RandomWiktor
Rabid Betta Activist
Just to point out some things...
- Never, ever put angelsfish in with bettas. They will hastle and bite the bettas, and probably die from the inadequate tanksize and poor oxygenation. A 10 gallon wouldn't be good for a pair of angels, so a 5 gallon half of a tank would be even worse.
- Turtles should never be kept in a 10 gallon tank; they need at least 60+ gallons (to live their full lifespan in good health) based on the species, an extremely powerful filter, and space to get out of the water. Depending on the species, they could get simply huge, live a long time, and will of course eat your fish.
- Chinese Algae Eaters will eat your betta and leave your tank full of algae. They are by far the most useless fish in existance, produce a ton of waste, and generally suck. I have one. He is a perfectly good waste of a tank, and my money x_x
- Bettas STRONGLY prefer to be solitary; other fish are percieved as a threat to their territorial space. While some bettas will tollerate small, dull colored, or passive fish, most do not appreciate other fish in their tank, and will hassle or kill them. Or, the new fish could see those fins and think "yum!" thus damaging the betta and causing all kinds of potential for fin rot and other nasties. Methinks this isn't fair to the betta or to the other fish.
- Also, there are very few betta-compatible species that could live in 5 gallons of space (in each divided section), because most other fish like to have several others of their kind, so the tank could get overstocked very rapidly. And, most other fish need good aeration and stronger filtration that bettas tanks can have if you want to keep the boy happy and not current-stressed.
- In short - consider heavily planting/decorating your tank rather than getting other fish. With bettas, there is allways a significant chance that your fish will either be harmed by other fish, or will harm other fish. Most information I've read says that bettas do best with 2.5 or more gallons, and German welfare research suggests that 5 gallons or more is most beneficial to thier wellbeing. Your boys would probably be very happy alone with a good amount of space to swim, and happier with no other fish to stress them at that.
- But, if you do decide to get tank mates, just remember to evaluate your male's temperament first; if he is super-agressive, do not try it. If he is mellow, get small, placid, dull species that do not need to live in large groups or require high aeration.
Good luck ^^
- Never, ever put angelsfish in with bettas. They will hastle and bite the bettas, and probably die from the inadequate tanksize and poor oxygenation. A 10 gallon wouldn't be good for a pair of angels, so a 5 gallon half of a tank would be even worse.
- Turtles should never be kept in a 10 gallon tank; they need at least 60+ gallons (to live their full lifespan in good health) based on the species, an extremely powerful filter, and space to get out of the water. Depending on the species, they could get simply huge, live a long time, and will of course eat your fish.
- Chinese Algae Eaters will eat your betta and leave your tank full of algae. They are by far the most useless fish in existance, produce a ton of waste, and generally suck. I have one. He is a perfectly good waste of a tank, and my money x_x
- Bettas STRONGLY prefer to be solitary; other fish are percieved as a threat to their territorial space. While some bettas will tollerate small, dull colored, or passive fish, most do not appreciate other fish in their tank, and will hassle or kill them. Or, the new fish could see those fins and think "yum!" thus damaging the betta and causing all kinds of potential for fin rot and other nasties. Methinks this isn't fair to the betta or to the other fish.
- Also, there are very few betta-compatible species that could live in 5 gallons of space (in each divided section), because most other fish like to have several others of their kind, so the tank could get overstocked very rapidly. And, most other fish need good aeration and stronger filtration that bettas tanks can have if you want to keep the boy happy and not current-stressed.
- In short - consider heavily planting/decorating your tank rather than getting other fish. With bettas, there is allways a significant chance that your fish will either be harmed by other fish, or will harm other fish. Most information I've read says that bettas do best with 2.5 or more gallons, and German welfare research suggests that 5 gallons or more is most beneficial to thier wellbeing. Your boys would probably be very happy alone with a good amount of space to swim, and happier with no other fish to stress them at that.
- But, if you do decide to get tank mates, just remember to evaluate your male's temperament first; if he is super-agressive, do not try it. If he is mellow, get small, placid, dull species that do not need to live in large groups or require high aeration.
Good luck ^^
Not trying to be offensive, but please read the posts carefully befor making generalization. I agree, however, that neons, at least the ones I've kept, have been nippers, so I do not keep them with bettas. Also, I find that the duller schooling fish, like the rasboras, don't detract from the betta as much a the more colorful neon would. Rasboras are also, when kept in a proper school, much more concerned with themselves and really provide a lovely complement to a betta in a larger, heavily planted tank. I cannot stress larger and heavily planted enough. I firmly believe that fish need ample places to "get away from it all", even if they are not bothered by their tank mates. 
