Good Tank Mates for Betta and Alkaline Water?

[Todd K.]

I'm setting up a 5 gal tank for my male betta and a mystery snail. I want
to get him some tank mates now that I have more real estate. My tap water
is pretty hard and alkaline, pH=7.8. After a week or so in the tank, the
pH rises to 8.5 or so (due to the aquarium gravel, I think). I would
rather not mess around too much with trying to lower the pH.

What fish would make good tank mates for my betta that tolerate alkaline
water?

Thanks,

Todd K.

[TYNK 7]

>Subject: Good Tank Mates for Betta and Alkaline Water?
>From: "Todd K."
>Date: 7/25/2004 5:08 PM Central Daylight Time
>Message-id: >
>
>I'm setting up a 5 gal tank for my male betta and a mystery snail. I want
>to get him some tank mates now that I have more real estate. My tap water
>is pretty hard and alkaline, pH=7.8. After a week or so in the tank, the
>pH rises to 8.5 or so (due to the aquarium gravel, I think). I would
>rather not mess around too much with trying to lower the pH.
>
>What fish would make good tank mates for my betta that tolerate alkaline
>water?

You may have "more real estate" now, but it's still a bit small for adding more
fish.
Being that the pH is high and it's alkaline, I'd say maybe a few White Cloud
Mountain Minnows (White coulds).
The tank size is too small to house a few Cories, and the water's too hard for
Pygmy Cories.