Tankmate for female betta?

[PuppyFluffer]

I have a 5 gallon tank set up for my daughter. We began with 5 small male guppies and over time have lost 4 of them. We're not impressed with the hardiness of guppies and have decided to add a female betta.

I thought she would get along ok with the remaining guppy as he's not a really fancy fantailed type. All has been well for the last three days but this morning I am seeing her chasing him. He's pretty elusive and stays out of her way but it's definately aggression!

I have a spare 10 gallon tank that needs new silicone and I'll get that done today and set it up and move the guppy out.

Do you think Miss Betta would tolerate any larger tankmakes than a guppy and if so, what would you suggest in a 5 gallon....or should I leave her in there solo? i was thinking down the line that we could possibly have one or two more females in there with her but with this behavior...I'm second guessing it.

 

[Cory Keeper]

hmmm, mine won't bother ANY of the other fish, just fellow females, more a "Thats MY spot" flare. Then again, mine have room to spare, I would get a 10g tank if you want tank mates. If you get a bigger tank the girl may mellow out a bit.

 

[Dwarf Puffers]

If she's that agressive, most fish are out. You could try a snail and watch for tentacle damage/excessive hiding in his shell, or some ghost shrimp (or cherries, ghosts are cheaper test shrimp) and see if they dissapear.

Female bettas should be kept alone, unless in a large tank or in a sorority, where 4+ females are kept in a 20g+ tank with additional fish centered around them.

 

[mostlycichlids]

I wouldn't do more than a single betta in a 5g. If you have a 10g betta tank you can do 2 or 3 females. I had a female betta tank 10g set up for quite some time with not a lot of problems besides a chase once in a while. Female betta tanks either work out good or not at all IME.

 

[PuppyFluffer]

Thanks, I think she's got the 5 gallon to herself! AT least she matches the hideous red dragon ornament that my 5 year old fell in love with and daddy let her buy. Boy, kids have the tackiest taste ever!!!

The guppy is going into a 10 in a little bit, as soon as i get it set up! (I've got some established filter media I can put in it to get it going.)

 

[ChuckP]

Five's a little small to add much...three or four cories in a ten with the betta is just about perfect.

In a five, maybe a platy? A snail?

I recently lost my female who lived happily in a community 20 with platies, cherry barbs, zebra danios, and various cories for more than two years (though she got agressive with guppies, and hunted ghost shrimp).

 

[Lady G]

I would move the female to the 10g personally. If you are wanting to add additional females (in a 10 maybe 2 more)...try introducing them at the same time you add her. I have a 29g with several females and have never had a problem, but all fish are different...so you may just have a female that wants all the space to herself. If you leave her in the 5g...do not add anyone else, except maybe a snail IMO.

Good luck!

 

[PuppyFluffer]

Thanks. I'm still sorting out who will live where. I have to re-seal the 10 gallon and had a delay in finding the proper sealant. In the meantime, the betta is in a large bowl with gravel from an established tank - lots of water changes and she's fine. I'll have the 10 up and running once the sealant cures.

How social are guppies? The solo guppy doesn't seem too unhappy but I'm thinking he needs some companions. I'm hesitant to get more guppies as they just don't seem that hardy (at least from the LFS). The only person I know who has any locally had a huge die off in their tank recently so I think I'd like to avoid their stock.