Betta splendens plakat

[plebian]

Either there is a lot of misinformation about splendens on the Internet (assuredly) or my female plakats are displaying very unusual behavior. I have two varieties, 3 super reds and 2 red dragons. I added them to my large (680 liter) community aquarium to add some interest to a pair of discus and 50 blue neons.

They are much less aggressive than the silver tip tetras they replaced. They show no signs of territorial behavior whatsoever. Also, they prefer taking food as it drifts down through the water column and willingly forage the substrate. They eat everything, so I'm sure if I provided floating food only, they would feed from the surface as well. Nevertheless, their behavior in general seems contrary to most everything being reported. I suspect this has something to do with being given some space, rather than being kept in what are little more than large water bottles.

Personally, I don't think I could have found better community fish. In addition to being peaceful, unfussy, and colorful, they have a lot of personality. They are also the most curious species I've ever kept. Over the course of a day, each of them will have traveled through every liter of available space, including most of the nooks, crannies and caves provided by the driftwood. They have quickly become one of my favorite species.

 

[Innesfan]

This will be interesting to monitor. Normally if I heard that five female bettas were being kept together I'd be concerned about intraspecific strife. The usual scenario is that one betta is targeted by the others and they are picked off one-by-one til only one remains. Which is why virtually all sororities collapse. In those cases the tank size is usually 75 gallon or less. But given how large your tank is--180 gallons by my math--perhaps that will make the difference. Do keep us posted.

When you say 'blue neons' which of the three Paracheirodon species are you referring to?

 

[plebian]

When you say 'blue neons' which of the three Paracheirodon species are you referring to?

Paracheirodon simulans. I know they are more commonly called green neons, or even false neons, but I think both those terms are less descriptive. Simulans are actually a brighter blue than neons, which I personally think could be more accurately referred to as "common" neons.

I do occasionally like to post follow-ups, but forums make this difficult. Unless the original post is actually being followed, they just get buried.

 

[Colin_T]

How long have you had the 5 new female Betta splendens for?
If they have only been in the tank for a few days they will still be sorting out the pecking order. Once that is done they either get along or kill each other. In a big tank they should be fine and will set up little territories and live happily ever after. In a big tank even a couple of males can live together. The main reason males are kept separate is because they are highly territorial and will fight and kill each other in small confined spaces. In a big tank with lots of hiding places (floating plants) that break up line of sight, males can live together and so can females. However, males need much more space than females.

Betta splendens sold in shops are generally a hybrid between Betta imbellis and B. splendens. The B. imbellis are actually quite peaceful and some of the fish sold in shops carry that peaceful trait.

I do occasionally like to post follow-ups, but forums make this difficult. Unless the original post is actually being followed, they just get buried.

I bookmark threads that interest me so I can check on them anytime or add to them as required. It makes it easier than trying to find old posts or posts that aren't active.

I do agree with Innesfan that this should be interesting to monitor over the next 6 months.

 

[plebian]

I've had these splendens for almost 2 months now and have observed no change in behavior whatsoever. They are 5-6 months of age and were purchased from a breeder in Thailand. It's of interest to note that the term "plakat" translates to "biting fish" in Thai.

Reportedly, this short fin domesticated variety was developed for fighting. Except for coloration, they have the same finnage as wild splendens. It's also worth noting that splendens have been selectively bred for a thousand years. A detailed genomic analysis suggests that modern splendens have been hybridized with several other Betta species.

https://www.science.org/doi/full/10.1126/sciadv.abm4955

 

[Innesfan]

Are they siblings? That helps in situations like this.

 

[plebian]

Are they siblings? That helps in situations like this.

Each variety is a sibling group.

 

[Innesfan]

Each variety is a sibling group.

That's a huge plus. Siblings that have been raised together and never separated can live harmoniously. The only truly successful sororities I have encountered have been composed of sibs. Now the interesting situation here is whether the two sibling groups will get along outside of their own sisters.

 

[plebian]

There has been no discernible difference in interaction between any of the individuals, regardless of sibling group.

 

[GaryE]

A friend who was in Thailand for business bought a lot of plakats one time, and in his excitement, had no idea where to put them when he got home. So I received a pile of Betta spendens plakats not from sibling groups, but from different vendors in the famous Bangkok aquarium fish market. The guy had really overdone it.

They did just fine together. Most were females. Even the males eventually, when I chanced it, weren't bad, in large tanks. I bred them, and that created a sibling group that was very peaceful for a friend I gave them to, who had a shallow 65 gallon sandbox tank. They were fish I hadn't planned for, and frankly, I wanted to unload them as soon as I could. That took several months, and peace reigned in their tank. The project, such as it was, was caused by a frantic 9pm phone call from a newish aquarist who'd opened his luggage and realized they'd all survived and he'd made a mistake.

It went against everything I'd ever learned about splendens, and I thank my friend for getting carried away in his purchasing. Plakats are supposed to be the fighting strain, but the sampler I received were much calmer than any of the long finned males I've kept.

 

[plebian]

I thought a follow was due (at least one person asked). It's now been just over two months since the splendens were added to the aquarium. I'm so enchanted with their behavior I've ordered more. I currently have 3 (each from a different sibling group) in my 70 liter QT. They are just as peaceful as those in my main aquarium.

Aside from being peaceful, they are brilliantly colored and very inquisitive. They remind me of cats, inquisitive and very lithe in their movement. Aside from their inquisitiveness, they "cat nap" in the most unusual places, on the substrate, in the nooks and crannies of the driftwood, on top of the powerheads. They are also very self-composed. They don't startle easily. They're voracious, but relaxed and methodical when eating, like my discus but unlike my tetras.

 

[plebian]

This may be my final update. One of the newest females has displayed a clear proclivity for aggressive behavior. She is currently terrorizing 2 others in my 70 liter QT. So to sum up, I have acquired 10 female Betta splendens from 6 different sibling groups and all of them have displayed peaceful behavior toward each other as well as toward other tank mates except one of the newest additions.

 

[Colin_T]

the new bully could be a juvenile male

 

[plebian]

the new bully could be a juvenile male

That's possible but seems unlikely given short fins. Even among plakats, the males have noticeably longer finnage. I've never kept splendens before, but by most accounts females can also be very aggressive. It is also commonly reported splendens have noticeable personalities. I'm guessing the females are a bit like discus. Most are relatively peaceful, but every now and then one will display an aggressive personality.