Hello, forum members!!
I have a problem... I would really like to have a betta fish and two small guppies or rasbora danios for my five-gallon tank. My problem is that I have one zebra danio and I'm afraid that if I got the betta fish and another danio or two, the danios would go after the betta fish because bettas are slow and have such nice long fins... I'm the only one who has a fish tank in the house and I couldn't put him in the canal out back or kill him...

Background information: tank is planted with five small-medium PLASTIC plants, one rock ornament, natural gravel, a good filter, and a 15-watt incandescent bulb. Zebra Danio isn't going to die on his own any time soon unless the tank crashes unexpectedly...

Question Time:
Will a male betta fish be okay in the tank with the zebra danios?

Since danios are schooling fish, do they have to be with other danios or will mine be okay with a few guppies? (I don't NEED a betta if they're just not compatible with others)

Some input would be GREATLY appreciated... I hate that the danio is all alone but I just don't know what to do...

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Bettas really should only be kept by themselves. They tend to beat up and kill tank mates, no matter what they are.

I would NOT do guppies as the Betta will think they are other Bettas because of their long flowey tails and will kill them.

Since it's a 5g tank you would really be best just doing 1 betta. If you do add your Danio (and since they do better when not alone) decide to go with another one, I would not put anything else in the tank. (Still just having 3 fish in a 5 gallon tank may be stressful for the fish and you could run into problems).

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20g Heavily Planted http://www.aquariumforum.com/gallery...00&ppuser=8981
36g Bow Front Heavily Planted http://www.aquariumforum.com/gallery...00&ppuser=8981

Holly is correct on all accounts in my opinion. While schooling fish, and others for that matter, do better with buddys, sometimes they do fine without them. They just get used to it.

I have two Clown Loaches in my 60 gallon and they should be in groups. I dare not add any more as they get BIG. (I'll move them to a 120 or larger soon) They like to be in groups of 5 or more but mine have adjusted and just swim with the herd, so to speak, and that is with a bunch of big Rainbows. Funny looking but cool at the same time. Very much "pet" fish.

Anyway, best advice is keep what you've got going and keep it healthy. You might consider getting a 20 gallon. Then you could put more Zebras in and use your 5 gallon for a Betta. Just a thought.

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60g tall, all artificial plants, Rainbow tank; 55g for African Cichlids. 20g long for fry; 20g hex, 2 black Angels at my desk; 10g planted, with 50 Molly fry; 10 gal, 2x 13w cfl lightning, planted; 2g hex for "Buddy the Betta"; Wanting a 200g +, MTS getting bad.

Yep,Holly is correct.Bettas can live in a community setup,but prefer to be alone.they are territorial.And your tank is only big enough for the single fish and some plants.The danio needs more swimming room and some more of his kind to live a happy life.They are schoolers and prefer company.But your five gallon is not big enough for anyone else.Soooo,you can save your money and get a 20 gallon and some more danios,or,get rid of the danio and get a betta for the five.Or get a twenty for the danio and a betta for the five.Either way you need to upgrade the tank for your current fish.

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http://bountifulbettas.blogspot.com/

"Come to the dark side....we have cookies...and filters/heaters/and water changes!"

I'm a college kid; I can't get another tank because I can only have one tank in my campus' apartment and my mother doesn't have the time or space to take care of a second tank when I leave. Plus, as soon as I graduate, I go into the military and obviously can't take the fish with me. I'll see if any LFS will take him off my hands for me and go from there... Amazing how a creature less than an inch long can create so much confusion...

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It begs the question, "are our fishes a commodity or a pet?". Some times one, some times the other. Feeder guppies? Not to a guppie breeder. My Clowns? Pets. I sometimes think they'd like me to hold them in my hand while I feed them. Really, all mine are pets I think. At the same time, I'll probably go Bass fishing today and usually I catch and release but if the freezer is running low, then it's no release, it's deep fry!

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60g tall, all artificial plants, Rainbow tank; 55g for African Cichlids. 20g long for fry; 20g hex, 2 black Angels at my desk; 10g planted, with 50 Molly fry; 10 gal, 2x 13w cfl lightning, planted; 2g hex for "Buddy the Betta"; Wanting a 200g +, MTS getting bad.