Betta In A Community Tank?

[Channti]

We recently started a new tropical fish tank. We're fairly new to the business of tropical fish, and I've heard mixed opinions about this from various "experts" about putting Betta fish into a community tank.

Many have told me that it's fine no matter what types of fish you have in the tank as long as you only have one betta. Others have told me that I can only get a female betta, and others have told me that I can only get a male. One person had a personal experience where his angel fish destroyed his betta and he highly discouraged me from putting a betta in the tank.

My tank currently contains:
-3 guppies
-1 dalmation molly
-1 sailfin molly
-2 swordtails
-1 tri-colour shark
-1 blind cave tetra
-3 mickey mouse platies
(a bottom-feeder is being added tonight, though I don't know which one yet).

I've heard that Bettas will get aggressive with other "pretty fish" like my mollies and possibly my sword tails, but I don't know what to believe with the number of conflicting opinions people are giving me. I've already had a bad experience with an aggressive fish (a Male Red Flame Gourami that ate and/or damaged half my tank's occupants), and don't wish to repeat this experience with a Betta fish, but would love to have one in my tank if it is possible (without having half my tank be destroyed).

So.
Could I successfully add a Betta to my tank without having it kill my fish?
or...
Should I avoid getting a Betta?

Thanks!

 

[Netty]

I would absolutely not add a male Betta to your tank. It really would be asking for trouble as most of those fish are not compatible at all. Although Bettas can be aggressive towards other fish they do suffer the same back with fish nipping their fins.

If you really want a Betta I would set up a smaller tank for him to have to himself.

 

[Honeythorn]

Female bettas do ok in community tanks, they may not have the long showy fins of the males but they are just as pretty and very inquisitive. A group of 5 or more is best to cut down on agression amongst themselves .

You seem to have quite a few fish already. How many gallons is your tank?

Do NOT put a male betta in there. They are not community fish and are best kept alone or with small peaceful bottom feeders or shrimp in a tank no smaller than 5 gals.

 

[wackystarfish]

That is the myth, it is the bettas that do the nipping. Unfortunately, the bettas long flowing tails often attract fin nippers so they are the victims.
Some betta nono's are
NEVER two males in one tank
Always keep a clear surface so they can get to the top to breath
When keeping a soriety tank (all female bettas) like i would recomend you to do if you are interested in keeping them, always have about five.

 

[Channti]

thanks for the opinions

Looks like its gonna be a while now before I add any new fish.
I'll probably avoid the Bettas. I love the fish I have in there too much to subject them to another fish that could possibly be aggressive.
One of my guppies just started dropping fry this morning(I didn't even notice she was pregnant!)
So that'll stop me from adding new fish to the tank.
And now that I've done my research on guppy pregnancy, it looks like my other female guppy is also pregnant (but early stages).

Of the fry dropped by the guppy today, only one survived (I scoured the tank looking for others, but there were none to be found. I guess the other fish in the tank got hungry). The guppy is still looking mighty pregnant, so I'm assuming she's still got some more to pop out before she's done.

It was quite the adventure to try to explain to my nine year old brother why the male guppy in the tank couldn't possibly be pregnant and why a male and a female were required for pregnancy. I passed that "birds & the bees" question to my father, much to his dismay.

Thanks for the opinion!

 

[Honeythorn]

What you believe to be fine and what is blatant FACT are two very different things. It has long been known that salt burns cories, loaches and other "scale-less" fish. The burning may not be blatantly obvious to you, but this does not mean the fish aren't suffering some degree of discomfort.

When you know that salt is harmful to these fish, it is basic logic NOT to keep them in a tank containing any amounts of salt. You have to think about what is biologically correct for the fish species, not what looks pretty or cool in your eyes.

 

[Truck]

What you believe to be fine and what is blatant FACT are two very different things. It has long been known that salt burns cories, loaches and other "scale-less" fish. The burning may not be blatantly obvious to you, but this does not mean the fish aren't suffering some degree of discomfort.

When you know that salt is harmful to these fish, it is basic logic NOT to keep them in a tank containing any amounts of salt. You have to think about what is biologically correct for the fish species, not what looks pretty or cool in your eyes.

salt does not burn cories at all, it causes organ failure.

 

[stang1]

Fish may be able to tolerate different conditions but surely it is more important to house them in conditions more suited to them and not for us?!

 

[Truck]

agreed!

 

[Inchworm]

This is a reasonable thread that got hijacked by some of the members. I've had to remove some of the posts so I'm sorry if there are any gaps in the continuity.

In the future, please treat each other with respect and contact a moderator if you see any problems developing.

Thank you.

 

[Inchworm]

What you believe to be fine and what is blatant FACT are two very different things. It has long been known that salt burns cories, loaches and other "scale-less" fish. The burning may not be blatantly obvious to you, but this does not mean the fish aren't suffering some degree of discomfort.

When you know that salt is harmful to these fish, it is basic logic NOT to keep them in a tank containing any amounts of salt. You have to think about what is biologically correct for the fish species, not what looks pretty or cool in your eyes.

salt does not burn cories at all, it causes organ failure.

truckasauras123 is right here.

Corys do not have scales as such, but they do have rows of hard plates on them. Their skin is not exposed and so salt does not burn them.

 

[azulfire24]

thanks for the opinions

Looks like its gonna be a while now before I add any new fish.
I'll probably avoid the Bettas. I love the fish I have in there too much to subject them to another fish that could possibly be aggressive.
One of my guppies just started dropping fry this morning(I didn't even notice she was pregnant!)
So that'll stop me from adding new fish to the tank.
And now that I've done my research on guppy pregnancy, it looks like my other female guppy is also pregnant (but early stages).

Of the fry dropped by the guppy today, only one survived (I scoured the tank looking for others, but there were none to be found. I guess the other fish in the tank got hungry). The guppy is still looking mighty pregnant, so I'm assuming she's still got some more to pop out before she's done.

It was quite the adventure to try to explain to my nine year old brother why the male guppy in the tank couldn't possibly be pregnant and why a male and a female were required for pregnancy. I passed that "birds & the bees" question to my father, much to his dismay.

Thanks for the opinion!

lol! not hapyy bout that was he?!!

why dont you juest get a nice little 5 gal for the betta and maby a few shrimp?

 

[Inchworm]

Hi Channti

I think you made a wise decision.

I tried keeping a betta in a community tank and it didn't work out because the water flowing from my hang on back filter created too much current for it. Bettas, with their long and flowing fins and tails, need water that is more still than your average community tank has.

Most of my fish are corydoras, and as far as disposition goes, they got along with the betta very well. The one fish the betta didn't like was a blind cave tetra. Whenever he came near the betta, the betta backed off. Now this tetra never bothered a soul, but I can only guess that the betta didn't know that.

 

[Channti]

Channti

what size tank have you got them in thats a nice selection of fish you have there , though you do know that the (guppys and mollies) and the (swords and platys ) could in theory hybridise ,

I find a nice group of 6 corys good as a bottom feeder - they are friendly and do quite a good job - depending on the substrate of course - they need fine gravel or sand

be nice to see some pics when you can

I'm currently working with a 15 gallon tank, and we're planning to upgrade to something much larger this summer (probably triple the size we have now). I added a pleco (not sure what kind) to the tank last night. Adding 6 corys would be adding too many fish to the tank, but I definitely considered them when looking for an algae/bottom feeder. My mickeymouse platy died two days ago. He had his tail split by a Gourami I had in the tank previously, and I knew it was only a matter of time as he refused to eat.

Both of my female guppies are currently pregnant, one birthed a few frys the other day (only one survived, and because of it's apparent survival skills, it's been put into a breeding trap to grow a little), and the other is due in about 2 weeks. My swordtails are both male (well, atleast, that's what the LFS people said, I'm unsure of how to sex them myself), but they're more interested in playing in stream of water coming out of my filter than in any of the fish in the tank.

My youngest brother is 9, and so we were looking to have a nice selection in the tank. I doubt any fry will survive in the tank even if my fish do hybridise as the one surviving fry we had now must have only survived because of his amazing survival skills.

After reading all you've said here, I've decided against putting a Betta in the tank. Thank you for all your information about that.

---------------------------------

& to all you off-topic posters:
I understand completely, so please don't apologize.

 

[tibby25731]

Hi Channti

Glad you decided against the betta, it is heartbreaking when you put a fish in a tank and all hell breaks loose. At least you did your research after the gourami fiasco! Gouramis can really be nasty sometimes, i have had experience of that!
Maybe you will be able to get a small tank in the future just for a betta, they are lovely fish with great personalities!

re your swordtails - as long as they are not very small, you can sex them very easily - the males have the 'sword' bit at the bottom of their tail, the girls don't! Girls just look like platies but with a slightly longer body