Unfortunately, this aggressive nature is often carried over into the Betta’s interactions with other fish. However, many fish owners have had success introducing a male Betta to a tank with multiple female Betta. Neon and ember tetras, cory catfish, endlers, and several others can live peacefully in the same section as your existing fish. We would love to hear your thoughts! Why is Betta Fish Lying at the Bottom of the Tank. Before we look at how male Bettas get along with female Bettas, we need to understand this fish variety’s general nature and learn about their interactions with other fish. Taking the following characteristics into account should help you determine the gender of your betta. Many new aquarium owners buy these fish due to their pretty appearance, but fail to account for their territorial nature. If you plan on keeping a single male and female betta fish together then you need to make sure that the tank is not only big, but also has a lot of length (40 Gallons or more). This will help your female stay away from your male if she needs to and reduce the chance of aggression between both fish. This gives the new fish a better opportunity to start blending in with the flock. But bettas are an aggressive species, especially against other fish. These fish were prized for their use as fighters in betting games due to their aggressive nature. Bettas prefer to be able to hide once in a while. The following tank sizes are recommended for keeping multiple Betta together: If you plan on keeping a single Betta, your tank should still be at least 10 gallons. In addition to getting a tank that is big enough, your aquarium should also feature plenty of plants and/or ornaments to provide your Betta with space to retreat and hide when they want to get away from the other Betta. They are beautiful fishthat will display plenty of personality. They are ideal for betta tanks 20-gallons and up and look especially dramatic in large groups of 50+ fish. The female betta fish is less aggressive than the male by far. Bettas often go by another name: Siamese or Japanese fighting fish. Both fish may come close to the screen to investigate one another, but they won’t be able to attack or cause harm. As we will cover below, you need a lot of water in order to keep betta fish. That will sometimes even the odds and keep the males from hunting and killing each other. Install your divider in the tank and add your second Betta fish to the newly created section. Many owners choose Bettas as their first fish, however, these creatures need to be housed with special care. Another reason that the two fish go well together is that, even if the betta were to try to attack a tetra, it is highly unlikely that he could catch it, due to the tetra’s speed. That’s around 3° hotter than we will normally advise for an aquarium. Keep these tanks close enough so that each fish can see the other. It is much easier to add a Betta … When placed in the same tank, your Betta pair may start fighting immediately. Betta fish can live with other fish and play nice so long as the other fish have small fins. Due to this reason, your Betta may perceive even placid fish varieties to be a threat to them. While Betta fish prefer dwelling at the top of the tank, Neon Tetras prefer the center part. This enables the bettas to hide from each other which is very important in order for them to get along. Start by keeping the new Betta in a separate smaller tank such as a fishbowl, and placing it next to your main Betta tank. Sometimes they will behave better if you increase the temperature a little bit. When you place multiple female Betta into a tank together, they typically form a “sorority”. There’s nothing wrong with having a large tank for a single fish, in fact, it’s actually better for the fish as they will get much more exercise. That’s the first thing you need to remember in order to give yourself the best chances of success. The key to matching fish in a community aquarium is to have a good understanding of their keeping requirements and behavior, so you’ll know what you can and can’t do when housing them together with other fish. You’ll learn about 68 different tank mates that can live with your betta, as well as fish to avoid. Betta fish (aka Siamese fighting fish) are a splendor to look at. This doesn’t mean that the female doesn’t have aggression though. Let’s start off by considering all the possible combinations of betta fish in your tank: Sometimes it’s great to start out with one male and one female fish. When keeping a plecostomus and betta together, you’re going to need to feed them different types of food. The reason why they tend to be more friendly to other bettas when they have other colors is unknown. Instead, we recommend keeping Betta fish with species that shoal and look to keep them in a group of at least 5. Betta Splendens (more commonly known as “betta fish”) are among the most popular and well-known aquarium fishes. Here are some general rules to follow when it comes to how much water you need in your fish tank with betta fish: By following this rule you should be able to establish a peaceful atmosphere for your betta. Keeping a male and female betta fish together typically results in the death of one of the fish. In some cases, a male and female Betta may get along initially, and then start fighting after breeding. How can I keep a male and a female Betta together safely? Adding a second Betta to a tank with an existing Betta. Many people think that bettas get lonely in their tank, or that the tank looks a bit bland with just the betta in it. Here’s everything you need to know about how to mix betta fish in the tank. Only one male can be kept in an aquarium, as males will fight with one another (hence their common name, Siamese fighting fish).In the wild, one would retreat. It is believed that bright-colored fish with long fins (i.e: those resembling other Betta) can set off your Betta’s aggression, so those fish varieties should be avoided. Another option for introducing your Betta safely is to use a tank divider. It’s better to add a male Betta to a tank housing a pre-established sorority, as opposed to the other way around. Anyone who keeps tropical fish will know of Bettas. You might not notice it at first but after a little while they will start fighting each other and it’s not pretty. How big should your tank be? Male Bettas typically mate with the dominant female in a sorority. Note: you will want to wait until your first Betta crosses the rainbow bridge before introducing new fish. So keep a net and your divider close by when you introduce them. New owners should avoid pairing these fish if they are inexperienced with housing aggressive fish varieties together. We have seen several examples where is this has worked just fine. You need to have another fish tank in place in order to be able to remove the bettas if they are not behaving well. The best way to do it is to introduce a betta fish as the last species. When placed in the same tank, your Betta pair may start fighting immediately. Let’s start with one of the most common questions: Can Male And Female Betta Fish live Together? If you are interested in keeping a male-female pair of Betta together, you will need to get the right kind of tank. Male & Male Don’t put two males together. This can cause infighting between females as they try and take this position in the group. This way you can watch how they behave together and they can get a little time to learn how to get along. Onto one of your other questions. Other times that to fish will start fighting each other from the very start. As you get more comfortable start adding more animals to the tank! For 3 betta fish: you need 20 gallons, 4 betta fish would require 25 gallons while 5 betta fish would require 30 gallons. For the best results, you should keep more than 3 of these fish together at once. As mentioned earlier, Bettas tend to be incredibly territorial. Just as I mentioned before, the betta fish breed is not an easy fish to start out with. You should definitely start out with an easier breed in order to learn how to run the aquarium. The trick is to do it while the place is dark because the other fish will be more focused on the surroundings than the new kid in town. But you should have some experience with fish breeding before you do this. Bettas are known to get into scuffles with other fish that invade their territory. A male Betta may act aggressively towards female Bettas. If you wish to house a Betta with another fish (Betta or non-Betta variety), you will need to get a large enough tank. You shouldn’t put two male betta fish together in the same aquarium. While betta fish have the reputation of being highly aggressive fish, it is possible to house a group of female bettas (also called a “betta harem” or “sorority” or even “girl tank”) together in one tank and still ensure a peaceful environment. There’s always a chance that they would start fighting the other fish or each other. You should stick to feeding your betta a variety of different meats and high nutrition pellets. They are not your average type of the aquarium fish and if you are just starting out you should go with an easier breed. Keep in mind that some Neon Tetras can be nippy – and a long, flowing Betta’s tail can become a target of a particularly aggressive Neon Tetra. 24 Must-Haves For Dog Owners (Easy Checklist). The genus Betta contains more than 73 recognized species, but the fish most people are familiar with is Betta splendens, or Siamese Fighting Fish.Wild betta fish are a dull greyish-green with short fins; nothing like the spectacularly colored, long-finned beauties of today! As a result, it’s tricky to place them in the same tank as other fish without the right precautions. As you might know, you can get betta fish in a wide variety of colors. There are lots of differences between males and females. This will reset any territories held by the fish living there. Yes, females are better at going together in the tank. You can start out with 88°F (31 degrees Celsius) or even go a little higher than that. Other Bettas may feel threatened by a larger or faster fish and attempt to back away and hide. These fish prefer to stick together and are best kept in groups of at least 10 to deter your male betta from fighting with them. So by introducing several new fish at the same time, you will stir up the group dynamics that are established and they will go together much more friendly. Hence, when housing females together, it is preferable to keep them in groups of three or more (in odd numbers). Did you find wrong information or was something missing? Betta fish live only 2-3 years and adult fish reach sizes of up to 3 inch. Tank dividers are useful for housing aggressive fish in the same tank while preventing them from coming into direct contact and harming one another. If you feel your separated Betta is getting lonely, you can get them some tank buddies. Both fish could start fighting for territory during their first meeting if territories haven’t been pre-established. This is because your Betta may actually act even more territorial if they are used to their tank. If things go well you can take the new fish out of the separate tank and introduce it to the rest of the fish in the aquarium. SAVE 30% on your next fish food & supplies order. But you should always check with your pet store before you combine different species in your tank. Updated May 13, 2020 Author: Mike - FishLore Admin Social Media:. Betta fish look really pretty in the aquarium. You can never be 100% percent sure with the Bettas. We also write articles about wild animals and endangered species. Luckily plecos will … They have long, flowy fins and can be found in a variety of colors including yellow, red, blue, orange, black, blue and other color morphs. Female bettas can live together, and while male bettas will fight with other male bettas, they can be placed singly in a “community” aquarium containing other species of fish. May 16, 2018 By Johnny Salib 27 Comments One of the most common questions about Betta Fish I used to get while working at the pet store was if you could keep male and female Bettas together, which would make complete sense. Many fish varieties can be housed safely with Betta to prevent them from getting bored. We may earn a commission when you buy through our links. Given that most home aquariums are smaller than the spaces the fish species are familiar with, they may consider a large portion of the tank to be “their” territory. But you also need to be careful here because you might also cause trouble if you are not careful. Tank dividers are clear screens made of plastic that can be placed in a tank to divide it into sections. Female Betta is usually less territorial than their male counterparts and can get along with other female Betta. People are often put off by their occasional aggression, but this doesn’t have to be a problem if you know how to handle them. A sorority tank has to be at least 10 gallons and have lots of hiding spaces. Due to these different preferences, the two won’t become territorial and fight for the same space. Two male Bettas shouldn’t be kept together in a single tank; however, two female Bettas can co-exist comparatively in a better way. Most information about Bettas is written about keeping males. It is probably because they do not see each other as a direct competitor if they don’t look the same. Owners should purchase dark-colored dividers that prevent their fish in one section from seeing fish in the adjacent section. So how about the females, are they more friendly and able to live together in peace? My Male Veil Tail Betta is housed in a 55 gallon community tank with many different fish, including fancy guppies, and everyone lives together peacefully. Betta males and females should only be housed together when ready to breed. With any luck, your fish should get along and learn to respect each other’s territory. But who knows, they are a very special type of fish and if it wasn’t for the beautiful fins and colors they would probably not be popular as aquarium fish. They will probably start to breathe after a while and you should know how to take good care of them in the process and also when the offspring arrives. Let’s see some facts about bettas and platies that are crucial to understanding how they should be kept together. This tank should also be decorated with plants and ornaments to provide their fish with places to hide. You might also experience the temperature of the water. Female bettas can be kept together, but preferably 3 to a 10-15 gallon tank. Bettas mix well with other community fish. They are an aggressive species and the trick is to introduce new fish slowly and always keep an eye on what’s going on. Keeping A Single Male And Female Betta Fish Together. Keeping two male Betta fish in the same tank together is a bad idea due to their aggressive and territorial nature. When you get more experience you can introduce the bettas but not until you have a good and friendly environment with a good cycle going. This is because betta fish are a special breed and they do require more attention than other breeds. So if you want to breed the fish you should do so for a short time and then move them apart again afterward. If you follow these simple rules, you'll be able to keep two male or two female bettas together in the same tank and enjoy each other’s company. If you have a large enough space and a Betta that is not aggressive, Betta’s can live with many different types of fish in perfect harmony. For 1 betta fish, you need 10 gallons, while for two betta fish, you need 15 gallons. Speaking of size, when it comes to housing male and female betta together, you need to consider the size of the tank. However, they may get along with the proper tank and the right introduction method. Add your male Betta to the tank before adding the female sorority back in. However, not all Betta interactions work out. The last tip we will look at here is to introduce new fish during nighttime. However, you may have to get a tank that is 40 gallons or larger if your male-female Betta pair are behaving aggressively towards one another. Betta fish can live together with other male or female betta fish provided some conditions are met and created artificially. Here are some of the easiest fish to start with: You will probably have a lot more fun if you start out with one of these species because they are easier and more friendly to each other. Betta fish need clean water, warmer temperatures whereas goldfish need larger aquariums (30 gallons and more), and are also quick eaters as … Your fish need some alone time as they often get stressed out by prolonged exposure to others in their territory. Betta Fish Care. The best way here is to introduce a fish with an adjacent tank. They should be able to hide from each other and not have direct “eye contact” the whole time. If you intend to house only two Bettas in your tank, you will need to place the divider so that each fish has an equal amount of room. So this is the first rule we need to remember: “Never place to male betta fish (alone) together in the same tank”. You also need to create a lot of hiding places with plants and other items inside the aquarium. Keeping a male and a female Betta together can be a challenge for new fish owners. However, even this introduction needs to be handled with caution. What fish can live with bettas? The betta female will typically not kill the male. You should make sure not to have any slow long-tailed fish because the Bettas will attack them and bite them. This will make it more comfortable for them to live in a sectioned tank. Betta tankmates should not be those brightly colored fish or fish with long flashy fins. Even though the two fish – betta fish and goldfish – are hardy, the truth is they should not be kept together because of various reasons. They are also an exotic species that normally live in very warm waters. Female bettas tend to claim dominance and bully the other. To answer question 1, no, you will need to separate your Betta from your other fish, because Bettas are extremely aggressive toward other fish. Owners will need to purchase a tank that is at least 15 gallons if they wish to house two Betta together. Some Betta fish will confront other fish as soon as they are added to the tank. When the room is dark the fish will look more at the things outside the aquarium instead of focusing on each other. However, plecos need something different. New owners should avoid pairing these fish if they are inexperienced with housing aggressive fish varieties together. If you introduce your fish incorrectly or house them in a tank that is too small, they may start fighting. If you want to have two males in the same tank you should do so together with a few females. Another significant interesting point when keeping turtles and betta fishes together in space. This guide is dedicat… It’s normally advised not to mix males and females for longer periods of time. Betta fish live only 2-3 years and adult fish reach sizes of up to 3 inch. If you just drop them in the tank they may begin attacking each other to establish dominance. This is because the females that are already in the aquarium can become very territorial and they will want to protect their domain. Sometimes they just need some personal space and time away from the other fish in the tank. Madison, female betta fish can live together in something called a sorority tank. You can choose to keep each fish in a separate tank or use a tank divider. Betta fish are among the most popular and beautiful pet fish in the world, but that wasn’t always so. Determining the gender of a betta fish is generally quite easy, but sometimes they look similar enough to make a decision challenging. Over time your Betta will learn to accept each other’s presence in the tank. Catelyn. The aggressive nature of Betta Fish makes them low in the compatibility spectrum. However, if you are using a divider, your Betta may still get stressed from seeing each other all the time. If you want to add more betta fish to your fish tank you should do so in groups of at least two (or more). These fish may behave aggressively during their first direct encounter, but they should calm down after a few moments. Betta is a unique fish variety that is prized for its vibrant colors and elegant long fins. Keep in mind that juvenile fish may not display sexual differences. Other inhabitants that have bright colors and large fins will often prompt the betta to start biting and killing these fish. Betta Fish Female bettas in larger groups can actually live together in the same tank as long as it is at least 10 gallons in size. Snails and Betta Fish – Can They Live Together? This fish is a favorite because of its beauty, its long flowing fins and because of their relatively easy care. What if the Male and Female Betta don’t get along? By doing so you should not see any fighting going on. However, you should always make sure to put full-grown tetras in with your betta… otherwise, they … Another common misconception about bettas is that they can survive without being fed in a so-called “complete ecosystem” that consists of nothing more than a vase and a plant. As we mentioned above, it’s a good thing to add a lot of flowers and other things to the aquarium. Even if you follow all the right guidelines they might suddenly start attacking each other because something is stressing them out or because they feel like doing so. However, there are many reasons to get females instead. Other fish keeping articles you may like: What Types of Fish Can Live Together In an Aquarium? As a fish pet lover, if you decide to keep a male and female betta fish together in the same tank, you will end up killing one of them because there is a high probability that the male betta will kill the female betta. If you are using this method, you should make sure your existing Betta doesn’t lose the majority of their space. Owners can use a separate tank or a tank divider to help the fish get acquainted before releasing them into the same space. They will fight until one is dead. Your Betta will show less aggression towards these fish compared to other Betta. If your fish get overstressed, they may stop eating and fall ill. Be sure to provide your Bettas with the right tank as their health and overall well being may depend on it. The process of introducing a male Betta to a female (or vice-versa) should be done gradually as the existing fish may try to defend their territory. You should never keep a single fish in the same tank as a Siamese fighting fish as they will constantly bully the same individual. Introducing a male Betta to a group of female Betta. It is possible to have betta fish together with other aquarium fish. After a day you should be able to add your new Betta into the tank with your existing Betta. You will have a much easier time introducing a Betta to a tank that has already been housing another one for a while. Keeping a male and a female betta fish in the same tank together can be risky. Another good tip is to have bettas with different colors in order for them to go better together. They will normally go peacefully together but they are an aggressive species and the male might also surprise you by attacking the female. So what is the alternative to buying more fish tank mates for … Keeping a male and a female betta fish in the same tank together can be risky. Both situations can be very stressful for your fish. Before adding your male Betta to the tank, you should remove the existing Betta sorority. If you Betta keep fighting, you will need to house them separately for their safety. So you need to be very careful here and know exactly what you’re dealing with. The exception to keeping male and female bettas together is during breeding. If you have taken all the aforementioned precautions but are still dealing with Betta who refuse to get along, you will need to separate them. However, if your fish start fighting, you will need to separate them immediately. If you’re attempting to keep a male-female pair together, your tank should be at least 15 gallons. But you should be aware that you will need a lot more water in your aquarium for betta fish than other species. And remember to always use the adjacent tank when introducing new fish. For some reason, the bettas prefer warmer water than many other breeds. These screens have small holes that allow water to pass through but prevent fish from getting to the other side. The number of bettas that can be kept together in the same aquarium depends on the gender of the betta. But there are some ground rules you need to follow because they can cause trouble if you’re not careful. Introducing a male and female Betta into the same tank simultaneously may end in disaster. You should then rearrange the items and layout of your tank. Bettas are known to be incredibly territorial. Keep this arrangement for a day or two before removing the divider. They might also first wait until they breed and then start fighting each other. Otherwise, you will stress them out and they will start fighting each other. The rule you need to remember here is that you shouldn’t introduce one extra female betta fish to an already established group. Due to how complicated this living enviroment can be this type of tank isn't recommend for beginner aquarist. It’s probably easiest to go for females because they can learn to live together. The best way to do it is to introduce a betta fish as the last species. Before you introduce male Betta to a tank housing a female (or vice-versa) you will need to keep each fish separately. So you just never know with betta fish. As long as you introduce the new fish to the existing flock in pairs you can have a lot of betta fish in the same tank. This is a separate tank inside or outside the aquarium where they can see each other but they cannot touch each other. And remember that these fish need a LOT of water. Aquarium Sphere is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com, 2021 © Aquarium SpherePrivacy Policy | Sitemap, Do Male Bettas get along with female betta fish. It is possible to have betta fish together with other aquarium fish. (PS: We read ALL feedback). While the male betta fish is typically the aggressor, some of the feistier females will kill a male if given the chance. Yes, you can put two or more betta fish together, but you must follow some rules to prevent not only duels-to-the-death but the more common bullying. If you have designed your aquarium for another fish breed you might not even have enough space to introduce the bettas. Turtles can develop huge when they are grown-up. December 28, 2015 | 8:k AM. By doing so you will be able to watch how they behave in the flock when you introduce the new fish. You can continue to feed your other fish Betta food, IF you separate your Betta from your other fish ( which is highly recommended), however it will bother your Betta. They can become very aggressive and they will typically start to fight each other until only one of them survives. We are a bunch of animal lovers who enjoy researching and teaching other people about how to take good care of pets. We are reader supported. An ordinary water turtle like the red-eared slider can achieve 10 to 12 inches in length estimate. It should be noted that the introduction of a male Betta to a tank with a female sorority can spark aggression between female Betta. Of all aquarium fish the Betta is probably the second most popular fish kept with it being only slightly less popular than Goldfish..