Betta In A Community

[superbees]

Hi i was wondering if i can keep a betta in my community tank as i see one today at my local fish shop and he was gorgous.My tank is 80cm wide 45 cm high 35 cm wide 34 us gallons and my fish are 6 black neon tetra 1 cherry barb 3 julis cory 1 dwarf gourami.

 

[Rex740]

I wouldnt advise it as it is based on personality of the betta. Most people's bettas will rip anything to shreds, but some people are lucky like me...my male betta is in my community tank and doesnt attack anyone, and i even have fish with long fins and fish that look like female bettas!!! (long finned skirt tetras, lyretail swordtail, golden killifish, etc.)

 

[MermaidMel]

I have an HMPK (short fin betta) in with 8 tetra and he loves it and they don't bother him, but I would never put a long fin in with any top/mid dwellers, only bottom feeders, just in case!

 

[hollyp0p]

I wouldnt advise it as it is based on personality of the betta. Most people's bettas will rip anything to shreds, but some people are lucky like me...my male betta is in my community tank and doesnt attack anyone, and i even have fish with long fins and fish that look like female bettas!!! (long finned skirt tetras, lyretail swordtail, golden killifish, etc.)

as they said....and as i have read so many places....it's totally down to the personality of the betta at the end of the day.
For example a few of my lfs keep bettas in community tanks when they go for sale....and i saw one last week in with a very bustling tank of small fish (i didn't see what they were)....but it was fine and was joining in with the smaller fish.
Other times u get a very aggressive male who won't tolerate anything else....again another time you may get one who can't take it and gets depressed or picked on by other fish.

So really it's down to the fish, and the way i see it is try it by all means, but have a back up plan.....like a seocnd tank.....or a means of dividing your current tank incase of any incompatibility.

This is all based on advice I have recieved and read.....I am getting a betta for my community tank later in the week, with the plan that if anything starts going wrong, I will be dividing space in the tank souly for the betta

 

[superbees]

Ok thanks for advice the betta which i wanted was in a tank with 20 dwarf gourami and shop staff said it was fine with gourami's.But i wasn't sure so i thought i would ask on here as a lot of there betta looked in a bad state.There was 1 betta in a tank with 4 large angels which looked in a bad way.Also had a male betta in atank with about 20 female is this ok ?.Went to another shop on saturday they had 2 males in same tank i thought you couldnt keep males together?.

 

[MermaidMel]

Ok thanks for advice the betta which i wanted was in a tank with 20 dwarf gourami and shop staff said it was fine with gourami's.But i wasn't sure so i thought i would ask on here as a lot of there betta looked in a bad state.There was 1 betta in a tank with 4 large angels which looked in a bad way.Also had a male betta in atank with about 20 female is this ok ?.Went to another shop on saturday they had 2 males in same tank i thought you couldnt keep males together?.

Well, if the male in with the gourami gets on with gourami, you can keep that one with gourami
If the male in with the angels got battered, don't repeat that
If the male in with the females was fine with the females, he is obviously very placid AND very outnumbered lol
If the males in together were in perfect finnage and not at all bothered by each other, perhaps they were ok to do so

BUT

You don't know how long those males have been in with those fish and although it can take a few minutes for 2 males to go at each other, it may also be that suddenly after a few weeks they turn on each other, so whatever you decide, you must continually and vigilantly monitor the situation you provide your betta with and soon as you note anything questionable, remove him! Keep a smaller container/tank on hand, JUST IN CASE YOU NEED IT and best of luck - whatever happens. at least you've done your homework, nobody could call you flippant about the care of your new friend x

 

[devon_charm]

sorry hun but no way can you put a betta in with barbs, your better will end up finless

Also, the male with the females, give it time and he will end up deaded. Likewise with the two males, just give it time and one will be sating bye bye

 

[hollyp0p]

i can't believe anywhere put two males in together......that's just asking for trouble!

 

[superbees]

i can't believe anywhere put two males in together......that's just asking for trouble![/quot