Single male betta in community tank

John D. Goulden wrote:

Gouramis are notorious betta harassers, and in betta vs. gourami the betta
usually loses. The platys might want to play too much nip-the-fin with the
betta, and male bettas will sometimes attack platys. I don't think this is
the right community tank for a betta.

In my experience it's a coin toss as to whether or not a betta will do well
in a community tank, anyway - some do fine (many of mine have co-habited
with swords and guppies and they pretty much ignore / avoid each other) but
others really just prefer to be alone. I once had one that had the guppies
so scared that they stayed huddled over against one side of a 10-gallon and
the betta ruled the other 2/3 of the tank in solitary splendor. I moved the
betta into his own tank and it was still a full day before the guppies
calmed down enough to move around.

Then there was sort of a fry explosion. All those weeks of terror and
pent-up frustration, finally released...

My one attempt of mixing a betta and guppies ended when I got up the
morning after I added the betta and all three male guppies were missing
part of their tails.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html '__
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

My one attempt of mixing a betta and guppies ended when I got up the
morning after I added the betta and all three male guppies were missing
part of their tails.

The one combo that I've had 100% success with is betta + neons. The betta
usually flares a bit at the neons at first, then they leave each other
alone.

--
John Goulden

John D. Goulden wrote:

The one combo that I've had 100% success with is betta + neons. The betta
usually flares a bit at the neons at first, then they leave each other
alone.

Yes, that combination works nicely. Otos can be added to that group too.

Has anybody ever kept shrimps (Caridina or Neocaridina ssp) with bettas?

Dr Engelbert Buxbaum wrote:
John D. Goulden wrote:


The one combo that I've had 100% success with is betta + neons. The betta
usually flares a bit at the neons at first, then they leave each other
alone.


Yes, that combination works nicely. Otos can be added to that group too.

Has anybody ever kept shrimps (Caridina or Neocaridina ssp) with bettas?

I tried Caridina spp. "Amano" with a betta. He chased them around
relentessly, and finally killed them when they moulted. Not a good
combination.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html '__
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

Elaine T wrote:


I tried Caridina spp. "Amano" with a betta. He chased them around
relentessly, and finally killed them when they moulted. Not a good
combination.

Thanks, one error I don't need to make then. Shame though.