goin_all_out
Fish Crazy
how are bettas in community tanks? my gf wants to put her betta a larger tank, taht being mine wen i get it set up, would her "rupert" be alright or is this a bad idea?
curious
- Thread starter goin_all_out
- Start date
Kiarra
Former Betta Breeder
Depends. What else is going to be in the tank?
OP
OP
goin_all_out
Fish Crazy
well im not quite sure yet, maybe a dwarf gourami or two and cardinal tetras and maybe a swordtail or two
Kiarra
Former Betta Breeder
Well, the Gouramis won't work with a Betta. The only Gouramis I've found ever work with Bettas are Croaking Gouramis, and they only work with female Bettas. I have a pair of them with 6 of my female Bettas, and everyone gets along fine.
Cardinal Tetras may or may not work. It depends on the Betta, and it also depends on whether or not they're fin nippers like Neon Tetras, which are a very poor idea with Bettas, since they reduce fins to little nubs with all their bites.
Swordtails are a possibility, but it depends on the Betta. Some are more threatened by bright-colored fish than others.
If you'd like my recommendation for tank mates....
6+ White Cloud Mountain Minnows
2+ African Dwarf Frogs
Assuming you have a 20 gallon or more, a school (6 or more) of Zebra or Leopard Danios, or even a mixed school of Zebra and Leopard Danios, since they mix very well together. They do need a fairly long tank, though, to have enough swimming space, and can be slightly aggressive when not kept in large enough schools of their own.
Those are just a few ideas. There are prohibitions, such as no Guppies, no Neon Tetras, no other Bettas (female or otherwise), no Tiger Barbs, no bright-colored fish of similar shape to a Betta, and no potential fin nippers. Bettas are easy targets for fin nippers, and they have a tendency to challenge and want to fight with bright-colored fish that look similar to them.
Cardinal Tetras may or may not work. It depends on the Betta, and it also depends on whether or not they're fin nippers like Neon Tetras, which are a very poor idea with Bettas, since they reduce fins to little nubs with all their bites.
Swordtails are a possibility, but it depends on the Betta. Some are more threatened by bright-colored fish than others.
If you'd like my recommendation for tank mates....
6+ White Cloud Mountain Minnows
2+ African Dwarf Frogs
Assuming you have a 20 gallon or more, a school (6 or more) of Zebra or Leopard Danios, or even a mixed school of Zebra and Leopard Danios, since they mix very well together. They do need a fairly long tank, though, to have enough swimming space, and can be slightly aggressive when not kept in large enough schools of their own.
Those are just a few ideas. There are prohibitions, such as no Guppies, no Neon Tetras, no other Bettas (female or otherwise), no Tiger Barbs, no bright-colored fish of similar shape to a Betta, and no potential fin nippers. Bettas are easy targets for fin nippers, and they have a tendency to challenge and want to fight with bright-colored fish that look similar to them.
OP
OP
goin_all_out
Fish Crazy
lol sounds easier to tell my gf no and get the fish i want then to change my plans
Tokis-Phoenix
^_^
I have also heard that male bettas don't do well in tanks with strong filtration which you kinda need in large tanks...
Allix
Fish Crazy
Mine is fine, just dont put it with tetras imo 
betta_breeder
Fish Fanatic
They do great in my community tanks! This is not the case for all people though!
Tokis-Phoenix
^_^
I used to have a betta a long time ago myself who used to live in a 20gal i had back then, i thought it would be nice for him to move him to a 50gal tank with strong filtration and his condition deteriotated alot over the next couple of weeks after the move to the big tank- he just used to sit on the bottom of the tank alot doing nothing which was bad compared to how he used to be a very active fish.
Im positive that it was the filtration of the tank that killed him as he showed no signs of desease what so ever.
Im positive that it was the filtration of the tank that killed him as he showed no signs of desease what so ever.
BrookeLea
Fish Addict
Why would filtration kill them? I've just moved my crowntail into a 10 gallon divided tank with a filter. Should I get rid of the filter?
Kiarra
Former Betta Breeder
The filtration stresses them out because they are not a species built to deal with it. Females deal better, but most of them still hate it with a passion. They aren't streamlined like they need to be to deal with a filter. As for the males...it's like wearing an oversized coat in a windstorm. They get blown around, or sucked in to the intake. That leads to stress, which leads to illness, which leads to dead fish.
Styx
Fish Addict
Depending on the circumstances, a betta could get stuck to the filter and be unable to dislodge itself, and drown. I’ve heard of this happening.
OP
OP
goin_all_out
Fish Crazy
lol no it is, besides according to her this our "relationship fish" lol of course shes kidding, i got it for her birthday two years ago on the 20th. shed be pretty heart broken if he died from some thing unnatural, well she's gonna be heart broken either way but u get the idea
xanthianacid
Fish Crazy
Actually of the Betta boys I have in community tanks (three) they all do really well. Albeit they live with peaceful fish (even gouramis). Our selection of fish get along very well together. I found tetras worked out OK but best when they have large shoals. Unfortunately, it must be stated that not all Betta's are good community tank mates. See my purple marauder in the sig below? He's one of them. He's got too much testosterone, and will harass other fish unto death if left to do it. Its personality based, and you won't find that out until you put them together and watch them closely. They might flare for a while, then they might settle down.
As for filtration. Mr personality who resides in a 40 gallon tank actually rides the waves from the filter so to speak. Like a guppy, constantly at it really enjoys it. He resided with my female fighter community for a week to give my large emerald girl some "egg" relief. They spawned in a community tank but the eggs were eaten. He would have made a good daddy. That made him more tired than his daily exploits in the big tank, and they do get fit enough if kept in larger tanks to cope with it.
As I said - personality based. I'm very lucky by the sounds of it because most are peaceful social fish.
As for filtration. Mr personality who resides in a 40 gallon tank actually rides the waves from the filter so to speak. Like a guppy, constantly at it really enjoys it. He resided with my female fighter community for a week to give my large emerald girl some "egg" relief. They spawned in a community tank but the eggs were eaten. He would have made a good daddy. That made him more tired than his daily exploits in the big tank, and they do get fit enough if kept in larger tanks to cope with it.
As I said - personality based. I'm very lucky by the sounds of it because most are peaceful social fish.
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