I love to see how we got this flaming reputation we have now... I have to agree with some people, that domesticated bettas indeed are not wild bettas. They're kept in containers and encouraged to fight, or perhaps were raised in dirty water (not talking about Cracker, but bulk suppliers) and mentally scarred. Maybe the wild ones, for all we know, simply don't fight as much because it had something to do with a level of dominance since birth, which can not be achieved in a 30 gallon growout tank. Or maybe it has something to do with pent up frustrations or years of inbreedings in captivity. Who really knows? Most of us haven't been to the wild rice paddies of Thailand (enlighten us, Cracker!
) so all we can do is know that wild must be different somehow from captive or the species would be extinct.
On the matter of actually keeping them together, well, it might be possible. I have had the most darned timid bettas. If you be careful, I think it's possible, but not the best experiment for the average joe since the pet shop bettas often have, let's say, fish distemper. Even though I don't have the faintest if fish distemper actually means a pi$$y fish or not.
I think Nevergone has a VERY good point. I'm not exactly sure who sparks it, but the betta forum is very opinionated and while not bad in, shall we say, small amounts, if it comes to being a flame war we have to stop. Everybody, including me, can start or be the fault for a fight. Calm and rationalized discussion is fine, but simply calling names will get you nowhere.
Now on another hand, you have to specially pick your bettas. Some people, and fish, just don't mesh. An animal lover and a poacher couldn't stay in the same room without ripping each other apart... and thus, if you have 2+ aggressive bettas you may get them to have an equal share of territory and can get them together. And two gentle bettas will easily work. But a gentle one and an aggressive one, surely you can imagine the outcome. As long as you keep them closely monitored and have the ability to keep them elsewhere if something goes wrong, I see nothing wrong with at least trying.
I have, I admit, disobeyed you guys a bit.
when I first got my breeding pair I did let the two breeders swim together a bit. They did fantastic, but it was only for ten minutes and I put her back in. I tried later, and he attempted to chase her. Luckily I netted her. So maybe it just matters on the time or maybe she was behaving different, who knows?
And finally, I think we broke a record. 4 pages in 12 hours.
.
Anyway, I was waiting for the catch Cracker... so more details about the setup please... not that I would try though; I'd be too scared.
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