Danielle

k so just before i go out and get a friend for my betta
ive heard that there ARE some fish that can coexsist with a betta
and i was woundering
if anyone could tell me from first hand experience if this is true and what fish (if any) i should go buy

capekate

Not sure what size tank you have.. but cories, and otos get along with Betta's. But for the most part.. they do not feel 'all alone' in the tank. It is just us that think they would like a friend in the tank with them. They are happiest if left alone in their tank.
Please dont buy a dwarf gourami, as they really will fight with each other and cause damage.
I hope you wait for more advice from fellow members before you go out and buy a tankmate for your betta.

Drea

I have my Betta with 3 ottos, and all goes well! I don't take the chance with any other types of fish. My Betta loves his 10 gal all to himself

Tazmiche

Yes all of mine are alone as they enjoy the 'spoilt brat' lifestyle for sure!!

I have read that IF you have tank mates such as oto's ( love them, i have 5) or cories it is better to have them in the tank BEFORE the betta because of the territory issues with bettas. BUT having never experienced it myself Maybe worth reading up on, not nice for you if all goes wrong!

Shaina

My betta's in a 10 gal, so I have 2 Oto and 2 Cory in there with him for cleanup crew. They've been getting long well *but* I think Hollywood is a fairly docile betta. He even rests on the stones next to the Corys.

All the other fish were in there a few days before I moved Hollywood in, and there are lots of plants and cover for everyone to break the lines of sight as needed.

COBettaCouple

Welcome to Fishlore.

If your Betta is in a 10g or larger tank, 3 Otos or 3 Corys usually will be accepted by a Betta. (Some don't, so have a backup plan just in case)

For the most part, the Bettas will just tolerate those tankmates, they prefer to have "their territory" to themselves and enjoy interaction with us more than with other fish.

KonaBoy

Well, in my 10 Gallon, Poe has two Peppered Cory's as Tankmates, and the only problem is when Poe's being a piggie and trying to eat their shrimp pellets :P

pamd

I have a female betta, Candi, with two Habrosus cories, which get to less than 1-1/2" in size. This arrangement seems to be working out well, although the cories were tiny, tiny when I got them a couple of months ago and the same size. One is now twice the size of the other, so I'm a little worried about the tiny one.

The best way I've found to feed them and to keep Candi from going after their fish pellets is to dissolve the fish pellets into very fine particles. Then I suck them and some water up in an eye dropper and drop them down a long straw to the bottom. The cories scamper around eating, while Candi still gets some of their food, but not much. I feed her a little less of her regular foods because of it.

It's not an ideal solution, but the best I've figured out so far. Any suggestions?

(I have no idea if this would work for larger cories. Maybe the particles would be too small for them.)

Narcicius

good luck with the tankmates thing Danielle.

COBettaCouple

A veggie clip with slices of cucumbers or zucchini, maybe even green beans or broccoli crowns might work.