Good Fish With Betta?

[KAY-fnx]

I just recently got a 30 gallon tank. I already have a Kuhli Loach and three Tiger Barb with the Betta, they seem to get along find.
I've been told to stay away from Angelfish and other fish with large fins and agressive fish. I was looking into buying
larger fish than those like the Neon Tetra. I've looked into sites but they all seem to be agressive, Help?

 

[bronzecat]

Hi
I'm really surprised that your Tigers haven't done any damage to your betta, watch them closely.

IMO Neons are fin nippers so i wouldn't put them with a betta. Some rasboras, like harlequin, copper would be better, or White cloud mountain minnows.

Its been a long time since i kept Tigers so i'm sure someone else will have better knowledge

 

[ibbledibble]

khuli loaches prefer to be in large groups, so if i were you i would buy another 5 or more. they curl up around each other when they sleep its really cute. also i find they hide less when there are more of them.

 

[Faythee]

I have been researching and found this list:

Corys
Danios/Minnows
Gupppies
Hatchets
Loaches
Mollies
Platys
Plecos
Rasboras
Swordtails
Tetras

I would remove the Barbs. I'm a little apprehensive about the Danios and Tetras on the list as they can be nippy. Probably okay in a larger group.

 

[Monty2451]

Actually, I would say no to the following from Faythee's list:

Guppies
Mollies
Platys
Swordtails
Tetras
Plecos (other than Bristlenose)

The first for all have somthing in common, they're livebearers. The betta will shred the guppies to death and will attack the platys and swordtail due to their bright coloration and resemblance to a female betta. Bettas also don't get along with Mollies and tend to fight with them, why I'm not sure, but they do. Tetras are notorious fin nippers and will shred the betta's fins as the betta is a much slower swimmer than the tetras. And finally any pleco other than a Bristlenose will grow far to large for the tank you have. The Danios will be ok as well as the Rasboras in the tank as it is roomy enough for them to swim around in, they only end to get nippy in smaller tanks where they can't swim as freely as they'd like. But I'd also like to make the suggestion of Oto's for the tank. They're small, non-aggressive and excellent cleaners.

 

[Faythee]

Well I am glad this was brought up because I was thinking of Swordtails Goes to show you can't believe what you read on the net ....even a reliable site !

 

[Bubblenester]

Well I am glad this was brought up because I was thinking of Swordtails Goes to show you can't believe what you read on the net ....even a reliable site !

It's not so much bad information as that compatibility depends much upon the individual personality of a male betta. Whoever wrote the list may have kept a betta with livebearers and had no problem.

Compatibility for female bettas can be quite different than for males, so don't automatically rule out fish that are incompatible with males. Start a thread asking about keeping swords with female bettas and see what everyone has to say- I've never tried it myself.


KAY-fnx- My advice would be to try anything that sounds like a reasonable tankmate but be prepared to remove the betta to his own home if it doesn't work out. In fact... unless you're dead set on keeping your betta in the tank, why not just move him now to a 1-5 gallon tank of his own? Then you won't have anything to worry about and it will open up all sorts of possibilities for your 30 gallon that just wouldn't work with the betta.

 

[Faythee]

Thank you bubblenester !

I went and bought a 3 gallon last night (really cute) in case I get a Betta that doesn't work out I have somewhere to move it to quickly.

Told hubby it was a much needed hospital tank

 

[KAY-fnx]

Ok thanks for the advice. I do have a 3 gallon tank that he was originally in and I know I should pull him
out of there if they get violent. Also we had a 120 gallon tank in the living room and my Kuhli Loach always
hid I don't think I saw him for years, I was also wondering how long the Kuhli Loach lives for, mines atleast 7
years old. The reason I have the Kuhli Loach is because I dont know what happend but one day we woke up
and litterally all the fish were dead but a couple, and we have had the tank for 5 years. The Kuhli Loach was
the only one who was still moving perfectly fine and from saving him to getting more fish turned into another
tank.

rest in peace

 

[Faythee]

Awwwwwwww

 

[KAY-fnx]

Wait, I was wondering, would my Betta get sucked upto the filter? Its not big enough for him to get stuck in but
I don't know if he could get stuck upto it.

 

[bronzecat]

Wait, I was wondering, would my Betta get sucked upto the filter? Its not big enough for him to get stuck in but
I don't know if he could get stuck upto it.

What filter have you got?

 

[Bubblenester]

Thank you bubblenester !

I went and bought a 3 gallon last night (really cute) in case I get a Betta that doesn't work out I have somewhere to move it to quickly.

Told hubby it was a much needed hospital tank

That's a great idea even for females. It's rare, but there are some girls that just refuse to play nice. And if they do get along fine, you can use it for a hospital tank or put a male betta in it.

 

[KAY-fnx]

My filter is an Aqua Clear 150, also I made a mistake with the Tiger Barb these ones are called Black Tetra haha, dumb mistake.
I also got the fish today and they are 2 Filament Barb, 2 Plattys, 1 Dalmation Molly, 1 Algae Eater and 1 Glass Catfish. They all
seem to get along just fine, I haven't seen any of them get mad at eachother, also the filter is fine there's not alot of force
in it and they can all swim around it perfectly fine.

 

[Faythee]

what kind of algae eater ?