Beta tankmates

[Steve]

Anyone else here keep Betas? I have a 10g tank built into the stand under one of my 55g cichlid tanks with a Beta in it. I also have a pair of Cory cats with him and for the most part he seems fine with the corys although I have seen him once or twice put his head down, flare his gills and chase the corys. I had numerous people tell me that Neons were normally good to keep with a beta. Well I tried a group of 7 neons with him about 3 months ago and now I am down to 1 neon (obviously he no like'um the neons  ). There is still one of the bigger neons left but I noticed this morning he now has a spot on his side where it looks like he was attacked overnight.

Outside of the bottom dwellers like the corys I have, has anyone had any luck keeping anything else with their betas?

[linuxrulesusa]

In a 10g, I would guess probably just bottom dwellers will work as there's not a ton of room.  If you add lots of floating plants, maybe things will work better, but even so, there just isn't much room for something big enough to not get eaten...even if it's fast, not much place to hide.

I keep my betta by himself in a 5g Fluval Chi.  There used to be a red cherry shrimp or two in there also but I think they got eaten.

In my 20g hex, I have a pair of paradise fish (very similar disposition to a betta) that stick near the top and a small breeding pair of kribensis in the bottom.  There is some chasing, especially right now with the kribs watching their eggs, but so far it's working out.  I also have quite a lot of guppy/najas gras in there.  But that's something like 18-20" high vs. the 12" height of a 10g.

[Steve]

Kind'a what I figured. I tried to give the neons a bit of hiding places by adding some DIY rock structures as well as a small piece of twisted wood (see pic) but that didn't seem to help keep them safe for very long.

I've actually been considering redoing the opening to fit a 20g long tank but not sure if that would really make it any better far as being able to add any other fish. I really like the beta he's a very healthy and active one that's for sure, but he seems to spend about 90% of his time in the top 1/4 of the tank and with the tank sitting below my 55g it's about 15" off the ground so half the time it looks like an empty tank unless you bend down to look at it. So that is why I was wondering if anything else would do okay with him.

[linuxrulesusa]

This seemed helpful.  http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/aquariumforum/showthread.php?t=91912

The rasbora idea is interesting.

What about some flagfish? 

If you go 20 long you would have a lot more options, such as shelldwellers or julies if you decided down the road.  or just more room for neons to escape.  I have had better success with black neons vs blue.  Blue ones all seem to die on me.  I have had 5 of 7 black neons survive with six angelfish in an 85 for the past three or four months.

[Ron]

Raspboras might nip his fins.

Good tankmates IMO ... plants. Not terribly exciting though, but their natural environment is composed of shallow, wide wetlands, often slowly moving, often oxygen poor, with heavy vegetation.

[linuxrulesusa]

Raspboras might nip his fins.

Good tankmates IMO ... plants. Not terribly exciting though, but their natural environment is composed of shallow, wide wetlands, often slowly moving, often oxygen poor, with heavy vegetation.

Interesting.  I have not had rasboras (espei, heteromorpha, or hengeli) be aggressive/nippy, but then I've only had one for a long time, and he's with tiger barbs, so not a good test.

[Steve]

Good tankmates IMO ... plants. Not terribly exciting though, but their natural environment is composed of shallow, wide wetlands, often slowly moving, often oxygen poor, with heavy vegetation.

That's actually not a bad idea Ron. Because if I put a couple low covering live plants I wonder if that might encourage the Beta to start swimming down lower in the tank a bit more where you could see him more often. Then I wouldn't have to try to add any other fish. I might look into getting a couple low light plants next time I'm at the lfs.

[Steve]

I might run out in a bit to see about a few live plants, I am not a plant guy so forgive me, but from what I have "heard" Java fern is probably one of the better low light "easy" beginner plants right? any other suggestions for common/easy plants?

[linuxrulesusa]

I might run out in a bit to see about a few live plants, I am not a plant guy so forgive me, but from what I have "heard" Java fern is probably one of the better low light "easy" beginner plants right? any other suggestions for common/easy plants?

Java moss, guppy or najas grass...hmmm....some of the crypts.  I can grow these and I do not do anything special for them....run lights 6-8 hrs a day and change the water. 

[Steve]

Okay question, if I get a few plants what do I have to do to "root" them in sand? Because I just called the LFS and I wont name it because the guy was a moron But he said they do have java right now, but he said you can't plant live plants in sand...and I know damn well you CAN because I have seen many people with plants in sand. So to do it what is needed?

[Patrick]

Because lakes don't have sand I guess.....

[linuxrulesusa]

Okay question, if I get a few plants what do I have to do to "root" them in sand? Because I just called the LFS and I wont name it because the guy was a moron But he said they do have java right now, but he said you can't plant live plants in sand...and I know damn well you CAN because I have seen many people with plants in sand. So to do it what is needed?

You can but they may not do as well.  For plants like java fern with a rhizome (looks like a root but isn't)  you do not bury that part but rather use cotton thread or something to attach to driftwood or a rock until it sends roots out.  I had an Amazon sword in sand but it died, probably needed co2 or something.

[Steve]

Cant you use "root tabs" though? I know nothing about them, but I have heard much that they are okay for sand/plants. Or no?

[linuxrulesusa]

Cant you use "root tabs" though? I know nothing about them, but I have heard much that they are okay for sand/plants. Or no?

Yes, probably.  I was too cheap/lazy to buy them for a free plant.    Or, put some soil around the base of each plant (maybe in a shallow cup or bowl)?  Several ways to work around this.  PM BigDog as he is really good with plants.  Others are as well I'm sure.

[Ron]

A new topic with something about plants in the title might help draw in more people knowledgeable in plants.

I know very little myself. I'm great at growing algae - probably have 4-5 kinds!

I also have some guppy grass in 2 tanks near a window and it's doing well so long as the snail populations remain up to help remove the algae that tries to grow on it. It doesn't need to be rooted FWIW - would probably work well in your tank.