male betta in community tank

[zachxlutz]

i feel bad for my betta that sits in a vase in my bathroom. can i put him in my 29 gallon community tank that will (eventually) be heavily planted?

the fish i have in there now:
-5 large zebra danios

i plant to add from my 10 gallon:
-3 long finned zebra danio
-1 spotted grourami
-3 neon tetras
-1 serpae tetra
-1 red eyed tetra
-1 balloon molly
-1 male swordtail and possibly a female

so, do you think my male betta would be ok in a 29 gallon tank with those fish?

 

[Jchillin]

Sorry to say but no. Fact is, betta's have tremendous issues with other fancy finned fish. Not to mention having issues with fast active ones.

 

[zachxlutz]

maybe when i clear out the 10 gallon and put those fish into the 30 gallon i'll make the 10 gallon just all for mr. betta!

what fish could i put with a male betta in a 10 gallon planted tank?

 

[rich311k]

You could try some cories, he would probably ignore them.

 

[RoK]

Some small cories would work. Maybe some kind of tetras that aren't too active would work as well.

 

[zachxlutz]

yeah, i'm looking at the liveaquaria.com compatibility chart maybe i'll go to the LFS and look and see what i can do that might work, so generally speaking fish that aren't too fancy looking and active can do ehhh.... OK with a betta?

 

[richiestang_78]

that liveaquaria chart isnt the best as it is overly cautious and exadurates aggressiveness of some fish. like RoK said some calm tetras would be alright.

 

[zachxlutz]

sounds good!

cheers!

 

[An t-iasg]

I agree with the cory cat tankmates for the betta in the 10 gallon. Since the cories are bottom dwellers, the betta will ignore them for the most part. However, I don't think tetras are a good idea. I have seen a group of tetras gang up on and nip a betta. Tetras and a betta may work out in a bigger tank, but in a 10 gallon tank, I would not even try the betta/tetras combination. Aggressions among fish are multiplied in a small tank such as the 10 gallon, and fish such as tetras/danios/guppies are a bad idea with a betta. I think the cory cats will be your best choice of tankmates for a betta.

 

[RoK]

I have some lemon tetras in a 10 gal with a gourami and they don't seem to be too active or bothersome.

 

[zachxlutz]

An t-iasg: thanks, i guess after i get all my fish over to their new home in the 29g tank, i'll take a look around and see what corys i want to put in the 10g with the betta.

RoK: do you have those lemon tetras and gourami in the tank with a betta?

 

[RoK]

Nope, no betta in there.

 

[An t-iasg]

An t-iasg: thanks, i guess after i get all my fish over to their new home in the 29g tank, i'll take a look around and see what corys i want to put in the 10g with the betta.

You're welcome! The betta will be much happier than in the vase! Be sure to get a heater for the 10 gallon tank, and a filter that doesn't create fast water movement, since bettas don't like current.

 

[zachxlutz]

yeah the 10 gallon tank is heated to approx. 78 degrees and has a HOB filter with not too much current.

i think he will appreciate it.

thanks everyone.

cheers.

 

[fearlessfisch]

I might give the betta a try in the larger tank and just keep a very close eye on him at first.

My bettas have done well in larger community tanks, even with longer-finned tankmates, because there was plenty of room to establish separate territories.

When I tried to put a betta in a 10-gallon with a few neon tetras, he bit the tail off one of them.

 

[Roach182]

Personally I agree with fearlessfich, I would give it a try, but keep an eye on him for a day or two. I put a male betta in my 29g community tank and he did quite well, even with the fancy male guppies with the big flowing tales and fins.

 

[severum mama]

I tried to keep a betta with male guppies once, and one of the guppies was killed before I could return them. I really wouldn't try it. That's not to say it's impossible, but IMO it is unlikely to be a good match. I just got some pygmy corys for my 5 gallon betta tank and they are working out great so far. The betta doesn't pay any attention to them, and they are really cute! I think you'd like them if you can find any in your area. They definitely stay small enough for a 10 gallon.

 

[malkore]

black neon, neon, and lemon tetra have no issues with being in a tank with a betta...done this several times over the years. corys should be fine too, as are ottos...really any small, non-aggressive fish.

 

[noncentric]

What about using a divider in the 10-gallon tank? Then the betta could have part of the 10-gallon to himself and you could stock the other side with a few small fish.

Just a thought.

 

[Ky'smommy]

my dad had one in with his guppys and mollys and did completely fine. He was happier then being in a glass bowl.
the only time he showed any signs of problem was when there were fry in there and he got hungry.