29 Gallon Tank Can I put neons in with a calm betta with huge fins?

I recently adopted Rigel the betta, along with 7 harlequin rasboras. They've been together for about a year and ignore each other. Rigel's fins are so huge that he can barely swim and he always stays to one side where he can hang out in the wisteria. I'd really like a little more color in the tank and wondered about adding some neons. Some folks say they fin nip and others say they don't. It's a heavily planted 20 long. Any thought about this combo?

I do have other tanks that I can move the neons to if they become a problem.

 

Well, if other tanks are an option, then you have a backup plan. I say ot is worth a try because of that. Honestly with fish, i have found that a)sometimes you really never know til you try, and b)a lot of behavior advice on certain fish are from people who have never kept that certain fish. But having said that, jist beware some targets are too tempting to not nip, which is why a backup plan is a good idea.

 

Just make sure you quarantine, you don’t want to risk the betta. I’ve personally not found neons to be nippy but if you buy tiny ones they should be okay. Rummy nose tetras are another idea for colour and are peaceful

 

You can but I strongly advise against it. Neons and bettas are a bad mix. Neons are fin nippers that just can not help it. The people that say you can do this in my experience have not had this combo long term. But there are the odd times that it does work. Generally tho you end up with dead/missing neons or a dead betta from stress.

In my view and experience bettas are best kept as a solitary in a ten gallon.

But as BigManAquitics said have a backup plan. It could work.

Best wishes.

 

What i do know is definitely don't do serpaes with a betta... they can kill bettas. Penguin tetras have done well with my bettas at least til this point. Same with scissor-tail rasboras. And bn plecos.

 

What i do know is definitely don't do serpaes with a betta... they can kill bettas.

Yeah, I made that mistake a long time ago... I did get the betta out in time. Took a while for him to heal.

Little monsters acted like mini pranha.

 

My betta loved cories when he was with tank mates. He would mimic them, and they taught him how to school. It was very cute. They definitely will not nip him. When cories are happy or are in shaded areas, their patterns can become very vibrant. And they're just so darn cute.

 

Yeah, I made that mistake a long time ago... I did get the betta out in time. Took a while for him to heal.

Little monsters acted like mini pranha.

They got one of my king bettas when i was at work...was a pretty black and white one, too

 

My betta loved cories when he was with tank mates. He would mimic them, and they taught him how to school. It was very cute. They definitely will not nip him. When cories are happy or are in shaded areas, their patterns can become very vibrant. And they're just so darn cute.

I have three Jullii cories (down from 5) and they have always hidden under driftwood. I don't know if it's the species or not. My pandas are always out and active but I honestly didn't know I'd lost any Julliis until I cleaned the tank and counted noses. Yours sure sound adorable though.

You can but I strongly advise against it. Neons and bettas are a bad mix. Neons are fin nippers that just can not help it. The people that say you can do this in my experience have not had this combo long term. But there are the odd times that it does work. Generally tho you end up with dead/missing neons or a dead betta from stress.

In my view and experience bettas are best kept as a solitary in a ten gallon.

But as BigManAquitics said have a backup plan. It could work.

Best wishes.

Yeah, I probably will avoid neons. I don't have room for another 10g and Rigel is doing fine with the raspboras. Maybe I'll put in some male endlers for color.

Just make sure you quarantine, you don’t want to risk the betta. I’ve personally not found neons to be nippy but if you buy tiny ones they should be okay. Rummy nose tetras are another idea for colour and are peaceful

I have a dedicated 10g quarantine tank. It's fun to get tiny babies and watch them grow up before they get moved to the bigger tanks.

 

I have peppered cories! They're the sweetest. I highly recommend them.