Keeping Male And Feale Together

[blue_betta]

there is often the question asked, can male and female be kept together, and generaly the answer is no. i have in the past kept pairs and even trios(male and 2female) together without any problems at all. here is my theory. in these tanks there was always a fairly strong current at the surface of the water preventing the male from building a nest, theoreticly therefor preventing him becoming territorial. in these tanks i had no serious fighting occur, anly a bit of bickering to establish dominance. could it be that if there is enough disturbance at the surface to prevent nest building, combined with plenty space and a well planted tank (as was my situation) it is possible to keep pairs together safely?

bear in ming this is just my THEORY based on my OWN experiances.

comments?

 

[lilfishie]

i too have kept a pair together no problem, they were very attached to each other,always together then the female died of white spot and the male was lost without his friend, think thats why he died i had a strong current in that tank along with guppies and platies

 

[zippa]

i would love to think this was possible. but from what many say i dont think i didnt think it would be

 

[lilfishie]

i would love to think this was possible. but from what many say i dont think i didnt think it would be

many people also say no to guppies and tetras but i have them with my females, the guppies are females before anyone asks although 1 is looking like its going to be male so if it is he will be removed

 

[mommyof2bettas]

It might be possible but I think it's a big risk. I think the guppy thing is pretty different because lots of people say that guppies and bettas can get along together, it just depends on the betta and the space, plants there is, and other stuff. Putting a female n with a male to me is almost like putting 2 males together. I really wouldn't risk it.

 

[Dibari]

It might be possible but I think it's a big risk. I think the guppy thing is pretty different because lots of people say that guppies and bettas can get along together, it just depends on the betta and the space, plants there is, and other stuff. Putting a female n with a male to me is almost like putting 2 males together. I really wouldn't risk it.

My response to a tea.
I think that theoretically, it's a nice idea. It work with 1 out of a 1000 people and their bettas. But for the rest.. I think it won't.
My point is this - Why would you put your fish in danger for your own convenience? Are tanks really that difficult to WC?
I dunno, I think I'd be more worried about keeping my fish safe for sure.. But that's just me.

 

[Amunet]

Do males build nests to establish territory? If so.. I didn't know that heh
I think it all just depends on the bettas.
You could've just gotten lucky and had very laid back bettas. Or maybe they didn't fight for the reasons you stated. Or maybe they were kept together with their siblings for a long time before being seperated so maybe were used to other bettas... who knows heh.
I also wouldn't want to risk keeping males and females together though even if the theory of more surface movement to prevent bubblenest making was found to be true.

 

[Amiee]

I Have a male and female betta, this happened because I was not aware at the time there was a problem with keeping the pair together, and i have never had a problem, I even have guppies in with them.
The filter is set quite high so there is a lot of movement on the surface, my male betta hokoyo is always around his girl and to be honest he wouldnt be the same without her

 

[joycould]

That is an interesting theory I have a 10 gallon divided tank. The one with the most current doesn't seem to flare as much as the other one. They can see shadows on the other side of the plastic canvas divider. When I get a chance to change them around I wonder if it will change the way they act. It will probably have to wait until this weekend.

 

[Dibari]

The reason, I think, they are showing little aggression, is because they're stressed out by the high current. Bettas prefer still to very slow moving water, at best, and high current filters can rip their fins and simply stress them.
My best explanation for this would be that they are too preoccupied on the current (and not in a positive way) to cultivate natural behaviour.. But again, this is just my opinion. I still would never keep my bettas together.. That would feel wrong to me, because I was putting their health at risk simply for my own convenience.

 

[jollysue]

As another said, This happens occasionally. 2 sisters grow up together and are so attatched that when one dies the other follows soon after. (Although, come to think of it, it could just be cross contamination of desease.)

Every once in awhile someone has a positive experience of this. The thing is that Betta are very unpredictable. What works for a month, 2 months, 6 months can change suddenly or may never change. Some boys rip up the lady in breeding; some ladies rip the lad; some are gentle and docile; some get mellow with age; some get cranky and easily annoyed.

IMO, any Betta in any housing other than alone w/o a filter--and that includes divided tanks--must be watched constantly. Never get comfortable about it or take it for granted. Even with constant monitoring, you may wake up to a dead fish one morning.

 

[mommyof2bettas]

Dibari, I agree. Bettas really don't like high currents, so they might be too bothered by it to fight with the females. I also agree with jollysue, any betta that is housed with another fish should be watched carefully every day, several times a day. My boys are all alone and I don't keep them with anything other than a cory or something when I need a temporary home, and that is only with my most docile betta.Bettas are really unpredictable, so one day-any day- they may decide to strike, and it won't be probably pretty So I wouldn't take the chance.

 

[jollysue]

Another issue to be considered with aggressive filtration is the potential damage to fins, let alone the annoyance to most Betta--mind you not all mind the filtration and most do find a corner to build a nest. Inventive little boys, they will have their territories while they are young and full of hormones.

 

[blue_betta]

The reason, I think, they are showing little aggression, is because they're stressed out by the high current. Bettas prefer still to very slow moving water, at best, and high current filters can rip their fins and simply stress them.
My best explanation for this would be that they are too preoccupied on the current (and not in a positive way) to cultivate natural behaviour.. But again, this is just my opinion. I still would never keep my bettas together.. That would feel wrong to me, because I was putting their health at risk simply for my own convenience.

the male i had that was kept with two females showed no signs of stress from the filter, he quickly leart where he could avoid the strongest current, and tended to stick to thoses areas, but occasionaly i would see him sitting in the full flow of the current, sort of cruising in it. he had no stress stripes, his fins were in tact and he flared agressively at his reflection. he would flare at the girls from time to time, especialy if food was involved.
i gess he was just a very laid back indavidual, but i think it could be something to investigate. it certainly makes sence (to me anyway) that preventing the males from bubblenesting, stops them from going "broody" and territorial

 

[zippa]

ive seen everyone of my females get stress lines on occasion but never a male. not saying it dont happen but ive never seen it