Do Your Bettas Like Betta Friends?

[Prizm]

Just curious

 

[Elise]

My bettas love having a neighbor! They get all depressed when I remove their neighbor.

 

[Kiarra]

One of mine used to go really pale and not eat when I removed his neighbor, and it had to be this ONE, SPECIFIC fish. It couldn't even be the brother of this specific fish, who looks a lot like him...it had to be that fish.

And there's another one who has to have his favorite male Crowntail next to him. They flare at each other all day long, day in, day out. It's their favorite activity. I used to have to block their view of each other just to get them to eat. But I block their view at all for more than a few seconds, and the Veiltail goes down to the bottom of his tank and SULKS. He won't eat...he just lays there on his side and absolutely sulks.

I really think they're much happier when they aren't entirely on their own. All mine are kept at least in pairs for their own sanity. They're just more active with that kind of stimulation. I do separate sick males, though, and put them next to more sedate males, who provide company without making the sick male feel like he has to fight with the other male.

 

[Synirr]

Mine definitely seem to be much happier when they have a nearby betta they can catch a glimpse of from time to time... especially when it's a betta of the opposite sex

 

[FishEnthusiast]

Absolutely. Bob and my new guy are side by side. Every once in a while they flare up at eachother and then Bob goes to the other side of his tank and plays there. When I change the water in my new guys tank, Bob will sit on the bottom until I put the other guy's bowl back. Then he literally wiggles over to the glass and does a little dance. He flares up and wiggles his bottom. It is adorable

I do have another pair that can't be side by side though. All they did all day was flare at each other and try to bite eachother. They are in a divided tank, I had to make it so they couldn't see eachother. They are much happier now.

 

[Prizm]

Interesting, and mine go at eachother if I keep them too close, but their behavior seems a bit healthier when they can see eachother..so long as it is at a counter's distance! They are bubble nest competing now..