Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Can I add a betta to my community tank?

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Can I add a betta to my community tank?

    When I went to Village I saw that they had bettas in tanks with tetras, danios, etc. But I have never seen that anywhere else. Some people say it's okay, and others say not to. What is your opinion? My DH wants to "rescue"  a betta or two, because he thinks it pretty sad how solitary they are.

    Just to let you know I have 3 clown loaches, 2 bandtail tetras, 3 neon tetras, 4 glowlight tetras, 2 zebra danios, 2 leopard  danios, 2 cherry barbs, 2 O cats and an algea eater. The bandtail tetras are larger than any of the others, but the rest are pretty small.

  • #2
    Re: Can I add a betta to my community tank?

    As with many other issues involving fish, there is no clear-cut answer. Although I don't have any bettas in my tank, I do have the opportunity to play with tanks that I don't own on a weekly basis. Since they aren't my tanks, I feel a little bit more free to "experiment". From what I have seen, MOST bettas get along fine with livebearers and tetras. I have not noticed aggression on the part of the betta or vice versa. I imagine a single betta would be fine in a community tank. Things to avoid would be any of the larger barbs (especially tiger barbs) as they tend to be fin-nippers. If you do decide to put a betta in your community tank, watch it carefully the first few days.  Best of luck to you.
    Scarecrow : I haven't got a brain... only straw.
    Dorothy : How can you talk if you haven't got a brain?
    Scarecrow: I don't know... But some people without brains do an awful lot of talking... don't they?
    Dorothy: Yes, I guess you're right.

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: Can I add a betta to my community tank?

      another thing about having a betta in a com. tank is the water current, with its long fins harsh currents could stress them out.
      700g Mini-Monster tank

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Can I add a betta to my community tank?

        I think we had this discussion in another forum last month so you may want do a search.

        Typical male pet store bettas are old (big) and not verry active or aggressive.   They can be kept with other peacful fish.   Watch for the tank bully nipping the bettas long fins.   If the betta should have an aggressive personality and nip some of the other fish,  the accepted solution is to buy a glass chimney from a kerosene lamp.   Check the Hobby stores and the $1.00 stores for one that is as tall as your aquarium.   Just slip it around the betta and embed the bottom in the gravel.  You my want to  brace the top if the gravel is not verry deep.

        The chimney will be almost invisable in the aquarium and the betta will look like he is swimming with the other fish.

        I prefer to keep my show bettas in 1g jars but I do enjoy having half a dozen females of various colors  in my comunity tank.
        'Dear Lord,' the minister began, with arms extended toward heaven and a rapturous look on his upturned face. 'Without you, we are but dust ...'
        He would have continued but at that moment my very obedient daughter who was listening leaned over to me and asked quite audibly in her shrill little four-year old girl voice, 'Mom, what is butt dust?'

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: Can I add a betta to my community tank?

          I did a search and we had a discussion about guppies, and what to get as far as the male/female ratio. I haven't gotten any yet. I want some pretty fish in the tank, but I am not looking to breed them, and since most of my fish are peaceful I don't want to add anything too aggressive. I just want some pretty colors.  :)

          The current in the tank is not strong enough to cause fin damage.

          I like the idea about, if the betta is aggressive, to put in a glass chimney. But then you say that you have several females in your community tank. Maybe that would be the way for me to go.

          The bettas I saw at Village were pretty active in the community tanks, but when I see them in the little jars they seem very still. It looks kind of sad. Would they perk up in my tank?

          I'm waffling between guppies and bettas. Decisions, decisions!  :?

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: Can I add a betta to my community tank?

            One thing to consider is that female bettas are not as "pretty" in traditional sense.  Some people like them still. There is less of a demand for females than males... so it is a little harder to find quality female bettas.

            Bettas definitely perk up a bit when they have room to go somewhere (unless they're sick!).

            Ultimately it is a decision based upon personal preference, so I'll leave you to waffle over whether to get bettas or guppies.
            Scarecrow : I haven't got a brain... only straw.
            Dorothy : How can you talk if you haven't got a brain?
            Scarecrow: I don't know... But some people without brains do an awful lot of talking... don't they?
            Dorothy: Yes, I guess you're right.

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: Can I add a betta to my community tank?

              Maybe the real question is which ones eats the same food as the others I have? The loaches have sinking food but the others have flake food. For a treat they get a bit of plankton - which everyone seems to enjoy.

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: Can I add a betta to my community tank?

                Bettas have their mouths on the top of their head.   They usually eat from the surface.   ie high proteen things that fall in the water and float..   They will eat little bugs, worms, snails, daphina and they love mosqueto larva.  They like stumps and bushy plants and other hidy places but they come out for air about every 60 seconds.  You will also find that with a tank of females they will establlish a pecking order like most other fish and you may have to remove the "Top dog" if she is too aggressive.

                PS - I usually set up a comunity with some top feeders, bottom feeders and middle feeders.    Whatever you select.   You should feed them a varied diet.   Some high proteen, some vegetable and some special treats.
                'Dear Lord,' the minister began, with arms extended toward heaven and a rapturous look on his upturned face. 'Without you, we are but dust ...'
                He would have continued but at that moment my very obedient daughter who was listening leaned over to me and asked quite audibly in her shrill little four-year old girl voice, 'Mom, what is butt dust?'

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: Can I add a betta to my community tank?

                  I once had a friend who was into bettas.  He said that you should not be worried about bettas in a cup.  He said in the wild they only occupy and defend a very small territory near the surface of pools that already has a lot of vegitation there. This territory was only like 6" cubed

                  It would take more looking into to confirm the statement, but that is what I remembered him telling me years ago.
                  380G For Sale $3000 Acrylic tank & stand
                  300G Petrochromis Trewavasae and Tropheus mpimbwe Red Cheek & Duboisi
                  180G For Sale $1,100 Oceanic Cherry with Stand, T5HO Lights, (2) Eheim 2262
                  150G Tropheus Annectens Kekese & Ikola

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: Can I add a betta to my community tank?

                    If you keep your bettas in a small container,  rotting food and fish waists will contaminate the water just like a big aquarium.   Because Bettas breath air they can survive in pitiful conditions.  However, the chlorine, amonia, and other chemicals can injure them and once fin rot gets started it is really hard to reverse it.

                    The rule of thumb for changing a bettas water is one galon per week.
                    If you have a one galon jar, change it once a week
                    if you have a half galon jar, change it twice a week
                    if you have a quart jar, change it every other day.
                    if you have one of those tiny betta cups.......  every day.

                    My show bettas baracks had 100 containers, with water supply from drip emitters and an overflow system which drained to a sump / bio-filter.   It provided a water change every hour.
                    'Dear Lord,' the minister began, with arms extended toward heaven and a rapturous look on his upturned face. 'Without you, we are but dust ...'
                    He would have continued but at that moment my very obedient daughter who was listening leaned over to me and asked quite audibly in her shrill little four-year old girl voice, 'Mom, what is butt dust?'

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: Can I add a betta to my community tank?

                      I've got one of my four bettas in a 10 gallon with my endlers.  They get along fine.  This is a blue and red crowntail who is a few years old so the fish's age may be a factor.  I've never had any problems putting bettas in with livebearers or neons.  I did have a zebra danio harrass one of my bettas relentlessly though, which I thought was odd.

                      A good way to tell if your male betta is aggressive is to take a Sharpie or a pen with a black tip and hold it next to the tank.  Some bettas will flare, some won't, even if they would flare at another male betta.  When my old betta finally dies I'll probably move the one of the other three that doesn't flare at my pen into the endlers' tank.

                      A betta can survive in a cup but it's not an ideal environment for them.  A betta in a cup will usually perk up once you get him home.  Best environment is at least one gallon of water, preferably with a filter but if you use a bowl be prepared to do a lot of water changes.  A bigger tank is ok (such as a 10 galon) and the betta will usually stake out his own little corner of it.

                      In the wild bettas are usually found in ponds and rice paddies.  Sure they can be found in a puddle after a storm but again this is not their ideal environment.  Most rice farmers in Thailand traditionaly have a pond on their property where the kids will play with bettas from an early age.  Such a pond would traditionally be used by locals improving their stock of fighters before modern breeding techniques were applied in the area.

                      I think you can have the best of both worlds.  put a pretty male betta in with some fancy tail guppies and maybe a bottom feeder and you've got a nice tank.  Don't forget the live plants.  :)

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: Can I add a betta to my community tank?

                        I was only refering about the space limit.  If you keep a betta in a cup the water needs dialy changing.
                        380G For Sale $3000 Acrylic tank & stand
                        300G Petrochromis Trewavasae and Tropheus mpimbwe Red Cheek & Duboisi
                        180G For Sale $1,100 Oceanic Cherry with Stand, T5HO Lights, (2) Eheim 2262
                        150G Tropheus Annectens Kekese & Ikola

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: Can I add a betta to my community tank?

                          I just put a betta in my tank, so far he is staying to himself. The Cardinals are leaving him alone and the discus swam around him a minute ago with no problems.
                          Smokin_Cache
                          Planning a new 150+ tank. Any suggestions?
                          Lets see what the imagination fruits.
                          Check out my last tank

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: Can I add a betta to my community tank?

                            I have kept  bettas in community tanks with apistos rams Angels and corys. As long as there are no fin nippers, bettas always appear extremely happy in a community tank. They love to swim ( as you have undoubtedly witnessed at Village) and exploring every nook and cranny. A very inquisitive fish.

                            I do not understand why people keep them "locked" up in small bowls. It really is a disservice to them.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: Can I add a betta to my community tank?

                              I would say to go for it!  It's always a unique experience watching a normally solitary fish(such as a betta) in a community setting.  I've done it before, and there's a few things to watch for
                              - Water Flow: Bettas live in Rice Paddies in the "wild", and rice patties tend to have very gentle water flow.  Try stretching out [clean] pantyhose over the area where the water flows back into the tank, this should blunt the water flow a bit.  Heavy planting near the filter can help with this as well.  Or you could try a sponge filter.
                              - Fin Nippers: Bettas have very tender fins, are fin nippers can quickly rip these to shreds.  Make sure all of your fish are peaceful, and watch how they act towards the betta for the first week or so.  
                              - Diet: Quicker moving fish can often eat the betta's food before the betta can get to it.  A varied diet might help in this, since different fish favor different foods.


                              Those are just some key points to remember.  Also, a powerful filter can easily suck a betta's long, flowing fins right up.  None of these tips were intended to discourage anyone from placing a betta in a community setting.

                              Have fun with it,
                              Chris
                              What can I say, I'm obsessed.

                              I'm also on Dallas Fish Box!

                              Comment

                              Working...
                              X