I started with a dozen zebra danio as dither fish for my Histrionica loaches. Well, the danio chased each other incessantly and my loaches were always hiding. Worse yet, the danio stole all the food because my loaches were too scared by their frantic swimming to come out. 
I decided that I had had enough when I came in one evening to see that one of my younger danio, who happened to be my favorite, was missing his entire tail fin.
I yanked the other danios the next day. The injured one went to the quarantine to heal and the rest went to the lfs.
Looking at the now practically barren tank, I decided to try my luck. Grabbed my female betta out of her little 2.5 and plopped her in with my loaches.
Best. Decision. Ever.
My loaches are out every morning and night like clockwork. They swim along the sides of the tank with her and are eating more than ever. Now I've got two female betta and the still-healing danio in the tank and everyone is happy. I figured that I would have more aggression between the two betta, but they get along great.
All in all, betta can make excellent dither fish for shy loaches.
Just my two cents.
I decided that I had had enough when I came in one evening to see that one of my younger danio, who happened to be my favorite, was missing his entire tail fin.
I yanked the other danios the next day. The injured one went to the quarantine to heal and the rest went to the lfs.
Looking at the now practically barren tank, I decided to try my luck. Grabbed my female betta out of her little 2.5 and plopped her in with my loaches.
Best. Decision. Ever.
My loaches are out every morning and night like clockwork. They swim along the sides of the tank with her and are eating more than ever. Now I've got two female betta and the still-healing danio in the tank and everyone is happy. I figured that I would have more aggression between the two betta, but they get along great.
All in all, betta can make excellent dither fish for shy loaches.
Just my two cents.
