Tank Mates For A Beta

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

Hi,

I have an 8 gallon tank which may be spare soon, I fancy a beta fish; I'm just wondering if there would be anything else I could put in there with him?

It's only a thought at the moment.

 

[aly_starh]

An apple snail or a few shrimp (tank needs to be cycled for shrimp) you also might be able 2 fit 3 cories in there too

 

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

I can do cycling; the tank is currently in use anyway. I'm just wondering whether to keep the tank or to get rid of it is all. Like I said I'm still deciding.

 

[drain_bamaged]

You could also try a few tetras- but be aware that they can be nippy. If you do, try and get a betta which has been kept in a tetra tank and looks healthy, that way you know they'll get on. Also look at an African Dwarf Frog, they are completly aquatic and great fun to watch.

 

[OldMan47]

I would think a nice group of pygmy cories would add a lively air to an otherwise sedate tank. They are not nippy but do move about rather well if kept in large groups. They are also small enough that you could get a good sized shoal, maybe 6 or 8, into a tank that size. I am a bit partial to the C. hastatus as shown in this picture.

 

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

Thank you for your suggestions

 

[shane87]

you might want to add what ever your getting to go with your betta first, because i took my cories out of his tank and put them back in weeks later and he hated them and did nothing but attack them which he didnt when he was added after the cories

 

[Loops]

I tried to add some Pygmy's with my Betta, I removed my Betta first, added the Pygmy's but my Betta still thought they were his dinner

The tank mates he has now is 2 Nirite snails. They are lovely and are keeping the tank clean.

 

[GuppyGoddess]

You could also try a few tetras- but be aware that they can be nippy. If you do, try and get a betta which has been kept in a tetra tank and looks healthy, that way you know they'll get on. Also look at an African Dwarf Frog, they are completly aquatic and great fun to watch.

Tetras need to be in groups of 6 or more and that would be too many for an 8-gallon tank. I second the pygmy cory recommendation. Just be sure your tank is established. They like it that way!

I tried to add some Pygmy's with my Betta, I removed my Betta first, added the Pygmy's but my Betta still thought they were his dinner

The tank mates he has now is 2 Nirite snails. They are lovely and are keeping the tank clean.

Maybe try one cory first! Just a quick recommendation. . .if you do get pygmy cories, be sure to look at them closely after the sales person puts them in the bag. As I was walking up to pay for mine, I noticed one was dying in the bag (crumpled in the corner). I took the bag back and the fish employee took that fish out and put it (nearly dead) right back in the tank! Then she gave me another one. Well, it wasn't till I got home that I discovered another had a seriously torn fin (which I cannot get to heal). . .Since the fish are SO tiny and move so fast, they can easily be damaged when roughly handled by sales people.

 

[kizno1]

You could also try a few tetras- but be aware that they can be nippy. If you do, try and get a betta which has been kept in a tetra tank and looks healthy, that way you know they'll get on. Also look at an African Dwarf Frog, they are completly aquatic and great fun to watch.

Tetras need to be in groups of 6 or more and that would be too many for an 8-gallon tank. I second the pygmy cory recommendation. Just be sure your tank is established. They like it that way!

I tried to add some Pygmy's with my Betta, I removed my Betta first, added the Pygmy's but my Betta still thought they were his dinner

The tank mates he has now is 2 Nirite snails. They are lovely and are keeping the tank clean.

Maybe try one cory first! Just a quick recommendation. . .if you do get pygmy cories, be sure to look at them closely after the sales person puts them in the bag. As I was walking up to pay for mine, I noticed one was dying in the bag (crumpled in the corner). I took the bag back and the fish employee took that fish out and put it (nearly dead) right back in the tank! Then she gave me another one. Well, it wasn't till I got home that I discovered another had a seriously torn fin (which I cannot get to heal). . .Since the fish are SO tiny and move so fast, they can easily be damaged when roughly handled by sales people.

dont just get one corys need to be kept in groups of atleast 4 but pygmys prefer bigger groups. it really wouldnt be happy or active if you just get 1.

 

[Gill]

It does depend on the Temperament of the betta, Some get on fine with Bottom Dwellers some dont.
You could always ask before you buy the cories, if they can be returned if the betta does not get on with them.
A Good Gauge is how aggressive he is to them while they are acclimating.

 

[kizno1]

aswell when you add the corys take the betta out rearange the tank add the corys then add the male back

 

[GuppyGoddess]

You could also try a few tetras- but be aware that they can be nippy. If you do, try and get a betta which has been kept in a tetra tank and looks healthy, that way you know they'll get on. Also look at an African Dwarf Frog, they are completly aquatic and great fun to watch.

Tetras need to be in groups of 6 or more and that would be too many for an 8-gallon tank. I second the pygmy cory recommendation. Just be sure your tank is established. They like it that way!

I tried to add some Pygmy's with my Betta, I removed my Betta first, added the Pygmy's but my Betta still thought they were his dinner

The tank mates he has now is 2 Nirite snails. They are lovely and are keeping the tank clean.

Maybe try one cory first! Just a quick recommendation. . .if you do get pygmy cories, be sure to look at them closely after the sales person puts them in the bag. As I was walking up to pay for mine, I noticed one was dying in the bag (crumpled in the corner). I took the bag back and the fish employee took that fish out and put it (nearly dead) right back in the tank! Then she gave me another one. Well, it wasn't till I got home that I discovered another had a seriously torn fin (which I cannot get to heal). . .Since the fish are SO tiny and move so fast, they can easily be damaged when roughly handled by sales people.

dont just get one corys need to be kept in groups of atleast 4 but pygmys prefer bigger groups. it really wouldnt be happy or active if you just get 1.

As a test run! Put one in the tank, if the Betta is cool with it, get more. If the betta attempts to attack it, take the cory back.

 

[kizno1]

You could also try a few tetras- but be aware that they can be nippy. If you do, try and get a betta which has been kept in a tetra tank and looks healthy, that way you know they'll get on. Also look at an African Dwarf Frog, they are completly aquatic and great fun to watch.

Tetras need to be in groups of 6 or more and that would be too many for an 8-gallon tank. I second the pygmy cory recommendation. Just be sure your tank is established. They like it that way!

I tried to add some Pygmy's with my Betta, I removed my Betta first, added the Pygmy's but my Betta still thought they were his dinner

The tank mates he has now is 2 Nirite snails. They are lovely and are keeping the tank clean.

Maybe try one cory first! Just a quick recommendation. . .if you do get pygmy cories, be sure to look at them closely after the sales person puts them in the bag. As I was walking up to pay for mine, I noticed one was dying in the bag (crumpled in the corner). I took the bag back and the fish employee took that fish out and put it (nearly dead) right back in the tank! Then she gave me another one. Well, it wasn't till I got home that I discovered another had a seriously torn fin (which I cannot get to heal). . .Since the fish are SO tiny and move so fast, they can easily be damaged when roughly handled by sales people.

dont just get one corys need to be kept in groups of atleast 4 but pygmys prefer bigger groups. it really wouldnt be happy or active if you just get 1.

As a test run! Put one in the tank, if the Betta is cool with it, get more. If the betta attempts to attack it, take the cory back.

or add 6 to the tank like you need and then if the betta dose attack them then you take all 6 back. battas are normally fine with corys anyway.

 

[GuppyGoddess]

[/quote]
As a test run! Put one in the tank, if the Betta is cool with it, get more. If the betta attempts to attack it, take the cory back.
[/quote]
or add 6 to the tank like you need and then if the betta dose attack them then you take all 6 back. battas are normally fine with corys anyway.
[/quote]
You could. As I mentioned above due to them being small and delicate (little whiskers) and more difficult to handle, it's best to not net and move them around more than necessary. It's a personal call.