Serpae tetras and a Betta

Question
QUESTION: A few days ago I Followed the adviec you gave me about My thirty Gallon tank.  I removed my red-tailed shark to a different tank and moved a neon, a pristella, and a serpae tetra into the tank.  After doing this I Added A Betta and two albino corys to go allong witht the spooted cory that is was in the tank already.  The tetras are all old tank mates that school togehter even thought they are different species.  I don;t know if this is normal for the tetra family but it is what happened in my 10 gallon tank when we got them.  THe problem is that the serpae and the Betta dont get along.  The Serpa has nipped some o fhte bettas fins ( thankfully not very bad yet.  the betta so far only runs from it.  Will adding 5 or six more serpaes alliviate this problem?  I also plan on adding a couple more of the other tetras.

ANSWER: Hi Jerry,
Not all tetras have the same character.  The Serpae must be kept in a school of their own kind, and so should neons, and any other schooling fish.  Serpaes will surely do better if they were in a school.  I would not recommend putting them in with the Betta.  Not all fish, like I have mentioned to you in previous mail get along with the Betta.  Since he has already nipped your betta, it is better to remove him.   I remember the list I gave you, and the Harlequin Rasbora was the one I thought would do better with a betta.  He should also be kept in a school.  
There is no way out of this.  Neons must be kept in schools of 6 or more, as well as any other tetra.  They do not do well if they do not have fish of the same kind.  They may school, but it really isn't schooling, it is a lack of security.  To keep fish happy, you must try to follow the rules.  The Serpae Tetra is a fin nipper, and should be kept in schools of 6, and preferable more, but this will not help your betta.  I know temptation to buy pretty fish is always there, but you must make sure that they will get along, and with a betta, the Serpae is not one of these fish.
Lynda

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QUESTION:
Thanks, sorry about my bad typing in the last question.  Moving the serpae isn't a problem.  I only moved hime with the other two into that tank since they all stayed together in the smaller tank.  Will the Neon and Pristella be ok with the beta if I add 5 or 6 more of each?  I do like the rasboas but if the neons and pristellas will work I may just buy 2 or 3 Kuhli loaches.  Will the bettas fins heal once hte serpae is removed?  He is generally in good condition just lost a little bit of the end of its tail fin.

Answer
You are very welcome.
Pristella's are very pretty, and yes they do well with Betta fish.  Be sure to keep your neons, and pristellas in groups of 6 or more, and have lots of silk, or real plants in your tank.
If your water is free of ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates, your betta will heal.  Make sure that your water is very clean.  If you see that the fins are beginning to get white, or ragged, then you will have to treat him.  I hope not.  This would be the last resort.  I would also add 3 teaspoons of diluted aquarium salt in the water.  I know that they say that corys do not do well with salt, but I have had corys all my life, and always added salt, and it never bothered them.  I add it in half doses.
You could also add as time goes by, three more corys, as they too, do better in groups of 6.  Putting a piece of driftwood, and a few hiding places for the corys is also a good idea.  Wash the driftwood well, let it soak in water for a week or so if you decide to put a piece in your tank to make sure all the brown colour is out of it.  Driftwood helps keep your PH a little lower which is good for the fish you are keeping.  
Setting up a tank takes time, and money, but once it is all set up, it will be beautiful to see.
Lynda