Need some betta info

My wife is wanting to use my 20 gallon long tank for a betta aquarium once I move my fish out of it (transferring them to a 26g bowfront). I don't really know anything about these fish, other than the fact that they can be very aggressive towards others, so I had a few question: Can they be kept with any other fish? Loaches or plecostamus or anything? Are female bettas less aggressive than males, meaning they could be easier to keep with other fish or together? What water temperature and Ph level do they require?

 

Females are less aggressive, but some can be very aggressive. A nice thing to add is ghost shrimp (try only one at first, then get more if the betta doesn't attack)

Bettas don't do well in strong currents, so if the filter is too strong try to lessen the current fr it

You also need a heater if you don't have one (80°f)

You can't add things like guppies with big tails, but loaches and corys would do fine. The pleco would too. Probably a clown pleco.

pH of 7.0 or slightly acidic from what I've heard, but they can handle higher pH (needs to be stable)

 

Here: https://www.fishlore.com/Articles/betta-fish-care-guide.htm

https://www.fishlore.com/Profiles-Betta.htm

 

https://www.fishlore.com/aquariumfishforum/threads/betta-care-guide.226842/
Here's a great care sheet I wrote with more up to date info.

I never recommend keeping bettas with fish, it is extremely stressful and unnatural for them. Some options would be to divide the tank in half for either two males or two females, or a sorority. Either way you could add shrimp and snails as tank mates.

 

I'm just thinking that 20 gallon tank is going to look awfully lonely with only a single betta in it. Just trying to find something else that can coexist.

 

I'm just thinking that 20 gallon tank is going to look awfully lonely with only a single betta in it. Just trying to find something else that can coexist.

I had a betta in a 10 gallon and it looked empty. I added lots of plants and it looked better

 

Some people have housed very, very dull and dark guppies/mollies with Betta fish, but they bought betta fish from breeders who breed for gentle temperaments. It's a bit risky, but if you're desperate you can go for it.

Another option as mentioned is A SORORITY! A 20 gallon long is actually perfect for one! Some people managed 10+ female betta fish in a 20g, but for someone inexperienced in keeping a sorority, 4-6 female betta fish is a good place to start. Females can be just as aggressive as males (while being faster) and the more you have, the more aggression spreads and the safer your fish will be. You can't have anything less than 4 females in the tank though.

What does your wife think?

 

Actually, more females is easier for a first time sorority. It spreads out aggression more than it does with fewer girls. The absolute minimum for any sorority is 7, but I recommend at least 10.

 

Flowingfins Oh really? I thought the bioload of 6+ is too high. And I thought it would be a lot harder to feed them, haha. Thanks for correcting me!

For the OP and his wife, what sort of plants should he invest in?

 

I'm probably going with a sand substrate, some river stones, and a piece of driftwood as the centerpiece. Originally I was wanting to make a DIY foam/cement coral-like centerpiece, but after doing the background for my 26g bow front tank and having to deal with the PH balancing chaos, I don't think I'm going that route again. Would prefer to go with fake plants simply because they're easier to upkeep, and as this will be my wife's tank and she could kill even a fake plant, probably best not to put anything green and living in there =P

 

Flowingfins Oh really? I thought the bioload of 6+ is too high. And I thought it would be a lot harder to feed them, haha. Thanks for correcting me!

For the OP and his wife, what sort of plants should he invest in?

I would keep up to 15 in a 20 long, as long as filtration is good.
For sororities you will want lots of sight barriers. I recommend plants like anubias, Java fern, mosses, crypts, swords, water wisteria, water sprite and Val's.
Edit: Missed the fake plants