What NOT to do...

[iemsparticus]

I dug up this article on one of my net browsings. This is a great example of what will make your Betta very unhappy, probably agressive, and on top of that it's just a good way to make fish dies early.

"I have one [refering to an oto] in my Betta tank with two Glowlight Tetras and one cory cat. The tank is 2-1/2 gallons. Before I got him, I was always fighting algae. It has been 6 months and the bowl is now sparkling! I supplement his diet with algae wafers that I feed my pleco in my other tank. I would highly recommend this fish for any tank. This fish should be included in tanks for Bettas that are usually kept in areas where they are going to accumulate algae growth. I highly recommend the Otocinclus for anyone."

You should only keep one Betta in a 2.5 gal tank, no other fish. IF you want to try to keep other fish with your Betta, I wouldn't try anything under 10 gal. I personaly wouldn't put other fish in with my Betta, but that is debated. The little tetras should be in groups of 6 or more, and the cory needs to have other cory buddies as well, usually 4 or more if possible for it to feel at ease. I wish people would do more research before they buy fish.

[seanadg]

You know, I did a lot of research before getting our fish. And there was all this emphasis, everywhere I turned, about the right number and kind of fish depending on the tank size and shape. Okay, I get it, I thought. Geesh, they don't need to pound it into my head. But now that I am getting into actual fish ownership, I see lots of examples of what you posted above and I'm amazed. I'm a researcher by nature, so I can't help myself, I have to investigate something before I do it. But I would have thought people would look at least a little bit more into this before cramming so many fish into a little space. And the wrong kind. Poor tetras and corys need buddies. I mean, everywhere you look, they say tetras are schooling fish and need at least 6. So I guess it all bears repeating, over and over, because it happens again and again.

[jeromee]

Bettas are rather good in a community setting... as long as you put the other fish in first, I have plenty of pictures of my bettas in community settings, Its a downer to see them alone. But I agree totally that the tank is way to small for that many fish, but then again, some people would say my 10 gallon is overstocked, and I never have any bad readings what so ever.

[bettons]

yeah I was thinking the same thing jerome. SOMETIMES overstocking is not necessarily meaning having 15 fish in a 10 gallon tank each 1.5-2 inches as long as the 'good' bacteria can handle all the ammonia and such, but it is another thing having 10 goldfish in a 10 gallon tank...NOW that is overstocking! But this doesn't always apply.

[Rachel]

jeromee said:

But I agree totally that the tank is way to small for that many fish, but then again, some people would say my 10 gallon is overstocked, and I never have any bad readings what so ever.

While water parameters and bio load are certainly important aspects of stocking a tank, don't forget that swimming room and comfort of fish are both key factors as well. An overcrowded tank can sometimes lead to aggression or stress in fish, making it a less than ideal set up.

[bcroft]

Sometimes even the most peaceful fish will become aggressive overtime if they don't have enough swimming room like Rachel said. I know this is the case with my gouramis, they're peaceful in general, but not in the 5.5 gallon.

[kent1992]

I have a betta in a 5 gallon tank and was wanting to add some sort of companion fish, either a red tailed shark or a dwarf gourami. You mentioned that the other fish should be added first, but in my case that is too late. So, since my betta is already in the tank, how can I introduce other fish without a fight?

Thanks.

[amanichen]

kent1992 said:

I have a betta in a 5 gallon tank and was wanting to add some sort of companion fish, either a red tailed shark or a dwarf gourami. You mentioned that the other fish should be added first, but in my case that is too late. So, since my betta is already in the tank, how can I introduce other fish without a fight?

Thanks.

The simple answer is that you shouldn't put either of those fish with a betta in a 5 gallon tank. Both of them will be too aggressive towards the betta, and the red tailed shark will grow to be too large for the tank.

Try looking at some cory catfish instead.

[kent1992]

Ok, I will. Thanks.

[ahhthatsbetta]

My betta "Sooguy" is in a 20 gallon with 5 black phantom tetras, 5 salt and pepper cories, and 5 German Blue Rams ( a type of cichlid) ... they get along well. I added Sooguy after the others, and he does chase them on occasion, but generally likes the company. People say that bettas don't like a currrent, but he loves to swim under the filter output, as well as back and forth through the bubble wall.
I would agree -- gouramis and sharks are too aggressive for a betta.

[ahhthatsbetta]

oops ... forgot to include this :

I have also read that bettas will get along well with Dwf. African Frogs; both like the same water parameters, and frogs are not aggressive toward the betta. They are pretty interesting to watch too.