Female Bettas and Pleco and Male Guppies???

Question

Hi,
I have a 29 gallon tank w/ 55 gallon filtration and 9 female bettas.
I just got an offer for a currently 6" common pleco. My question is could I take the pleco, or has it already outgrown a 29 gallon tank? If it hasn't, how long would it take for it to out grow the tank? I don't want to stunt his growth at all by putting him in too small of a tank.
Also, can my girls go with male guppies? I know it isn't a good idea to put male guppies with male bettas but I wasn't sure on female bettas.
Thanks!!!

Answer 1

Hi there is no problem with these fish sharing a tank i have the same kind in mine, what i'd be worried about is the plec getting too big. A common plec can get to about 2 foot long in an aquarium (and even bigger in its natural environment) and fast. I bought 1 about 2 inches long a couple of months ago and he is already nearing 10 inch, i fear he will get too big for my 38 gallon tank soon.
If you really want a plec there are other kinds that stay smaller but are very expensive,
You could also speak to your local pet shop for advice, mine said any fish i had that were outgrowing my tank he would take and give me a baby one (i know he gets the better deal but it's 1 way you can keep your favourite fish).
ocasionally plecs have been known to suck up other smaller fish but i think this is because they dion't have brilliant eyesight and when sucking the bottom of the tank may accidently suck up small fish/frogs. i'm sure they don't do it on purpose but i am biased lol.
On a last note plecs are fascinating fish and are easy my favourite you may well get it and find yourself shelling out more money to get a bigger tank rather than part with it (as I did).
hope this helps

p.s. not sure about the male guppies with female fighters but think they'd be fine

Answer 2

I don't see why you couldn't house male guppies with female bettas.

Keep in mind your bettas are taking up about 18-20 of your 29 gallons of water. This leaves you with 9-11 gallons left to work with before your tank is full.

I would get the guppies and skip the pleco. Plecos, especially bigger ones, can get agressive toward community fish. I had one that beat up my goldfish pretty bad.

Answer 3

female bettas are the sweetest fish, they live well with many fish (except male bettas) there should be no harm combining the fish, as far as the Plecos goes here is some helpful information:

About Pleco's:
Plecos should be kept in a well large well planted aquarium with pieces of driftwood for scraping. A soft substrate is also beneficial as some like to burrow. A diet high in vegetable matter is essential to their health and can be supplemented with Romaine lettuce or boiled spinach. Mine loves special algea-tablets, a few (cooked) peas or zucchini now and then. Because he pulls all the plants out I've made them heavier by attaching a rock with a rubber band. If you buy your pleco a peace of wood (mine loves to lay on it) put it in water for weeks before you put it into the tank. As some wood stain your water and may even poison your fish (even if its bought in a petshop,(happened to me with another tank). Also feed them the veggies because too much animal matter in the diet can cause digestive problems. They generally leave small fish alone, but occasionally WILL EAT any that present themselves to them. They are hardy and undemanding in the water parameters, but will do best in soft water with a temperature in the mid 70's. The pleco is very long lived and has made a fantastic addition to my tank. (In my tank I have 2 baby red ear sliders and 9 small goldfish). But just to let you know the my Pleco does a fantastic job of keeping my tank glass and driftwood clean as a whistle.

Answer 4

Nah they probably wouldn't fight. A male guppy would be a possible problem, though betta's aren't stupid and unless it's a very aggressive individual will probably leave shorter finned female guppies alone. If you don't already have the betta, when you go out and get him, seek a calm guy who doesn't flare a lot.

Answer 5

The Pleco should have at least a 40 to 50 gallon tank, plants and gravel substrate as they like to dig.
My bettas whether male or female, will terrorize any other fish of the same size. Females do not normally fight each other.

Answer 6

i heard of a few ppl that had female bettas with other fish, got told they'd eat the eggs or baby fish sometimes, but i don't know for sure.
my sister has a 10 gallon tank with male and female guppies, algea eaters, some other fish AND a MALE betta in the same tank with no problem. i heard female bettas could be in tanks with other fish.

Answer 7

i have a pleco in my 55 gallon and he is HUGE i'd say he's about a foot long!! i'm not sure about the guppies with the bettas. i'd say put 1 male in and see what they do.

Answer 8

well i dun know how big they cna get. but for all i know they can live together but just make sure the plecos dun get too big. cause i dun really know how big they can get.

Answer 9

get rid of the pleco will harm the others, they become aggressive, Chinese algae eater a better choice

Answer 10

no that will not work itll just kill it and it eats different food