Multiple Bettas In One Tank

[ileopard]

I'm sorry if I have a dumb question - this is my first betta fish.

I have a male betta in a small tank, but if I do this, I'll get a much bigger tank. Could I get a female betta and add it to the new tank I'd get?

The pet store told me the fish would fight, but if they would, I don't see how betta fish can give birth. So is there a safe way of having two or more betta fish?

Also, what should I preferrably get for the tank? Is the 15 lb per betta rule true?

Thank you!

 

[sparklefuzz]

They will fight. The way they 'give birth' is by first getting to know one another without physical contact (through glass) and only if they appear to flirt with one another and like each other, they can be put together to spawn. Then you'd remove the female for her safety.

Just be thankful they told you they'd fight. My LFS recommended a male and female together.

I'm not sure I know what you mean about the "15 lb per betta rule" ...?

 

[e11cloud]

Males by nature tend to get aggressive with a female if she isn't ready to spawn. After spawning occurs, the Dad takes care of the eggs by protection and cleaning them to protect them from fungus. He will avidly defend the nest usually, and that includes against the female and any other fish that might be in the tank...many females can be egg eaters as well, adding to the reason that the male will be aggressive. I wouldn't recommend putting a female or (or any sex of betta for that matter) in the same tank at all times with a male betta. Spawning bettas is quite a chore, although very fun. They could spawn in a regular tank, I suppose, given certain circumstances, but it is much more successfully pulled off with a breeding tank, no substrate, and many other additional requirements. If they were to successfully spawn in a tank with gravel there may not be as many eggs, etc. Flow of a filter may disturb the bubble nest too much for a proper amount of babies, and then you'd have to transport the fry, which are tiny, if they successfully hatched, before the mother ate them up (which would be much more possible than her not eating them). I'd recommend just enjoying your new boy, researching spawning bettas, then decide if you want to take it on. It's a lot of work to spawn. And the work doesn't stop there! Lots of work is required to care for the fry as well, and it is time consuming. There's a lot to consider. Good luck!

 

[brittlestar]

I'm not sure I know what you mean about the "15 lb per betta rule" ...?

Maybe he meant one betta per 15lb of water??

Please only keep one betta per tank and keep with peaceful tank mates that will not attack it - no barbs and gouramis.

 

[sparklefuzz]

I'm not sure I know what you mean about the "15 lb per betta rule" ...?

Maybe he meant one betta per 15lb of water??

Please only keep one betta per tank and keep with peaceful tank mates that will not attack it - no barbs and gouramis.

I didn't think liquids could be measured in lbs?? Anyways, yes, what he said ^^

 

[l.michelle]

Unless you get a 10gal tank and divide it, then technically you an have more than one in a tank, but make sure they can't reach one another!

 

[Boxermom]

I didn't think liquids could be measured in lbs?? Anyways, yes, what he said ^^

Sure it can. Put it in a container and weigh it. Generally speaking, 1 gallon of water allegedly weighs about 10 pounds, if I recall correctly (which I probably am not).

 

[sparklefuzz]

I didn't think liquids could be measured in lbs?? Anyways, yes, what he said ^^

Sure it can. Put it in a container and weigh it. Generally speaking, 1 gallon of water allegedly weighs about 10 pounds, if I recall correctly (which I probably am not).

Well obviously you can weigh it , but liquids tend to be measured as a volume, not a weight.

 

[RandomWiktor]

Bettas should never be housed together; even when they have been carefully conditioned and introduced for breeding, you must watch them like hawks and remove the female immediately after mating, or you WILL have dead or wounded fish. If you would like for a male and female betta to live together, the closest you can get would be buying a 10g tank and divide it so they could see one another, but not share the same space. I have a few divided tanks with a male on one side and a female on the other; they seem to enjoy following one another around, but it does increase the chance of losses if one gets sick, because then you're likely to end up with 2 sick fish instead of one. Not to mention the commercial ones are too bloody short, and most bettas can hop right over and get onto the other side; I DIY mine with plastic canvas after a few very bad experience with bettas hopping dividers and beating up their neighbors.
As for 15lb of water... that's probably almost right. A gallon of water, on average, is ~ 8lbs. A two-gallon tank would have a little more than 15lbs of water in it (once decorations are added, its never the full gallonage listed), and if you go by the inch per gallon rule instead of the "bettas can breath air so lets cram them in tiny tanks" rule, 2g would be the absolute minimum for most specimins of the species, with more like 2.5-3g for larger ones.