Betta Tank Mates

[21rm]

Due to some bad advice from my LFS I added a betta to my community tank. However yesterday I noticed he was chasing alot of my other fish, so I've set him up on his own in a 5 gallon.
My question is would a couple of male guppies be able to stay in the new tank with him, or can any fish be with him at all

 

[Assaye]

Due to some bad advice from my LFS I added a betta to my community tank. However yesterday I noticed he was chasing alot of my other fish, so I've set him up on his own in a 5 gallon.
My question is would a couple of male guppies be able to stay in the new tank with him, or can any fish be with him at all

No guppies!

Most betta are solitary creatures and like to be on their own. Some will survive quite happily in a community, however, so it all depends on the fish.

Guppies are bad because their bright colours and flowing tails make the betta think of them as rivals, and so they are one of the fish species the most bettas will NOT get along with.

If you would like a tank mate for him, I'd suggest shrimp. They are fun, keep the tank clean and I think most betta are quite happy to co-habit with them.

When thinking of tank mates for betta, you need to consider size of tank, how brightly coloured they are, whether they have flowing fins, whether they are also agressive, whether they like the same water conditions as a betta and whether they are fin nippers.

5 gallons would be a bit small for anything other than some shrimp with a betta. I had some tetra in a 3 gallon on bad advice from my LFS. Awful idea, they shredded each others fins.

 

[Forestpisces]

No guppies i'm afraid but as said you can have shrimp or a snail, or maybe even some pygmy cories.

Bettas really do like it alone, and in my opinion are not suitable for community tanks even though they have been kept in them successfully, i just believe the risk factor to be too great.

 

[stevefish21]

I would agree with the above. Male guppies would be a target for the Betta, but also the guppies will find the Bettas tail quite inviting.

 

[CTlovesKS]

No !!! some people push there luck and are lucky their guppies are still alive... But others and most people would say never put guppies with a male betta. Female bettas can go with female guppies but thats about it.

The bettas think the male guppies our another male bettas and will fight them till the death so not a good idea. General bettas do better on there own but can be put with some tetras, apple snails (But can be niped by betta) and some cories.

 

[21rm]

Thanks everyone for the advice,
I think I'll go with the shrimp and a couple of snails