Adding A Betta?

[nike12301]

I've posted a couples times about my tank already. I have two neons in a 36 gallon tank that's not completely cycled yet. (I know, I know - partly my fault and partly the LFS rep who said neons were a good idea).

But anyway my question is this. I have a betta in a 10 gallon tank across the room. By the time the tank is all established, I'd like to have the betta be a part of it if at all possible, but I know that's not easy. Can they live with other fish given enough room? And would you suggest adding the betta early in the porcess or after the tank is already established with the other fish?

Also - I'd like to get an angelfish as a centerpeice. Would that be able to live with a betta? How about the neons. I've read that angelfish feed on neons, but I also read that that's only in natural habitat and yjsy in an aquarium, the angelfish are fine with neons.

Any comments?

 

[tom_os]

not sure about the angles, but the neons are known for fin nipping and therefore i wouldnt put them with the betta

 

[Honeythorn]

Absolutely not. Please don't! Neons are well know for being fin nippers and can outswim a betta so he wouldn't be able to get away. An angelfish would be really quite likely to kill the betta eventually. Long fins are too tempting.

Your betta is much safer in his ten gallon.

You could have a group of FEMALE bettas in there though. They have short fins( much less tempting for fin nippers) and are much better swimmers. They do well in groups of five or more, and in a 36 gal you could do well with a group of around 8 or so. They are just as pretty as males despite not having the flashy long finnage, and have just as much personality.

You will need to raise the number of neons when the tank is cycled though. 8 at the very least as they are schooling fish.

 

[Truck]

angelfish will not co-exist with bettas

 

[nike12301]

angelfish will not co-exist with angels

You mean with neons?

 

[Truck]

sorry bettas

 

[nike12301]

sorry bettas

LOL. Great. I have 46 gallons worth of tank, but I'm stuck with two types of fish that can't live together and can't live with any of the fish that I'd like to get. What a waste.

 

[nike12301]

sorry bettas

LOL. Great. I have 46 gallons worth of tank, but I'm stuck with two types of fish that can't live together and can't live with any of the fish that I'd like to get. What a waste.

What is a good centerpiece fish that can live with neons?

What if I added the neons to the 10 gallon betta tank with a divider? That way I get the neons out of the cycling tank, keep the betta and neons seperate and I can let the 36 gallon tank cycle and start from scratch once it does.

 

[Truck]

10 gallons is too small for neons, keep the betta in the 10 gallon, and keep the angelfish and neons in the 36 gallon (dependent on angel size)

 

[nike12301]

10 gallons is too small for neons, keep the betta in the 10 gallon, and keep the angelfish and neons in the 36 gallon (dependent on angel size)

I don't have an angelfish yet. Can angelfish and neons live together? How about neons and dwarf gouramis?

 

[Truck]

neons and dwarf gouramis are fine. but when angelfish get bigger they may eat the neons, but if you introduce them with the neons young there is a chance they wont

 

[nike12301]

neons and dwarf gouramis are fine. but when angelfish get bigger they may eat the neons, but if you introduce them with the neons young there is a chance they wont

I guess I'll have to skip the angelfish and go with a couple gouramis.

How about creamiscle mollies? Are they okay with gouramis and neons?

 

[stang1]

Mollies sometimes pick on Gouramies and no-one seems sure why.
Honey Gouramies would be better than the Dwarf ones as the Dwarf Gouramies are prone yo bacterial infection.
How about:
Bolivian Rams
Keyhole Cichlids
Dwarf Neon rainbows

All are good community fish and shouldn't bother your Neons.

 

[matchstickman47]

try some less agresive barbs
cherry
ruby
pentazona

neons and dwarf gouramis are fine. but when angelfish get bigger they may eat the neons, but if you introduce them with the neons young there is a chance they wont

i agree they will just snap em up littleuns such as neon are natual prey for angels

 

[JeffJustice]

I've got a 33 U.S gallon tank and have 6 neons living fine with a betta. I did have problems with fin nipping when they were in a smaller tank but afte quarrentining the betta and re-introducing him, there are no more problems.

I wanted to add more neons but feel that if there is a bigger school, they may start to become more dominant in the tank and start picking at the betta.