Betta Compatibility

[MarlinMan]

Ok, so the mrs and I have have got our hearts set on a fighting fish...

We currently have setup, a 60litre tank with a shoal of 8 neon tetras. We are looking to add another shoaling species before the fighter but ain't really sure what to go for...

My fiancee likes phantom tetras as do I...I also like the look of the redfin tetras...Are these fish likely to nip the fins of a male betta?

We want something with abit of colour and liked the shape of the phantoms and redfins as they're abit different to the neons!

Has anyone got any experience of keeping these fish with bettas, or does anyone have any other suggestions?

Thanks,

MarlinMan

 

[eaglesaquarium]

I think phantoms can be a bit nippy if not in big enough shoals. What about cherry barbs, harlequin rasboras, lambchop rasboras, or phoenix rasboras? I've never kept a betta myself, but these other species are all peaceful and not nippy. They also all look different from neons.

 

[MBOU]

Phantom Tetras are perfect fighter tankmates Have sold thousands of them, they are a brilliant fish, hardy, easy to sex, unusual compared to neons, get a little bigger and shoal nicely if kept in groups. Have yet to find one that would even look at a fighter funny, let alone nip one!

Red fin tetras... never seen any sold by this name so can only assume youmean Columbian Red Fins? These tetras get huge as teras go and are very boisterous, i have seen some batches shred fighters and others just stressed them out by whizzing about. Personally wouldnt keep columbian red fins in anything less than 150L.

If however, you mean the bloodfins like Rathbuns Bloodfin Tetra... thats a completely different story... gorgeous fish when colured up and ever so gentle....

 

[eaglesaquarium]

I stand corrected...

 

[MarlinMan]

Phantom Tetras are perfect fighter tankmates Have sold thousands of them, they are a brilliant fish, hardy, easy to sex, unusual compared to neons, get a little bigger and shoal nicely if kept in groups. Have yet to find one that would even look at a fighter funny, let alone nip one!

Red fin tetras... never seen any sold by this name so can only assume youmean Columbian Red Fins? These tetras get huge as teras go and are very boisterous, i have seen some batches shred fighters and others just stressed them out by whizzing about. Personally wouldnt keep columbian red fins in anything less than 150L.

If however, you mean the bloodfins like Rathbuns Bloodfin Tetra... thats a completely different story... gorgeous fish when colured up and ever so gentle....

Thanks MBOU...Looks like phantoms may be what we go for as these are my fiancee's favourite so far! I did mean columbian redfins...I'll give them a miss!

eaglesaquarium...I will have a look at the species you mentioned!

Thanks!

 

[MBOU]

What about cherry barbs, harlequin rasboras, lambchop rasboras, or phoenix rasboras?

Some of Eaglesaquariumssuggestions are neat!! and unusual...

Cherry Barbs (especially if you can pick out just males) colour bright red and look amazing!!

Be careful pf phoenix rasmora, can make fighter snacks! (though that said, they deserve a whole new tank they are so gorgeous!!)

Lambchop Rasbora are also known as Copper (Copperline) Rasbora "Heteromorpha Espei" (or Henglii). These are a brill idea! Get to a good size but not big, will colour up fantastic once settled! and shoal tightly mid level.

 

[MarlinMan]

I've just been having a ganders and to be honest I'm not that keen on Rasboras...too similar to the neons shape wise...

However, the Cherry Barbs do appeal!...I really like the look of them as does the mrs! Is there a recommended Male:Female stocking ratio regarding Cherry Barbs? I understand that the Males are bright red and the females duller...

Phantoms vs Cherry Barbs atm!

 

[MBOU]

Personally, i always just pick out the males if you stare at them in shop tanks, look for the ones that are see through pink rather than see through brown

I was never interested in breeding them and having purely males to me meant they fired up bright red and never squabbled over females. win win really!

 

[MarlinMan]

Personally, i always just pick out the males if you stare at them in shop tanks, look for the ones that are see through pink rather than see through brown

I was never interested in breeding them and having purely males to me meant they fired up bright red and never squabbled over females. win win really!

Ok, Thanks MBOU!

Just a case of making a decision now!

 

[eaglesaquarium]

To be honest, I really like both phantoms and cherry barbs! I don't think you can go wrong with the choice.

 

[MarlinMan]

To be honest, I really like both phantoms and cherry barbs! I don't think you can go wrong with the choice.

Thanks for your input eaglesaquarium... Still no nearer to making our mind up....I think it'll probably ome down to which ever we fancy on the day!