Beta and tankmates - Aquarium Advice

Jarred Darque · 03-24-2006, 05:40 PM

ok, I have a beta in a 1 gallon, and he seems very lonely.

I have a 29 gallon tank with. 2 angels, 2 raphael catfish, 6 cory cats, alot of snails, and 2 african butterfly fish.

Can he go in there? Will everything be fine? And lastly, will I still need to feed him beta pellets? or will he realize that flake is an acceptable food?

BTW, the tank is in blackwater conditions due to the drfitwood I keep in there

**Zagz** · 03-24-2006, 07:05 PM

Bettas can be community fish, I would be concerned about putting him in with your current stocking. All I can say is you can try it and be really prepared for it not working out. The angels and betta may not get along at all. I'd get a 5 or 10 gal and put him in there and get a couple of other fish that would work better for him. JMO.

Japola44 · 03-24-2006, 07:11 PM

if by african butterfly fish you mean, Pantodon buchholzi, as in not the cichlid. I would not at all suggest moving your betta into the tank. It will tear him apart. They are agressive to fish smaller than them, esspecially fish closser to the surface. Your betta is better off alone.

**QTOFFER** · 03-24-2006, 07:27 PM

Welcome to AA, Jarred!!!

I'd keep the betta in another tank. The butterfly fish is a predator, and angels can get quite aggresive. Those long showy fins would make him a target.

I would upgrade to at least a 2.5 gal just for the sake of the betta. He might not be lonely - he may just be feeling cramped. Most bettas are OK with cory cats, snails, and otos. You'd need to upgrade to a 5 or 10 gal to give your betta tankmates.

Jarred Darque · 03-25-2006, 04:46 AM

And I guess that the betta would not be able to go into a 5 gallon with a grown male dwarf puffer?

What about a 10 gallon with a breeding pair of german blue rams?

**An t-iasg** · 03-25-2006, 12:07 PM

No, the puffer or the breeding rams would not be good tankmates at all for the betta. They will probably kill him. QTOFFER has an excellent suggestion - a 2.5 gallon tank, like the All-Glass brand acrylic mini-bow tank, would be ok. A 5 or 10 gallon tank for the betta would be even better, and you can add some tankmates like cory cats, otos, or snails.

03-24-2006, 05:40 PM	#1
Jarred Darque Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 666	Beta and tankmates ok, I have a beta in a 1 gallon, and he seems very lonely. I have a 29 gallon tank with. 2 angels, 2 raphael catfish, 6 cory cats, alot of snails, and 2 african butterfly fish. Can he go in there? Will everything be fine? And lastly, will I still need to feed him beta pellets? or will he realize that flake is an acceptable food? BTW, the tank is in blackwater conditions due to the drfitwood I keep in there

03-24-2006, 07:05 PM	#2
Zagz Aquarium Advice Addict Community Admin Join Date: May 2005 Location: Saskatchewan, Canada Posts: 11,310 Images: 92	Bettas can be community fish, I would be concerned about putting him in with your current stocking. All I can say is you can try it and be really prepared for it not working out. The angels and betta may not get along at all. I'd get a 5 or 10 gal and put him in there and get a couple of other fish that would work better for him. JMO. __________________ ----------- My Profile Page My tank & fish photos. Have you voted for AA today? Like the advice or comments someone gave you? Show your appreciation with the reputation button!

03-24-2006, 07:11 PM	#3
Japola44 Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 491 Images: 12	if by african butterfly fish you mean, Pantodon buchholzi, as in not the cichlid. I would not at all suggest moving your betta into the tank. It will tear him apart. They are agressive to fish smaller than them, esspecially fish closser to the surface. Your betta is better off alone. __________________ -Julia "it is impossible to convey the life-sensation of any given epoch of one's existence--that which makes its truth, its meaning--its subtle and penetrating essence. It is impossible. We live, as we dream--alone..." The Heart of Darkness

03-25-2006, 12:07 PM	#6
An t-iasg Aquarium Advice Addict Community Admin Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Criders Corners/Glen Eden (Pittsburgh, PA) Posts: 7,145 Images: 30	No, the puffer or the breeding rams would not be good tankmates at all for the betta. They will probably kill him. QTOFFER has an excellent suggestion - a 2.5 gallon tank, like the All-Glass brand acrylic mini-bow tank, would be ok. A 5 or 10 gallon tank for the betta would be even better, and you can add some tankmates like cory cats, otos, or snails. __________________

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03-24-2006, 07:27 PM	#4
QTOFFER Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Kew Gardens, NY Posts: 3,691 Images: 30	Welcome to AA, Jarred!!! I'd keep the betta in another tank. The butterfly fish is a predator, and angels can get quite aggresive. Those long showy fins would make him a target. I would upgrade to at least a 2.5 gal just for the sake of the betta. He might not be lonely - he may just be feeling cramped. Most bettas are OK with cory cats, snails, and otos. You'd need to upgrade to a 5 or 10 gal to give your betta tankmates.

03-25-2006, 04:46 AM	#5
Jarred Darque Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 666	And I guess that the betta would not be able to go into a 5 gallon with a grown male dwarf puffer? What about a 10 gallon with a breeding pair of german blue rams?

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