Compatability

[EddieW]

Anyone know whether a betta would be ok with a Lyretail Killifish and Featherfin (Threadfin) Rainbows?

I doubt there would be any problems with the Bronze Corys and Black Oto, but not sure whether the longer fins on the others might be an issue. They are all slender fish so shouldn't be seen as other bettas I hope.....

Cheers, Eddie

 

[Mamaschild]

I have been told to be VERY careful about putting a male Betta with long finned fish. Many horror stories are floating around about waking up to tailess guppies and the like. A female would be Ok I think, but not a male.

 

[BettaBoyz]

see, Bettas have this nasty little thing embedded in their brains that tells them to defend their territories against any fish that looks remotely Betta-like. this is especially bad with Guppies, as they often grow to the same body length and have the same trailing tail fins and sometimes anal and dorsal fins, making them look like Bettas, so they are attacked and shredded.

look really closely at your fish; do they look, in any respect, like a Betta? do they act like them? if they don't, add your Betta in, watch them carefully for about a week. nips and chasing are natural as they duke out territories, but if anyone wakes up with large holes or rips, missing scales or eyes, or gashes, remove the Betta immediately.

of course, sometimes it takes time. when i added my Platties in my Betta fell in 'wub' and became a master nest-builder, fry-guardian and Platy-chaser. why? because Platties look and act a lot like colorful, spunky female Bettas. now that he knows they won't breed he's given up and just guards 'his' babies, but still administers proper discipline to his 'females'.