bettas

short answer

YES




the only way they wouldn't would be if you had the tank separated in 2 with an opaque divider so that they aren't able to see each other and then stress

It depends on the individuals involved. Some might be okay especially if the tank has lots of hiding places such as plants or decorations. Some might continually duke it out no matter how big the tank.

At one time I had heard of a study where two male bettas were released at either end of a very large pond. They still found each other and fought to the death.

Tom

Yes, they will fight. I, too, had read the study involving too bettas and a pond/lake. On another forum I visit, someone told us "I thought bettas killed each other" and that they had two male bettas in a 55 or 90g (can't recall). She didn't believe us when we said they would fight because things went "well" for about a week. But, as we said, they will eventually snap one day. And they did. Luckily she was there when it happened.

As for it depending on the individuals, like i said, some may be fine at first, but one day (with maturity) they *will* snap. And it won't be a "continually duking it out" type affair - bettas don't fight to injure, they fight to kill.

So, yes, they will fight. Please do not put two in one tank. Ever.:shake:

Originally posted by Leopardess
As for it depending on the individuals, like i said, some may be fine at first, but one day (with maturity) they *will* snap. And it won't be a "continually duking it out" type affair - bettas don't fight to injure, they fight to kill.

So, yes, they will fight. Please do not put two in one tank. Ever.:shake:

Click to expand...

As usual, the didactic approach is overly simplistic . Here is a quote from a betta breeder's website:
http://www.bettatalk.com/betta_behavior.htm

"Variations in aggressive behavior. Some strain are noticeably more aggressive than others, and even the females are nasty to each other. Some strains are more peaceful and can sometimes be kept in groups. A breeder friend of mine was marveling at my large 60 gal community tank, housing about 40 adult bettas, mostly females but also three large males. He couldn’t believe they weren’t killing each other! These bettas were all from the same spawn and knew each other. This strain was a more gentle strain and it was a treat for the eye to see all these bright red and pink bettas swimming in harmony together. (Please do NOT try this at home! )."

I too have also read the various versions of the pond/lake experiment posted around the internet. One version has the fish being dumped out next to each other in the middle of the pond/lake and the other version has them starting out at opposite ends of the pond/lake. None of the renderings of this story have cited any bibliographical references.

seems like a pretty stupid instinct

Does anyone see a need to put two bettas together? Are we too busy referring to them as 'bettas' that we are forgetting their common name "siamese fighting fish"...and the fact that they have it for a reason?

Go for it, risk it. I personally see no need to, except for morbid curiousity. I'd simply prefer not to risk a life.

I also know all of our 'betta' people at another forum have hashed this out in several posts and not one of them suggest trying to put two bettas in the same tank (males, that is) and came to the conclusion that they will snap at some point. It may be a year down the road, but they think it will happen.
As mentioned, if and/or when they do snap, it will not be just a little tiff with ripped fins...bettas fight to kill.

As for special strains...do you think they're selling any "special" ones in the common LFS?

I just see no need to advocate putting two males bettas in one tank..especially when there could be newbies reading this...formulating visions of a multiple betta tank.

Not saying you were Just that others that could read this might be