Good companions for betas???

Question

I would like to get a larger tank for my beta, right now he lives in a giant brandy glass (minus the brandy)He is aggressive but i would still like to add a few more fish in the new tank. What won't he go after? Or is this just a bad idea?

He's an aqua-marine crown tail

Answer 1

Whoever said he won't harm fish is joking. I've owned Bettas in high school and after a long break am owning them again.

When I had them in high school, I had one who was a fiesty bugger like yours and he wound up killing nearly every fish that went in that tank EXCEPT Gold Tetras. However, not all Bettas are like that. I've had some that just didn't care what else was in the tank. It just depends.

Sounds like yours should be a loner. You can get a bigger tank (like a 10 gallon) and try platys or corydoras and any kind of ancistrus species as seeing how they all seem like they're quite suitable tankmates for Bettas. However, many people use applesnails as tankmates instead.

If you go with corydoras then make sure you keep 2 to 4 Cory catfish with one Betta in each of your 10 gallon tanks and they SHOULD ignore each other. The Corys are great because they're good bottom cleaners, quite hardy, and may lay eggs that your Betta will absolutely love to eat. There is a beautiful Panda Cory catfish that has sort of the color scheme of a panda bear. They're very cute and don't get much bigger than 1.5 inch. Kuhli Loach are also good tank mates for a Betta and just as good bottom dwellers are the catfish.

You can also go up to a 20 gallon and get some schoolers like Neon Tetras. (Just make sure they're big enough so they won't fit in his mouth.)

Just makes ure whatever else you get doesn't have a have a very similar life-style to your Betta.

What it all boils down to is all the fish mentioned above and the Bettas have their own personalities. Some being more agressive than others so it really depends on how you luck out with the particular fish you get. I've had Bettas with tetras with no problem and I've had Bettas with tetras and they fought all the time. But I have only had one fish Betta that didn't get along with the Cory Catfish and this Betta was the most aggressive I have ever had so I think that was a rare exception. Cory's and Bettas are a great match and both have a lung and like to breath air from the surface. The Cory hangs out at the bottom and ten will suddenly charge to the top for air and then straight back to the bottom.

Answer 2

If you had a bigger tank, I think it would be okay, but even though it is a large brandy glass, I don't think it would be big enough for a beta AND other fish. However, if you would like to try, I would suggest getting two platys (they are social, so you would need more than one to keep them happy) as I have had them with my own betas and aside from a few nippings here and there they were never bothered.

DO NOT put him with other betas, male OR female, as he WILL kill them. Even female betas kill other betas, female or male, unless they are in at least a 10 gallon tank and then sometimes the females will leave each other alone.

And also, do not put guppies in there, because with their long flowing tails and colorful skin, betas often mistake them for other betas and may be aggressive toward them.

Hope this helps! Good luck!

Of course if it doesn't, don't worry. You could always put a little mirror in their for the betas entertainment.

Answer 3

Generally in a tank 10+ gallons most bettas are fine with slow peacefull fish without long flowy tails. That said crowntails tend to be more agressive. Also the longer he's been alone the more antisicial he may get. With bettas I find the key is to put them into a tank with fish. Don't put fish into "their tank". Remember bettas are very territorial. I get a tank setup with a couple of fish 1st maybe a few plattys or swordtails, and an algae eater. Give the fish a week to settle down, and insure they aren't carrying something nasty. Then add your betta. If he goes pycho he'll just need to live alone.

Keys to intergrating bettas into a tank:

1)Put him into a tank with fish. It need be remove him from the tank, add fish, wait a week so he forgets it's his tank.
2)Ideally put him in a large glass vase or something and put him in the tank for day. This gets him use to seeing the fish.
3)Watch him like a hawk for the 1st 20 minutes. Does he keep flaring and chasing other fish. (bad, bad)
4)Every day observe him. Is he actively swimming around the tank? (good) Are his fins frayed or missing? (bad) Is he always hiding? (bad) What about the other fish?

Answer 4

NO!!! Don't put other fish in there with it; no matter how bug. We did this when I was a kid and the next morning ALL the other fish (almost 5-10 times it's size) were DEAD. The beta has nipped off their fins and bit their guts out from their bellies... BUt you CAN possibly put a secure screen down the center and have other fish, even betas in the same container but not so close that it can cause a murderous situation... Best of luck!!!

Answer 5

I have had great success with adding female Beta's to a single male Beta's tank. There is a rule though, you must have more than two females in with ONLY one male Beta.

Answer 6

The trick with Beta's is to not put them with any fish that they think is prettier than them. So basically other super colorful fish. So like platys are good, maybe mollies... it just depends on your beta.

Answer 7

Betas are not community type fish. You might get lucky and mix them with other types, but there is no way of knowing without trying.

Answer 8

in the previous I make a training ought to I please understand what length tank you've? ~A one gallon tank isn't perfect for any fish. in case you need an section please improve to a minimum of 10-20 gallons. As for the tetras, in an wisely sized tank they're many times ok tank friends. yet regrettably pairings with bettas are by no potential a assure.

Answer 9

i heard betas like frogs in thier tanks

Answer 10

betas will not harm other fish. they only attack other male betas. throw him in there, and see how he does.. if he's too feisty, perhaps he shall live a life of solitude.