My betta seems lonely, should I get a companion 4 it?

Question

Me and my little sister bought 2 bettas. After 2weeks with both of the seperate, the female betta died. We had both bettas starring at each other to make each other company. I now see my fish alot sadder. Should Iget anothe female betta 4 him to stare at her?

Answer 1

you could, and while the people here are quite right about them being solitary animals some do get become buddies. I know this because the one female I had was born with a deformed gill, and when I kept her with the other females she got picked on. so I kept her in her own little tank like my males are in between the female tank and the tank of my one male named Orion. in a few days both their colors were more vibrant and they spent all they're time swimming next to eachother through the glass. one day I came up in my room to find Orion in her tank, I guess he jumped over. I freaked and was going to remove him but they weren't fighting. so I watched for a while and they were actually swimming together! crazy. eventually she got sick, she was very weak and got sick often. I removed her and put her next to him again. she died a few days later and Orion wouldn't eat for a week. he still doens't swim around like he used to.

anyway, I would not ever recommend putting a male and female together, it's just too risky, I really don't know how it worked that time. however, if you'd like to buy him another friend to put near him it wouldn't hurt anything.

however, before you assume that he's lonelly consider this:
*does his tank have a heater? bettas are tropicals and need heaters so the water is around 78°F-80°F. the cold water may be setting in now and causing him to slow down.
*when was the last time you changed his water (or if he has a filter have you been doing partial water changes?) bad water can cause listlessness.
*does he have any stimuli in his tank? like silk plants, hideouts, ect...

Answer 2

provide up pretending your fish is a human, it isn't. Your betta isn't lonely. it might want to although, no longer like that's environment. Bettas might want to be jumpers, you want an exact to the aquarium. If he's in a tiny bowl, this may also bring about his favor to flee. maximum fish will bounce, because of this you ought to have an exact on a tank. you may also attempt getting some floating aquatic vegetation which includes water sprites, that are elementary to guard. My betta hides in the roots and loves them. it can make him experience more desirable comfortable to have an area to disguise. do not placed a mirror as a lot because the tank or placed yet another fish next to him. An aggressive betta will ram itself into the glass and finally end up heavily hurting itself. also, each and every of the consistent flaring will reason the fish to be below pressure, which may make it more desirable at danger of damage and ailment. If he's in a bowl, and also you're new to holding bettas, you particularly ought to get a larger tank. Petsmart many times has 10 gallon tanks for below 10 funds. 5 gallons are probably more cost-effective yet i'm no longer particular. Bettas particularly want a heater to boot. Temperature fluctuations can pressure out a fish, and bettas are tropical fish. A heater will save the temperature strong and provide it with the proper temperature to commence with. you'll discover them on-line for about 10 funds to boot. A clear out might want to help, yet bettas can breathe the air with an organ they have called a labyrinth organ, so as long as you save up with water transformations, it should not be a situation. And, in case you upload the floating vegetation i discussed, that could help to "clear out" the tank in a fashion too. The vegetation will easily use the volatile byproducts of fish waste as fertilizer, eliminating it from the water. Floating vegetation are noticeably sturdy at doing this because their roots will pass down into the water column.

Answer 3

Bettas are actually fairly solitary creatures. They don't really need buddies, and most actually are stressed by having other bettas around them (they feel they have to defend themselves and so are always puffed up and stressing about it...there are of course exceptions)

You can occasionally put a mirror nearby to give him a little exercise, but I wouldn't leave one near him all the time.

This of course is assuming the remaining betta is male. Females, might enjoy another to see and they are less violent most of the time.

Answer 4

Bettas dont get lonely. Make sure you do not put any other fish in the tank and make sure you do not put a mirror. bettas want to kill eachother and by putting a mirror next to it your making it think that there is competition and it will try to kill the image. the best thing to do for a beta if you must MUST have a companion is buy a female, but after they mate the male will kill the female so make sure you remove it.

Answer 5

Don't put mirrors or other fish especially male next to yours where they can see each other. The Betta, although beautiful, is a fighting fish and is very territorial. The company could cause unnecessary stress.

Answer 6

he probably isn't sad just not stimulated, putting things around the fish; such as another fish, putting him in a busy area where a lot of activity happens, or something like that would help keep him active and "happy" its like any under socialised pet...you just have to be more inventive than the old "lets go for a walk" with fish. if you can find something to distract him from the fact that he is floating in a bowl he will be healthier. the mirror idea would also work, but yes in moderation.

Answer 7

Bettas do well on their own, I have one who was alone, and did nothing but "flare" at his shadow. I decided to throw a few more fish in there, but he still stays in his corner, flaring at his shadow. In this case, it's up to you if you want another fish to keep him company.

Answer 8

bettas are territorial not social, another betta will stress him out not make him happy, a content betta will just sit there and eat and blow bubbles, a stressed out betta moves around and is restless
so
NO

Answer 9

i agree with yama. if you put another fish with the betta, the new fish will start taunting the betta because its so solitary. (hey that happened to me dont try it!)

Answer 10

i suggest using the money to buy him a bigger home. a 21/2 gallon bowl will give him room to swim and he will be a happy swimmy betta.