Betta with other fish.

I've had a female betta in my community tank for a couple of weeks now (with platies - added some cories this weekend), all seems okay.

the only inhabitants who need worry are the small ghost shrimp.
 
Sovran said:
I have 5 female and one male betta in my community tank, and they all get on fine with each other and the other citizens. One thing I have noticed though (through experience - we have 17 bettas in the house!) - the redder or darker the betta, the more aggressive they seem to be. The ones in my big tank are all lighter veil and crowntails. The darker reds and blues have to have their own tanks because they seem to be very aggressive, and we have had to have a few rescues.

Seeing as the family seems to be addicted to bettas, I am considering renaming our house "The Alpha Betta Place" :)
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Actually, I believe that the darker color is not the cause, but the effect of dominance.

My girlfriend had a mildly stressful experience with a three-female betta tank in which they were always fighting for dominance (bad advice from the LFS). We would occasionally take one out if it was bullying all the others. Sure enough, the next fish on the pecking order would start bullying and shortly after start to darken in color.

Stressed, submissive bettas get really light in color. In general, I'm convinced that bettas are happier being the only betta in the tank, male or female.
 
I've seen and heard of groups of females getting on fine together. Like everyone is saying, it all depends on the size of your tank and the individual personalities of the fish in question.
 
I have 3 males and 4 females’ bettas in a 40-gallon tank and only one of the males has a tattered tail. The males have picked out a small section of the tank for themselves and make attempts at defending it. The make semi aggressive charges at the other males then go back to there hiding spot. They rarely charge at the other fish (angels, cardinals, gobies) and they kind of tolerate the females (like people). This is my experience anyway; your mileage may vary...
 
I agree with DavienSF. I've had them with others of their species, I've had them in my community tank (30 gallon tall) and I've had them in singular containers and I have to say they seemed at their best when kept solo. The males I spaced 6 inches apart or else kept opaque dividers between them. The females I'd just sit side by side unless one of them seemed unhappy and discolored. Then I'd divide her from whoever was bothering her.

I've kept bettas on and off since I was eleven, so I have what I consider a lot of experience and research with them. The bettas I had when I was a kid were so much more aggressive and antisocial, the females were stubby, short-finned, and mud-brown. You were lucky to find a female with pretty fin colors on her murky little body, let alone the long-finned vibrant beauties you see today! I remember when double-tailed bettas were brand new!!! I feel so old. ^_^;;

So I've seen them become prettier, fancier, less hardy, and more peaceful as I've gone along. It's amazing to see this as I've gone along in the hobby and I'm thrilled at the idea of eventually having bettas that are docile enough to be housed in community aquariums with other fish and bettas peacefully. BUT... a part of me is sad to see a fish who's traditional origins and very first reason for being IN the hobby turning into something so unlike how it began. I can understand the good in it, but it's sort of depressing to see bettas who don't flare and flash their fins at any opportunity.

I can't imagine a male betta who wouldn't... but I've seen them now and I don't know how to feel about it. They just look lethargic and bored!! Not the bettas of my childhood.
 
If a betta in a bowl with no heater flares at you all the time, I'm not sure how he would take to tankmates. Bettas in bowls tend to be very lethargic. I think it would be a great idea to upgrade him to a heated, filtered 5 gallon or at least a 2.5 of his own :)

As for your existing 10 gallon, cory cats really do better in a group of 6 or more; however, three is doable too...

Tetras are always happier in groups of 6 or more, but I am unfamiliar with the sizes of those types and can't comment on stocking your tank with more of them... (no idea)

anyways, sorry for that unsolicited advice :)
 
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