Betta and Molly

jessiej83

jessiej83

Frog on a Hog
May 23, 2006
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I was wondering if it would be ok to put a molly in with a betta? Will the betta attack a sailfin? The reason I am asking is I have a baby molly in my tank and I told my son he could have it when it gets bigger but he also wants a betta. Would they be ok together?
Thanks
 
Depends on how naturally aggressive the betta is. Any fish that has large fins and a similar body shape may be considered a threat to a betta with a more naturally aggressive temperament. I had a betta back when I was a kid that'd attack male fantail guppies and he'd chase my flagfish around, too. Many breeders are trying to reduce and/or eliminate that aggression nowadays, but sometimes you get a fiesty throwback.

I'd try it for a short time... if they do well together for a week, leave it. If they spar, then buy a little 5-gallon hex or something for the betta and keep both tanks together in your son's room so he can have his betta and enjoy it too. ^.^

That's my advice, anyways.
 
I think it would be fine, but then again it matters what betta you pick...
get a calmer one at the pet store.
 
Do you have any tips on picking out a "calm one" ?
Would a female be calmer than a male? Any suggestions?
 
Well... what size tank is this? JW.
EDIT: Wait wait from your signature Im judging its the 55G..right..am I right???

jessiej83 said:
Do you have any tips on picking out a "calm one" ?
Would a female be calmer than a male? Any suggestions?
Click to expand...
I have a suggestion for that =)
There are some bettas at the pet store that are flaring and slamming against the tank glass, trying to get at the other fish, etc. Get one that is more laid back, but don't get one that is just sitting at the bottom of the tank. Get a calmer one that only flares rarely and it calmly swimming around the tank.

In some cases females are calmer than males, but I had a female who loved to rip apart her tank mates. If you get a calmer male (read the "tips" I posted above) then you will be fine, and if you get a calmer female ("tips" for that below) you will also be fine. You might never know if you get a calm male though....because when he sees another fish in the same tank his personaility may turn around. Maybe and then again maybe not. Three of my bettas are in community tanks and they do great. One of them was very fiesty when I got him, but when put into the community he is not as fiest and rather calm now. The other two were fairly calm when I got them in the first place.

Get a female that is not just sitting at the bottom of the tank, but swimming around calmly, not chasing the other fish and not crazily darting around the tank or ramming into the glass "walls". My concerns are below about both keeping a female or a male with a molly....

The only thing I am concerned about with the male is that the molly may pick at his fins because they are so long...very tempting to mollies because they are so colorful and just streaming down from their body..oooh...ohhh....the molly just can't resist, she has to have a FEW picks!!!! Please, let me pick at him, oh please oh please its so tempting ;) Thats the only thing I am concerned about with the male if you pick a calm one. If you dont pick a calm one....well...then a lot more concerns will come...And then again some females are rather small and tempting to pick at because, no they are not long, but they are colorful...or most female bettas fins are...then again some are brick brown or dark blue....

Welllp...thats all I have to say :)
Hope I was at least a weeeee bit of a help....;)
 
Thankyou dojo queen that was very helpful!:)

The tank in question is his 10 gal that is currently cycling.
The baby molly is currently in my 55.

When we first found the baby he was so excited to see one! (So was I!:) )
That's when I told him when it gets bigger he could have it. He has also wanted a betta for a long time so I figured I would go ahead and ask about compatibility and if problems do arise between the two I guess I will have to put the baby back in my 55!
Thanks again!:)

Oh and How can you tell if the betta is calm if it's in one of those little cups?
 
jessiej83 said:
Oh and How can you tell if the betta is calm if it's in one of those little cups?
Click to expand...

That's the rub, you really can't. Most of those bettas are so ill-kept and sickly that they won't show their true nature until they've been in a tank for atleast two weeks.
 
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