Cherry Barbs and Betta??

[mstratmann]

Hi all, I have 6 barbs in a 10 gal tank and was thinking of adding a single betta. Do cherry barbs and bettas go well together? Appreciate the advice :)

[Limming]

I've never kept cherry barbs but I won't think a betta would go well with them. I'd imagine they would bully the betta and the betta would get stressed. For keeping a betta I would go with a 10 gallon for the single betta.

[~firefly~]

Cherry barbs are quite nervous fish (I have a school of 28 of them), most unlike your classic barbs and don't bully anything as far as I can tell. They are not fin nippers. You will probably be ok with them in my opinion. Just make sure you have plenty of plants. Cherry barbs like shady cover.

[steeler1]

+ 1 to firefly's comment on Cherry barbs, they are perhaps the most peacefull of all the Barbs. Also follow her advice on plants and shading and you should be okay.

[mstratmann]

I have lots of plants for them and have never had any nipped fins or anything like that- have two that dance occasionally but they're not at all aggressive. I was more concerned on what the betta might to do the barbs then vise versa.

[genocidex]

bettas are always hit or miss, they can be fine one day and the next day the tank could be empty, always practice caution.

[steeler1]

You could always try a female Betta if in doubt. There are some very nice color strains of them nowadays.

[imma24]

+1 with genocidex - I've seen people try and put a betta in with other tank mates & then quickly have to remove it because it attacked something - you should have a back up tank (no smaller than 5gal) to put a betta in just in case if you do decide to add one.

There are also those that ignore the other fish in the tank with it too.

[mstratmann]

Do you think getting a baby betta and having it grow up with the others would allow it to acclimate and not be interested in fighting with the others? Or does adult/baby matter? The bettas I've had before were always kept by themselves and were adults...

[genocidex]

ive kept a few baby females before, they seem to be a little more tempermental than the adults. but i am going off my experience with 2 baby