Topic: Tank mates for Betta's

[EowynJane]

(Not sure if this fits better here or the community form)
A store in my area keeps some of their betta's in community tanks.  Last time I was in there I saw betta's in with both platies and danio's (seperate tanks of course).

My question is has any of you ever done this and if so what was the result???  I wouldn't mind taking my betta out of his little tank and adding him to my community tank.  

I have a 20 gallon with some plants, 6 zebra danio's and 3 platies.  I haven't had any problem with nipping but would the danio's bother him?  And might he feel dominated by the platies and turn agressive?

The ones in the store seem ok but one of the platies I bought does look like his tail might have been nipped.

What does everyone think???

[Butterfly]

I currently have one of my females in a community tank with 3 leopard danios and 2 cory catfish and everything is just peachy. She ignores them and they ignore her. Everyone seems to be getting along really well.

I also know that tetras are good for tankmates in a community. I think the platies would be ok, but perhaps someone else will come and enlighten us on this.

*edit* Platies are A-OK to put in with your betta. If you go here: http://www.petfish.net/forum/index.php?board=7;action=display;threadid=30954 you can see some other combo's too.

Good luck!

[ZenMeBaby]

Most of the time, Platies make good tankmates for Bettas.  I've kept males and females with Platies without any problems but, as always, it depends on the personality of your Betta.

Danios are more iffy.  Sometimes Danios can be a little nippy, sometimes they are alright.  With a school of 6, you would probably be alright but I would watch your fish very, very carefully to make sure he isn't getting nipped.

A store near me keeps a male in every peaceful tank they have.  Their tanks are about 20g and the males in the Danio tanks appear to be alright.

There is always the posiblity that you have a particuarly aggressive or territoral Betta that might not accept tankmates though.  

[EowynJane]

Think it is worth trying?  

He (Bravo) seems pretty laid back most of the time.  Though he does sometimes flair at me when I go to feed him and we can't use the tank light becuase it causes a reflection and he flairs at that to.  I wonder.... <sigh>.

I would really like to put him in my bigger tank, I think it would be very benificial.  I'll have to think about it and do some more research I guess.  I can't do it right away because I have a minor ich out break in my 20 gallon.

Anyone else have any suggestions or ideas???

[CobraR]

I've got a pair of daino's in with my female bettas.  One of the females in particular beats on the daino's occasionally but other than that they ignore each other.

[EowynJane]

Sorry, maybe I should have been more clear... it is a male betta.  Mr. Bravo.

[firestar]

If you do try it, make sure that you have a back-up plan.  Leave your old tank set up for a couple days.  When I put my imbellis in with my cories, and he tried to eat one of the cories, I was sure glad I had left his old tank full so I was able to just dump him back where he came from.

[ruthcatrin]

yah, alwyas have a backup plan, I'd acutally leave the old tank up for a week, just to be safe.  

FIrestar, I ment to ask, how big were the cories?