I've recently became a fan of betta fish. Can any other fish survive in the same conditions with them?

Question

I'm getting lots of good answers to my questions. I know I can't put 2 males together. I know I have to slowly introduce the female into the males enviroment. I feel though my water is a tad bit cold. Being inside in the air conditioning. Can I take the fish bowls/tank outside when it's hot to heat it up? As long as I don't let it get too warm?

Answer 1

Better to allow the bowl to be consistently too cool than for it to go up and down all the time. The best thing you can do for your betta is get a small tank in the range of 2.5 to 5 gallons with a filter and heater. That will solve the problem entirely.

Also, you should only have a male and female together when you are actively breeding them, otherwise the male will kill her.

Many other fish can and will do well in the tank with a betta assuming it's filtered and heated. Bettas are very mild mannered fish and will go well in any community tank where there are no fin nippers.

MM

Answer 2

I hope your being a fan will evolve into a real compassion for these misunderstood little fish! There are a few other species that could probably "survive" in those conditions, if you mean living in unfiltered, unheated bowls, but it's just survival and it's not the best you could do for your pets.

I was able to find a small tank filter rated for 3-5 gallons for $10 and a heater for the same for about $7 at my local Wal-Mart and several of the chain pet stores carry similar equipment. Those two small investments will greatly increase your betta's health, activity level, and beauty, as well as decreasing the amount of maintenance and medicating you'll have to do.

If you upgrade to a 10 gallon tank, you could add platies or neons or cories as tankmates. Otherwise, I wouldn't add other fish, as they will only increase the stress and bioload in an already less than ideal environment.

As for carrying the bowl in and out of the house for temperature control, please don't do it. In that small an amount of water, the temperature is likely to change very quickly; temperature shifts greater than 2 degrees F per hour are extremely stressful on a fish's system and CAN kill him.

Answer 3

Do yourself and the betta a favor and get at least a 5 gallon tank if you are planning on putting other fish in there

I just set myself one up about a month ago and he loves it

And you are informed very wrong about keeping bettas together as well
You can't put 2 males or for that matter a pair together
You only put male and female together for breeding

I have seen female together in a tank at a petstore though

If you get a 5 gallon tank you have a filter and you can buy a heater, the temperature has to be between 76-82 for all the other fish you like to buy

I currently have:
1 betta male
2 zebra danios
1 balloon mollie and
1 pepper cory in my tank

and they get really good along with each other

Hope that helps
Good luck


EB

Answer 4

The best thing to do would be to get a 5 or 10 gallon tank. The 10 gallons are actually cheaper than the 5. And get a heater to keep the tank at a consistent temp. Fluctuation is worse than water that might be a little too cold or a little too warm.

Answer 5

Any community fish would be fine with your male betta as long as it is heated and filtered. The only community fish that have a good chance of being attacked are those with long, flowing fins and some that are brightly colored.

I have had my male betta for years with neons, red swords, black skirt tetras, black mollies, cory cats, plecos, white clouds, black neons, and probably a few more.

recently I added a bright platy into the mix, and it was immediately attacked.

Go for a 5 or 10 gallon tank. The tank with a heater and filter shouldn't be more than $50.

Answer 6

Female bettas cannot survive with male bettas. They will start fighting - maybe not at first, but eventually. Please don't keep a male betta with any other betta, male OR female.

Bettas can get along easily with tankmates as long as the fish they are living with do not resemble male bettas in any way. That is, no long, flowing, brightly-colouring fins, like guppies. Also, no aggressive fish that might nip at your betta's long fins.

Good tankmates include white mountain cloud minnows, African Dwarf Frogs (not African Clawed Frogs, which will eat your fish), cory catfish, plecos and platys. However, do bear in mind that you need a tank of at least 5 gallons for one betta and one frog, and at least 10 gallons for a betta and some of the larger fish.

No, you shouldn't be taking your betta's tank outside to heat it up. Even worse than a steady, cold temperature is a fluctuating temperature. Bettas can only withstand temperature changes of a degree or so at a time. It's better to keep your water at a slightly unsuitable but STEADY temperature than at a fluctuating range of suitable temperatures. Optimally, you should invest in a heater for your tank to keep your water at a steady AND optimal temperature.

Answer 7

You don't want to shock your fish with the constant temperature change so to maintain the temperature, you'll need a heater and thermometer. If you want to house more fish with your betta, you'll need to get a filter and an air pump. Some fish that are compatible are cory catfish and neon tetras. Those are the fish that I have in with my betta. Good to hear that you already know that you can't house two bettas together. Change about 25% of your water every week and you should be fine.

Answer 8

I wouldn't recommend it as the water temperature would start to rise rather quickly and then when you bring the bowl back inside it would then drop somewhat quickly possibly inducing temperature change shock to the fish.

A heater would help to maintain a constant temperature.

Answer 9

betta fish are in the labyrinth fish family which means they breath air from the surface and bettas are one of the few labyrinth fish you can find on the market today.
females should only be introduced if you are planing on them mateing.
i wouldnt put him outside, because bettas are very light sensetive.
you can find small heaters made just for small tanks. http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=12087&N=2004+113767

Answer 10

uhm letting it warmed is not a good idea if its just for a temporary sake... its not good to have an erratic temperature for your fish... =) well as for other fishes... it does really can go with other fishes... but those that are able to protect themselves and that those who would also not harm your betta...=) 2 gs to 5gs with proper aeration, temp and water levels would help your fish =)


good luck and enjoy