Betta Activity Level

[DebraAustin]

Hi,

I will be getting a new 30 gal tank soon and am looking for a show piece addition. I was wondering if bettas are very active or if they just sit on the bottom of the tank all the time. Of course in the stores they are in those horrible little tiny containers so they can hardly move. I am looking for something that swims around gracefully. Also, what special needs to bettas have (other than their very delicate fins and tails)?

Other quicky. Do they do OK in a community tank? Are there any community type fish that they will eat? I have dwarf platys, white skirt tetras and corys right now and would like to add some neon tetras and maybe one or two other types of fish, so need to know if they will make it through the night.

Debra

 

[tank212]

Some bettas tend to be lazy and not swim around much as others it's pretty much all in the fish you get. I have had success with bettas and livebearers and I'm sure others have not, again it depends on the individual betta. I would not keep them with tetras of any sort I have not done this but I have noticed at petstores I go two they mix tetras and bettas and the tetras end up nipping the betta or betta kills the tetra.

 

[Sp3nc3r]

it all depends on the betta,

1- bettas hate current
2- anything to colourful or anything that could resemble another male betta will be killed
3-they will get fin nipped by most tetras
4-dont go for the betta in a community tank

those are my opinions, if you would like a center piece fish you could always go for angel fish

other people might have other opinions but those are mine

good luck

 

[bUcky]

i dont really know, if the batta has his own area in the tank he might be ok. but most likely it wont work. ive had mine before with guppys and they were fine but nothing else. exept catfish/plecos.

 

[OrkyBetta]

haha, i am trying to imagine how happy a betta would be with 30 gallons all to himself. Pretty darn happy.

I mean, community tanks with bettas have been done, but it is risky as anything, and I strongly urge against it. It's a gamble.

Now, you could do some white cloud mountain minnows, but they tend to like cooler water, whereas bettas like warmer water. Sometimes, african dwarf frogs or dull colored fish like plecos work well with bettas too, but that would make for a rather unimpressive tank.

If you're really keen on bettas, might I suggest a large community of female bettas? they come in a lot of different colors if you have a decent supplier, and are active, flashly fish. With a large number of them, they would fill up the tank nicely, and have minimal aggression with eachother. Maybe some of them, and some white clouds, maybe a pleco and an adf, and you have one good looking betta themed tank!

 

[DebraAustin]

it all depends on the betta,

1- bettas hate current
2- anything to colourful or anything that could resemble another male betta will be killed
3-they will get fin nipped by most tetras
4-dont go for the betta in a community tank

those are my opinions, if you would like a center piece fish you could always go for angel fish

other people might have other opinions but those are mine

good luck

It is my understanding that angel fish are very agressive and are not a good choice for a community tank. After everyone's response I will look elsewhere for a show piece fish, bettas don't sound like a good choice and I'm not willing to give up any of the fish I already have. I'm getting the bigger tank so that I can have full schools of what I already have, plus a few extra additions.

Thanks for your input.

Debra

 

[lisie]

I think a female betta would do fine in that tank. You don't have to worry about her killing any other fish that resemble bettas (unless you get an especially agressive female, which doesn't happen all that often) and she won't have long flowing fins you have to worry about tetras nipping.

If you'd rather have something else though, maybe you can go for a single keyhole cichlid or a pair of Rams?

 

[Sp3nc3r]

actually an angelfish pair is aggressive, but alone they are not aggressive, they might eat your neons, but they are not aggressive

 

[DebraAustin]

I think a female betta would do fine in that tank. You don't have to worry about her killing any other fish that resemble bettas (unless you get an especially agressive female, which doesn't happen all that often) and she won't have long flowing fins you have to worry about tetras nipping.

If you'd rather have something else though, maybe you can go for a single keyhole cichlid or a pair of Rams?

Again, I thought cichlids were aggressive and I already have a peaceful community tank. Don't know anything about rams, not even what they look like. I'll look into them.

Since I don't want any munching of fellow tank mates I'll probably forego the angel fish, even though I think they are beautiful.

Debra

 

[lisie]

Again, I thought cichlids were aggressive and I already have a peaceful community tank. Don't know anything about rams, not even what they look like. I'll look into them.

Since I don't want any munching of fellow tank mates I'll probably forego the angel fish, even though I think they are beautiful.

Debra

Keyhole cichlids are not aggressive at all. They are extremely peaceful, to the point of even being sometimes shy. The only time they might be aggressive is if you have a spawning pair, but if you just get one it wouldn't be aggressive at all. The only downside is that they're often hard to find.

Rams are dwarf cichlids, and are very peaceful as well. Many people keep them in their community tanks, and I've never heard of one being aggressive. They are happiest in male-female pairs though.

 

[Rediahs]

They are most active when the water is warm. They become very active in 80-85 degree water. In anything less than 75 they are usually sluggish.

 

[DebraAustin]

Thanks to Chrissi and Lisi for the suggestions. I will do some research on the fish suggested and see if they will fit the bill, so to speak.

Debra

 

[Loko17]

lisie I have to disagree with you, from my knowledge females can in most cases be just as or more aggressive than males.

 

[lisie]

Females *can* be just as aggressive as males, but none of my 22 girls are even close to what the males are, even the mellowest ones...

 

[LvBettas]

Then you are very lucky indeed. Most females are just as aggressive as males. In the few situations where females work well together, it is usually sibling females that have been together since birth, and/or a very large tank where each female can stake out her own territory. Some have tried overcrowding them and have found that this works, but only because there are so many fish, no one betta takes the brunt of the aggression. I would not recommend this because of water quality issues, and because it is cruel to the bettas.

Usually the only 'safe' fish with bettas are plecos and possibly cory cats, but an agressive betta will even pick on catfish. I have known several people who have had cories in with bettas and the bettas have nipped their 'barbells' off. I also have tried the ADF's and my male bettas would often attack them, so they are not a sure thing either.