Post by Suzanah on Mar 24, 2015 6:57:05 GMT -5
When you want to add tank mates in with your betta it is better to start with a 10 gallon minimum or you probably won't have enough space. If you consider adding other fish, be sure to check the tank size requirements for the total fish load and have proper filtration and aeration in place.
Remember that when doing a community tank with bettas you always need to know the temperament of the betta involved. Some bettas are very aggressive and cannot go in with other fish and other bettas are very pive and are fine in a community tank. They have a wide range of personalities.
Bettas can be housed with other fish under certain circumstances. You should research the behaviour and requirements of each species before you add them to your tank.
Male bettas are territorial and should never be housed together under any circumstances. They’re nicknamed Siamese Fighting Fish for a reason.
It is generally not a good idea to house males and females together. While there are exceptions to this rule I would strongly suggest a lot of research into the subject and experience understanding bettas.
Female bettas can be housed together in groups of three or more - and I would suggest 5 or 6. (Odd numbers are preferable in smaller groups.) When housing two females together, one tends to claim dominance and bully the other. Grouping three will allow them to establish a hierarchy. Keep in mind that all bettas have a strong individual personality. Any one betta may be overly aggressive and may have to be removed from a community tank. Be prepared to take a betta out and have a tank he/she can be placed in if he can’t play nice with others - i.e. have a backup plan.
2. As a general rule don’t place bettas with other Anabantidae fish such as Gouramis. Anabantidaes are fish that possess a labyrinth organ allowing them to breathe air from the water’s surface when dissolved oxygen levels are low. Because they are close cousins, bettas generally will be aggressive to these fish as well and vice versa.
3. Don’t place bettas with other aggressive fish or fin nippy fish. Nipped betta fins can become infected or generally stress out your betta leaving him open to other ailments.
4 Bettas are tropical freshwater fish and shouldn't be mixed with cool water fish like, goldfish or koi. Gold fish and Koi will also get big enough to eat your betta - and if a fish can fit something in it's mouth it will probably try to eat it.
5. As I said, some bettas will attack anything you put in the water with it. The only way to know is to try. Some fish that usually work well with bettas are, small catfish like Otocinclus and Corydoras, Snails, small species of plecos and Neon Tetras.
6. Shrimp are a real hit and miss with bettas. Some shrimp species are aggressive and will chew on your betta's tail when it rests. Other shrimp will become lunch. Most bettas LOVE shrimp...
7. If you have ANY questions at all about tank mates, ask!
*****Out of the picture Fish listed here shouldn't even cross your mind, let alone your bettas path. They are an all around BAD idea!*****
CICHLIDS
Not only are cichlids highly aggresive, but they live best in water conditions that are opposite than those of a betta. They enjoy high pH and hard water while bettas enjoy soft water with low pH. Additionally, most cichlids get way too big for tanks under 10 gallons. Most cichlids need aquariums 20+ gallons and that's when they aren't fully grown.
GOLDFISH AND KOI
Many people think that putting a goldfish and a betta is a great idea since both are believed to be able to live in a bowl. Putting goldfish and bettas together is a horrible idea for many reasons.
Goldfish and koi are coldwater fish (enjoy the low 60's) and bettas are warmwater fish (enjoy the low 80's). That's a 20 degree difference. Try swimming in a heated pool at 80 degrees and then jumping into the ocean that's 60 degrees and you'll see how big a difference that is; quite a shock for both fishes.
Goldfish are extremely messy so the minimal size tank necessary is 20 gallons for one goldfish. Since the average fishkeeper doesn't follow this rule and keeps their betta and goldfish(es) in a 10 gallon, nitrates go through the roof within a few days.
Since goldfish are so messy, they require much stronger filtration than a regular fish. With a stronger filtration system, the stronger the current, and the more stressed the betta. A filter that strong would create a current that a betta cannot swim through.
When a koi fish gets big enough it will probably eat your betta. Koi can get huge.
TIGER AND GREEN BARBS
Tiger barbs and green barbs, or as I call them, fins shredders, are also an extremely bad choice for a tank mate. If you put a tiger or green barb with a betta, your guaranteed to get your betta's fins ripped into confetti by the next day or your money back. And because tiger and green barbs are so fast, the betta doesn't stand a chance to defend itself. Tiger barbs are basically a bad choice for a peaceful community tank. They are better off living with cichlids who can fight back.
GOURAMIS
Gourami's make a bad choice for tank mates because they are in the same family as bettas. And in-laws never get along so don't expect them to be best buddies. Because they are in the same family, bettas and gourami's are more likely to fight each other. Additionally, both are very aggressive fish, adding to the danger of housing them together
CHINESE ALGAE EATERS
Chinese algae eaters Another bad choice overall for all types of community tanks. Not only do they suck on the sides of fish, but they don't even eat algae. As they get older, they become more aggressive and seem to enjoy the taste of the slime coat of fish. Without this slime coat, all fish become more susceptible to disease. I do not recommend getting this fish at all.
Source articles on tank mates:
nippyfish.net/bettas-101/tankmates-for-bettas/
bettacare101.com/tankmates4/
Remember that when doing a community tank with bettas you always need to know the temperament of the betta involved. Some bettas are very aggressive and cannot go in with other fish and other bettas are very pive and are fine in a community tank. They have a wide range of personalities.
Bettas can be housed with other fish under certain circumstances. You should research the behaviour and requirements of each species before you add them to your tank.
Male bettas are territorial and should never be housed together under any circumstances. They’re nicknamed Siamese Fighting Fish for a reason.
It is generally not a good idea to house males and females together. While there are exceptions to this rule I would strongly suggest a lot of research into the subject and experience understanding bettas.
Female bettas can be housed together in groups of three or more - and I would suggest 5 or 6. (Odd numbers are preferable in smaller groups.) When housing two females together, one tends to claim dominance and bully the other. Grouping three will allow them to establish a hierarchy. Keep in mind that all bettas have a strong individual personality. Any one betta may be overly aggressive and may have to be removed from a community tank. Be prepared to take a betta out and have a tank he/she can be placed in if he can’t play nice with others - i.e. have a backup plan.
1. As a general rule don’t place bettas with other brightly coloured fish or fish with large flashy fins like guppies or mollies unless you are really sure of your betta. There are some that are fine with these tank mates but you really want to know your fish or (again) have a good back-up plan. They may react to them as though they are another betta and sometimes show aggression toward those fish.
2. As a general rule don’t place bettas with other Anabantidae fish such as Gouramis. Anabantidaes are fish that possess a labyrinth organ allowing them to breathe air from the water’s surface when dissolved oxygen levels are low. Because they are close cousins, bettas generally will be aggressive to these fish as well and vice versa.
3. Don’t place bettas with other aggressive fish or fin nippy fish. Nipped betta fins can become infected or generally stress out your betta leaving him open to other ailments.
4 Bettas are tropical freshwater fish and shouldn't be mixed with cool water fish like, goldfish or koi. Gold fish and Koi will also get big enough to eat your betta - and if a fish can fit something in it's mouth it will probably try to eat it.
5. As I said, some bettas will attack anything you put in the water with it. The only way to know is to try. Some fish that usually work well with bettas are, small catfish like Otocinclus and Corydoras, Snails, small species of plecos and Neon Tetras.
6. Shrimp are a real hit and miss with bettas. Some shrimp species are aggressive and will chew on your betta's tail when it rests. Other shrimp will become lunch. Most bettas LOVE shrimp...
7. If you have ANY questions at all about tank mates, ask!
*****Out of the picture Fish listed here shouldn't even cross your mind, let alone your bettas path. They are an all around BAD idea!*****
CICHLIDS
Not only are cichlids highly aggresive, but they live best in water conditions that are opposite than those of a betta. They enjoy high pH and hard water while bettas enjoy soft water with low pH. Additionally, most cichlids get way too big for tanks under 10 gallons. Most cichlids need aquariums 20+ gallons and that's when they aren't fully grown.
GOLDFISH AND KOI
Many people think that putting a goldfish and a betta is a great idea since both are believed to be able to live in a bowl. Putting goldfish and bettas together is a horrible idea for many reasons.
Goldfish and koi are coldwater fish (enjoy the low 60's) and bettas are warmwater fish (enjoy the low 80's). That's a 20 degree difference. Try swimming in a heated pool at 80 degrees and then jumping into the ocean that's 60 degrees and you'll see how big a difference that is; quite a shock for both fishes.
Goldfish are extremely messy so the minimal size tank necessary is 20 gallons for one goldfish. Since the average fishkeeper doesn't follow this rule and keeps their betta and goldfish(es) in a 10 gallon, nitrates go through the roof within a few days.
Since goldfish are so messy, they require much stronger filtration than a regular fish. With a stronger filtration system, the stronger the current, and the more stressed the betta. A filter that strong would create a current that a betta cannot swim through.
When a koi fish gets big enough it will probably eat your betta. Koi can get huge.
TIGER AND GREEN BARBS
Tiger barbs and green barbs, or as I call them, fins shredders, are also an extremely bad choice for a tank mate. If you put a tiger or green barb with a betta, your guaranteed to get your betta's fins ripped into confetti by the next day or your money back. And because tiger and green barbs are so fast, the betta doesn't stand a chance to defend itself. Tiger barbs are basically a bad choice for a peaceful community tank. They are better off living with cichlids who can fight back.
GOURAMIS
Gourami's make a bad choice for tank mates because they are in the same family as bettas. And in-laws never get along so don't expect them to be best buddies. Because they are in the same family, bettas and gourami's are more likely to fight each other. Additionally, both are very aggressive fish, adding to the danger of housing them together
CHINESE ALGAE EATERS
Chinese algae eaters Another bad choice overall for all types of community tanks. Not only do they suck on the sides of fish, but they don't even eat algae. As they get older, they become more aggressive and seem to enjoy the taste of the slime coat of fish. Without this slime coat, all fish become more susceptible to disease. I do not recommend getting this fish at all.
Source articles on tank mates:
nippyfish.net/bettas-101/tankmates-for-bettas/
bettacare101.com/tankmates4/
