Tank Mates For A Betta

[Spishkey]

well after looking at the betta showcase i am now gonna go for a male betta, hopefully i can find a CT (is that crowntail? can someone tell me all the abbreviations please as it gets confusing!) as i think they are gorgeous!

but i dont just wanna keep a single betta in the tank, i would like to have a mini community (is this safe?)
what tank mates go 'well' with a betta, ie ones that dont fin nip or chase it? can they live happily amongst other fish?

 

[tibby25731]

It will depend on the temperament of the betta. Some will not tolerate even a snail! I have African Dwarf Frogs with one of mine, but I wouldn't trust another fish with any of them! Cories and otos are sometimes OK. My brother put a cory in with his betta and the betta went mad! he tried white cloud mountain minnows too, with the same effect! So if you want to try other fish, make sure you have somewhere else to house them if it all goes wrong!
Keep well clear of tetras and other nippy fish. Also, guppies are a no no, as are any other brightly coloured fish, as the bettas will likely attack them. I'm currently trying apple snails with mine.... so far so good but it has only been a day!

 

[Syphoniera]

well after looking at the betta showcase i am now gonna go for a male betta, hopefully i can find a CT (is that crowntail? can someone tell me all the abbreviations please as it gets confusing!) as i think they are gorgeous!

but i dont just wanna keep a single betta in the tank, i would like to have a mini community (is this safe?)
what tank mates go 'well' with a betta, ie ones that dont fin nip or chase it? can they live happily amongst other fish?

Speaking from my limited experience and reading:
it seems to make a massive difference if other fish, snails, etc. are already settled in the tank when the betta arrives.
If you are going with the Walstad idea, you'll also have a lot of plants in, which makes things much easier and less stressful all around, as privacy and shelter can be had.
Out of sight, out of mind.

Also do bear in mind that Crowntails do apparently tend to be crabbier, and a Super Delta or Half-Moon will be less likely to chase more than an inch or three as the finnage slows them down so much, they rapidly learn they haven't a hope of ever catching up with anybody.
This matters a lot more in a small tank, as there's less 'get away' room.
The last thing anyone wants to do is to put any fish into a situation where they'll be unduely stressed or even outright at risk.
But if you work it right, the potential for problems can be drastically reduced.

On the other hand, what works for one may not for others.
I just know this is how it seems to work for me.

 

[lilfishie]

one of my boys and my female are fine with cories, the other two boys, one i haven't tried and the other i wouldn't dare

 

[minxfishy]

Ive had success for rasboras and corydoras.

Due to unfortunate circumstances, Ive recently moved one of my youngest bettas into a tank with rasboras, corys, female guppies and platys, I was worried this would be disasterous, luckily, so far, no problems at all, although upon food entering the tank, everyone gets out of his way Im also watchful in case the situation changes, so it really is dependent upon the fish, I wouldnt have tried this with any of the other boys I have, but he seems ok, maybe because hes younger I dont know.

 

[Netty]

What size tank are you planning?

 

[doresy]

Hi, I have 8 pigmy corys with my SuperDelta and all has been fine. Sometimes he chases them out of the cave but thats all