Bettas And Guppies

[thedragonreborn]

HEY NOW I'VE BEEN TOLD MANY THINGS ABOUT BETTAS, THEY'RE AGGRESSIVE AND ATTACK EVERYTHING, THEY'RE FRIENDLY AND GET ALONG WITH MOST FISH( EXCEPT ANOTHER MALE OF COURSE), THEY'RE QUITE QUIET AND GET BULLIED BUY GUPPIES AND THE LIKE. NOW ALL THE BOOKS SAY THEAT YOU SHOULDN'T PUT THE BETTA WITH GUPPIES (MALES) YET WHERE I GO TO GET MY FISH AND SUPPLIES (AN AMAZING PLACE NEAR TO WHERE I LIVE) THEY HAVE EXACTLY THAT. IN EVERY SINGLE TANK OF GUPPIES THERE IS A SINGLE MALE BETTA (AND THATS ALOT OF TANKS AS GUPPIES A REALLY POPULAR). SO WHO DO I BELIEVE? THE SO CALLED EXPERTS IN THE BOOKS? OR THE FISH SHOP? WHAT DOES EVERYONE ELSE THINK?
THANKS
X

 

[matty101]

please do not write in all caps. It makes you sound like you're yelling. As to your question, it all depends on your betta and your guppies. For example, at first, my betta couldn't stand being in the same tank as the little guppies. He would flare and chase them all around the tank and stress everyone else. I divided the tank but he could still see them. When I tried again to make a community tank, he agreed and is now happily in the 10g with the other guppies. It all depends on your bettas personality. And male guppies especially are the nippers, but if your betta is bigger than them and shows aggressiveness when he needs to, then it'll be fine. It's all experimental.

 

[thedragonreborn]

So it should be ok if i buy a betta that is used to living with guppies? because where i was thinking of getting him from he is actually living with a load of male guppies. Also i have neons will that bother him?

 

[zippa]

i have neons in my tank with derek. occasionally he will chase them away from his wood (dont know why hes made it his. he dont sleep in it) but they dont bother him and he dont really bother them. occasionally flaring at them to let them know hes boss is about it. allthough i have heard ppl say that neons will nip at bettas. but ive had no problems

 

[na9la]

it all depends on your betta some will share their tank with fish some wont, always have a extra tank in case

 

[stang1]

I agree with na9la, make sure you have a spare tank in case things don't work out.
Bettas tend to attack guppies as they are similar looking and can be seen as a threat, this is why it's advised not to keep them together.
Neon Tetras tend to be fin nippers and may attack your Betta, so again not recommended.
It does depend on your Betta, he may be peaceful and get along fine but to be honest, Bettas are solitary fish and are more than happy in a tank on their own.

 

[thedragonreborn]

I agree with na9la, make sure you have a spare tank in case things don't work out.
Bettas tend to attack guppies as they are similar looking and can be seen as a threat, this is why it's advised not to keep them together.
Neon Tetras tend to be fin nippers and may attack your Betta, so again not recommended.
It does depend on your Betta, he may be peaceful and get along fine but to be honest, Bettas are solitary fish and are more than happy in a tank on their own.

The betta that i'm thinking of buying lives with guppies in the shop. I was advised to check tails and fish for illness which i did and nothing seemed amiis both species tails are sparkling and whole. i think where i buy my fish and supplies is quite reliable as i went to buy a molly and said that i couldn't have that particular one as it was quarrantined with other ill fish. So should i just buy and be prepared to get him the hell out of dode (sorry oold saying) if need be?

 

[catherine896]

You can try it, but you will have to watch them very closely. I have tried 2 bettas in my community tank (individually of course!) 1 seemed OK at first, after 2 days I guess he'd had enough of sharing a tank and tried to eat 1 of my neons... the neon ended up dead So out he came to live alone! My 2nd was a female, and she seemed OK aswell - then I saw her chasing after the guppies and everything else that went near her... she now lives alone too!
Id love to have a betta in my community tank as it would add so much colour, but I wont be trying another 1 in there!
Goodluck with it

 

[faithless1294]

fish shops dont tend to care if their bettas are nipped. there bettas will only be in with guppys for a short while so not much nipping can go on but 24/7 the guppys might start nipping and in the end kill the bettas! i have had bad experiences with neons so i dont recomend them either. so over all either get 1 betta and no other fish or get guppys and neons with no betta
Good Luck.