Adding Another Fish to Betta Tank

M

maryalice81403

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Oct 2, 2006
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Salinas, CA
I am getting ready to move my betta up from a 3 gallon to a 12 gallon tank. I would like to put something else in with him to keep him company. So I have a few questions:

1. What can I put in with him that he will get along with and that can live in a 12 gallon tank?

2. Will adding the new fish to the tank before I add the betta help as far as the betta invading their territory instead of the other way around?

3. Is their any way to insure that when you add new fish or plants you are not adding bad bacteria at the same tim? Betta is doing fine now...I don't want to add something that is going to bring in disease.

4. I can't seem to find any decorations that are smooth enough to not hurt the bettas fins so I want add live plants to give betta and other fish some place to hide in. Are there plants that will just grow in regular gravel or do I have to have some other kind of substrate?

Any advice is appreciated!

MaryAlice
 
For plants you can use Java Ferns or some Aponogeton plants.
Platies, Mollies, Swordtails, Angel Fish, Danios, Gouramis, a school of Bala Sharks, a school of Clown Loaches, a group of Corydoras Catfish, and a Plecostomus Catfish can be kept with a Betta.
You can try White Clouds. They worked with my Betta.
Its always best to read up on these fish and figure out which one is the least aggressive and the largest.
Then I would add the least aggressive and largest fish to the tank first. Then the next to the largest and so forth then the betta.
This will establish the less aggressive fish territory and make the Betta less likely to bully them.
Just make sure the fish you choose arent too colorfull.
Betta's tend to not like colorful fish and have been known to attack and or kill them.
 
Nothing with a large tail (such as guppies)

Bettas may see this as another Betta and you know what happens next.
 
get the new fish and put them into your 12 first, keep them there for 3-4 weeks before adding the betta. that will efectively quarantine them and keep any disease from spreading. make sure to cycle your tank somehow.
 
And be prepared to move the betta back to the 3 gallon if you see signs of harassment, attacking, chewed fins, missing eyes, etc. with the other fish.
Some bettas can get quite territorial and even downright nasty, and it's always a bit of a risk to combine them with other fish--although it has been done.
 
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I recommend Java Fern and Anubias Nana =)

Java fern is a good mid/backgruond while nana is a good foreground plant.

Aquatic clovers make excellent ground cover.
 
If your betta is docile, then i would add a school of neons or cardinals in with him...(8-12) This would look very nice. You should chose some easy to care for plants, and use a black substrate like black gravel or eco-complete.... That would be a NICE looking tank.


Good LUCK!!! :dive2:
 
add the other fish first- no fast moving fish like dainos, and your tank is to small for large fish like angels, and no fin nippers like barbs and searpe tetras. you best bet would be a school of 10 neons, 8 lemons, or 6 red eye tetras.
even if you have to move him back, your tank will still look great
 
No gouramis with bettas -- they don't usually get along too well. You really don't want ripped up fish (or worse, dead fish) and could well end up with this as a result of this combination.
 
Hmmm I have had plenty of qouramis with bettas.
I think Neons work well.
I used to have a pretty docile VERY large betta in with a school of Neons and a few black mollies.
He was my population control for the mollies.
But with a 12g tank you cant add too much of anything.
What about some Cory cats and some nice foliage? And some interesting gravel and ornaments?
I have had bala's live with a betta with no problems.
I have seen here suggested before ghost shrimp, but bettas have been known to snack on them ;)
 
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