betta tankmate advice

[Srenaeb]

Hello,
I would really like to get a single, male betta. Need advice on whether one will fit in happily in my current tank:

72 gallon (48"wide) + 1HOB filter + air pump + powerhead
silica sand
no live plants except for one marimo ball
1 common pleco, very shy, 6-7" long
5 bronze cories, rather rowdy in their crazy cory ways
8 blue emperor tetras, new tankmates mostly in fake plant, school, eat floating flakes

my 2 main concerns :
1)will the species get along
2)will betta be stressed by filter/powerhead/airpump

prelim research regarding question one, all websites I looked up indicate they will be okay with each other

http://www.aquariumlife.net/fishcomp.asp
http://www.liveaquaria.com/general/fwcompatibility_chart.cfm
http://www.auspet.com/fish08.html (produces pop-up window)
http://aqadvisor.com/AqAdvisor.php
this website only lists p.pardalis as common pleco. My Leopard is NOT a p.pardalis. although, don't know what he is
http://www.ratemyfishtank.com/freshwater_compatibility_chart.php
same as the other one possibly
http://www.fishlore.com/Profiles-Betta.htm

the powerhead is staioned in the middle brace of my tank, which means the left half the tank has slower moving water moved only by the HOB and air pump. If it will make Mr Betta feel better I can even move the HOB over onto the right side, leaving only airpump on the left.

any advice welcome =)

[2brown347]

I think it should be fine with the tankmates, expecially in a tank that size. Maybe watch that the tetras aren't nipping his fins but I don't think that should be a problem. Just watch them.

And there shouldn't be a problem with the current with a tank that size, if the surface is fairly calm he should be fine

[jooranda]

now this could work but id keep an eye on all the occupents my betta likes a tank to himself an picks on all the lil guys i try an put with him cause his a grumpy old man so if u do descide to go ahead an it doesnt work out make sure u have a spare tank up an running so u can put ur betta in.

[halfmoonplakat]

The stocking is fine

[Srenaeb]

hmm the back up plan is a good plan.

i haven't read that blue emperor tetras nip fins, has anyone heard of them nipping fin?

[Ara]

Sounds like a good set up to me for a Betta! I have a Betta myself with a couple peppered cory's and a bunch of zebra danios (similiar to tetras in size/shape), and they are all fine together.

The rule I was taught about tankmates for Bettas is to make sure they are smaller-finned - anything with big floofy flashy fins can make the betta start nipping, but smaller finned fish are fine, like corys and tetras.

I am little new to the fish tank world, but it's been 8 months and no problems, so I would think you would be fine. Good luck!

[jooranda]

really makes no diff if they borin bright in colour if a betta does not get on with tankmates he is goin to let the rest of the fish know an u dont want any fish to suffer uneccessary stress.

[Srenaeb]

Sounds like a good set up to me for a Betta! I have a Betta myself with a couple peppered cory's and a bunch of zebra danios (similiar to tetras in size/shape), and they are all fine together.

The rule I was taught about tankmates for Bettas is to make sure they are smaller-finned - anything with big floofy flashy fins can make the betta start nipping, but smaller finned fish are fine, like corys and tetras.

I am little new to the fish tank world, but it's been 8 months and no problems, so I would think you would be fine. Good luck!


that sounds cool =) I hope mine works out as well as yours!

[NorthcoastGirl]

I have my betta in with my 20 gallon with Red Phantom tetras and they seem to get along pretty well. Occasionally he'll chase them away from the food, but only when they venture too close to the top. All in all, the tetras chase each other a lot more then he chases them.

I say go for it. He'll love having 75 gallons to explore!

[Michwol42795]

I think it should be fine. The only possible problems are 1. You get a really mean Betta (unlikely, most are fine in communities) 2. Tetras nip fins (unlikely, since they're in a large school it should be fine) The current shouldn't be a problem, as long as there are places the Betta can go to be in calm water.

[Srenaeb]

thanks =)
I guess I'll have to look into getting more plants, fake or real,
so whichever is being bullied can have a place to hide

i know nothing about live plants though =( probably getting some more plastics then. No special lights or CO2 or soil or anything like that.

[spacefish34]

hey there.couple of points.male bettas make great community fish.but actually,they usually r the victims of abuse.they're glorious(though not natural)long flowing fins can be irresistable nip targets to even the most passive of fish.couple this with the hindrance the long fins have on the male bettas swimming competency and you have the recipe for tattered fin city.my suggestion for your setup is the underappreciated female betta.1.they can be kept in groups.2.though they are shorter finned,they come in just as pretty colors and patterning.3.they have all the gusto of the male,but with the physicality to back it up,etc.so give the girls a shot.good luck.

[thebetta]

Thank you! Spacefish totally nailed it. I agree 100%

[2brown347]

I'd recommend a Plakat over a single female. They're "usually" better looking than females IMO.

[fishycat]

Female bettas can be just as beautiful as the boys:

http://www.petfish.net/articles/Bettas/female_bettas.php (http://www.petfish.net/articles/Bettas/female_bettas.php)

Great pictures and good information. It all comes down to temperament. Females or males can both be complete terrors, or total softies. Just be watchful when you first introduce him/her to your tank. If you have lots of cover (fake plants/driftwood/etc), you could do a sorority with 3-5 easily.

[brittanyd0203]

I just introduced a new male betta into a 10g heavily planted tank 2 days ago that houses 6 male fancy guppies, 2 long-finned blue danios, and 2 oto-cats. After the initial chasing (though he never touched them, just chased them), he is now settled in and is content with his room mates. I figure you'll be perfectly fine introducing a betta into a tank that large with no problems with the other occupants.

*EDIT*
As far as live plants go, they really aren't too hard to take care of. I'd start out with some simple plants like anacharis (if it's legal in your state), pennywort, or some kind of moss. Bettas love to lay in plants so regardless of whether you choose live or fake, I'd definitely get a few more plants. Also, you can make DIY caves out of rock from Lowes and 100% pure silicone. They are cheap as dirt to make and from my experience the fish love them!

[Michwol42795]

More plants would be good. You can have Java Ferns and Java Moss most likely, they can survive in almost anything. I think that, regardless of sex, the Betta would be fine, male or female, so just get whatever Betta you like best. DIY caves would be nice, try Terracotta pots or PVC pipe then silicone on some gravel/sand they make great caves!

[psyche]

I have a couple of female bettas in a 5g and they seem fine, but they do really like to have lotsof plants.

[jooranda]

all im going to say is make sure u have a spare tank up an running incase wot plans u have dont work an then u can move fish cause wot might work for one does not mean its gonna work for another good luck :)