Betta Question

[Hunter2001]

I would really love to add a Betta to my community aquarium, however I have heard a number of different stories regarding their temperment in community aquariums.

I have heard from some that a single male Betta in a community aquarium would be an excellent addition, while others say they can be aggressive towards peacful community fish and should be kept by themselves.

I currently have a 29Gallon aquarium consisting of:

8 neon tetras
6 zebra danios
3 albino cory catfish, and
3 Otto's

If anyone out there has experience with Bettas, especially in community aquariums, I would greatly appreciate hearing your thoughts.

Thanks!

[TheDuBdoNe]

i have a betta in my community tank and at first he was semi aggressive chasing some fish... but now he doesnt bother anyone...
6 Rosy Reds
1 Tinfoil Barb
3 Tiger Barbs
1 forgot catfish
1 Pleco
1 Columbian shark catfish
1 Betta

[ChilDawg]

Wow...Tiger Barbs will destroy Betta fins. Get your betta out of there now!

[ChilDawg]

Danios are known to be somewhat of fin-nippers, so I wouldn't add the Betta to that tank.

[amy]

I have a betta in a 15gal community:

1 Betta
7 Harlequin Rasboras
1 Otto

The betta is definitely "King of the Tank".

I found that the key to keeping him in the tank without continuous bouts of finrot is to keep the substrate extremely well vacuumed. A lot of people told me that my filter flow might be too high, but he was still having problems after adjusting the flow and moving things around to buffer the flow. Then, on a whim, I got a python and sucked a surprising amount of stuff out of the gravel. The betta's fins have made a significant improvement since then. I've been keeping up 30% water changes every 2 weeks this way and the betta and his fins seem quite happy.

[Sumpin'fishy]

I have a 20 gallon planted tank with:

1 Betta
10 Neons
6 Corys (3 bronze, 3 albino)
6 Ghost Shrimp
4 Ottos

I have had two different Bettas in this tank at different times and neither of them have harassed the other tankmates. I would be very careful about adding Bettas with fin-nipping fish. It may work, but most likely there will be problems. Also, don't add to tanks with Gouramis or Paradise fish. In fact I'd be careful about any other fish with fancy/showy colors or fins. Bettas can be great showcase fish in peaceful communities, though!

[Heady]

I'm with ChilDawg. I wouldn't put the betta in with danios, they're way too active and might scare him into hiding. What's the point if you have a betta but never see him? :)

[Heady]

BTW some labrinth fish shouldn't be mixed... i.e. bettas will fight with some types of gouramis. HTH

[TheDuBdoNe]

ChilDogg... i thought multiple tiger barbs kinda made them not nippy...? well anyways they dont bother it...

[BBN]

My betta has never even acknowleged the existence of other fish in my 20 gallon.

[ChilDawg]

Originally posted by TheDuBdoNe
ChilDogg... i thought multiple tiger barbs kinda made them not nippy...? well anyways they dont bother it...

Yeah, they tend to exhibit signs of intraspecific aggression, rather than interspecific aggression, at that point, but they do destroy betta fins. I've seen the two in tanks together at LFS (with large quantities of Tigers) and this results in euthanized bettas. I realize the possibility of peace, but you're gonna want to make sure that you have something to put the betta in just in case.

[TheDuBdoNe]

well ive got a ten gallon cycling right now so i can use it as a hospital/quarantine tank... maybe ill keep the betta in there just in case...