| Betta fanciers know that female bettas are | | | | Next up is the midwater strata, which is where |
| nowhere near as aggressive as male bettas - | | | | many popular aquarium fish hang out. Plenty of |
| which is to say that they are not aggressive at all. | | | | the fish that live here are suitable for bettas |
| This makes them perfect candidates for a female | | | | because they are small and very peaceful. Most |
| betta community tank. The important thing is just | | | | of the tetras (save for the red cross and serpae, |
| to keep in mind that not all community tank fish | | | | which can be aggressive), many barbs (with the |
| are as routinely peaceful as female bettas and | | | | particular exception of the various variants of |
| other such fish, so those fish can and should be | | | | tiger barb, which are aggressive as well) and live |
| avoided. | | | | bearing fish like guppies, platies and mollies make |
| Firstly, let's look at the lowest water strata-the | | | | good companions for bettas. Many of these fish |
| bottom. Since bettas don't normally congregate or | | | | are also very pretty to look at, and can make |
| hang around the bottom (they need access to | | | | your aquarium very attractive indeed. |
| the top of the water for atmospheric air), | | | | Finally comes the upper water strata-an area |
| bottom-dwelling fish will do just fine as | | | | dominated by fish like the danios, fast-swimming |
| tankmates-provided, of course, they are neither | | | | fish from Asia, the many species of which are |
| aggressive nor large enough to eat the females. | | | | suitable companions for females. Avoid fish like |
| Kuhli loaches and corydoras catfish make excellent | | | | the African butterflyfish, which can be predatory |
| tankmates, being small and peaceful, and do not | | | | on bettas. |
| have predatory instincts that will drive them to | | | | Oh, and a final note-think twice before selecting |
| hunt females. Plecostomus catfish like to lie on the | | | | cichlids for a female betta community tank! While |
| bottom of the tank sometimes, when they are | | | | some are suitable, most especially the South |
| not sticking to the glass itself feeding on algae; | | | | American Apistogramma dwarfs, discus and |
| regardless of the size they get, they will be | | | | angelfish and other fish like the African Kribensis, |
| unable to harm bettas. Other catfish such as | | | | many cichlids are either far too aggressive or |
| shovelnoses and redtails must be avoided at all | | | | predatory-or both-for a female betta community |
| costs; those are predatory, may be aggressive, | | | | tank. Always ask and do your research before |
| and can grow very large indeed-and can be | | | | you do buy. |
| trouble for both bettas and other fish besides. | | | | |