Can a betta fish live with neon tetras in a 10-gallon tank, and how to tell its sex?

Hi there! The general rule of thumb is 1 gallon for each inch of fish, so I think that you may need a bigger tank. If the bettas are 2 inches each, they each require 2 gallons of water, making the minimum tank size 14 gallons. Since male bettas can be territorial and aggressive, I highly recommend a larger than normal tank with lots of hiding places for 7 fish (at least 20-25 gallons). You should also watch them very carefully for fighting, and have a backup plan in case any of them need to be separated. Good luck!

Betta are definitively very territorial and you may notice multiple fights for space at the beginning. Definitively the aquarium must have multiple spots for hiding like Terra Cotta Flowerpots and PVC Piping, moss or bushy plants, ornaments, rocks and driftwoods. This will avoid open fights and will provide good places to have some rest.

You will need to use a solid or opaque divider to obstruct their view of one another. If they can see each other, it can stress them out. As the male matures, he will want to breed with the female and she will spend time swimming as far from the divider as possible to move away from him.

It is very difficult to see the markings of these fish from the pictures. Many fish may be able to live with a Betta if there is a large enough tank. Here are some guidelines on how to pick tabkmates for a Betta. No nibblers – if a fish nibbles at a Betta fish they will get bit back! Bigger fish and colorful fish could be seen to be intimidating – you don’t want to intimidate a fighting fish! Think of the size of your aquarium – you should always have 5 gallons of personal water space for your betta fish Many bottom feeders* are fish that can live with bettas Remember the dietary requirements for both tank mates Add a few tank ornaments and live plants for any intimidated fish to hide (just incase) You can find some more info here. http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/category_home.cfm?acatid=158

If the Betta is not acting aggresively, there is no need to remove him. Guppies, especially males, will fight with one another but it usually isn't serious. Providing plenty of cover for them to hide may be all you need. If the fighting persists, remove the aggressive guppy to his own tank.

Most of the compatible fish are schooling fish that do best in groups of 4-8. This would include Neon Tetras, Ember Tetras, Harlequin Rasboras or White Cloud Minnows. That many fish may be too much for a 3 gallon tank. Other non-fish option include Ghost Shrimp, Zebra Snails or African Dwarf Frogs.

You can keep a male and a female betta together for a short time for breeding purposesm however if you intend to keep them together for longer they will eventually start to fight. So it is not ga good idea to put them in the same space.