Female In Community

[Yanks15]

I have an established community tank w/ 6 black neon tetras. My daughter came home with a female betta that grandma bought her. I'm wondering if I can put her in with them? I know each has it's own personality but what should I be looking for if she goes in? Will she go after them or the other way around? Any help would be appreciated 'cause I really don't want another tank yet.

Thanks

 

[Rezatii]

Hmmm, tricky, it's generally not advized to put bettas in with tetras as they can get quite nippy, I'm not sure if this is true for black neons as I've never had them but normal neons can get fin-nippy so they aren't advized, but some people have kept neons with bettas succesfully so I won't rule it out as a possibility, however if you do decide to do it pleasepleaseplease make sure your tank is heavily planted so the betta can get away and hide and watch them VERY carefully so if there is a problem you can remove the betta quickly.

I personally wouldn't advize this or put them together myself, but others have done so with success so it really depends on the fishes temperment.

-Rezz

[Edit: Sorry just realized it was a community and not just other tetras in there, what other fish are there? This could be quite important as tetras aren't the only fish that might go for the betta....]

 

[Curiosity101]

In theory females are often less agressive to tank mates than males. So all should be fine. Thing is there is a small possibility the 'female' could be a plakat male.

Just to make doubley sure I'd try to post a couple of pics up if you can.

Either ways I recommend releasing it into the aquarium.

How big is the tank?


@ Rezatii - Tetras are only sometime nippy with long finned fish...an example being a betta. But even then it's only male bettas with long tails. Male plakats and all females aren't normally affected.

 

[Yanks15]

This is only a 10gal(US) tank. It only has the neons and at one time I had them with guppies and had no problems between them. Accually, the neons stayed away from the guppies. No fin bitting. I may just put her in and keep watch. The neons stay to the low end of the tank so they shouldn't conflict much. It is pretty well planted too so plenty of safe places.

 

[Rezatii]

Really? Sorry for my buff information, just going by what happened to my mums female betta when she kept her with some neons, maybe hers were just psycho neons XD


my bad, sorry!

-Rezz

 

[Yanks15]

No bad at all. Everyone has different experiences. The guppies were in first and the neons added well after so maybe that was the way to keep them together. If it was the other way around, things could have been totally different. People here are always giving conflicting advice but that doesn't mean one or the other is wrong. Each has their own experience and has that advice. Some things are a given and there won't be much debate but otherwise all advice is usefull.

Thanks

 

[Curiosity101]

Well if you actually imagine how much finnage a female or a plakat male has...it doesn't 'flow' and isn't 'big'. Soin effect it's only got the same amount as say...a rainbow fish, or gourami...or even a sailfin molly etc.

Often tetra agression is caused by incorrect living conditions. Either too many fish and too little space. Or not enough of a 'shoal' to keep the nippiness within the group.

Overall I'd say (more often than not) 10 US Gal with 1 female betta and 6 Black Neons tetras shouldn't have any issues.

But really a picture would be useful just to find out if it's a male or a female.
And also you might want to have a word with Grandma just incase. Because although it's a lovely thought buying someone a fish...it can cause problems.

If she bought another one and it was male then it would fight with the current one whether the current one is male or female. And if she got another female then it would also probably fight with the current one (or the current one would attack the newcomer).

This is because females have to be kept as singles or in groups of...at least 4 I think (your tank isn't really big enough for 4 + the neons).

Then if the current one is a male and you added a female then he would more than likely attack her.

 

[Yanks15]

Agreed Curiosity, there won't be any more suprises brought home!!!! Just because I have tanks doesn't mean anything goes. Unfortunately I don't have a camera worth two cents so probably no pics but was definately labeled female- from petsmart. Any good places to view differences between females and plakat males?

Thanks.

ps. These neons were also in with honey gouramis and no problems.

 

[Curiosity101]

Not off of the top of my head no...sorry

But basically females have a rounder stomach and shorter ventrils.

However a young plakat male that has been well fed will have a round tummy and short ventrils. This is where the problems arise...lol.

A good test would be to put a mirror up against the tank so it can see it's reflection. If you get a FULL flare then it is most likely male. If you get no reaction, or only a semi-flare then it's more likely female.

But the only way to definitely know is to get the opinion of some of the really experienced betta keepers if you ever do get a pic.

 

[Curiosity101]

Actually I just had an idea aswell as doing the mirror thing.

Google images - 'Female Betta' and then 'Male plakat'
Just have a good look at the pics for each and compare to yours.

 

[Yanks15]

Thanks, that's exactly what I was gonna do. I'm not familiar with bettas enough to know the difference. Male to female veils- easy enough. But plakat's? No idea.

Thanks

Tried the mirror. "It" flared for a second and swam away. Female?

Thanks.

 

[Curiosity101]

Well if you do try the mirror thing tell us what response you get. If you youtube 'Male betta flaring' you should get a good feel for what it would look like if the fish were male. As males have the full 'beard' but females tend to just stick their gill plates out.

Edit: If you could check the above suggestion and then say if it had a 'beard' or not then that would be great. But that does sound like a females reaction.

 

[Yanks15]

Only side gill flare. After google search, looks like female plakat. Identical fin structure to mine. Actually, the one I found is the exact same color too.

Thanks