Betta with tetras?

[tramca]

I have a 10g planted tank. It has 4 black neons, 4 xray tetras, 1 small mollie(my last remaining fry), i tiny neon, and 3 glolight tetras.
Would a male fighter be ok in there, or would they nip him?
I'm happy with the tank as it is now, I have black gravel, a bamboo tunnel, and lots of plants with a black background.
I just feel a bit of colour would be nice.

What do you think?

 

[kikuchiyo]

He'd be fine with the neons. I can't speak for for X-rays and Glolights, but I think they'd be okay too. (from what I've read both are pretty shy, a good match with a betta's personality).

 

[xXMrBonesXx]

i had a betta in with a couple dalmation mollies and they nipped at him for the 1st bit (didnt harm any of his fins) then i think he finally had enough and showed them whose boss, so just keep an eye on him for the 1st bit if you do just to see if any will

 

[twoluvcats]

the betta in my 29 gallon is fine with neons...i was a bit worried about the black phantom tetras, but they even leave him alone.

 

[kikuchiyo]

Livebearers can be a problem with bettas (they can all be pretty nippy with something as laid back as a betta), but the nicer tetras are okay. Black skirts are out - I stupidly kept one with a betta as a kid and the poor fish never got a moment's peace. They might be slightly better behaved in groups, but I wouldn't keep a betta with them.

 

[FroggyFox]

I dont think I'd add a betta. With that many fish in a 10G I'd be more worried that there isn't enough room for the betta to get out of everyone's way like they like to.

 

[Iggy]

Ya, I agree a betta would feel pretty crowded in a tank. Bettas are not good community fish, they like there own space.

 

[AquaticGem]

If those are black skirt tetras, I'd not place a betta in the tank with them. I have heard many people warn against mixing bettas with black skirts.

As for the size of the tank, and the fish you already have, I'll have to agree with Froggy and Iggy; the tank is pretty stocked as it is, and a betta needs some swimming room.

If you still decide to get a betta anyway, I'd try a female betta, instead of a male. With the shorter fins, there might be less of a problem, and the females can be just as colourful as the males.

 

[Bruckm]

an example

Here's what can happen with a betta in a community tank. This just happened to me. Now, it's not the rule as my 20G has been going for months now with a betta and Mollys/Platys/ Glowlight Tetras/Corys/Shrimp and no problems.
However, this is after less than 1 week together! Most of the fish here are the same that were in the 20G, but 2 new Mollys were not and the male seems the likely cuplrit!! So, beware and listen to the wise sages here. Profit from the mistakes of others!!!

 

[twoluvcats]

my betta got beat up out of the blue in my 29 gallon tank as well. Bettas are a solitary fish and really don't mind being alone in a tank.