Bettas Together

[Brodeur30]

I have a 2.5 gal divided betta tank with 3 males separated by 2 females and when I came home my one male was in with a female. They are not fighting and seem to enjoy each other's company. They only display as a couple against the adjacent male. I was gonna let them be or should I separate them? They're veiltails too if that helps

 

[GuppyGirl20]

SEPARATE! Separate immediately. One.) Males and females are very territorial so fighting is bound to happen sometime. Two.) In such a small space there is no room to hide or retreat and death is likely to happen. 
 
Is the tank covered??? Bettas are jumpers so if there is no lid they can jump over to another's section which will cause some trouble. Unless they are a wild type or a sorority, bettas should NEVER be kept together. 

 

[sawickib]

Well that sounds like extremely poor living conditions, one betta needs a 2.5 gallon min. with filtration and a heater. You have 5 in one 2.5 gallon, they are all very cramped and any bettas with each other will kill each other eventually if not done properly. Here's some more info on bettas >>>> http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/423364-betta-splendens-caresheet/

 

[GuppyGirl20]

I took it to mean each betta section was 2.5 gallons.  But sawickib is right. 2.5 is a tad small for just a single betta let alone that many (I can't image how you could fit that many in a 2.5)

 

[Brodeur30]

But they're anabantoids. . . frequent water changes and their labyrinth organ should be sufficient enough for fish that don't exceed two inches.

 

[GuppyGirl20]

Bettas get up to about three inches. They also need room to swim around... I don't see how five fish can do anything in a 2.5 gallon tank. There's the inch per gallon rule and I just don't see why that somehow doesn't apply to bettas.

 

[Brodeur30]

They have been separated, but if he makes it through to her side again then I'm just going to assume that it's meant to be

 

[Ninjouzata]

Fish still need room to turn around. Please do reach that care sheet Saw linked if you havn't already. They each should have a minimum of 2.5g with filter and heater.
 
It's also not good for the females to be able to see the males, much less be in the same space with them. If they don't kill each other (very likely to happen in such a small space) they will be stressing each other out.
 
We are not trying to harp on you or anything, just want what is best for your fish

 

[DerpPH]

But they're anabantoids. . . frequent water changes and their labyrinth organ should be sufficient enough for fish that don't exceed two inches.

but just because theyre anabantoids doesn't mean you can keep them in a veeeery small tank. without filters and all, they may not seem like it but they can suffer from ammonia poisoning too. not even frequent water changes can change the fact that a 2.5 gallon is not sufficient for 3 bettes, a 2.5 gallon is a BARE MINIMUM for 1 bette, let alone 3. And we never recommend betta tanks with no filters

 

[Alasse]

The fact that they area living breathing creature reliant on you to house them correctly should be enough to show that housing "5" betta is such a small area is not acceptable. I dont mind small quarters for them, i could deal with 1 in there but 5 is ridiculous and bordering on cruel. 
 
Please adequately house them, or their life will be limited sadly.

 

[DerpPH]

Bettas get up to about three inches. They also need room to swim around... I don't see how five fish can do anything in a 2.5 gallon tank. There's the inch per gallon rule and I just don't see why that somehow doesn't apply to bettas.

the inch per gallon doesn't apply to some fish which give more ammonia like cichlids, The rule we should follow is how messy it eats, its minimum tank size and the filtration capacity of the tank but since there is no filtration well... its a bad case

 

[Brodeur30]

I've only heard the inch per gallon rule applied to cichlids. Mouth brooding or slim bettas get larger than 2.5in. Several other sources indicate that a male can be kept with several females.

 

[GuppyGirl20]

Please can you site those sources? I have only ever seen information on how males should be housed alone and it is possible to keep a sorority of females in the right conditions.
 
Also how long have you had them housed this way (just curious)?

 

[Alasse]

I've only heard the inch per gallon rule applied to cichlids. Mouth brooding or slim bettas get larger than 2.5in. Several other sources indicate that a male can be kept with several females.

You can read anything to support any theory lol The internet is rife with it
 
A male possibly can be kept with multiple females, but rest assured that is not the norm. Most time doing so with end in harm or death in 1 or more of the fish, wether it be by the other fish themselves or from the resulting stress of being kept like that.
 
Anyway do as you wish, you will anyway, they are afterall your fish. But be prepared for the i told you so that may come your way

 

[Brodeur30]

Those are the old inhabitants. The current bettas aren't near as large as that delta male in the corner
The encyclopedia of aquarium and pond fish by David Alderton. I've also been interested in doing away with the 2.5 for a sorority. It began when I adopted a betta from my girlfriend and bought girlfriends for him and my other betta