Bettas

[laurasmithuk]

white cloud minnows?

seem to be getting mixed answers from lfs in area. so am very confused now!

 

[liz2]

I dont think minnows mix with bettas...not sure. perhaps someone will reply.

 

[laurasmithuk]

hope someone does as i currently have 7 minnows cycling my new tank.

how the new bettas going liz?

 

[RandomWiktor]

Aren't those coldwater...? Either way, I don't think a betta should be placed in with a fast-moving, social species of fish; they are a solitary species. Also, last time I checked, WCMs had high oxygen, current, and filtration needs, none of which are ideal for bettas.

edit: WCMs are basically coldwater; I just looked it up - but they can survive in warmer temps. Very hardy, like goldfish. They prefer temps between 55-75, so maybe you could keep the betta on the low end of OK, but frankly I think it would mean a little warm for one species, a little cold for the other, and high waste on the part of the WCMs since the warmer the water, the faster the metabolism.

 

[oneponygirl]

A long time ago when I was first getting started I too was told that WCMM's would work with betta's. I was told that having three or more would protect them from getting picked on, that the betta is a slow fish and they are fast so if he tried to go after them (which he did) they could swim away quickly (which they did) although I was never told that they were cold water fish or any other differences. So, I bought three to go with my first betta and they all did really well. I actually attribute their presence to my betta's long life. He got very depressed after I took him home from living at work with me for a long time, I thought he was going to die so I got them and he perked right up and lived for a few more years. Now, I had them together but I'm not saying it was the best situation for them. Now that I know more about bettas and fishkeeping in general I can't say that I would repeat it.

I have also had bettas with snails, ghost shrimp, a cory (I used the catch he and the betta laying on the bottom of the tank together all the time but I'm thinking that's kind of rare) and cherry barbs. Again, now that I know more I would not repeat most of the scenarios and if I did it would have to be with a totally different set up than what I have now. Currently all of my bettas live separately and I got myself a new, bigger tank so I could have more and different fish to cure my "community" cravings.

 

[soritan]

My understanding is WCMM are sub-tropical, their ideal temperature range is often debated in many of the forums here, and elsewhere.

Whenever you ask about a betta's compatibility with ANY fish, you'll get mixed replies. This is because bettas have a wide range of personality and behavoir. Some are pansies, some are bull dogs, and some are oblivious. It really depends on the betta.

 

[Synirr]

Aside from the temp thing (which I personally don't think is a huge issue with WCMMs, their being subtropical an all,) they've made excellent tankmates for bettas in my experience.