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ok, so i am goin to start a tank..20gallons..already set up with a nice cave. drift wood a plant and a few more..
I want to have a fighting fish, w/ other fish that can live with ti peacefully, i kno it it doesnt really attack other fishes..but what fish can i add with it that will not disturb the BETTA, aimin for a community tank.

~thank you all for your help.

you can have a nice school of tetras with your betta, no problem.
a couple or so of cherry barbs won't give it any trouble either.

another choice is a school of playful coridoras. look them up in the profiles if you aren't familiar with them.

also, get more plants. bettas like it dense.

Last edited by Fry at 17-Jul-2005 17:46

Depending on your betta, fish with flowing fins(like guppies) or fish that like to nip fins(Tiger barbs) are not a good choice. Gouramis arent a good choice because bettas tend to dislike other labrynth fish. Most tetras, cherry barbs, killifish, african dwarf frogs, cories, loaches, dwarf cichlids, rasboras are all good choices.

Be aware that Bettas will not only fight other bettas, but may also fight other fish. Fortunatly if your betta becomes a bully, you can easily move him to an inexpensive 2 gal.

Last edited by katieb at 17-Jul-2005 17:55

I'll do graffiti,
If you sing to me in French.

A caution about Neon Tetras: they too can succumb to the fin-nipping temptation where male bettas are concerned. One acquaintance of mine had an unfortunate male Betta who was literally given a "crew cut" overnight by the Neons in the tank with him. I imagine the same thing is true of most other small Tetras.

Also, if male Bettas don't feel up to bullying the other denizens of a community tank, they sometimes develop a fear of the other inhabitants and will hide in a corner of the tank and not come out. I had one literally starve himself to death that way before I realized what was happening. (By contrast, female Bettas seem to make fine community tank fish.) So, whatever you choose as a tankmate, keep a close eye on the tank for the first week or so for signs of trouble.

(One side note: they're SIAMESE fighting fish.)

on another side note..i kno what they are.. im not a beginner.just wanted some suggestions

You might find that Harlequin Rasboras might prove to be nice tank mates for your betta...or if you can find a short tailed male he might be more likely to enjoy the presense of neons...either wayi'd definately go with some corries a nice school of 6-8 on the bottom will be great they will definately provide lots of enjoymentheidi

"I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom." Thomas Carlyle

i've had luck for 2 months with zebra danios, plattys, and neons in with male bettas. nobodys lost anything. but as others have said, its all on the attitude of the fishes.

Fish tanks are an expensive addiction

Hi,
Betta partenership can be a real pain sometimes. I like the idea of the cory's, but here a just a few more for you to consider.
*White cloud minnows (hardy and pretty)
*Phantom Tetras (beautiful finnage and playful with each other)
*cardinal tetras (neon alternative but no nippers)
*Glowlight tetras

Guppies are a possibility but I have heard if the betta is an aggressive one it will attack the similiar fan tails of the guppies.
The worst tank buddies for the betta I would say are gouramis, sharks and angel fish (I know your tank would be a bit small for angels).


Hope this helps,
Achilles


UK Betta seller -
www.bramsbettas.com

I keep a male betta with female guppies and vice versa: female bettas with male guppies. The only aggression I've seen is the male making feinting darts at the guppy girls right when the lights come on in the morning. It's almost like he's snapping at them before he's completely awake because after a moment, he completely ignores them. My *cough* deprived guppy boys dance for the betta girls.

Cherry barbs are another idea. On the other hand, I went through three of my betta boys, trying each in the five gallon with a pair of cherries before I found one that wouldn't continuously chase the poor lil barbs.

Basic rule of thumb for betta buds: nothing that will nip the betta or be nipped/eaten BY the betta.

~Meow. Thus spoke the cat.~

I'd go for cories, kuhlies and cherry barbs, and toss in a snail or 2 and maybe some shrimp

For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett

Hope your tank is "cycled" prior to adding any other fish.... My LFS helped me in this process... I'd take water from my 55 gal tank in weekly to have it tested... Seemed to take forever before it was safe to begin adding fish... and frankly, it did take about 5-6 weeks...

My first endeavor was a community tank -- platys, angels, mollies, etc... The tank thrived and I got much enjoyment from it... However, eventually my interest became more and more focused on Bettas... And eventually my LFS became well stocked with my other fish, and my house filled with Bettas...

However, I did think it might help you to know a couple of things that I unfortunately learned the hard way in setting up a community tank with the intention of having a Betta... First the cycling of the tank as I mentioned previously. Then, definitely start with some of the other fish before adding your Betta boy.... Bettas are territorial - and if you choose to add him first there might be some trouble... He will lay claim to his territory and could aggressively defend it from all other fish.... Also, don't add all of your intended fish at one time... This will result in a bio overload even in a cycled tank and you might lose quite a few fish... And lastly, make sure you don't choose tank mates that are fin nippers! Those Betta fins are too much of a temptation, and if rooming with the wrong fish -- well, your beautiful boy could end up looking like he'd gotten a very bad haircut!!!

I would like to welcome you to the world of fishkeeping - and hope that you derive as much pleasure as I have!

OOPS! I just noticed the one reply where you advised that you weren't a beginner.... Sorry! Certainly didn't mean to offend by giving all of this advice... Still maybe this information will help someone else....

Anyway, GOOD LUCK with whatever you decide to do with your 20 gal!

Last edited by dreamweaver8891 at 24-Jul-2005 08:31

Last edited by dreamweaver8891 at 24-Jul-2005 08:32

Last edited by dreamweaver8891 at 24-Jul-2005 08:34

To thine own self be true...