I might have made a tankmate mistake?

[Astro_Kat]

So I am at college/university and am only allowed a 1 gallon tank. I had this female beta for a while now but did some research on if I could add a second fish to the tank. I saw guppies as a common suggestion. So I bought a pretty little lime green guppy. It is a male but is mostly pale in color so I figured that would not upset the beta as much. I have a few hiding spots as well as a plant in my tank, however the beta is still chasing my guppy around. I separated the two for now and am unsure what to do. Any suggestions?
(I can not get a second tank however I might be able to take my guppy to my large tank at my parents' home.)

 

[Essjay]

I will be honest with you and say that 1 gallon is too small for any fish. In my opinion it is also too small for shrimps. But it could be made into a miniature planted tank with carefully chosen small plants

Bettas need at least 5 gallons, with 10 being better. Guppies also need at least 10 gallons.
Since you cannot have a tank larger than 1 gallon, the only thing I can suggest is that you return all the fish to the store or find someone willing to take them.



I know this is not what you want to hear but rehoming all the fish is the kindest thing you can do for them.

 

[Astro_Kat]

Okay, I see. I will only be staying here a few more weeks as the semester is near its end. After that I can get a larger tank (this one was only temporary for my beta to comply with the room regulations). Until then I can probably send my guppy to my home tank as stated previously. My beta seems playful and happy in her current home so I will probably be able to get her that bigger tank once I am out of here.

 

[Essjay]

A bigger tank for your betta is a good idea, thank you for understanding my concerns about the 1 gallon tank.

Even female bettas can be as aggressive as males and tank mates can be hit or miss with them. See how she settles into a bigger tank before buying any more fish; you may be able to gauge her tolerance for tank mates better then.

 

[Archerfish]

A college dorm aquarium is challenging in trying to figure out what to do with the fish during semester break. In my experience (yikes where did the years go!) you might ask the dorm manager if a water dispenser is allowed in your room. The type with a gravity fed five-gallon jug. If yes, ask if that is so, why can't you have a 5-gallon aquarium? Not that I ever would have done anything like that ! You can humanely keep a betta in 5 gallons. Even if you can keep a larger tank here is what you will face:
Finals then the great rush out the door for semester break. The fish become a problem unless your parents live near campus. Just providing some things to think about. Rather than keep fish, perhaps you can just grow a nice emergent plant in your current tank. Something like Lucky bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana) or given that you are in Florida, how about a Red Mangrove propagule (Rhizophora mangle)? Good luck with finals!