What Else Can I Add?

[Spitter33]

So I finally upgraded my Betta to a larger 15 gallon tank, with a heater, filter and all! I also got three ghost shrimp (I was unsure about this, but turns out my Betta is quite friendly. It's been about three days and he hasn't bothered them once). So knowing my Betta won't attack and kill everything that enters the tank, I'm wondering what else I could get.
 
I was considering getting a little school of 5-6 Neon Tetras but I'm not sure, do I have many other options? 
 
Also, what temperature should I be keeping the water at? I've been having it at about 78 so far, should I turn up the heat a little?

 

[Byron]

Adding any fish in with a male Betta is quite a risk.  While some seem to have success, many do not.  And if you do decide to risk things, selecting brightly-coloured fish like neons is not the best.  I had a Betta many years ago that easily ate neons, or at least tried to which killed the neon anyway.
 
The Betta's acceptance of shrimp is very different from fish up in his water column.  Most sources will recommend Betta as stand-alone fish, and I am in this group of aquarists.  There are two issues, not just the Betta eating the other fish, but the other fish nipping the Betta.  In the relatively small confines of an aquarium, the shoaling fish like tetra can often decide to have some fun nipping fins of sedate fish, and the flowing fins of a Betta is a real temptation.
 
Byron.

 

[squidneh]

I believe people successfully keep bettas with the pygmy/dwarf species of corys - however hopefully someone with a bit more experience will chime in on that note, because I don't know if you could keep enough of them (recommended groups of 7 or so) in a 15g comfortably.  You could try some snails, and maybe add in some cherry shrimp which are colorful compared to ghost shrimp, albeit more expensive

 

[Ninjouzata]

As Byron said, shrimp (clear, hard to see ones at that) on the bottom of the tank does not exactly indicate you could have something in the mid-top range with the betta and it be safe.
Some have had success so it is up to you if you'd like to try it but be sure to have a back up plan. I would not do neon tetras since they can be nippy towards other fish.
 
If I had to go with a non bottom dweller it would probably be harlequin or espei rasboras. They are a bit brightly colored but from what I know are more peaceful than neons.
 
I'd prefer to see the betta alone or with just bottom dwellers such as cories. You could do 6-8 pygmaeus, hastatus, or habrosus cories.
The habrosus are the best choice IMO as they stay towards the bottom more while the others like to go everywhere. I'm not sure how easy these will be to find for you though.
 
Another issue with keeping other fish in with your betta is it's hard to make sure he/she does not get the others food and gorge himself and get bloated.
Mine gorged himself on my sterbai cories food and got pineconed..I did notice in time and he is fine now but that was very scary and very lucky.
 
Be sure to compare temperature ranges of fish with your betta.
If you went with harlequin or espei rasboras you could still bump the temp to 80, but with the habrosus cories you'd want to leave it at 78 or bump it to 79 and that would be their max.

 

[stanleo]

I had a betta in a 10 gallon with about 100 cherry shrimp, 6 pygmy corys and 3 endlers and this is what I learned. I never once saw him go after the corys or even notice them. I did see him quite a few times flare at the endlers and give half hearted chases but he never killed them. I think he liked them more because of the bright colors and the endlers were all male so they were chasing each other around all the time so it didn't add too much to their stress level. With the shrimp, my betta got a good meal of baby shrimp and my colony number stayed under control because he didn't eat all of the babies. At least one or two out of every hatching survived.
 
That being said, I agree with Byron that it is hit and miss with bettas. If you do it, get small schooling fish that don't have bright colors and/or long fins. Hardy species will do better too. Flame tetras come to mind but not the albino form (they are too bright). They are tough as nails and fast. Pygmy corys obviously. Misquito fish might work but I would not do fancy guppies, those fins are just asking for a whoopin from a betta.

 

[Spitter33]

Thanks for all of the suggestions everyone! I now have a nice list of fish to start researching  
 
Also, in case things don't go so well... I still have my old 2.5 Gallon tank, I really don't want to put the Betta back in that but if worst comes to worst I have a temporary home for it until I can figure things out. 
 
The reason I thought I might have a really "chill" and friendly Betta is because I actually bought and added the Ghost shrimp when I was still using the 2.5 Gallon tank... And to be honest he kind of seemed scared by them, he would check them out a bit but if they moved he would bolt away and wouldn't go near them again. So the next morning I went out and bought a 15 gallon right away, felt bad for the Betta having to share such a small space. 

 

[stanleo]

The general rule of thumb is when setting up a community tank it is always important to introduse the more aggressive aggressive species last. They are less aggressive if they haven't already set up territories. The beta I was talking about went dead last so his aggressiveness was,lessened in new area full of other life.

 

[Mamashack]

I really wouldn't put cherry shrimp in with a betta at all even when putting the betta in last. Even if they aren't trying to harass the dwarf shrimp they may do so merely by being inquisitive and getting too close. Better to go with the bigger ones like amanos/yamatos and/or snails that can stand their ground with bettas.

 

[bigcheed]

my betta obi is so agressive he went baserk when i put some malaysian trumpet snails in with him. he lives in a 7 gallon on my desk in my den. so when im at my p.c he comes and eyeballs me usually till i feed him. i only have to point my finger at him and he will flare at me every time. he flares at his food before eating it. hes a real narky fish.