Female bettas + cockatoo dwarf cichlids

[Wint3rz]

Hi all newbie to forums here

Im finding it impossible to find an answer to this, is it possible to have a group of female betta's in with a small group of cockatoo cichlids, the reason why i ask is that i was planning on getting 1 male and 3 female cockatoo cichlids and when i went to wetpets to see if they had any( which they didnt)i seen a group of 10+ female betta's in a tank with a couple of bolivian rams and as betta's are my favourite fish, it got me thinking.

So i would love to hear the experts opinions on the matter.

Thanks
Ash

 

[bs6749]

What size tank? If it's a smaller tank I'd lean towards a trio of apistos rather than the 4 that you have in mind. The fish should be compatible but tank size will help determine whether or not you can do it.

 

[Wint3rz]

What size tank? If it's a smaller tank I'd lean towards a trio of apistos rather than the 4 that you have in mind. The fish should be compatible but tank size will help determine whether or not you can do it.

Hi thanks for reply the tank is a juwel vision 180 litre, dimensions are 92cm Length x 41cm width x 55cm height.

Fish i want to stock are
4 cockatoo's - 1M 3F
8 Pygmy Cory catfish
6 Female fighters
6 diamond tetra
3 Bristlenose Pleco's 1M 2F

 

[bs6749]

I'd suggest cutting the BN plecos down to a male and a female. The general rule of thumb for algae control using them is one per 20 gallons and you will have roughly a 46g tank. You will have a lot of bottom dwellers as the plecos, cories, and apistos will spend most of their time on the bottom of the tank. I'd also cut the cories down to 6 and the apistos down to 1 male and 2 females. You will want at least three makeshift caves in that tank and those will tank up space too. I also recommend some driftwood for the plecos to rasp on.