Male Bettas And Male Guppies

[ellehamilton]

Are male bettas compatible with male guppies or will they just fight?

I have 8 male guppies, 2 harlequin rasboras, 1 neon tetra and 2 cardinal tetras in a 90 litre (20 gallon) tank.

Thanks

 

[Dieses Madchen]

There is a chance that they will fight based on the bright colors but it depends on the fish. You could very well end up with a very docile betta that will pay them no mind, but there is also potential for a very aggressive betta that may terrorize. But that also goes the same way for the guppies. I had evil mafia guppies once that terrorized my tank.

So basically, if you decide to add a betta to your tank, have a backup plan in case its not peaceful.

 

[KittyKat]

Are male bettas compatible with male guppies or will they just fight?

Yes and no, depends on individuals for both sides.

I have 8 male guppies, 2 harlequin rasboras, 1 neon tetra and 2 cardinal tetras in a 90 litre (20 gallon) tank.

Your priority should be to improve the current stock: rasboras and tetras are schooling fish and should ideally be in groups of 10-15+ per species. I very stongly recommend that you swap the tetras for more rasboras, increase the rasbora numbers and only then consider more stock.

 

[smokeyjo]

I bought guppys today and my betta is having a ***** fit lol. Next plan buy a small tank for my fighter lol. The first fighter I had tho didn't bother my guppys so its all down to the personallity of the fish

 

[TenaciousG_]

My LFS keeps about 5-6 tanks of bettas with guppies which I thought was weird but i guess if there is enough guppies, all would be good? I have a female fighter and 5 guppies, no problems what so ever Even though I think one of my opaline gourami's nibbled the fin of one guppy. None of the others though

 

[Essjay]

I was in a shop a couple of years ago that keeps its bettas in tanks with other fish. One was in the guppy tank, and it was quite fascinating watching him. He separated one guppy from the rest then herded it into a corner and pounced. It was like watching a sheepdog. Most of the guppies had bits missing from their tails. I told the owner, who said he had only been in there a couple of hours and she sent one of the lads to move him. Maybe he would have settled eventually, but what state would the guppies have been in by then. Maybe I should have bought him, the only betta in the world with a herding instinct!

 

[Dazzler666]

Like alteady said .... Is pot luck although is quite likely, especially if your guppies arw the same or similar colour to your betta.
I had a blue betta who was no problems at all with tetras & mollies until i added a black Mollie at which point he just constantly chased her & flared up. I had to remove the mollie as he would not settle but once she was removed, he was fine with the other dalmation mollies in there hence, i think the size & dark colour such as himself he thought it was another betta hence.
As stated, you could tey but have a back up plan .... Just in case!!!!

 

[Baccus]

I have often kept male fighters with guppies and one the rare occasion that the male fighter has taken exception to the male guppies I have an easy cheap fix. I simply put the male fighter in one of those clear floating breeding/ fry traps (as large as I can get or can fit easily in the tank) then I leave the male fighter in the clear trap (on his own) in the tank with the guppies. Once he settles and no longer shows any interest in the guppies its safe to let him back out into the general tank community.

I even had a male fighter that went mental every time he saw the huge colourful female guppies in the tank next door to his, but he has now been sucessfully introduced to these same female guppies and pays them no attention.

All that said also keep an eye on the guppies that they are not bullying the fighter, as stated previously some guppies really are evil and have no fear of chasing all sorts of other fish.