Few Questions About Bettas And Barbs

[warhead]

I've had a lovely 10 gallon tank with 5 cherry barbs and 1 male "halfmoon" betta [in quotes because his fins aren't quite 180 but he's gorgeous] for a couple weeks now and I was wondering about a few things:

Should I worry about getting another barb for social reasons? I think my tank is overstocked enough [haha] but I've been told I need another.
Should I worry that the betta likes to eat the barb's flakes during feeding time [I feed him by hand with his food so the barbs can't get it - they're fast!]
And should I worry about possible sharp edges of the one plastic plant [the rest are fabric] on the betta's fins?

Any tips/advice/suggestions would be great! Please and thank you!

 

[warhead]

I also just read that horizontal stripes mean the fish is stressed?
That's very much not good, as my boy has two stripes [he's always had them, since my first day with him]
Do the stripes always indicate stress?
Other than that, he's lively and active with a good appetite.

Forgive my ignorance....
But would the cherry barbs be the cause of anxiety?

I have a 2 gallon tank [I used to use it for goldfishes' daphnia], unfiltered, unheated, and I really don't want to put him in there, but if he really can't stay in the 10 gallon, I guess I would. [obviously, I'd buy a heater]

 

[llamalord305]

Yes, the barbs are probably the reason why the Betta is stressed. Barbs tend to be fin nippers and not very good community fish. Bettas are usually best when left alone. Just checking, the tank is cycled, correct?