He puffs up, the Neons teleport behind him, give him a little fin nip, and chase him back to the other side of the aquarium.

My Betta does guard the special food, if I cut up a shrimp or drop in some cucumber.

Are you sure he's not overfed? Bettas generally are sleek and quick... they're pretty epic hunters when they want to be, actually.

Do you have regular neon tetras? Generally they're very peaceful, but if they're "giving little fin nips" they should NOT be in the same tank as the betta. Not fair to the betta.

Over the years I've kept just about every type of domestic betta (and am now branching out into wilds). I have kept them singly, in community tanks, and in "sorority tanks." I am firmly convinced that keeping them singly is what's best for them, although I don't think it's wrong of people to keep them in appropriate community settings, provided the water requirements are similar and they watch out for overeating (the most common issue of keeping bettas with other fish), fin nipping, and aggressive behavior by the betta.