Tetras And Bettas

[drain_bamaged]

Hello

I am starting a community tank- 25 liters (around 6 gallons). Im in the process of cycling, but I have been researching the various types of fish I can keep.

Initally, I am going to keep some Danios in there, after the tank has cycled (obvously!), and in around 6 months, after the tank has matured, I was going to get some Neon Tetras.

I HAD decided on around 8 Neon tetras...until i saw a betta in my LFS!

Now the interesting thing is, in the LFS, the betta was being kept in a tank with Neon Tetras...about 25 of them!!! it was a pretty small tank (probably only about 4/5 gallons, but the betta looked very happy playing in the currents and wasnt a bit bothered about the tetras.

Now I am thinking about getting 5 Neons, leaving them in the tank for two weeks to become very well established, and then introducing a betta...I wanted to know what you think about this combination of fish??

My LFS (and I know they can be dubious!) had told me that bettas are top level swimmers, and neons are more mid level, and so it shouldnt be a problem to keep both- is this true?

I would like to make it clear that the neons and and betta would be introduced in around 6-8 months time, after the tank has matures.

 

[silverrabbit]

My bettas use all areas of their aquariums, not just the top. Tetras can be nippy too - just because that betta hadn't been munched on by the neons, it doesn;t mean it won't happen with the fish you get.

I personally wouldn't risk it - there will be some who have tried it and it's worked, I guess i'm just wary after what i've seen in pet shops near me, where the bettas have no fins left from being kept with neons

 

[pippoodle]

rice fish are a good choice to keep with bettas they are very calm and have lovely blue eyes - availble at most maidenhead aquatics around £2 each - need to be kept in a group of 6+
you could also add some pygmy sized corys - pymaeus , hastatus or habrosus - these also do well with bettas