Question about Betta and tetra fish...?

E

Epona

New member
Would 1 male Betta fish and 3 neon tetras be able to live happily together in a five gallon tank? The tank will have filtration and a heater -- the tank is presently cycling, and while we're waiting, we're exploring the options for new inhabitants.

I read somewhere that tetras can be "nippy" with Bettas and tetras like to live in a school of more than four fish (like are best in schools of 20 or more) to be happy.
 
Use caution. Betta's can be nippy in smaller groups like that. Not sure where you heard that they should be kept in schools of 20 or more, I have always heard 6 or more, but this tank is too small for that. The less tetra's you have, the more likely they will be to be nippy.

Really, a tank that size is good for just one male betta and no more. Betta's can be kept with other fish, but they also like to claim some space of their own. He may just feel too crowded in that tank with other fish. If you can get a 10 gallon, then you would have enough room for a small school of neon's and a male betta.
 
I would just go with the Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens) and forget the tetras. Ideally tetras should be kept in groups of at least six, if you added this many to the tank you could end up overstocking.

All tetras can nip the fins of other fish, like piranha (they are actually from the same family, Characidae) tetras have a set of very small yet sharp teeth.
 
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