Can black neons, neons, and a female betta live peacefully in a 12 gallon planted tank?

I have gotten SO many different answers over the past couple months. Will female bettas pick on brightly colored fish like neons? Would rummynoses be a better choice if the bright colors were an issue?

Whatever the solution, if I bring a female betta home for this tank, I'm going to watch like a hawk for any misbehavior. If it doesn't work out, I'll put her out and set her up in a bowl or bring her back to the petsore, maybe to exchange (I've heard every betta's got their own personality...I just wish they wore it on their foreheads lol!) Currently I've got two black neons in a ten gallon, and I won't have the 12 gallon for a while, but I plan on getting the tetras first, and then when I upgrade to the 12, I'll add the betta. Can anyone help me?

I think you would be better off with one male bettas, because I belive females do better in groups when with other fish.

But, with bettas, it all depends on the individual fish. Some are nicer than others.

I don't know if the betta would be worth the trouble.

I thought it was only the long flowing tails that sent bettas into thinking other bettas were invading and needed chasing off... so that fancy guppies would be in trouble and tetras with simple tails okay.

I think your plan to put a female betta with tetras would work... they have the same requirements for salt-free warm water and Bettas are quick enough to evade nippy tetras too especially in a planted tank... if yours turn out that way.

I thought so too, but someone said bright colors can do it also. Hmmm....

Its also movement. Peanut will activly seek out and attack anything that moves, from my finger to a sheet of white paper. o.o

But my friend has a betta that refuses to flare up at anything, even his reflection and the betta he lives next to. So it really all depends on the betta you get.

I currently have 11 female bettas and none of them have ever been aggressive. Not with each other, or with their other tank mates. I have 4 in one tank and 7 in another. Just my opinion, but I don't think a lone female betta will harrass your neons.

With your decorations in your tank, I would provide some little caves or that kind of thing, because your betta will want a little hiding spot

Right now,I have a male betta that shares a Tropical Tank with a big old fat Gouramis,Snails/Cory Cats/Bristlenoses,and he was raised from an egg,& does fine with all the other's in the tank.I also have a female that shared a tank with a lone female swordtail,and although they lived together pretty peacefully,the female took every occasion she could,to tease the swordtail. The Swordtail just recently passed away.I had her for about 6,7 years?? They really are all so different that it's hard to tell how they'll act.If you do decide to go that route.just keep an eye on the tank behavior,until you know they'll be okay.

I got a betta book from the library...it had so much info! I found out a lot about bettas that I didn't know, like why black bettas are so rare. I always thought that it was just recessive or something. Anyways, the book says that bettas can be housed with some fish in a community tank. They had a list that included "small south american tetras". Neons and black neons are included here It warned about possible tearing of fins if the others are nippy, and that bettas should have some hiding places. I think I'm going to try this once my tank is done cycling. I'm not sure about a planted tank anymore..I don't have enough money to go buy a whole 'nother tank with lights and stuff (which would be cheaper than buying a hood weird enough). Once I get everything figured out I'll buy lots of silk plants, and I already have a hiding place..its a hollow tree stump with some silk leaves attached. No really sharp edges, and all the holes are big enough to swim thru easily. I wanted to put it in the goldie tank originally, but the holes are too for them. If the tetras or the betta get nippy, I'll put the betta in kritter keeper of her own. This won't be happening for at least another two months, but wish me luck, and I'll keep you posted!

Good luck, and yes, please do keep us posted

Yes, do keep us posted. I am interested to see how things work out!

Sounds great Kissy. I hope it works out! Let us know when you get them.

pick your personalities vary carefully! I have had girls who are nastier then oscars!

I'm guessing there isn't a way to tell by watching bettas if they are more aggressive, right?

If possible, try to buy them from a tank, rather than from the little cups.

You can watch them in the tanks, and try and pick the ones that are the least aggressive. If you see one that is chasing everyone else, stay away from that one

Okay I know petsmart doesn't have them in tanks..but I CAN"T buy one from there anyways. Later I'm going to try and visit a few stores that are about a half hour away. Yah..I hope I find something when I do go cuz my parents probably aren't going to take me more than once a month to look at stuff. I'm saving up for that trip

Good luck and please keep us posted

Kissy, most of the stores around me don't have female betta tanks either, but I did have an independant store tell me if I wanted them to let him know and he would order some. Since your trips are limited, you could call around to some of those shops before hand to see if you might be able to set something like that up.

Wow, didn't know stores would do that Yah, when it comes to be around that time I'll call around and ask.

keep us posted!!