Is there a Betta way?
- Thread starter yogias
- Start date
I have 2 bettas, a male and female, and I keep them seperate; the male in a 5 gal. and the female in a 2.5 gal.. I currently have a red claw crab with the male and that seems to be working well too. I have learned from experience not to put bettas (especially males) with other fish. Someone ends up dead or injured or whatever. Both of my fish seem very happy and are very active, they are always swimming around, so you don't have to worry about them feeling lonely. They seem pretty happy by themselves.
Ok I rambled more than I planned. I hope this helps!
*Bethie*
Ok I rambled more than I planned. I hope this helps!
*Bethie*
I would say that if you like to have a male betta, then it would be best to separate him in a smaller tank, as long as it is sufficient swimming space with proper filtration and heating (as usual). It also doesn't necessarily mean that he should be kept alone. If the would-be tank is give enough, then you would be able to keep shrimps (ghosts), ADFs, Snails, Neons (a small school in a 10G with a betta), etc (Compatibility issues depend on the individual betta).
Male Bettas can have very different personalities. I rarely read where males and females can live happily, safely together. I've read about some males living in community tanks; it all depends on the Betta. I currently have 5 females from the same spawn in a 55 gal tank. There are plenty of hiding spots and they all seem to be happy and healthy. But, I know that could change at any time.
Your problem may also be the guppies; both have long fins and may be fighting.
Your problem may also be the guppies; both have long fins and may be fighting.
The guppies having long fins would make it problematic for the guppies, as the betta would beat on them 'till they died. I would suspect either the female or (more likely) the silver dollars.
Male bettas generally do alright in very peaceful community tanks. Stick them with things like the medium sized non-nippy tetras (glow-lites, diamonds, lemon's etc.) or other schoolers like HET Rasboras. I personally have had no success at all with neons, but that's YMMV. Other good tankmates are corydoras and Otto catfish. Generally the betta chases them for a day or two then ignores them. Snails and Shrimp are YMMV as to if the betta will eat them or not.
Males and females almost never work. I've seen it done, but almost always with fish from the same hatching in a passive line. I've actually known a breeder of an extremely passive yellow line that had to breed aggressiveness into his line because the fish became so passive they wouldn't flare/nest when in the same tank.
Otherwise a single tank with a bit of decor is just fine also.
Male bettas generally do alright in very peaceful community tanks. Stick them with things like the medium sized non-nippy tetras (glow-lites, diamonds, lemon's etc.) or other schoolers like HET Rasboras. I personally have had no success at all with neons, but that's YMMV. Other good tankmates are corydoras and Otto catfish. Generally the betta chases them for a day or two then ignores them. Snails and Shrimp are YMMV as to if the betta will eat them or not.
Males and females almost never work. I've seen it done, but almost always with fish from the same hatching in a passive line. I've actually known a breeder of an extremely passive yellow line that had to breed aggressiveness into his line because the fish became so passive they wouldn't flare/nest when in the same tank.
Otherwise a single tank with a bit of decor is just fine also.
I have 8 Betta's at work that i have had for 6 or 7 month's now and feel that i have had some success with them. I have noticed that the females are just as or more aggressive then the males, I would not put them together. Your other fish are probably nipping the males tails and killing them from stress. As cruel as it seems, i think they are happier in a smaller tank by themselfs.
