Betta with other fish.

It's more likely that the balloon mollies died because they have a similar size and shape and finnage as either a male or female betta. Some bettas are more prone to aggression than others and with some if it even looks like a betta, they'll flare and get mean with it. I had one red female betta who would flare at my guppies and then present herself as ready to mate with them!!! O__O;;

One specific set of rules DOES NOT APPLY to all bettas. It's a hit or miss. Responsible betta breeders are trying to breed out aggression in this species with mixed results... and you can bet those 'mixed results' trickle right down into the pet trade. Because obviously you sell of that which you don't find desireable or don't intend to keep for your own breeding agenda. Hence, some bettas are docile as kittens... others are more easily provoked.

So it's best to say that bettas should be treated with kit-gloves when it comes to introducing them into community aquariums. Most don't have a problem with it as long as they can have some space to call their own, but it's always best to keep an eye out just in case he doesn't play well with others.

I speak from much experience on the matter.
 
I hope all goes well with your plan. Just to let you know, I bought a betta too for my small little community tank. At first I was concerned being that I have a few scarlet badis in there (who are also labyrinth fish), so I thought they might not like each other, but they're all in there, and they're all fine.
 
If I were to put my betta in my normal tank, with a pair of male and female gourami's would everyone be alright? I think bettas and gouramis are from the same family, should I give it a try?
 
Water is slightly brackish, I put half the reccomended salt in the tank because it was killing my plants. The mollies looked fine to me except that their tails were missing after the betta moved in.
 
in my old tank i had a betta and he had his own little cave had no troubles i also had 5 angels a 6 tetras in there along with some catfish things. was a 3ft tank. i tried the same thing again in a 2ft tank he seemed fine when the lights were on but as soon as i turned them of he went into a killing frenzy and killed 2 fish before i noticed and got him out.

pobynoy:
i had 2 blue gouramis in the 3ft. i didnt have trouble with them.
 
Last edited:
But bettas also eat a different food then the other fish. That might be a pain.
 
Bettas are territorial by nature. People who put them in large community aquariums, where the fish the bettas decide they don't like can avoid their territories, do better than bettas put in smaller or overly stocked aquariums where they might come in contact with other fish more and feel like their territory is under threat.

Again, this isn't always the rule. It depends on the personality of the fish involved, but I do notice that it does play at least a small part in whether or not the betta is prone to bully-ish behavior with his tankmates.
 
Well I changed my avatar to my actual betta. He is a lot bigger of a betta than a normal one though. I just want to hear more stories on people with their bettas and putting them into fish tanks with other fish before I put mine in. Well I'll tell you more about him. He is about 1 and a half years old already. He seems to get angry sometimes and trys to pick a fight with me through the glass. And when his water is changed he is more active and seems to open his gills more.
 
I have 5 female and one male betta in my community tank, and they all get on fine with each other and the other citizens. One thing I have noticed though (through experience - we have 17 bettas in the house!) - the redder or darker the betta, the more aggressive they seem to be. The ones in my big tank are all lighter veil and crowntails. The darker reds and blues have to have their own tanks because they seem to be very aggressive, and we have had to have a few rescues.

Seeing as the family seems to be addicted to bettas, I am considering renaming our house "The Alpha Betta Place" :)
 
I've kept a betta with every community tank I've had. I currently have a betta in my 37 gallon with 6 sparkling gouramis and 9 harlequin rasboras. He hangs out by himself and bothers no one and is very friendly toward my hand when it's submerged in the tank! Won't know till you try how he'll react.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom