Nerite Snail question.

[AdoraBelle Dearheart]

Does anyone have a source for why being alone is absolutely essential for a betta? I'm well aware that they will fight other bettas and can be aggressive to some other species, but wondering how it is pure torture for them? What is this based on? Are they the only species of fish that lives in their area in the wild?

 

[Salty&Onion]

Does anyone have a source for why being alone is absolutely essential for a betta? I'm well aware that they will fight other bettas and can be aggressive to some other species, but wondering how it is pure torture for them? What is this based on? Are they the only species of fish that lives in their area in the wild?

They will get stressed, betta will send out pheromones stressing other fish in the tank and the other fish send out allomones stressing the betta out, leading to street fights and tension between the fish I believe.

 

[AdoraBelle Dearheart]

They will get stressed, betta will send out pheromones stressing other fish in the tank and the other fish send out allomones stressing the betta out, leading to street fights and tension between the fish I believe.

I appreciate the response, thank you! That gives me some terms to start searching for to find the research. I know they have big territories in the wild, so even if there are other species, perhaps they are able to keep far enough away/the water volume dilutes the pheromones enough, which can't be replicated in a tank.

Have seen video of other species reacting when their predator is placed in the same water as them, even though they couldn't see the predator, so it makes sense. Those betta divided tanks with two or three males in them must be even worse for them. I never liked the look of those.

 

[Salty&Onion]

Have seen video of other species reacting when their predator is placed in the same water as them, even though they couldn't see the predator, so it makes sense. Those betta divided tanks with two or three males in them must be even worse for them. I never liked the look of those.

When diving the tank, each betta has less room to swim around unless its a bigger tank. Hopefully you have seen the awfully dirty and small tanks in pets at home. Especially the small cups in US. Disgraceful.

 

[PheonixKingZ]

Does anyone have a source for why being alone is absolutely essential for a betta? I'm well aware that they will fight other bettas and can be aggressive to some other species, but wondering how it is pure torture for them? What is this based on? Are they the only species of fish that lives in their area in the wild?

It will either end with the betta mauling all of the other fish in the tank, or with the other fish nipping the bettas fins so much it died.

Its not a good idea, even if the betta is "chill".

Have seen video of other species reacting when their predator is placed in the same water as them, even though they couldn't see the predator, so it makes sense. Those betta divided tanks with two or three males in them must be even worse for them. I never liked the look of those.

Not necessarily...

If you had a 20g long with 3 dividers, you would get around 6.5g per betta. Thats decent.

The bad thing is, when people make the ones with see-through or holes in them. As @Salty&Onion said, they will release pheromones, which will stress out the other fish. You need to make sure (if you are going to do this) to get some sort of black material for the divider. (With no holes, Seal it on both sides)

Also, its a good idea to put a small sponge filter in each "tank". (Use the same air pump, but with a diverter valve)

 

[PheonixKingZ]

know they have big territories in the wild, so even if there are other species, perhaps they are able to keep far enough away/the water volume dilutes the pheromones enough, which can't be replicated in a tank.

In the wild, they still release the same pheromones. Males do fight in the wild, if another male is getting in their territory, or trying to mate whit their female.

 

[Salty&Onion]

My betta is on his own in a 7 gallon tank, I like it that way as I know he is not stressed out by other fish in the tank.

 

[PheonixKingZ]

My betta is on his own in a 7 gallon tank, I like it that way as I know he is not stressed out by other fish in the tank.

I have 2 bettas. One is in my 10g and the other is in my 5g. Both seem happy. The one betta (profile picture) that is in my 10g does have a lot more room to swim. Also, I find that "nano" aquariums are sometimes harder and more expensive to scape.

So if it comes down to the choice of a 10g or a 5g for your betta - get the 10g. its actually not that much more expensive. Just MO.

 

[AdoraBelle Dearheart]

It will either end with the betta mauling all of the other fish in the tank, or with the other fish nipping the bettas fins so much it died.

Its not a good idea, even if the betta is "chill".


Not necessarily...

If you had a 20g long with 3 dividers, you would get around 6.5g per betta. Thats decent.

The bad thing is, when people make the ones with see-through or holes in them. As @Salty&Onion said, they will release pheromones, which will stress out the other fish. You need to make sure (if you are going to do this) to get some sort of black material for the divider. (With no holes, Seal it on both sides)

Also, its a good idea to put a small sponge filter in each "tank". (Use the same air pump, but with a diverter valve)

I don't mean the divided tanks are too small (although many of them are) it's that the ones I've seen share the same water. So the bettas must sense the pheromones of the other bettas.

 

[Salty&Onion]

I have 2 bettas. One is in my 10g and the other is in my 5g. Both seem happy. The one betta (profile picture) that is in my 10g does have a lot more room to swim. Also, I find that "nano" aquariums are sometimes harder and more expensive to scape.

So if it comes down to the choice of a 10g or a 5g for your betta - get the 10g. its actually not that much more expensive. Just MO.

I just cannot afford a 33 gallon and a 10 gallon so I have a 33 and a 7 gallon.

 

[Byron]

Does anyone have a source for why being alone is absolutely essential for a betta? I'm well aware that they will fight other bettas and can be aggressive to some other species, but wondering how it is pure torture for them? What is this based on? Are they the only species of fish that lives in their area in the wild?

Other members have correctly responded, but I may be able to add a couple points. Starting with your last question.

Yes, Betta splendens seems to live solitary in its natural habitat which is still and sluggish waters, including rice paddies, swamps, roadside ditches, streams and ponds. Such an environment is not conducive to fish that require oxygenated waters so one can expect few if any non-anabantid species to live in such habitats. During the dry season, most Bettas are able to bury themselves in the bottom of their dried up habitat. There, they can live in moist cavities until water once again fills the depression during a rainy period. The fish can survive even if thick, clay mud is all that is left of the water. They do not survive total drying out of the bottom. (Vierke 1988) There are very few fish species, and none that are found in the same habitats, that can manage life in such conditions, which is further evidence that the B. splendens is most likely a solitary species.

All anabantids are territorial; male bettas instinctively fight each other in defending their territory. Selective breeding over many years has produced fish with a heightened sense of territory defense, which explains the common name of Siamese Fighting Fish. Fish fights for money is a "sport," if you want to use the term for such animal cruelty. This means the Bettas we see in stores have an even greater propensity to literally kill each other given the chance. For a fish that instinctively lives alone, and believes it must defend its territory to survive--both traits that are programmed into the species' DNA--this aggressiveness is likely to extend to any fish that dares enter the Betta's territory, which in most cases will be the tank space. And forcing the fish to "live" under such conditions is frankly cruel and inhumane.

Individual fish within a species do not always adhere to the "norm" for the species; this is true of all animals, including humans. But with fish, responsible aquarists should research the fish's behaviours, traits, and requirements, and then aim to provide accordingly. "Expectations" are as I said above programmed into the DNA, and we are not going to change them just because we may want to have a Betta in the tank with "x" fish species. Sometimes the Betta seems to co-operate with our experiment, but in the majority of cases it will not, eventually if not immediately. Fish that do succumb are likely being severely stressed, unseen to the aquarist until it is too late.

If the Betta does not first attack the intruders, the intruders may go after the Betta. It is a two-way street, and in either situation it is the Betta that loses in the end. Severe stress causing increased aggression, or conversely severe withdrawal from being targeted by the other fish. And physical aggression is not the only concern; fish release pheromones and allomones, chemical communication signals that other fish read, and these can promote aggression that will in time weaken the fish to the point of death.

 

[PheonixKingZ]

I just cannot afford a 33 gallon and a 10 gallon so I have a 33 and a 7 gallon.

Noice.