bettas in community tank

[kcalbat]

ok...to start ive had bettas before but i would like to get more into them...like having more than one betta and possibly breeding (with much research first)...

so i have a few questions:

can you keeps a community tank with a single betta?
if so does it matter if the betta is male or female? or
does it matter what fish he or she is housed with?..if so which kinds?

can you keep a tank of just betta fish...undivided?
if so..males or females?

and how can i aquire different types of betta instead of the common viel types found at petsmart, petco, and/or walmart?

thank you for reading!!!

 

[mm_simb]

Female bettas can be housed in a 10 gallon together with 4-6 females to spread out the aggression. I've also heard of 12 being in a 20 gallon. Both have to have lots of plants and hiding places.
Males should NEVER be housed together without a divider because they will kill each other.
To get different tail types it is easier to get them off a breader. I think there a few of them on this forum that sell them.

 

[MegTheFish]

can you keeps a community tank with a single betta?

Yes, you can, but it isn't always reccomended because some bettas can get stressed out easily. It depends on the betta, you could always try it and see if it works.

if so does it matter if the betta is male or female?

Nope, not really. Females *usually* tend to be less agressive though, and they don't have the long fins that can easily be nipped.

does it matter what fish he or she is housed with?..if so which kinds?

They have to be housed with peaceful fish, no fin nippers. And nothing that a male may mistake for another male, because then it will fight it. I'm not too sure what kinds of fish can be succesfully housed with bettas, but I have skirted tetras and a flying fox with my female bettas.

can you keep a tank of just betta fish...undivided?

Yes, but they HAVE to be female. Male bettas can not be housed together, no matter what, because they will fight. The tank has to be atleast 10 gallons, and house atleast 3 females (but more is better). In a 10 gallon, you can fit 6 females. In larger tanks you can house more. Some female bettas might not get along with other females, so have an extra tank on hand just incase you have to pull somebody.

and how can i aquire different types of betta instead of the common viel types found at petsmart, petco, and/or walmart?

You could try finding a breeder in your area, or going on Aquabid, or even asking people on here (lots of people on here breed bettas, and I'm sure you'll have no trouble finding one) or even ask a fishstore if they can order non-veiltail bettas in for you. VT's are just as loveable as the other types of bettas, I'm sure you'll have no trouble finding one.

Hope that helped

Edit: LoL you beat me to it mm_simb, I type too slow

 

[Ethos]

Too add to his question, can you keep one male w/ 3 females in a 10G?

 

[mm_simb]

The tank has to be atleast 10 gallons, and house atleast 3 females (but more is better). In a 10 gallon, you can fit 6 females.

Just wanted to add that 3 females together does not always work out well unless you have some really nice females. Usually 2 will gang up on one and that one will suffer a lot of stress.


And to answer the top question so I wont double post, males and females should never be housed together because the male can become very aggressive if he ever decides he wants to breed and builds a bubblenest. It is better to keep it just females.

 

[MegTheFish]

Too add to his question, can you keep one male w/ 3 females in a 10G?

Nope, you can't keep males with female bettas. They will be constanly trying to breed, which could stress them out. I would think that the females would fight over the male too, and the male would beat up the females.

 

[MegTheFish]

Just wanted to add that 3 females together does not always work out well unless you have some really nice females. Usually 2 will gang up on one and that one will suffer a lot of stress.

This is what I've always been told, and I'm going to stick to it. I know people who have 3 females together in a tank, and it has worked out great. I myself had this a while ago, never had any problems. If you visit the board petfish.net you'll find that everyone says that the minimum is 3 (this is the board I used to go to, untill I got kicked out). I guess its different with everybody, like some people say that for tetras the min. number you should keep them is 3, while others will say 6, or others will say even more.

 

[mm_simb]

Even if I replied to the other one
I've always been told on here that an even number is better than an odd number. It also just depends on the females. Some are more laid back than others.

 

[MegTheFish]

Yah, I see your point.
So kcalbat, tell us when your getting your betta(s) because...ya know ya wanna!!!

 

[mlee0332]

You can house white clouds with male bettas, but that is b/c they don't nip and they are very dull in color.

BUT when/if you introduce new tank mates, do so when you can watch them for a few hours.

 

[jenica86]

well, recently i got a male betta and put him in our 100g tank and he seems to be getting along fine...his tank mates are 5 mollies, 2 dojo loaches and a plecostamus

its kinda funny he will flare sometimes at the mollies and they willswim away and go crazy for awhile, but when he flares at the loaches and plecostamus they just ignore him lol its kinda funny

but anyways no ones even been nipped at yet things are going great

 

[Ethos]

And to answer the top question so I wont double post, males and females should never be housed together because the male can become very aggressive if he ever decides he wants to breed and builds a bubblenest. It is better to keep it just females.

Then how do we keep getting more bettas? If a male can't be with a female, where do little baby bettas come from?

 

[kcalbat]

thank ya'll for the replies. i want to get bettas but i dont know if i will or if i can. im currently building my 35gal. its just that bettas are so beautiful.... one day, one day....

 

[newfishies]

Then how do we keep getting more bettas? If a male can't be with a female, where do little baby bettas come from?

here's some info!

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=37944

 

[mm_simb]

Then how do we keep getting more bettas? If a male can't be with a female, where do little baby bettas come from?

Because when people actually breed bettas they only put one male with that one female...not by putting 3 females with one male or 2 females with one male. They become more aggressive. They even become aggressive after the male mates with the female and that's why the female is always removed.