Betta in community tank

[Jayhawk]

Yep, they can and will eat standard flakes. If you mix things up with frozen bloodworms once a week they'll love you for it, but it's not mandatory.

 

[BettaFishMommy]

all fish should have a varied diet. just feeding flakes doesn't cut it. mix it up and feed flakes, frozen, pellets, etc. your fish will be much happier and healthier.

 

[spartanalia]

not necessarily true. male bettas make great additions to community tanks. one thing you do have to consider though is the personality of the betta. some are just too grumpy to live sociably.

So true. I have a really peaceful halfmoon betta in my community tank with 5 platies and 5 cardinal tetras. No fin nipping. In fact, the betta is so peaceful he doesn't even flare at the other fish during feeding time when they eat his food. It's really all about the personality. Conversely, I had a veiltail betta that was nasty and killed the cory I put in with him that night. Best advice is to keep a little tank set up, maybe a 2.5 gal, and buy a betta. Then just monitor his behavior. If he seems peaceful, he probably is. If he's real active and agitated then he's probably not going to be the best tankmate.