Looking for a betta novice and/or expert to answer my question

[TenaciousTriggerFish]

K I have a four foot fifty gallon tank with 12 or 13 tetras at the moment my goal is at least 40 it also has a pleco... A catfish of some sort... And I'm trying to grow plants.. I have one Walmart apon growing and a Lilly and possibly another apon just about to sprout...
Now I know it's iffy wether a betta would work in this tank because it depends on wether or not it's as temperamental as some can be.. But I wanted to try it... So my question is would a female be better than a male since it has smaller find to get nipped or would the aggression of a male help him stand his own... I never got into bettas but I wants a centerpiece fish with. Color.... Ease give mm

 

[julielover]

Male Bettas tand to stay near the surface, females not so much. Both like a tank with lots f floating plants. My male Betta likes to hang out near the filter output. A Male Betta is an easy target for a fin nipper so be careful what kind of fish (no mean Barbs or Cichlids) you put him with.

 

[TenaciousTriggerFish]

Male Bettas tand to stay near the surface, females not so much. Both like a tank with lots f floating plants. My male Betta likes to hang out near the filter output. A Male Betta is an easy target for a fin nipper so be careful what kind of fish (no mean Barbs or Cichlids) you put him with.

It will be just a lot of Terra's (tummy nose, penguin, etc will that be ok?