Hi All,

Just looking for some advice on keeping the siamese fighting fish in a potential community tank. It is a fairly new setup and I currently only have 4 Marigold Platys in the tank, while I decide on my next move. Will the Beta be ok with these and vice versa?

The tank is a 180L, well planted setup, and very well fitered. The girlfriends heart is set on a Beta (I think its the only reason I was allowed a tank in the first place!).I'd really appreciate some advice on good tankmates for it if anyone can help, as the info on the net is quite contradicting at times.

By the way do Platys ever stop giving birth!!!!!?

Thanks
Ger

Hi Ger, bettas can get picked on in a community tank, hiding and eventually wasting away, have even seen neons give them a hard time!!!! Best group of fish to keep with them is Rasboras-harlequins, redlines, scissortails etc. in a well planted tank, corys. and other small cats are ok, ottos. whiptails, plecs. etc. most other fish will nip/harress them!!!

Thanks Serratus,

The last thing I want to do is put one of these beautiful fish through a stressful time. With fins like that I would imagine they could become irresistable to one of their tankmates. I'll stick to the more traditional community setups I've read about so, can you suggest a fish from your experience thats relatively hardy with dramatic impact?

Hi ger,if you're looking for something different why not try apistos,i've two female and a male aggassizi double reds,they're a beautiful fish,there's many different varieties,i'm sure you'll find one you like,nice with a big shoal of neon or cardinal tetras

Paul

Betas are indeed a beautiful fish. Their large fins make them indeed quite a target for some fin nippers and also slow swimmers which renders them even more vulnerable.

The only problem I found however with these fish is that, whatever I do, they are quite short lived.
However, it might just be me!

Valerie

Boesmani Rainbows are fantastic community fish - lively, non aggressive, incredible colour. The adults are most vibrant in their colours - getting better from morning to evening, but you are better off buying juveniles which initially (and especially in lfs tanks) look quite dull and pale. They like to be in a group of 6 or more. A planted tank is a plus, but more important is good swimming space mid tank - some floating plants will help. There are loads of lovely rainbows, but for my money the boesmani are the best.

You could always divide a portion of the tank off with a plastic mesh divider and keep the Betta on that part of the tank where the other fish will be unable to access. Ive seen several betta tanks keep fish in this manner, of course the arguement is there then that you are limited the betta to the size of the tank that he/she has to move around in and also having done a similar set up for my fry before,you will find the tank is never quite the same when things arent fully open to all the fish.
You should consider getting a small tank just for the betta,they dont require large tanks at all,you'd easily get away with a 5 gallon tank for a betta on her own and perhaps a cory or two who wont annoy her.
Gavin

I think you are right Gavin, its just not quite the same effect having a sectioned off portion for an individual species, and investing in a seperate tank for a Beta might be a better option in the future. She will just have to keep til then! I have had a look at the Boesmani and the aggasizi double reds and they are indeed fantastic looking fish and definitely something I would consider for this setup.

Thanks for the suggestions!

Ger

Let us know how you get on Ger

Gavin