Small Tank Or Large Community?

[sparklefuzz]

I am planning on getting a betta in the coming weeks, and had intended on adding it to my 40 gallon community tank which currently houses a moonlight gourami, sailfin pleco and 4 corys. I know they will all be ok together as tankmates (hopefully) but as I keep reading about how bettas are kept in small bowls or tanks with no filtration, I wondered if a betta would be happy in a large tank? Would I be better buying a smaller home for the betta, or adding it to the community tank?

 

[discus dreamer]

I am planning on getting a betta in the coming weeks, and had intended on adding it to my 40 gallon community tank which currently houses a moonlight gourami, sailfin pleco and 4 corys. I know they will all be ok together as tankmates (hopefully) but as I keep reading about how bettas are kept in small bowls or tanks with no filtration, I wondered if a betta would be happy in a large tank? Would I be better buying a smaller home for the betta, or adding it to the community tank?

I have just moved my betta into a tank on his own. He was very aggressive to the gouramis (2 pearls) and I have heard from other people that they can be aggressive to anything that looks remotely like a betta. I hope he is not lonely but after he took a chunk out of my male gourami's tail i thought enough is enough and got him a small tank on ebay.
DD

 

[The-Raven]

i too was wondering about bettas in community tanks... i'm planning on having smaller tetras though, no gouramis

 

[Taridan]

Alot of it is not dependant on if the fish will get along, but on what the fish need. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm sure I remember reading that otto's like a decent water current and that pleco's need bot ha medium current and good airation due to their large amounts of poo that settle on the bottom. All this seems oposite of what most betta's like. On the other hand, my female does fine in my community tank, though lately she and the male platy have been having little tiffs as I think he things shes a platy too.

 

[wodesorel]

I have a male in a 20 gallon with three species of snails and 6 black kuhli loaches. The betta gets a bit nippy with the snails sometimes, ignores the loaches,and he certainly enjoys the open space to swim around in!

It all depends on the temperment of the betta and the type of fish he or she is in with.

 

[samyboy]

ive kept betta's in community tanks and all has been fine the male just kept himself to himself eventually i moved him to a smaller tank so i wasnt tempting fate and had a female in the community tank she has been fine with everyone apart from the apple snails that i purchased today so for the time being ive moved her to a smaller tank poor girl looks cramped and bored