Splendens & Tetras

[DeekTic]

So My partner made a impulse buy of a rather nice Splendens...I would like to keep him in my community tank.. but I have some black phantoms in there... (6 of them) Tank is a 250L, Ive read that they may not get on.. but its quite a big tank, & only about 60% stocked so thought there might be some room for them to co-exsist..
I was thinking, put him in, watch for a day or so, see how it goes...good plan? / bad idea?

Thoughts? ( I have a tank I can put the betta in if it doesnt work out)

Thanks in advance

 

[Crispii]

I personally wouldn't. Bettas are a sedate fish and having boisterous fish as black phantoms will outcompete the Betta for food and they may nip the fins of Bettas.

 

[Byron]

Male Betta splendens are not community fish, and should always be on their own (fish-wise).

Risking a fish or risking the tetras, whichever, is not a good idea. The fish have no escape and are forced into the situation we create for them. If we mistreat a dog it will usually respond to tell us it is not appreciative; fish cannot do this. We may not see anything, until suddenly the poor fish dies. Aggression from the Betta to the tetras, or from the tetras to the betta, can be physical but it can also be unseen chemical signals the fish release and read (termed pheromones and allomones). It is more responsible to assume the fish will be normal than hope it will be abnormal. And by the tie you see it play out, the damage is done to which fish is the loser.

 

[DeekTic]

ok, thanks guys...theres a bit of conflicting info on t`interweb... some places ar saying they can be kept with other fish... 1 site gave a list of 30 fish you could keep in same tank...(hence the question) he`s (I think he`s a he) is in the quarantine tank for the time being, so thats possibly where he`ll stay

 

[Retired Viking]

I agree with @Byron , Betta also know as Siamese fighting fish do not get along with their own kind let alone other fish. They even will kill the females of their own kind and only tolerate them for a short time during breeding. The only thing I would recommend to have with a betta are snails.

 

[Byron]

ok, thanks guys...theres a bit of conflicting info on t`interweb... some places ar saying they can be kept with other fish... 1 site gave a list of 30 fish you could keep in same tank...(hence the question) he`s (I think he`s a he) is in the quarantine tank for the time being, so thats possibly where he`ll stay

This is something that is prevalent in this hobby (I suppose any other too), conflicting information, and it has certainly caused grief to many fish and their owners. Anyone can set up a web site and promote themselves as an "expert." We have had a couple threads on this forum about outlandish sites recently. The only sites I ever use are those that are reliable, and I determine this by knowing the site owner or the author, either personally or by reputation. When Neale Monks for example says "x" you can believe it is absolute fact, or reasoned opinion.

 

[JuiceBox52]

I had success for awhile with a betta in a community....over a year of them seeming fine...(I say seeming because I now know about fish releasing pheromones that stress each other) and one day the betta just turned and killed every fish in the tank. So I would advise against it, very strongly

 

[DeekTic]

I have a little 20L tank he will live in.. at the moment he`s in the big quarantine tank.. quick follow up Q... he seems to be hiding a lot, under rock/in cave.. is that normal for a betta?

 

[Salty&Onion]

I have a little 20L tank he will live in.. at the moment he`s in the big quarantine tank.. quick follow up Q... he seems to be hiding a lot, under rock/in cave.. is that normal for a betta?

If you had it for a short time, I would say its normal.
What are the water parameters in the quarantine tank?

 

[Retired Viking]

Yes, it is normal until he feels safe, you may want to turn down or off the tank lights for awhile and only have the room lights on. That also helps calm fish when they are in a new environment. Make sure he has a cave and places to hide.

 

[DeekTic]

thanks for all the replies...Looks like he was hiding because, A) new tank, new surroundings & or B) water flow was too high & to difficult for him to swim. Ive turned down water flow & he`s out & about more