Determining Betta Temperament Before Adding Tankmates?

[Kinui]

Hi all,

So I just upgraded my male betta to a 14 gal tank, and was interested in adding some tankmates/clean up crew. I'm looking into cory catfish. Is there any way to test a bettas temperament before actually adding the new fish? I don't wanna get some and then be stuck with them if he won't tolerate it.

I'm not toooo worried about it. If I stick my hand in the tank for whatever reason, he's curious and doesn't swim away, but not aggressive. He used to nip at my fingers but stopped after a few times once he realized I wasn't food. I just don't know if he would react in the same way to other fish or not.

I was thinking on getting maybe two or three catfish. I read they were social fish so I don't want to get just one on its lonesome, but I also don't know how many fish would comfortably fit in just a 14 gal. I also wanted to maybe get a single snail, because I like snails

Also, is there any way to tell the sex of a cory catfish (or does the store sell them according to male/female?) Cause I really don't want to end up with little ones swimming around

Thanks

 

[Blubble37]

put a mirror in front of the tank... if he makes a halfhearted attach he's a softie... if he goes full on and rams the tank... he's obviously an Ex-con

 

[pablothebetta]

Maybe try out some shrimp first. He's fine with the shrimp, he'll probably be fine with other fish - especially cories as they are more bottom-dwelling fish whereas your betta is more top-dwelling (so theoretically they should stay out of each others way most of the time). Cories also bear very little resemblance to other bettas

From what I understand, one way of sexing cories is to look at them from above. The females are usually rounder than the males. In the store, however, they are likely to be juviniles and therefore harder to sex. I don't think they breed too readily though so I wouldn't worry that much about fry.

 

[soybean]

You're extremely unlikely to get many, if any, cory fry. Even if they lay eggs, if you don't remove them they'll probably get eaten. They are in mixed sex tanks but it's not like they get pregnant like livebearers.

My female betta destroyed my population of cherry shrimp overnight, but doesn't pay any attention to any other fish, and she's in a 180 litres with rams and all sorts. Yes you're getting a male, but girls can still be feisty, so I include it as an example of their unpredictability!

My last betta was a male and he used to swim away from his reflection and never bothered other fish, but I've had others that went mental at a mirror but would never even hurt a shrimp.

It's a tough one to predict corys do at least live on the bottom, but their fins might still be tempting...

 

[-FighterFishh]

If you'd like the cories, maybe ask the shop you buy them from if they'll take them back if he doesn't get on with them? Then if he is aggressive you'll be able to get them back into a safe environment and ensure he's not stressed either.

Alternatively, if you like your male betta, you could buy some dividers, split the tank into 4 sections and buy some more boys! Just an extra idea to think about

 

[Kinui]

Thanks, I've done the mirror before but did it again just to check. If I remember correctly, when I did it before, he just flared up kinda halfheartedly and then got bored. This time he did a full flare (what a handsome boy) and got pretty agitated, but I feel that also might just be because of the added stress of moving tank. Besides, that would be to another betta anyways, not necessarily to other fish.

I might just try out a shrimp or snail first. I would feel bad if he killed it but I suppose it's better than attacking the cory

 

[-FighterFishh]

I think snails would be a safe bet first. Their shell would hopefully protect them if he does get aggressive, and from what I've heard most boys are just curious about them rather than attacking them

Other fish I find work well with bettas are the larger live bearers like platies, mollies and swordtails. One of my boys was in with all of those and endlers until I put up my divided tank, however this might just be their personalities. I guess it's just all down to trial and error!

 

[Whisper]

I have found Cory Catfish to be excellent mates for Bettas. Of the very many Bettas I have had only one female Betta bothered the heck out of the cories. She was a FOOD HOG and would eat their food and keep them away from allfood and nip them if they went near it.

I don't think there is a way to know how a Betta will react to any new tank mate until you put them together. But I have observed that they will get along uch better if they are introduced to the tank at the same time. If a Betta is used to having the whole tank to themselves they are more likely to be more aggressive to a sudden room mate that the betta now has to share the tank with. But in general, Bettas are not aggressive to other fish. Oh, they will protect their favorite area of the tank but usually by just flaring up at an approaching fish and rarely will they chase it unlike the other fish insists on his territory.

 

[HannahBear77]

I got Cory cats for my 30g to put in with my females and they just ignore them and leave them alone I'll catch my cories swimming with my females when they sit at the bottom
My male doesnt care for his reflection either but when some thing new comes into his tank he will start to flaring at it, but I'm sure Cory cats would be fine with yours

 

[Cazgar]

I have corys in with my girls & they take no notice of them at all.
I know you want them in with a male, & I think he'll be fine with them as they aren't flashy fish & tend to bumble about at the bottom of the tank.
Corys do best in groups of 6+
You could go for 6 sanchesi if you can find them or Pygmy/dwarf corys

 

[Ny82]

My male fighter gets on fine with my cories. I have 5 of them they are most active at night they actually swim about but he takes no notice of them. Just does his own thing

 

[Blubble37]

same... mine occasionally bumps into one of them but i think this is purely just teasing with them

 

[Fishy friend2]

Her is a link to a thread that I made with a list of Betta compatibilities . You should post the fish that you like, and we can sort out a sticking for you