compatible betta tankmates

Question
QUESTION: Hi there. I'm fairly new to fish keeping. I just finished cycling a 10 gallon and a 3 gallon tank. I'm currently cycling a 48 gallon. I have a betta and two little pepper cories in the 3 gallon. My betta seems pretty easy going and doesn't bother the cories or flare at anything. I want to move them into the 10 gallon. Can I leave my 5 neons in the 10 gallon with the betta and cories? I wanted to add one more cory too. I know that goes over the inch per gallon rule but I do PWC once a week and take very good care of my tanks.Plus isn't the bioload of neons pretty small? I hear different things about the compatibility between neons and bettas. What do you think? If neons aren't good tankmates, how about white cloud minnows? Thanks for the help  :)

Lori

ANSWER: Hi Lori,

A couple of things...

I would get the betta and the cories out of the 3 gallon asap.  3 gallons is not enough for one betta, let alone all 3 fish, even if they are small.  The bioload in a tank that size backs up far too fast and the filtration is just not adequate.  The last thing you want is stressed out, diseased and dying fish from ammonia poisoning.

Bettas, contrary to popular belief can make great tropical tank mates.  I kept a bright purple male splendens in a 55 gallon with all kinds of other tropicals (including cories and neons) and all was well.  He was my favorite fish and I never once saw him flare or aggress with any of the other tank mates, not even my dwarf gouramis.

There are a few tricks to helping the process along and making it successful.  First, you must have a tank of adequate size.  I would not really recommend trying it in the 10 gallon.  With a betta, 5 neons and 2 cories you are stocked to the brim and the first tip is to make sure the betta feels that he has his own 'space' and territory.  In a 10 gallon there isn't much room and he may feel invaded and a sweet betta soon turns sour and attacks.  I would recommend trying it in the 48 gallon.

Second, make sure the tank is lightly stocked and stocked with less aggressive tank mates.  I would never suggest keeping a betta with gouramis (far too aggressive) and the only reason I tried it was because I had a large 55 gallon tank with one betta and two dwarfs and other sither fish but many people try and put bettas in with overly aggressive tank mates like larger gouramis, angels, and this never works.  I also would not put him in with guppies, they will mistake a male guppy tail for a competitor and attack.  Always keep tetras and danios in schools of 6+ to avoid fin nipping on the betta.  I had my betta in with smaller tetras, platies, mollies, danios, cories and minnows and he did great.   

Also, a light stocking is in order to make this work.  FORGET THE 1 INCH PER GALLON RULE, IT IS COMPLETE AND TOTAL RUBBISH.  You have to take into account the tank size, the filtration, the aeration, the water current, the plantings, the kinds of fish you have, etc.  If you tell me what other kinds of fish you are planning to get I can make suggestions on numbers.

Next, make sure the tank is densely planted with plenty of hiding places and caves.  This will let him set up shop where he wants and he can retreat and relax when he wants and more passive fish can hide or get away if they need to.

If he seems pretty peaceful like you've said and you follow the above rules it should work.  Just be cautious because cories stay on the bottom they don't invade his space and he seems fine.  Once you have other fish swimming around him it may be a different story.  Such was the case with one of my other bettas.  He was a sweet guy too with 2 baby african dwarf frogs in a 10 gallon.  When I introduced another couple of platies he freaked out and I had to remove the platies.  

I had another male that always had to be by himself.  He was sweet and would dance for food when you would come up to the tank but he flared at my cats when they looked at the tank!

Good luck : ) April M.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I can't put Einstein(betta) in the 48 gallon. I'm moving my fish from the 10 gallon into that one and they include angels, fancy guppies and a gourami. So, he has to go into the 10 gallon. Einstien and the 2 cories are ok for now in the 3 gallon. I do 30-50% water change daily until I can get them into the 10 gallon. I have to wait until my 48 gallon finishes cycling. I think it's almost there. The nitrite has spiked and is starting to come down. WOOHOO!
So, do you think I could at least try putting the betta in the 10 gallon with the neons and see what happens? I can always take the neons out and put them in the big tank. I'm sure my 10 gallon can handle the bioload of a betta, 5 neons and the cories as it is terribly overstocked now(bad advice from a LFS) and my water testings always come out perfect.
My 48 gallon is not the typical shape. It's thinner and taller...31Hx20Lx18W   I have an emperor 280, air pump/bubbler thing, lots of fake plants and caves for hiding. Also a couple of top floating fake plants.
Here is what's going in there from my 10 gal...
1 gourami
2 angels
2 guppies
2 albino cories
5 neon tetras....if it doesn't work out with leaving them in the 10 gal with the betta
I want to add 3 more albino cories, maybe some khuli loaches and some kind of algea eater(any ideas what kind I should get?). If I don't put the neons in there then I want to put in 6 cherry barbs or glofish as top swimmwes. I kinda like those hatchetfish too.
I was also hoping to put a small school of dwarf neon rainbows.
If you have any other ideas that would be great. i want colourful or lighter coloured fish since my gravel is black and so is my background.
My ten gallon has fake plants but I was thinking I might try real plants in there once I move everyone around. The light in there is just what came with the kit. Any ideas of what is easy and doesn't require lots of light?
I can't wait to get Einstein in the bigger tank and watch him swim all over. He's quite the active little betta. He takes freeze dried worms from my hands too. Thanks a bunch for helping. I know I've asked a million questions here. lol

Lori  :)

ANSWER: Hi Lori,

No, no betta in the 48 if there are angels present.  You can try and put the betta in the 10 gallon with the cories and the neons but make sure that it's densely planted and has plenty of caves and hiding spaces.  I'm not real happy about this as this size of tank it rarely works but I'm hoping for the best.

I would not recommend adding anymore fish to the 10 gallon at all.  Turn off the lights of the tank and dim the lights in the room.  Acclimate the betta & the cories to the 10 gallon tank water by adding a 1/2 cup of 10 gallon water slowly to a bucket that you secure the fish in (or you can dump half the 3 gallon tank out and just add the 1/2 cup from the 10 gallon to the 3 gallon tank.  Add 1/2 cup every 5 minutes until the 3 gallon is full.  Empty half the tank and do it again.  Then net and released the cories and the betta.  Keep the tank light off for at least 4-6 hours.  This will reduce stress on the betta and the cories in the new environment.  Watch closely for the next 24 hours.  You may see some flaring but unless you see some all out bashing or biting it's okay.  Separate immediately with a tank divider if you see very bad behavior.  This goes both ways.  You don't want the neons nipping Einstein's fins either.

I would encourage the move sooner rather than later.  No matter what you think about the 3 gallon it's not safe for the betta and 2 cories, not safe at all.  Any more than a 25% water change and anymore than once a week can severely stress a fish out and can cause illness and death.  It's just not worth it.  But I am glad that you are cycling tanks before adding fish.  Even once you get it cycled you cannot dump all of those fish over.  You will need to move a few at a time and let the bioload adjust or you run the risk of throwing off the newly cycled tank and one goofy ammonia spike will certainly take out your angels.  The 48 would be no place for the betta if it's tall anyway.  Labyrinth fish do better in more shallow tanks while the angels will benefit from the taller tank.  Keep an eye on your gourami and watch for abdominal swelling and off color.  These are the first signs he's not getting enough oxygen in the taller tank.

Watch the guppies (and possible future neons) with the angels.  If they are smaller and grew up together they may be fine but as they get older (and grumpier) and if they are a mated pair they can get nasty with tank mates during spawning.  Angels will grow to 6 inches and will look like pancakes when fully grown and won't hesitate to make a meal out of guppies and neons at that size.  Cories do best in shoals of at least 4.  While I don't think your peppered's will suffer in a group of 2 in the 10 gallon I would recommend at least 2 more albinos for the 48.

Any algae eater is compatible with your fish but be sure you get one that stays small like a rubberlip or bushynose.  They usually only get to be 5 inches at maturity.  The last thing you need is a common pleco that grows to 2 feet at maturity in a 48 gallon tank.

The problem with most loaches is that they need at least 55+ gallons and a lot of bottom area and you don't have that in your 48 since it's taller.  Loaches also get large, about 8 inches each and do best in shoals as well and you really won't have the room for it.  You'll have enough bottom activity with the albinos and they look awesome on the black gravel.

Hatchets are fine, they are peaceful fish and are pretty cool to look at.  They do best in a group of 6+ but make sure you have a tight and all covering lid on the tank as they are avid jumpers.  I had a small hole cut out on one of my tank lids for a HOB and 2 of my 6 committed suicide overnight by jumping.  They will stay at the top of the tank.  Other good top dwellers are red eye tetras.  They do best in schools of 8+ and they won't jump like hatchets but still have the pretty silver color, contrasting black tail and striking red eyes.

Glofish and cherry barbs are also good choices.  Keep all danios (glofish) and barbs in schools of 6+ to avoid fin nipping of tank mates.

You might even consider a pair or German Blue Rams or Bolivian Rams.  They could be the 'showpieces' of the tank.  They are peaceful, make great community tank mates and have an awesome color and appearance and they don't get very big.  I have a pair of German Blues and German Golds in with many of the kinds of fish that you have and they are so personable and make a beautiful addition.  Just make sure you add them last if you get them.  They like a well established tank.

Mollies and platies also come in a variety of colors, are easy to care for and get along with everything.  They are also active and all over the tank which make them a favorite.

www.liveaquaria.com has awesome pics of all of these fish and might be helpful for you when planning out your tank.

Good luck : ) April M.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: There is a hole at the back of the tank about 1.5 inches by 4 inches and a small one in the front for lifting the glass out and adding food. Would the hatchet fish try to jump out of those? I could get a new piece of glass made to fit better. I think I'd cry if one took a flying leap out of the tank and woke up in the morning to dead fishies.
If the neons don't work out with the betta then I'll probably add a couple more peppers in there. I forgot...there is a ghost shrimp in there too. Will he be ok and does he need a friend?
Too bad about the khuli loaches...they're pretty cool. I saw an upside down catfish. Would that work with the angels?
I like the German blue rams too but when I was reading up them it said they were difficult to keep and that kind of scared me since I'm so new at this.
Do you know much about those balloon mollies? I think they're so cute. I was thinking about getting some of those. I think I'm going to need another tank. lol
Also, could I use the 3 gallon tank as a quarentine tank or hospital tank?
Thanks so much for your help and your speedy replies. I appreciate it!

Lori  :)

Answer
Hi Lori,

Yes, the hatchets will try and jump out.  As long as you don't maintain a water level that's really high and don't keep the tank in a noisy area because when they get startled is usually when they jump you should be okay.  You can also buy these plastic sliders that you can slide onto your tops to secure the openings and the great thing about the plastic is that you can cut it around HOB filters.  Yes, it's a bit heartbreaking to wake up and find fish on the floor (or in my case the top of the canopy of the tank).

I wouldn't rely on the ghost shrimp to make it with the betta, eventually the betta will get curious and they like to eat shrimp!  You can put him in the 10 gallon, the cories and neons certainly won't hurt him and if there are enough hiding places he'll probably make it.

Upside down cats should be fine.  They normally get to 4 inches and they do like to be in groups.

The only reason German Blues are classified as 'difficult' is because they like well established tanks and they cannot tolerate off water.  You cannot put a German Ram into a cycling tank or into a tank that is newly cycled.  Since it takes weeks to stock a tank as you cannot dump a bunch of new fish in at once I suggest adding the rams last as this gives the tank time to become established.  And as long as you do regular maintenance and water testing they will be fine.  And I would follow the same directions as I provided you with acclimating the betta to the 10 gallon.  I have found much success in that technique.  I had a tank that was only a few months established and I have two sets of German Rams, blues and golds, happily swimming about today.  Bolivian Rams seem to be a little more hardy than the Blues if you want to try them.  I love my rams, they look great in the tank.  They are fine with my angels and neons as well.

Mollies are easy fish to keep.  If you want to keep the breeding to a minimum I would suggest keeping all females.  They will be fine with all of your other fish, they are peaceful, active tropical community fish.

I would not use that 3 gallon for anything.  That will certainly stress out a sick fish so definitely not for use for a hospital tank and you will drive yourself crazy measuring out medicine for that dinky tank and the constant water changes are sure to do excessive damage to a sick fish.  I would use a 10 gallon clear plastic rubbermaid with a cheapy hang on filter for a hospital tank.

Good luck : ) April M.