Neon Tetras - Will Fewer Than 6 Get Lonely?

Thank you so much for your comprehensive answer.  I laughed at the 'pottering around' - that's pretty much all I am able to do now, so the puffer fish and I would match!

I understand what you said about perhaps being more attracted to a different style of betta, and how the shape of their mouth often makes them look 'grumpy'.  My thoughts exactly!

Lots of lovely links for me to visit and read.  I am so glad I did this research BEFORE I went out and bought fish. (Is there an emoticon for 'phew! relieved')  Still sad that I won't be able to have the fish I had set my heart on, but the fish comes first.

Thank you again.

@ros77uk thank you for being so understanding, and I am also relieved that you chose to do research on fish prior to any purchase, something we would always recommend that people do.

We all go through the disappointment of finding out that a fish that we like is unsuitable for us, for many different reasons. It still happens to me on a regular basis, and I'm often found searching the internet on my phone whilst staring wistfully at a tank of fish in a shop.

As for dwarf puffers, if you do decide to get one it will provide you with hours of entertainment as it explores the tank, being distracted and amazed by every little thing. From a distance they look as if they are floating slowly around the tank, but closer up you'll see their little fins going like the clappers. They really are quite comical, until they turn their big puppy dog eyes on you to beg for food, then they are just adorable. You may have to learn to be firm in resisting this look, and it is quite difficult not to overfeed them.

As I mentioned before, the final decision really is up to you, and we would love to hear how you get on.