Is there anything I should know about putting a betta with other fish?

Betta's can be kept with passive schooling fish. Betta just like most any other fish will eat any fry that will fit into his mouth. Male bettas need to be seperated from each other, and you should also avoid putting male betta's in tanks with any fish with flowing fins that may be confused for a male betta, such as male guppies, fancy gold fish etc. I would also advise against dithering fish (such as zebra danio) or any other fish prone to fin nipping or agression. I have an eclipse 6 system with one male beta an dwarf african frog, and some snails (ramshorn & malaysian trumpet) this set up has worked well for me for the past 8 months or so, before I got the frog I had a few danio in the tank with the betta, and they nipped at each other, so I seperated them into thier own tank, before the danio, I had a female guppy who was preggers when I got her, and between the mother & the betta, all of the fry were eaten.

To be honest, it's not worth the risk. Other males, guppies and anything else that has elaborate fins/tail will be seen as competition by the betta and he'll kill them. Tetras, danios and barbs can (and usually will) find the betta's fins irresistable and tear them to shreds. Even the ever peaceful cories can become victim to the betta's instant rage. It might be something simple like the betta "gets out of bed" one morning, after MONTHS of being kept with the cories, decides he doesn't like the cories/cory (yes, they can even single out a victim) and bully it to death unless the keeper intervenes quickly and separates them. And yet, there have been others that have kept the betta with most of these fish and not had any problems at all with them. Cichlids are an obvious no-no because they're territorial and semi-aggressive (like the betta).

If you're going to put a betta in with other fish, keep a spare "evacuation" tank with heater and filter, and LOTS of plants. You may well need them.

Optimally the water for keeping healthy Bettas should be soft, warm( above 75 degrees), with a neutral to slightly acidic pH. Water movement should be kept to a minimum, which means that power filters and powerheads are not suitable. Bettas may be kept in a community tank as long as the water conditions are met, and if no aggressive or fin-nipping fish are present. However, only one male may be kept in each aquarium, unless they are separated by a barrier.

On our side of the pond we call them Siamese Fighting Fish.

You can keep one male in a community tank, but you really have to think about tank mates. Anything that remotely looks like a Beta will be mistaken for one and be attacked. They have bad eyesight. That includes male guppies.

Anything that fin nips including most of the tetra family will eat it alive. Definitely rule out barbs and chichlids which prefer the same water.

As above stated, they aren't great swimmers and power heads and internal canister filters will push them into the calmest water in the tank.

Specifically to fry, like any other fish; if it fits in their mouth they will eat it.

They will not kill other fish. I've had a betta with all kinds of fish and they all lived in harmony. You just want to make sure you don't put two males together or a fish that looks like it if yours is a male.

Bettas can get along with some fish, but not all. Female bettas can get along with each other, if you're wondering. See your local pet store or the internet to see what fish bettas are compatible with. Wikipedia is a good start for information:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siamese_Fighting_Fish

i haven't had any bad experience, 2 in my 55 (male bettas) and 1 male 2 females and their 2 pet frogs in my 5 gallon.....then some odd and end betta's around the house.....depending on the tank size.....i got me some angels and barbs in with my 2 males......along w/ my 2 parrot fish......and a crawdad.........with catfish and things liek that......pink kissing fish and my eel and dragon fish ect........

Betta are very agressive. They are sometimes called Siamese Fighting Fish. Males will kill each other. After breeding the male needs to be separated from the others or he will eat his own offspring.

Uhh... What happened to the fish you put with it. Did they magically disappear? Sorry everytime i've seen a Beta with other fish it either eats them or beats them to death. Thats why Betas are called Chinese Fighting fish but i guess you never know. Go to the local pet store probably where you bouhgt the fish. If there is a different kind of fish the Betas get along with the people in the pet store will know.

bettas are actually quite gentle. most bettas are more at risk of beaing beaten up then beating up your average fish! their long, flowing fins are a perfect target for more nippy species. keep your betta with gentle tankmates, change his water weekly, and keep the temp at 80 degrees.