Males & Females in same tank?

[_fish_a_holic_]

Right now I have a largish aquarium for all my bettas. Boys are in breeding nets, girls swim around looks like they are "window shopping" LOL! I'm not ready to breed at the moment, and the girls are looking heavy with roe. Is this an OK long-term setup? Or should I separate males and females altogether? Absence making the heart grow fonder and all that...

 

[AlexsDaddy]

Breeding nets don't really leave much swimming room. The males would probably be better off in their own tanks or divided tanks.

 

[RandomWiktor]

Agreed with AlexsDaddy; breeding nets are def. not enough space for the males. They need at least one gallon of swimming space each (and so far as I'm concerned, thats the low end of acceptable). That, and I'd be worried that the females might figure out how to nip through the net, depending on how rigid it is. The nets are fine for when you are breeding, to get the females feeling ready and get the males all revved up, but surely when you do breed, you'll be placing one male in a 10 gallon and floating the female for a day or so, then letting her in with him once he builds a nest? I don't think putting one of the females in the net with the male would go over too well IMHO.

 

[newfishies]

they could jump the barriers as well!!

 

[_fish_a_holic_]

The nets are fine for when you are breeding, to get the females feeling ready and get the males all revved up, but surely when you do breed, you'll be placing one male in a 10 gallon and floating the female for a day or so, then letting her in with him once he builds a nest? I don't think putting one of the females in the net with the male would go over too well IMHO.

Of course I wouldn't put the female in with the male!!!

 

[OrkyBetta]

No, this isn't a good long term setup. It's best to let everyone have their own space, (1 gal minimum) and use nets only when you do want to breed. If you decide to breed, put the male in a large (10 gal plus) tank and put the female in the net, so the male can make a bubblenest.

If these bettas you have are veiltails, instead of breeding them and adding to the massive VT surplus, might I suggest adopting some needy VTs from a LFS?

 

[_fish_a_holic_]

If these bettas you have are veiltails, instead of breeding them and adding to the massive VT surplus, might I suggest adopting some needy VTs from a LFS?

No, they aren't all veiltails. I have one half moon, 2 deltas, 2 double-tails, 2 crowns, and one plakat and one VT. That's the males. For the females I have 2 half moons, 4 deltas, 2 crowns and two standards.

But might I add that some LFS in my city will take nothing but veiltails... not everyone is willing to shell out big bucks for a betta, and frankly I wouldn't breed without having some place for the spawns to go!

How did you guys divide up your tank to give each male a 1gallon space? Can you direct me to some pictures?