I have a tank with 2 fantails in it and a betta in a bowl. The betta always seems a little depressed and I had heard they were community fish so maybe putting him in with the fantails would help. They are both bigger than him so he won't be able to eat them, but not so big they can him. The fantails don't pick at each others tails, something I read was a bad thing if you wanted to put a betta in with other fish.... Anyway, there's room in the tank and I would just like to know if this would be ok. Thanks!
2007-02-28 01:59:25 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Fish
Some people have done it with no problems but it isn't something I would recommend since there is always a chance that something will go wrong. You don't say what size your tank is that have the 2 goldfish in, if it is smaller then 40 gallons it is already overstocked and no fish should be added whether they get alone or not. Why don't you just get a tank for your betta? A 5 gallon would be great and that way you can give him a friend or 2, not that he needs friends but it also gives him room to swim.
2007-02-28 02:30:39 · answer #1 · answered by Nunya Biznis 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
No, you shouldn't put the betta with the goldfish. But, it's not a matter of fighting with either one of these two. It's a matter of incompatible environments. Goldfish need cold water. Bettas need warm water. It's this simple. Also, bowls are a really poor environment for any fish. You haven't said what size of tank you have, but my suggestion would be that you get a 40 gallon aquarium with a really good filter, cycle the water properly and move your two fantails into that and move the betta out of the bowl into the goldfishes' old tank with a heater and a filter. You will be amazed to see how undepressed the betta will become with all that room and warm water. He will swim like crazy, flash and flare his fins and gills and just come alive. The larger tank will also make a much healthier environment for the goldfish too. Doing this will make you a lot happier too! Good luck!
2007-02-28 05:33:27 · answer #2 · answered by Venice Girl 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As others have said, the answer is no. But it is not because the Betta's will kill goldfish, that's just a bunch of baloney.
The only time Betta's will try to attack another fish is when you have 2 males in a bowl at the same time (how do you losers think they breed Betta's if "all Betta's kill other fish"?)
The reason is because Betta's are tropical fish and have their own specific water temps, space, and food that they need to eat. Goldfish eat different, need their tanks cleaned more often, make more of a mess, need their own specific water temp, and other things as well.
2007-02-28 03:39:29 · answer #3 · answered by cadowney1 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I did exactly this for 2 years. None of these fish fought with each other. Goldfish are not fighters by nature, and even though Betta's are, not necessarily with Goldfish. My three fish lived in an large bowl, then a small aquarium for about 1 year in each condition. They never did have problems.
I might have just got a docile Betta, but try it. You have a bowl and a tank. Put the Betta in the tank and see what happens. If it immediately goes after the goldfish, move it back.
2007-02-28 03:58:09 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
NO.
they have completely different requirements.
1. a betta is a tropical fish, a goldfish is a coldwater fish. a goldfish cannot be kept at warmer temperatures as it affects their metabolism and susceptability to diseases. a betta kept at colder temperatures makes them very lethargic and depressed looking!
2. once the goldfish is big enough (fantails can get to around 10" or more in length, excluding tail) a betta would be a light snack to them.
3. goldfish poo, A LOT, and this pushes ammonia levels up, these levels not only will harm the goldfish, but would kill the betta.
4. goldfish WILL nip the fins of the slow swimming betta.
2007-02-28 02:07:39 · answer #5 · answered by catx 7 · 6⤊ 0⤋
It's not a good idea as they aren't compatible. I suspect his depression is due to being really really cold for a betta.
1)Betta are warm water tropical fish. The need 75-85F temps. Lower temps result in lethargy, disease and early death. Goldfish are cold water carp types. They need temp below 73F, and ideally in the 65-68F range. Temps above 72 will result in oxygen deprivation, illness, and early death.
2)Betta tank mates should be fast swimmers, and not have showy fins. This pretty much rules out most gold fish. Aggression varies from betta to betta. Some betta will rip a fan tail fin from fin even if they are larger.
2007-02-28 09:26:22 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well NO.
And it's not because the "aggressiveness" of the Betta splendens, but because of their environmental requirements.
One is a cold water fish (Carassius auratus, the Goldfish) and the other is a warm water fish that should be kept around 27°C (about 80°F).
Try moving the betta into a larger warm water tank with fast swimming fish as Danios or Tetras.
Take care!
Ignacio
2007-02-28 02:13:51 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
Bettas are tropical fish and need warmer water.
2007-02-28 02:34:50 · answer #8 · answered by LF_Family 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually YES. I say this from experience. The hardy beta and the even hardier gold fish can coexist. Betas only fight with other betas and don't have many requirements to meet. However, I recommend that if a goldfish and beta are together that they be in a large tank with a filter. I did this and both my beta and goldfish (which I had several of) lived a long healthy life.
2007-02-28 02:11:43 · answer #9 · answered by Mike 2 · 1⤊ 5⤋
you will have no problems if you put goldfish and Bettas (Siamese fighting fish) in the same tank. the only precaution you need to know about is that you can not put two male Bettas in the same tank. they will tear each other to shreds. male Bettas are only interested in fighting with other male Bettas. I used to breed Bettas and the only situation in which I saw aggressive behavior was when two males met.
2007-02-28 02:13:31 · answer #10 · answered by michaell 6 · 1⤊ 5⤋