choosing suitable companions for betta aquariums

[razori]

My 15-gallon Fluval Flex tank has a unique shape - it's more square-ish than I'd like. I've got a half moon betta in there, and he's doing alright, despite his fin issues - he's still recovering from fin rot. The tank's planted, and I've got some pond snails and MTS that came with the plants, which I'm okay with. Now I'm looking to add some other tank mates. I was thinking of Pygmy Corys, but my LFS doesn't have any in stock. I'm open to suggestions for a substitute - I did consider Panda Corys, but I know they'd thrive better in a larger group.

[CasCat]

Honestly, I'd advise against it.

A few concerns come to mind.

Firstly, bettas can be quite unpredictable. They might decide they don't like their tankmates one day and attack them. For instance, my male betta is extremely particular - he gets along with ghost shrimp and ramshorn snails, but he can't stand nerite snails. I've no idea why he's so averse to them, yet he's fine with the ramshorns.

Secondly, bettas tend to overeat, especially in a community setting. It's challenging to ensure the other fish get enough food when the betta is around, as they can be quite aggressive eaters. Pygmy cories, in particular, are timid and slow eaters, making it difficult for them to compete with a betta. I learned this the hard way when our first female betta died from eating too much food meant for the other fish.

Lastly, bettas prefer warmer temperatures, typically above 80F, while pygmy cories thrive in the 75-78F range. Some sources suggest that Corydoras hastatus can tolerate temperatures above 80F, but this might trigger the betta to become aggressive, especially if the cories venture into the midwater. Panda cories, on the other hand, require much cooler temperatures than bettas, which would be stressful for them.

If I were you, I'd consider setting up a separate tank for the cories. Alternatively, you could try keeping ghost shrimp with your betta, but even that's a gamble.

[juicebox]

You've also got gravel in there, which isn't ideal for Corydoras - they need sand. And let's not forget, Corys should be in a group of at least 6, but for Pygmy ones, I'd say 10 is the minimum.

[razori]

I'm leaning towards trying out either amano or ghost shrimp with my betta. Thinking of getting 2 or 3 and observing how he interacts with them... once I've tackled the hydra issue I'm dealing with.

[juicebox]

Amano or ghost shrimp seem like solid options, both can be pretty chill with bettas.

[boomer]

I completely agree with the others. Male bettas just aren't suited for community life. In my opinion, they're always best off solo.