I got a male betta for my community tank

[yvez9]

I went to a fish store yesterday for the first time. I noticed they has put male bettas in many tanks on the floor and they seemed very peaceful to the other fish. I even saw a betta swim around in a platty tank as f he were one of them.

Since I just have guppies right now in my tank, I thaught it would be fun to put in a nice looking betta.

I taked to the guiy there about bettas with fish and he basically told me they pu thte betta in the tank for a few minutes to see how they react and if they are peaceful they leave them in there.

So me and my girlfriend decided to try it. Worst case, we have a spare betta bowl at home so we would be able to re-home him quickly.

Believe it or not, the betta just swims around with the guppies in the tank. The guppies were kind of afraid at first but now they seem to appraoch him more and more and the betta doesn't seem to mind at all.

Well that's that!

 

[sylvia]

Bettas and other labyrinth fish have very varied characters - some bettas are realy friendly and would never hurt another fish (well aside from another male betta that is) and other flare at your finger or their food...

I am not surprised that you saw bettas getting along with platies, they usualy do fine with them. It is gouramies and similar looking fish like male guppies that cause problems.

Do be careful, sometimes the betta will change his mind and you'll start finding dead guppies everywhere.

The other reason bettas aren't often kept in community tanks is their long fins which invite nippers - not their aggression - and their dislike of strong currents.

 

[yvez9]

I finally decided to put him in his own tank this mornign after I noticed he was attacking the bigger tailed mail guppy. He did damage it a little bit but nothing that won't heal I'm pretty sure.

The betta I have at work is crazy. He flares all the time and when I put a mirror next to thing, I'm afraid he'll break the aquarium and go for it

Anyway, everything's ok now