What can I keep with a betta?

rwaterman

rwaterman

AC Members
Aug 6, 2009
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Indianapolis
I am trying to help out my wife's grandmother. She has a betta fish and we just moved him into a 10 gallon tank with heater and filter but no other fish. Well now she thinks that "Bob" is lonely and needs some playmates... Looking for some help and advice!
 
How about some snails? I keep them with my betta, and they are little trouble and an endless source of amusement for him. I have heard of others keeping fish with bettas, but I'm not certain that would work in a 10 gallon tank. I have mine in a 5 with 2 large ghost shrimp and two snails. Good luck with Bob. He's probably really digging his new tank.
 
I have some cory, ramshorn snails, and red cherry shrimp in with mine.
Ottos are also said to do well with bettas.
 
rwaterman said:
I am trying to help out my wife's grandmother. She has a betta fish and we just moved him into a 10 gallon tank with heater and filter but no other fish. Well now she thinks that "Bob" is lonely and needs some playmates... Looking for some help and advice!
Click to expand...

Lonely is a feeling that social animals might feel, the betta is not.

That said, I have a Betta in a 10g with a group of Endlers.
 
Oh "bob" seems to enjoy the new tank without a doubt. Thanks for the help. Will the Ottos get very big or are all these fish be ok with "Bob" in the 10 gallon?
 
snails are great as long as mr betta doesn't nip at the antennae.


in a larger tank you'd have more options for tankmates, but for a 10 i'd consider pretty much any of the more placid small community fish. minimum of 5 or so if they are schooling fish. no long fins, flashy colours, nippy fish, or 'nervous' fish is what i've read, seen, been told for male betta tankmates.

when introducing any new tankmate(s) to mr betta's home, be sure to have an alternate place to quickly put any fish should you have aggression issues. have a rubbermaid container or some such at the ready, just in case.
 
It seems like we will be going with some snails.. but is there a certain kind of snail that I should look for and also stay away from... I just don't think grandma wants to wake up to see her 2 snails make 25 all the sudden!

Also good idea about the rubbermaid container. I've heard as well to stay away from big fins, flash and nippy fish! Also heard real fast fish aren't good because they may compete for the food.. Don't know if that is 100% true or not
 
Try a couple of Brigs. They're readily available from sellers on the forum, inexpensive, Get slightly small than a golf ball,you need a mated pair to have little snails, and they lay large, visible eggs above water which are easily removed before hatching. Oh yeah, they come in a variety of colors-- perhaps you can find some to match "Bob."
 
apple snails (briggs) are an excellent choice if you are concerned about the population increasing quickly. briggs lay eggs above the water line so it is easy to remove the eggs, put them in a ziploc, freeze them, and put them in the garbage. i call it brigg birth control, lol.
 
I currently have 6 Harlequin Rasboras, 2 female guppies, 5 (I think) Red Cherry Shrimp (Always in the Java Moss, only see them when doing WCs), Ramshorns, MTS, and 1 Mystery Snail in my 10g tank with my Betta.

I wouldn't recommend getting this many fish/inverts as I am overstocked, these are just some tankmates I've found to be compatible.
 
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