Cichlid & Betta

Sorry but they won't go together. Male bettas get a reputation as a super aggressive tough fish but really they are just super aggressive against other male bettas. Generally they are the ones that get picked on in a community tank situation. There are some good community fish that work with a betta but I wouldn't put many cichlids on that list.

You can't really train fish to do what they don't want to. I would get a nice little 2 -5 gallon tank and set it up for the betta. I have mine in a 5 gallon planted tank all to himself and things are great.

So do you all think one would get the same results (ie: bullying cichlid cowering betta) if a betta was in with African butterfly cichlids? I've heard that they are fairly peaceful, even for cichlids. I just want to get my poor betta out of its 1 gal bowl and into something bigger, so I'm hoping I can put him in a tank with either Af buttfly cichs or with rainbowfish (whcih I dont really want, they look kinda dumb and personalityless although they are really pretty) So any thoughts anyone? Should it be done or am I just holding out a faint hope??

Oh and i know I can put the betta in his own 5 gal or whatever tank but space is limited here in my tiny abode and I'm just trying to use what space there is as best as I can (ie: as many tanks as I can )

thnx

i dont know about the butterfly fish, it may be worth a try but in with the rainbows is your best bet.

The only cichlid I have successfly kept bettas in with are rams, discus, and angels...

My Apisto. staecki and kribs beat my male bettas up pretty good.

If a 5 gallon is out of the question, how about one of those small 2.5 gallon tanks. Still small but much more room for mr betta. And since it is a betta you can still get away with no filter assuming you do the proper water changes.

The african butterfly is a top dweller and may not allow the betta to share his domain. But since I have never tried I don't know.

Thanks everyone for your replies... appreicate it.

What I have decided to do is just get a 10 gal, put a divider in it and a filter and a heater and some live plants and put my male betta on one side, in like 4 of the 10 gals and then on the other get like 3 female bettas. Maybe 4.

I think that I just like my betta too much to experiment with him and cichlids. And I dont WANT rainbowfish like I want some cichlids.

As for the 2.5 gallon, it kinda sucks but even in a bowl unless you want to do complete water changes every 2 to 3days, you need a filter. I been testing ammonia levels in his 1 gal bowl and also on a betta in a 2 gal tank (no filter) and the ammonia levels build up in no time. Surprisinly the 2 gal tank is worse, maybe because that betta is bigger and eats more.

Anway, I appreciate your guys's answers.