Betta question

[catt410]

I have just inherited my DD betta. He is in a small tank with no filtration. I'm gonna be getting a 20 gl in the next couple of days. If I put the betta in the 20gl can he live with anything else? and how many?


Thanks for the help.

[davexstumpe]

You've got a lot of options really.

I've heard to keep away from fancy guppies because the betta could confuse them for another male betta, but i've seen male community tanks with bettas and guppies with no problem.

Any ideas of what you would want?

[Weezer]

We have harlequins,penguins,minors.albino cat, bn pleco, for example..:)

[~Kswords~]

Guppies can be quite tricky sometimes because of their fancy tail and this could cause more fights with the betta and guppies. Try something with less finnage and that should work fine.

[severum mama]

Don't risk it with guppies. I learned this the hard way- my tank looked like a war zone until I took the guppies back. Sadly, one of them died.

In a 20 gallon, you have plenty of options.:) You can get a school of small corys, like pygmaeus, habrosus, trilineatus, or panda, and keep a few of them (more if you choose pygmaeus or habrosus). Then you could add a school of small tetras or rasboras. I've kept bettas with harlequin rasboras with no issues. As for tetras: neons, cardinals, green fires, glowlights, and black neons would be great choices. The important thing is to choose a school of small fish that are generally not fin nippers- stay away from most barbs.

It sounds like you have a bit of time to get this all planned out. Do a little research on some species that you like, and then check back here to make sure they are compatible!:)

[cyborob]

In my 10 gal - 3 Cardinals and one Betta

[didy]

I keep a betta in a planted tank with one bn pleco. All is peaceful.

[vasmir]

I have my betta in my 10 gallon planted tank, with 3 tetra neons right now. (adding more soon).

The betta seams to enjoy chasing them around the tank, but doesn't mind them too much otherwise. It really depends on the temperment of the betta as well... they're all different.

I've heard that anything semi-aggressive or anything that nips at the fins of the betta will be bad with it, so for now I'm sticking to community fish.

here's a chart that may help -
http://www.ratemyfishtank.com/freshwater_compatibility_chart.php

[iamgroovy]

I had my betta in with corys in a planted 16g and everything was fine for about two weeks but then had to move the corys because he chased and nipped them. Just watch closely if you add any fish with a betta. They are an agressive fish by nature. They may be fine, then they may not...I put apple snails in with him and he just seems a little confused by them. I haven't seen any aggression.