anyone kept bettas with neons??I

[fovobaki]

I have a 12 gallon tank at the moment, and i would really like to get a betta- they are so beautiful!! but i'm wondering what would be a small compatible tank mate for a male. I currently have 1 guppy and 1 platy, but i have read that a male betta will attack any large finned fish, such as the guppy, so i would probably get another similar sized tank and cycle it. has anyone kept bettas and neon tetra's?? or any other similar small fish??

[sharkbait]

the betta i've kept with neon tetras was particularly docile in disposition and the neons had a lot of fun nipping up his tail. we actually witnessed this after wondering why small chunks of his tail would go missing and watching more closely.

i've heard of other cases that had varying degrees of success where they get along, but also cases where an aggressive betta will attack and kill anything it lives with. it will depend on the combo of fish you pick, so in case it doesn't work out, be sure you have a backup plan, like a gallon or bigger container for the betta.

[GoldieNjumpy]

I have a betta with 3 neons and one white spot tetra and platies and other fish. They all get along fine.

[colt-pixy]

I do not have any neons but I do have a red male betta in a 29g long tank with zebra danios, long fin gold danios and albino cories.

[Greentetra]

I have 3 female bettas with 4 neons, they're fine. I've also kept male bettas with neons and they're fine.

[fovobaki]

I have a betta with 3 neons and one white spot tetra and platies and other fish. They all get along fine.

oh, so the platies aren't a target either?? I have a female guppy, which suppose is my main concern if i put them all in together.. is there any way to tell in the store if they are aggressive? like tapping on the glass??

 they are all couped up in those tiny containers, i think id be aggressive too!!

[Guitarchiq]

I definitely wouldn't tap on the glass to check their agression level.  All that will do is scare the fish. 
There has been discussion that Red bettas are more agressive than other types, and that white bettas are the least agressive at all, but that doesn't mean that a red betta can't work in a community.  It's more of a trial and error thing.  Provide lots of hiding places for your other fish such as java moss and cross your fingers. 

[Greentetra]

 
There has been discussion that Red bettas are more aggressive than other types, and that white bettas are the least aggressive at all

  That's interesting. All of my red bettas are the most aggressive, while my white and blue bettas seem to be the least.

[Guitarchiq]

It was burried in a thread on here somewhere.  Maybe I'll dig for it tonight after work.

[Fury2G]

I have kept bettas and neons together in my 55G no problem. Smaller tanks may cause an issue depending on the number of neons and the betta wanting it's space.
I have also kept male and female guppies in the same tank with no problem.

In the end it depends on the temperment of your betta.