Bettas and Neons?

I kind of wanted to add a Betta to my tank that has shrimp and neons. Someone at my fish store told me they might be inclined to try and eat the neons, whereas someone else from a different fish store said the opposite would be more likely to happen, ie. the Neons nipping at his fins. I've had a Betta in with my Glowlights before and they all left each other alone. I'm just wondering if this is a good idea, though I am trying to stick to the South American theme.

 

I've heard it said many times that it is not a good idea to have a betta with tetras because tetras are fin nippers. I am not an experienced fish keeper, this is just info I have picked up from all the reading. I am sure one of the more experienced keepers will chime in soon.

 

That would definitely be a bad combo. The Betta would eat your shrimp, while the Neons shredded his fins. (well, actually, it all depends on the individual fish whether or not there would be fin nipping...but I consider it way too big of a risk to take.) Sorry. :-\

 

Unfortunately fish do not care what theme we are trying to acheive. Neons are nippers by the reports I have on them and Bettas do not see them as threats so they just let them do it and then infected fins set in and the betta either ends up very sick or dead. Sorry but NO the neons and the betta do not mix.

There have been some that have insisted on putting shrimp in with the bettas and on more than one occasion the shrimp "disappeared". So for the sake of the shrimp, I would say NO to the betta in the shrimp tank.

Sorry

Rose

 

I have a heavily planted 15 gallon tank (currently with 5 neons). I have a betta that I would like to add (if it's safe). what are your opinions on whether it would work? is it pointless to even try or is it one of those things that is worth a try? I have a backup plan if it doesn't work out, but don't know if it's even worth trying.

has anyone done this? does it work?

 

I added my Betta to my 20 gallon Neon tank, and he immediately started chasing them and I found one dead several hours later. I removed him, but even after he was out of the tank it was just a domino effect and I lost Neon after Neon and had to euthanize some of them. I lost 8 when all was said and done over about a week period, long after the Betta was removed. So, with my experience, no it doesn't work and not a good idea. Everyone I asked told me so and I listened to the one person who said they'd be fine and found out the hard way for myself.

 

I wouldn't advise it.. neons to a betta are like red flags to a bull. and the neons may get in some nips before dying, but they're usually too scared trying to get away.

 

good thing I asked. I was thinking that it'd be reasonably workable with a heavily planted tank.

I don't think i'm going to put them together, but I was wondering, what about a neon attracts a betta? I know stuff like large fins and such will attract a betta, but neons don't have those. just curious

 

Some Bettas will be aggresive towards any fish and some will be fine. Bettas are not quite as active as most other fish and the constant frantic swimming of neons can drive them crazy. In most cases it's the Betta that is in danger of having his long flowing fins nipped constantly by the neons. They find it irresistable.

 

Bettas can find the coloring of the Neons a trigger, just like how phloxface mentioned the long betta fins are a trigger to neons.

 

ah, didn't know that. always learning something new

 

I keep Ribbon with three bloodfin tetras and they get along fine. But it can depend on the betta. Part of it might have been how many there were or the colour, who knows? Ribbon has kind of come to an understanding with the bloodfins, they stick to their part of the tank, he sticks to his.