Betta With These Tank Mates Or Something Else?

[serbusfish]

At the moment I only have 5 White (yellow...) Mountain Cloud Minnows, and I also plan to get:

3 - 4 African Dwarf Frogs
5 Zebra Loaches
6 - 10 Amano Shrimp

Now, I wanted to add a Betta too once this community was set up, but I also like other fish that probably wouldn't mix well with one, so I have a dilemma; go with a Betta, or trade the Betta in for a few other species. The question is which species and would it be worth the trade? I really like the look of Black Skirt Tetra's and German Blue Rams, and there a few other 'peaceful' Cichlids that look nice, as well as Dwarf Gourami's.

Another question I have is how does my tank look atm for these species? Do I have enough plants/hiding spots or should I get more? Here it is atm:

 

[Chad]

I can't say about the loaches but I have kept a male betta in a 29 gallon tank with minnows, frogs, and shrimp. The betta ignored the minnows and frogs but would go after any of the smaller shrimp (left larger ones alone). The minnows didn't bother the betta at all. Now...that said...that was a long time ago and now my thinking on mixed tanks like that have changed. Now I would not recommend it since the environment that a betta likes is so different than what the minnows like. The betta lived for 3 years so take the latter for what it's worth.

 

[ScholasticSpastic]

The betta should be fine with these tankmates... unless one or more of your zebra loaches decides to develop a destructively quirky personality. No way to predict that outcome and I'd give it a low (non-zero) probability.

 

[serbusfish]

I can't say about the loaches but I have kept a male betta in a 29 gallon tank with minnows, frogs, and shrimp. The betta ignored the minnows and frogs but would go after any of the smaller shrimp (left larger ones alone). The minnows didn't bother the betta at all. Now...that said...that was a long time ago and now my thinking on mixed tanks like that have changed. Now I would not recommend it since the environment that a betta likes is so different than what the minnows like. The betta lived for 3 years so take the latter for what it's worth.

Well the current temperature of the tank is around 25/26'c, which should be fine for all the fish I want. I know minnows prefer slightly colder water but I have been told they do fine at this temp, I just need to make sure I dont go any warmer. Whatever happens the Betta will be added last, I will establish the community so hopefully when I get one he wont be aggressive towards the other fish (I read that Betta's go well with Shrimp so im not sure why you had problems?).

The betta should be fine with these tankmates... unless one or more of your zebra loaches decides to develop a destructively quirky personality. No way to predict that outcome and I'd give it a low (non-zero) probability.

Yeah im going to make sure I buy all zebra loaches at the same time so hopefully none will develop any sort of dominant nature. It could still happen but I think the likelihood would be much higher if I bought them separately.

What is the general consensus of Black Skirt Tetras and Betta's? I read that if you get at least 5/6 of them they are usually ok and wont nip their fins?

 

[KuronoEnyo]

No clue about the loaches but I got three of the little adf's in my aquarium and he's never messed with them, though he has gotten near there food and they puff up into there breeding call position and he actually moves away from them as if in fear. Its pretty funny cause he acts all dominant around all the other fish in my aquarium cept the frogs.

 

[Chad]

It was more flow than temp that I have concerns with. I wouldn't call what I had problems. They were fine with the adult shrimp. But if I put in a juvenile they would go after it. all I had to do was only buy adults.

 

[ScholasticSpastic]

What is the general consensus of Black Skirt Tetras and Betta's? I read that if you get at least 5/6 of them they are usually ok and wont nip their fins?

I get really sketchy about skirt tetras and most of the other full-bodied tetras around finny fish. Many of those tetras supplement their diets with finnage in the wild and may continue to do so in your tank. My personal opinion is that you're asking for trouble with that combo- regardless of how many you have.

That said, a school is less likely to misbehave than an individual.

 

[serbusfish]

No clue about the loaches but I got three of the little adf's in my aquarium and he's never messed with them, though he has gotten near there food and they puff up into there breeding call position and he actually moves away from them as if in fear. Its pretty funny cause he acts all dominant around all the other fish in my aquarium cept the frogs.

Yeah I read Bettas and frogs go really well together, there are quite a few youtube videos to back this up

It was more flow than temp that I have concerns with. I wouldn't call what I had problems. They were fine with the adult shrimp. But if I put in a juvenile they would go after it. all I had to do was only buy adults.

Ah right I see, in that case I will make sure the shrimp are grown up a bit before adding the Betta (although ive heard Cherry/ghost shrimp are perfect for Betta's and they are smaller than Amano's).

What is the general consensus of Black Skirt Tetras and Betta's? I read that if you get at least 5/6 of them they are usually ok and wont nip their fins?

I get really sketchy about skirt tetras and most of the other full-bodied tetras around finny fish. Many of those tetras supplement their diets with finnage in the wild and may continue to do so in your tank. My personal opinion is that you're asking for trouble with that combo- regardless of how many you have.

That said, a school is less likely to misbehave than an individual.

Ah, that's what I guessed you'd say

I have frogs, loaches and shrimp on the bottom, and betta + minnows at the top, so really what I need is a nice mid level fish that are around 2" long and wont bother my Betta, any suggestions?

 

[nikkifro8994]

With shrimp, it really depends on the betta. I had one that LOVED to snack on ghost shrimp. I put 5-6 in his tank before I added the betta and he are them all in 2 days. The one I have now doesn't care. He's in with 4 ghost shrimp and 3 or 4 snails that hitchhiked on the live plants. He never picks on any of them.

 

[serbusfish]

With shrimp, it really depends on the betta. I had one that LOVED to snack on ghost shrimp. I put 5-6 in his tank before I added the betta and he are them all in 2 days. The one I have now doesn't care. He's in with 4 ghost shrimp and 3 or 4 snails that hitchhiked on the live plants. He never picks on any of them.

I think im going to get Armoured Shrimp or Mountain shrimp as they grow much bigger, that way I dont think id have a problem with them being eaten.

 

[Chad]

That's true. I've not kept the armored shrimp but have kept the Mt. Shrimp (A. spinipes). They certainly would not be bothered and they are a fantastic shrimp to look at.

 

[serbusfish]

That's true. I've not kept the armored shrimp but have kept the Mt. Shrimp (A. spinipes). They certainly would not be bothered and they are a fantastic shrimp to look at.

Yeah I was thinking any of the 'fan' Shrimp should be good as they are large and completely peaceful, dont want them clawing my frogs!

Btw here is how my tank is looking after a re-dress I did today:

 

[Chad]

I like it. The maui head is fun and will look really nice once it gets some algal growth on it.