Cherry Barbs and Betta??

**mstratmann** · 05-01-2013, 05:12 PM

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** · 05-01-2013, 05:57 PM

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.

**Knightia** · 05-01-2013, 07:01 PM

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.

**steeler58** · 05-01-2013, 07:08 PM

+ 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** · 05-01-2013, 07:08 PM

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** · 05-01-2013, 07:16 PM

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

**steeler58** · 05-01-2013, 07:31 PM

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

**Imma24** · 05-01-2013, 07:31 PM

+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** · 05-01-2013, 07:43 PM

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...