New 10 Gallon Tank

[skhan27]

Hellooo ppl.. im 12 years old and new to this fish stuff. i got a new 10 gallon tank and i had waited about 5 days and added 1 MALE betta. I am buying 6 neon tetra's and 1 cory cat. Im not sure how the betta will react- but i was told to take the betta out, and put the tetras in, and a day later put the betta in so he wold think it is mainly tetra territory and not mess with anyone. But i'd like ur pro-ness comments to help me out.
Also, if u have a few help tips for a newbie, i'd love the help! THANKS

 

[mommyof2bettas]

My advice- don't get the tetras. Neon tetras are nippy and will shred the betta's fins, the betta will probably harm them, maybe even kill them. Also, cories need to be in groups of 3+. And, I'd say buy the betta a smaller (1 gallon+) tank and keep him there, then do a fishless cycle (read one of the pinned topics). A fishless cycle is a must if you want to keep an aquarium... although betta tanks don't need one, so you can move your betta to one while the bigger tank cycles

 

[skhan27]

aye thanks for the advice. I do have a 1 gallon tank aswell but i thought the betta would like so interaction ad company. what if i put the betta's tank next to the other? hehe

 

[mommyof2bettas]

woooooo! Im leadin the youngest age so far!

That could work
Bettas are solitary fish and don't need company. I keep all of mine alone and they've never shown any signs of depression (well, so far )
It's good that you have a spare 1 gallon. If you really want some bettas in the 10 gal your options (imo) are:
-Turn it into a sorority (you could keep 5 girl bettas and possibly some shrimps or snails) and keep the male in the 1gal
-Divide the 10 gal into 5 (or anything less than 5) and keep a betta in each section.
-Divide the 10 gal, leaving about 2 gallons for a male, and keep about 4 females in the space that's left (and you could add some shrimp/snails)
-Keep that 1 male in the 10 gal and keep it with either:
-6 pygmy cories and 1 snail or shrimp
-3 ottos and 3 snails or shrimp
-1 bristlenose plec
Just some options for you
And remember you still need to cycle the 10gal with any of those options.