Preparing My Betta Tank -- What Other Fish?

[julielynn47]

I started today preparing what will be a 10 gallon tank with a Betta in it.   My question is what other kinds of fish are good to be in the tank with the Betta.  I don't want a lot of fish in it.  But I am thinking maybe a snail and some kind of bottom dweller. Maybe a few Kuli Loach.  
 
What I really am wondering is this...are male Bettas agressive to all fish or only other Betta fish?   A long time ago, I had a 20 gallon tank with a Betta and a lot of different other fish. I do not remember the Betta ever bothering any of the fish. Or any of the fish ever bothering him.
 
Over the years all I have heard is how nothing can be kept with Bettas.  So I am wondering what can and can't be.
 
Any ideas or suggestions?   I plan on getting the Betta sometime next week. So I am really interested in what other fish he can hang around with.
 
Thanks!

 

[DrRob]

Depends on the betta. Some of them can be placid, some of them are not at all placid, some of them start out placid and then turn into killing machines.
 
What you can't really do is put in fish that look food sized, or fish that will nip at the fins on a slow moving betta. They also need relatively low turbulence in the water, so don't play well with anything that needs high flow.
 
Snails generally do well, shrimp often not. Fish, can be a nightmare, can work. The advice to not do it is valid, generally it's not worth the hassle, but it does work, occasionally.

 

[Byron]

I concur.  Generally speaking, Betta are not community fish.  A single male Betta in a 10g is all I would consider for fish.  A 10g is not that much room to begin with, and space confinement for many fish increases aggression.  Either the other fish would see the Betta as invading their space, or vice versa.
 
Byron.

 

[NickAu]

 
I started today preparing what will be a 10 gallon tank with a Betta in it.

Make sure you have lots of live plants and your tank is cycled before adding any fish.
 
As to tank mates, Your betta will be ok with tank mates or it wont it depends on the fish,  6 Kuhli Loaches may work, But dont add them for at least 2 or 3 months after your tank is cycled, same for shrimp,

 

[rodders666]

If (big if), you were having any other fish with a Beta then I would say to add those fish first, not the Betta. If the Betta is added first then the tank becomes his tank.
 
Personally I would keep it as a Betta only tank as you never know what type of Betta you will get; as stated above some are placid some are not so much.

 

[julielynn47]

Well, I kinda thought that at least a snail and a bottom dweller would be okay.  I know a 10 gallon is not that big, but I thought a betta and a couple of other things that don't really share the upper water level would be okay.  But maybe not.  I will probably just stick with a betta to be safe.

 

[cowgirluntamed]

My betta does fine with 3 horned nerite snails in his 5 gallon tank. He doesn't bother them at all. Though I think he is a bit wimpy as when I hold a mirror to his tank he'll flat for ten seconds or so at it and then head to the other side of his tank....he scares himself..lol. he's still angry but yeah. So I've had to learn to start taking the mirror away so he thinks he's scaring the "other" betta off....lol.

 

[rodders666]

Well, I kinda thought that at least a snail and a bottom dweller would be okay.  I know a 10 gallon is not that big, but I thought a betta and a couple of other things that don't really share the upper water level would be okay.  But maybe not.  I will probably just stick with a betta to be safe.

 
I was just thinking fish. Snails I shouldn't see a problem with, and the horned nerite that cowgirluntamed menstions are cute, I have two in my tank and they look like bumble bees (so says my wife and toddler).

As I said (If (big if), you were having any other fish with a Beta then I would say to add those fish first), you could try some fish. Some such as the Pygmy Corydoras, they are small, not brightly coloured and although they do get about in the tank they spend a lot down near the bottom and 10 of these in a 10 gallon should be ok.
 
Have you thought about an African Dwarf Frog? Make sure you have a good lid on the tank though. Read up on them, especially feeding as the Betta is likely to try eat all the food put in before Kermit gets some

 

[NickAu]

This is not a killing machine
https/www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ2Mmz0ka2A
 
This is a killing machine,  He attacks my hand, The siphon hose and god forbid you should put a glass thermometer in the tank,
I am NOT actually touching the glass.
https/www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocRD05qy9ac