Betta Tankmates

[without_reason]

Hello,
I'm currently cycling a 60L (16 USG) aquarium, and I would love to put a betta in they are gorgeous!
However, I've looked today at past threads on tankmates and it's all very mixed.

From what I got, cories are okay (I plan to get 6 pandas) and white cloud mountain minnows are okay.

What I'm getting a mixed view on is rasbora's. Some are saying they are okay for tankmates, and I love the emerald dwarf rasbora's and would love to get a school of these, but would these be okay with betta's?

Also, it's very mixed on WCMM's. Some are saying that they are unsuitable because they are coldwater fish, but other places are saying that they are fine in temperatures up to 25'C which is okay for betta's also.

I'll get a divider if it doesn't all work out, and my tank will be planted.

Thank you

 

[coldcazzie]

Honestly, it depends more on the betta than on which other fish are in there. Some bettas are happy in a community, some are not.

If you wanted to try it my advice would be to get everything else first and put the betta in last (so that it's not new fish in his territory), and have a back up tank available and set up in case he decides he doesn't like it.

ETA: a divider would probably be fine too - as long as you have it on standby beforehand like I said before!

 

[soph_betta]

It really depends on the betta, I had one guy that would not allow anything in his tank not even snails he would just attack anything! then on the other hand Im giving away a betta thats pretty laid back thats in with minnows and had a snail with before so it really depends.

One thing to check tho is that rasboras are quite fast swimmers and this may unsettle your betta either to attack or constantly hide.
Hope that helps a little

 

[without_reason]

Ah okay thank you
I will get a divider before I put the betta in and make sure the other fish are in first.
I'll just hope for one with a good temperament also, maybe I can ask the LFS beforehand if it doesn't get on with his tankmates if I can exchange him for another?

Can I just ask soph_betta, at what temperature did you keep the betta that was with the WCMM?

Thankies

 

[soph_betta]

I kept them at 24 - 26 degrees and they have all been always fine!
If you looky in the livestock section he is up for rehoming if you want him and your in the uk?

 

[without_reason]

I kept them at 24 - 26 degrees and they have all been always fine!
If you looky in the livestock section he is up for rehoming if you want him and your in the uk?

Hiya,
Thanks, glad there's a temperature range they're all happy in
Just looked at him and he's cute! I would have taken him but my tank is currently cycling and i'm only on day 10
Might be getting some mature media soon, so might go quicker then. If I do, I'll PM you if it's soon and let you know?

Though S.Wales is too far too

Good luck re-homing the betta's if you're having trouble, might be a good idea to advertise somewhere else too if you already haven't? As there might be more people viewing it there

 

[Honeythorn]

White clouds won't do well at the high temp bettas require. They are a coldwater species that inhabit fast flowing streams. Not suitable at all for a betta tank even on the lowest setting of 26 degrees C . Bettas come from slow moving much warmer waters and should not be kept below 26 degrees C. 26-28 is the optimal range for them.

You can probably get away with cories and Khulie loaches, the rasboros are hit and miss. Shrimp and snails are all usually ok for the most part as well. Many people also keep them with dwarf ( not clawed!! ) frogs.

A way to help things along with regards to the betta getting along is to add all the other fish first. That way they are part of "the scenery" and he should be less likely to see them as intruders on his patch.

Making sure the tank is very well/heavily planted, either with real or silk plants is also important. That way the betta has things to rest on and hide in, and the other fish can also hide and feel safe.

 

[without_reason]

White clouds won't do well at the high temp bettas require. They are a coldwater species that inhabit fast flowing streams. Not suitable at all for a betta tank even on the lowest setting of 26 degrees C . Bettas come from slow moving much warmer waters and should not be kept below 26 degrees C. 26-28 is the optimal range for them.

You can probably get away with cories and Khulie loaches, the rasboros are hit and miss. Shrimp and snails are all usually ok for the most part as well. Many people also keep them with dwarf ( not clawed!! ) frogs.

A way to help things along with regards to the betta getting along is to add all the other fish first. That way they are part of "the scenery" and he should be less likely to see them as intruders on his patch.

Making sure the tank is very well/heavily planted, either with real or silk plants is also important. That way the betta has things to rest on and hide in, and the other fish can also hide and feel safe.

Ah right, okay.
I guess I'll have a go with rasbora's then

Thanks

 

[GuppyGoddess]

My female betta is in with three rasboras. . .in a 10-gallon tank. If I could do it over, I would NOT have purchased the rasboras. I can tell their movements and schooling stress my betta out. Also, they all fight over the food. When I hand feed my betta there will be a few crumbs floating and the rasboras dart up and on a few occasions, the fish have smashed into each other.

I'm a huge fan of pygmy cories. IMO, that's what I should have purchased. They're so much more mellow.

 

[without_reason]

My female betta is in with three rasboras. . .in a 10-gallon tank. If I could do it over, I would NOT have purchased the rasboras. I can tell their movements and schooling stress my betta out. Also, they all fight over the food. When I hand feed my betta there will be a few crumbs floating and the rasboras dart up and on a few occasions, the fish have smashed into each other.

I'm a huge fan of pygmy cories. IMO, that's what I should have purchased. They're so much more mellow.

Hmmm.. I've heard they are really fast
I don't know what to do now..

I do want cories, but want a school of fish too.. but it looks like WCMM are out (temp betta kept at will be too warm) and rasbora's (too fast)



I guess this a good thing about cycling a tank, you can research all these hehe

 

[GuppyGoddess]

Bettas are very beautiful on their own, too. . .if you find a betta with large fins, he will make for such a phenomonal centerpiece, you may not need another fish. Both of my males are kept by themselves.

 

[without_reason]

Bettas are very beautiful on their own, too. . .if you find a betta with large fins, he will make for such a phenomonal centerpiece, you may not need another fish. Both of my males are kept by themselves.

Hmmm, yeah..
The more I look at betta's, the more I want them.
I might just get a betta with cories and look for a 20 litre just for the betta, then move him into his own tank.

Then for my 60 litre I can get a couple of gourami's and a school of something..

Hehe, I haven't even got my first tank cycled and I'm thinking of another!

 

[stickylove]

I have my Betta in a 60 G with 20 Harlequins, 3 Panda cories and 2 Yoyo loaches

He is fine, has his own area he patrols and even swims through the middle of the Harlequins when they all shoal ...lol