My Next Community

[KingofthePisces]

ok so im pretty sure im changing my community soon because ive found somewhere to put my fish and i really wanted to give betta's a try because im reeeeaaallly over guppies and neons and i havnt kept bettas before so the question is... what are some good tankmates for bettas ? and can i attempt to breed them in a breeder net?
also im told that bettas dont live for very long because of imbreeding? please reply
Kingofthepisces

 

[jennybugs]

Bettas in community tanks is always going to be hit and miss depending on the individual betta. Some are as laid back as anything and some are feisty whatsits who will chase and eat anything they can.

I'd definately have a back up plan for if your betta turns out to be a tail eater and/or your betta gets attacked by other fish.

I'd avoid neon tetras as most bettas will eat their tails for a snack and also avoid any tetra that is a fin nipper...red eye tetra for example. You could find danios will be way too fast and the constant movement from them could distress a betta. Peaceful tankmates are a must really.

Good luck. I've never been able to successfully keep a betta in a comunity tank without fish casualties

I do however have 3 lovely females in a tank together

 

[xweeqtx]

ok so im pretty sure im changing my community soon because ive found somewhere to put my fish and i really wanted to give betta's a try because im reeeeaaallly over guppies and neons and i havnt kept bettas before so the question is... what are some good tankmates for bettas ? and can i attempt to breed them in a breeder net?
also im told that bettas dont live for very long because of imbreeding? please reply
Kingofthepisces

Firstly, if you haven't already, read up on betta's. Absorb as much knowledge as possible before getting one of you're own.

In answer to you're questions;


Male betta's can be extremely aggressive, and although you can get the occasional fish that will reside happily with others, you really shouldn't have them with anything else. They are much more happy living a solitary life. If you must have something with them, and have at least a 5 gallon tank for him - try something like shrimp or snails, although I can't guarantee they won't end up bitten/eaten.

(Someone may say I'm condradicting here, as I do have a male Plakat betta who resides in my community tank with the most absurd tank mates ever but then again, they are short finned betta's and yes you do get the occasional one as I have already said.)

And simply, no, you cannot breed them in a breeding net -I wouldn't suggest thinking of breeding them until you have read extensively and are fully prepared. It is a LOT of hard work.

 

[Bubblenester]

I can tell you some bad tankmates for bettas- anything that resembles another male betta (such as a gourami) and anything that nips fins. As someone else said, a lot depends on the individual betta's temperament too. Go ahead and try the betta with any fish you think will be okay, but have a back-up plan in case it doesn't work out. Fortunately, a "back-up plan" for a betta can just be a one gallon tank to keep him in by himself.

You may want to consider keeping female bettas. Many are just as colorful as males, and they can usually live together in groups without too much squabbling. Having shorter fins also tends to make them better community fish since they aren't as good a target for fin nippers.

No, they can't be bred in a net... breeding them requires at least a 5 gallon tank and a fairly complicated setup, raising the fry is a challenge because of their very small size, and they can produce hundreds of fry, half of which (the males) will eventually have to be jarred separately. I think there's a pinned topic about breeding- read that and see if you're still interested.

They typically live 2-3 years, and I don't know if it has anything to do with inbreeding, but maybe.

 

[KingofthePisces]

I can tell you some bad tankmates for bettas- anything that resembles another male betta (such as a gourami) and anything that nips fins. As someone else said, a lot depends on the individual betta's temperament too. Go ahead and try the betta with any fish you think will be okay, but have a back-up plan in case it doesn't work out. Fortunately, a "back-up plan" for a betta can just be a one gallon tank to keep him in by himself.

You may want to consider keeping female bettas. Many are just as colorful as males, and they can usually live together in groups without too much squabbling. Having shorter fins also tends to make them better community fish since they aren't as good a target for fin nippers.

No, they can't be bred in a net... breeding them requires at least a 5 gallon tank and a fairly complicated setup, raising the fry is a challenge because of their very small size, and they can produce hundreds of fry, half of which (the males) will eventually have to be jarred separately. I think there's a pinned topic about breeding- read that and see if you're still interested.

They typically live 2-3 years, and I don't know if it has anything to do with inbreeding, but maybe.

would i be able to keep a male betta with bolivian rams, corydoras, scissortail and harlequin rasboras and bristle nose plecos? because im looking at putting one male in to coiour up the place and as for the backup plan i have a ten gallon and a 2 gallon bowl in the shed spare for anything that needs them and im fully aware on how to breed bettas (read many articles on this site)

 

[KingofthePisces]

does anyone know if you can keep those fish together? or does no one know? please reply
king of the pisces

 

[devon_charm]

If you founds yourself a quiet betta you would still have to watch the rams due to them being colourful, you betta may think its another male, cory i should think will be ok, not sure about scissors, rasboras again i think will be ok and the plec will be fine. Just look out for any loss of colour or little rips with your betta. Also if he hides alot it can mean he's stressed