WinterSnow

can you actually keep bettas with different types of fish? i seen a couple of you guys have them in community tank can that really be possible? what kind of fish can you keep with bettas and still be peaceful

kra-z-fishmumm

First, you can't have a small tank, anything under 2g's, and you still have to consider bioloads etc... so then, cory cats, and otos are usually ok. But they are the gentle fish, it would be the betta picking at them. Other than that, I just know that it is not a high recomendation on here to have your betta in a community tank, esp. males. I tried my two girls together, and that did not work, dominance an all. lol

sirdarksol

It's a hit-or-miss situation. If you do it, you should have a backup ready and waiting (and preferably cycled). The problem is that, with bigger fish (betta-sized or bigger), bettas see them as competitors and will try to drive them out of the territory. Unfortunately, unless you've got a huge tank, there is no way out of the territory, so the betta will batter the other fish to death. With smaller fish, the bettas don't recognize them as living, usually. This would be a good thing, except that a betta's fins are such tempting targets for fin-nippers that the betta ends up with infected fins from the deal. My betta's fins have finally grown out completely (I think). He was in a tank with young swords, and they had torn his fins to pieces. The fins are now almost two inches long.
There are variations of this, like a betta chasing an oto around, as well. It's just a dangerous situation if anything goes bad. Also, bettas can't go in with any other anabetoid (sp?), such as guorami. They recognize the labyrinth organ somehow, and thus end up treating guorami just like they would another betta. That is, they try to kill it.

Martinismommy

I've had nothing but bad come out of trying to put betta in with other fish...I wouldn't even bother trying....They look beautiful in their own little 5 gallon home....

Lonely Angel

My Betta is in a 10 gallon with three cories and he gets along fine with them, but from what I understand that's not too common. For any Bettas I get in the future (when I can no longer fight off MTS) they'll just be alone in 5 gallon tanks.

LetDiceFly

Generally bettas get along with cories and otos. Personally I have had no problem with them being with platies. You definitely do not want to put them with any sort of territorial or aggressive fish, or any that nip fins (to save your betta). You also do not want to put them with any fish that has long fins which could look like another betta (or the betta will attack it). You will find the list of fish left after these criteria is very small, and then there is no guarantee that things will work. My major problem is that bettas seem willing to pig out on any food put in the tank, and then get sick and can die. Unless you are willing to hand feed all your fish like I do I would not suggest it. Even now I have found a problem which I did not expect, I did not think bettas would eat algae wafers that I put in for the otos. Wrong bettas will even pig out on them.

The conclusion of all this. Often you can put bettas with other fish, but you always have to be prepared to accept the betta may have a different idea. Even if you do successfully house a betta with some "community fish", you can never treat a betta like a community fish. They will always need special attention, especially when it comes to food.

sirdarksol

Bettas and cories are more likely to get along than most others, because cories tend to be most active on the bottom. The biggest problem is usually when the cories are added long after the betta has established himself, at which point he sees them as threats.

COBettaCouple

Bettas are naturally solitary fish and happier without tankmates, but sometimes they'll accept Otos and Corys. Other fish are much riskier and there should always be a backup plan if there are any problems.

Allie

I haven't had any luck with keeping bettas with anything but otos.

WinterSnow

wow thank you guys for the great feed back!!!! i will take everyones advice to the full extent!!!