Acceptable betta tankmates

[OrkyBetta]

Dull colored and fast...hmm, that sounds like a danio I've never heard if danios are OK with bettas, but IMO, if in doubt, leave it out.

 

[daudy_dojo]

some one said that these are the only excepted tank mates for bettas:

African Dwarf Frog
Bala Shark
Cherry Barb
Clown Loach
Cory Cats (Corydoras)
Cardinal/Neon Tetra
Guppy
Ghost Shrimp Mollies
Platies
Plecostomus

Snails (one per tank)
Swordtails
White Cloud Minnow
Zebra Danio

 

[OrkyBetta]

Well, IMO, I wouldn't put a lot of those things with a betta. Actually, I don't put ANYTHING with bettas. And I won't. I'm not one to gamble. But it CAN be done if you are super careful.

 

[daudy_dojo]

bala sharks get HUGE!!! so who ever it was (cant member) that said that is S-T-O-O-P-I-D

 

[FishEnthusiast]

bala sharks get HUGE!!! so who ever it was (cant member) that said that is S-T-O-O-P-I-D

All I am going to say to this is that is really not a nice thing to say about anyone. I don't know enough about balas and how they interact with a betta, so I will not comment about their compatiablility. However, if you read the list, almost at the bottom it says a betta can be kept with a Plecostomus. I believe this to be true because pleco's are very dull in colouring, are bottom feeders and pretty much keep to themselves. They get huge too. I don't think it has so much to do with the size of the fish, but more to do with the fishes attitude and how they would interact with a betta.

Personally I would not keep a betta with anything except adf's. And even then it would depend on the temperment of the betta. They have been bred to be loner fish, so that is what I do, I keep them alone.

 

[daudy_dojo]

bala sharks are agressive though... and plecos arent!! (well some)

 

[FishEnthusiast]

That is fine. And a valid reason to say balas and bettas should not be kept together. Your original argument was they get huge. You then insulted someone. IMO that is wrong and uncalled for. As what I am thinking is totally off topic, I am going to stop typing.

 

[Kiarra]

One thing about White Clouds, though, is that they are coolwater fish, and shouldn't be kept above 75 degrees (that's the high range for their safe zone). So, if a person wanted to keep them with Bettas, the compromise would have to be 75 degrees, which isn't bad for the Betta, and isn't bad for the Clouds.

Balas are much too large, and much too aggressive, to be kept with Bettas.

Barbs and Tetras are BIG no-nos (too nippy).

Guppies, Mollies, Swordtails, and Platies simply DO NOT work in the long run. They either nip, or get nipped on.

Ghost Shrimp get eaten joyfully.

Snails sometimes get eaten, depending on type.

 

[OrkyBetta]

Bumped, because someone asked me to find it.

 

[aloaring]

You forgotten to mention algae eatting fish in this article i've always had male bettas with either Dwarf plecs or otos and they get along great. And i've never found a snail to be messy just got to watch that the bettas don't start taking chunks out for them.
And i've always had females in a community tank at the moment my four female bettas live great with 5 sparkling gourami and 6 ghost shrimp but i have supplied them lots of plants to hide in. i've found shrimp to be far to fast for bettas to bother with.
You said its unnatural for females to be in a community tank but being in any tank is goign to unnatural and i'm sure inthe wild female bettas don't hang out together!!

 

[OrkyBetta]

Actually, in the 'wild' they live in rice paddies, and (of my knowledge of this) it is mostly just bettas in there. Males have their own 'territories' and only associate with other fish when breeding. And the females may not school in the wild, but they do live toghether

 

[hello kitty]

bala sharks get HUGE!!! so who ever it was (cant member) that said that is S-T-O-O-P-I-D

i am NOT stupid. i have a bala with my betta and the bala aint aggressive or anything. so dont start going off on a rant at me because it can work i have proof! i will stop writing now before i get really mad at you.

 

[OrkyBetta]

Bala sharks typically are a bad choice for betta tankmates. You are lucky nothing has killed eachother yet. But not everyone will be so lucky. It is just a matter of time before the shark gets big and decides to have a betta snack.

 

[hello kitty]

theres no reason to call me stupid when people dont know me. id like to see them say it to my face.

 

[OrkyBetta]

You're right. Calling you stupid, (and spelling it wrong) was uncalled for, and rude to you. am not calling you stupid, I'm sure you know a lot more than me about fishkeeping, as I am still sort of a newbie, but I am just saying, personally I wouldn't keep a bala with a betta.