New fish with Betta

[bettaquestions]

I got my male betta fish about 5 months ago and I was thinking of getting another fish to liven up the tank. I want a fish with very low to no possibilities of fighting with my betta. It's a 10 gallon tank with live plants and the temperature usually stays between 78-80 degrees Fahrenheit. Please let me know if you recommend any small fish that would fit in my situation (preferably bottom feeders but mid-dwelling is fine too). Thanks for any responses!

 

[Leilio]

Nothing flashing, there really is no betta-proof fish. As other people have summarized in other threads, it largely depends on individual betta's personality. Some are okay with a community, and some would prefer to stay alone. If you really want to try fish with a betta, find one that is not a fin-nipper, does not have long and flowy fins, best with dull colours that would prosper in warmer waters. Octocinous should work well, or any corydoras, but they should be kept in a group of 6 or so. I think you are going to have more luck with nerite snails, ghost shrimps, or Amano shrimps. You could even keep red cherry shrimp with non-aggressive betta. Anyway, those are just my opinions.

 

[Truckjohn]

Cory cats make very good tank mates for bettas. That's probably my #1.
Snails are excellent as well.
Both of these will help consume any extra food or undigested food and will generally help clean up the tank.

Honestly, I have not had trouble with bettas harassing other fish - though I hear it happens and certain bettas are fish killers. I have heard they can have trouble with top-water column fish like guppies, mollies, and gouramis.

My second "good fish" with bettas is minimally nippy mid-water column schooling fish like zebra danios, leopard danios, neon/cardinal tetras, harlequin rasboras, and such. I have run these with bettas and had no problems.

Then stuff like Plecos and Octos...

I do NOT recommend aggressive fin nippers like Serpae tetras or some barbs - as they can harass the betta excessively and tear up his fins....

 

[AngryRainbow]

Many of the above suggestions won't work in a 10 gallon tank. Maybe salt and pepper (dwarf) cory. the snails would work too, or a couple platies but watch out for breeding. But schooling fish (other than nano fish, but a betta might try to hunt nano fish) don't have enough room in a 10 gallon.