I know bettas can't be with other bettas because they fight till the death..whatever. But can't they be with other fish? I seem to remember when I was a kid having all kinds of fish and the betta didn't hurt the rest of them....
help...
2006-08-22 09:11:48 · 19 answers · asked by Krn 4 in Pets ➔ Fish
Betas can share an aquarium with most non-aggressive breeds of fish. Just be sure not to overcrowd. I've had some betas that worked out well with other fish, and recently had to remove a beta from my aquarium at home because he was nipping the fins of another fish. You just have to watch the behavior of your beta. If you get fish like tetras or some breeds of non-aggressive small sharks, etc.. you should be fine!
The person in the fish department of your local pet store will be able to direct you to the breeds of fish you can mix with your beta.
2006-08-22 09:22:20 · answer #1 · answered by southyrn_belle_4ever 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Only the females can live together. You can have as many females in one tank as it will safely hold.
A male will kill a female if she is not ready to spawn. Even if they do spawn, he will drive her away or kill her when she has no more eggs to give up to him.
In the wilds of Southeast Asia, the females come and go through the males territories and if they are in condition, they will mate with the males and then move on. In an aquarium, there is nowhere for the females to escape to, so they are harrassed to death.
Male bettas (pronounced bet-tah, not bay-tah) only fight with other male bettas. They are solitary slow moving fish that are usually picked on by other fish in community tanks. If you have the right mix of fish, you can have a betta in a community tank, but keep an eye on them until you are sure everything is OK.
Usually the fast moving tetras and barbs cause the most damage, but gouramis will attack them also. It is a myth that male bettas are vicious and kill all other fish.
2006-08-22 16:34:17 · answer #2 · answered by 8 In the corner 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The betta won't hurt the rest of them - males only fight each other; however, the other fish often torment the bettas chewing on their long fins. The bettas often end of hanging in a corner really scraggly looking.
2006-08-22 16:17:20 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
A Betta can be with other fish but they do tend to be fin nippers, however if there is a bigger fish in the tank they seem to be a lot more docile. Just a bit of info, when babies are born, the can all stay together until they are seeparated--once they are separated they can no longer be placed with another. Weird huh lol
2006-08-22 16:46:21 · answer #4 · answered by gInber 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Generally male bettas will attack another male bettas in a same tank... They may even attack the females if they can't get along (you have to monitor this).
I mix my bettas with small guppies for good half a year and till now they are fine...
ultimately it still depends on the size of your tank...
I am using a 4ft tank. Even if the bettas do attack the guppies, they are fast enough to swim away...
hope this help...
2006-08-23 07:17:16 · answer #5 · answered by louis_act 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Betta's can be kept with other community tropical fish. Betta's are primarily aggressive against their own kind.
I'd actually be more concerned with other fish harassing the betta than the other way aound (bettas don't do well with fin-nipping fish, and are relatively slow swimmers compared to others...)
2006-08-22 18:07:20 · answer #6 · answered by Kay B 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
despite what is thought, they are a community fish and can be kept with others. Mollies, catfish, or loaches do best, though ours was kept with Neons, Harliquins, and Clown Loaches. Avoid fancy guppies and anything that could even look sort of like a male betta, or it could very well think it is another male betta and kill it. You'll notice these days that most fish shops keep them in tanks with other fish, so that gives you an even better idea of who they can live with. I've added some links below that have better lists of compatible tank mates and more information :) Enjoy your fish!!!
2006-08-22 16:33:49 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had a betta in a tank with other fish. The Betta's life span is pretty short.
2006-08-22 16:17:19 · answer #8 · answered by Carp 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's possible, but sometimes the other fish nip at their fins. Plus, some bettas are still mean to other fish. But, yes, it has been done successfully in larger tanks.
2006-08-22 16:18:17 · answer #9 · answered by dhalia_1977 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You are betta off without a betta
2006-08-22 16:18:09 · answer #10 · answered by mise 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋