Betta Buddies?

[thewes]

I've been thinking about adding some new fish to my tank and I've heard
many different things about putting other fish in with male bettas.
Right now, I have two male bettas split up in a 10 gallon tank. I've
heard that I cannot possibly add any other species at all to the tank
due to some sort of toxin (?) the betta releases that can harm other
fish. I've also heard that that is BS. I'm assuming that I should not
add any species that possibly looks like another male betta, and I
understand bettas are pretty peaceful when it comes to other species
right? So what kind of mellow, freshwater fish could I add to the
tank, if any? Thanks for your help!

[Elaine T]

thewes wrote:
> I've been thinking about adding some new fish to my tank and I've heard
> many different things about putting other fish in with male bettas.
> Right now, I have two male bettas split up in a 10 gallon tank. I've
> heard that I cannot possibly add any other species at all to the tank
> due to some sort of toxin (?) the betta releases that can harm other
> fish. I've also heard that that is BS. I'm assuming that I should not
> add any species that possibly looks like another male betta, and I
> understand bettas are pretty peaceful when it comes to other species
> right? So what kind of mellow, freshwater fish could I add to the
> tank, if any? Thanks for your help!
>
The only toxin I can think of is ammonia and all fish excrete it. It
harms the bettas too and biological filtration breaks it down into
less-toxic nitrates which are removed by regular water changes.

If your tank is heated and filtered, you could add a few small fish like
harlequin rasboras, corydoras catfish, or peaceful tetras like
glo-lights or neons (not fin-nippers like serpaes). These are all
shoaling fish and will be lonely if kept singly so try to keep them in
at least trios on their side of the divider.

And my crazed betta is not peaceful when it comes to other species and
half killed some harlequins I put in with him in a 2 gallon tank. I've
never had that happen before, though.

--
__ Elaine T __
><__'> http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><

[NetMax]

"Elaine T" > wrote in message
t...
> thewes wrote:
>> I've been thinking about adding some new fish to my tank and I've
>> heard
>> many different things about putting other fish in with male bettas.
>> Right now, I have two male bettas split up in a 10 gallon tank. I've
>> heard that I cannot possibly add any other species at all to the tank
>> due to some sort of toxin (?) the betta releases that can harm other
>> fish. I've also heard that that is BS. I'm assuming that I should not
>> add any species that possibly looks like another male betta, and I
>> understand bettas are pretty peaceful when it comes to other species
>> right? So what kind of mellow, freshwater fish could I add to the
>> tank, if any? Thanks for your help!
>>
> The only toxin I can think of is ammonia and all fish excrete it. It
> harms the bettas too and biological filtration breaks it down into
> less-toxic nitrates which are removed by regular water changes.
>
> If your tank is heated and filtered, you could add a few small fish
> like harlequin rasboras, corydoras catfish, or peaceful tetras like
> glo-lights or neons (not fin-nippers like serpaes). These are all
> shoaling fish and will be lonely if kept singly so try to keep them in
> at least trios on their side of the divider.
>
> And my crazed betta is not peaceful when it comes to other species and
> half killed some harlequins I put in with him in a 2 gallon tank. I've
> never had that happen before, though.
>
> --
> __ Elaine T __
> ><__'> http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><

Regarding Betta buddies, ymmv. Generally avoid other Anabantidaes
(gouramis, paradise fish), male Guppies (tails are too flashy), anything
which is too active and pesky (Zebra danios), anything which is likely to
nip fins (Serpaes?) and anything which will fit the Betta in their mouth
;~).

Anecdote warning
We had our Betta cup display next to a 60g tank which had Corys, Zebra
danios and always one Betta. This was so that people could see that it
was possible to house them with other fish, but we were always quick to
caution folks about the limitations. I would periodically cycle the
Bettas from cups to tanks, but in the case of this particular tank, it
was a little trickier. I'd first float the Betta's cup in the tank for
20 minutes (so the fish would know what was coming). Then I would
release him and he would be instantly surrounded by about 200 small and
curious Zebra danios, all keeping about a 2" circle radius around the
Betta. In the next 2 minutes, I would know whether he was staying or
not. If he hi-tailed it into a corner to hide in the plants, I would
move him into a quieter tank. If he flared his beard and stared down
every Zebra that got close to him, then he was a keeper. It made a great
display, an ego-pumped Betta strutting back and forth like the king of
the jungle, parting a wave of Zebra danios wherever he looked or turned.
My regulars would just shake their heads and ask how I managed to get
fish to behave like that, but I have to admit that it was only about 15%
of them who passed the 2 minute test ;~).
--
www.NetMax.tk

[Ozdude]

"NetMax" > wrote in message
...

> Regarding Betta buddies, ymmv. Generally avoid other Anabantidaes
> (gouramis, paradise fish), male Guppies (tails are too flashy), anything
> which is too active and pesky (Zebra danios), anything which is likely to
> nip fins (Serpaes?) and anything which will fit the Betta in their mouth
> ;~).

You shouldn't add anything the Betta can fit into it's mouth too. I've read
around on the Betta sites that small Tetras, Rasboras etc., can become
targets for the Betta.

Noting your post above: I was tinkering with putting my Betta males (will
get two males in a fortnight) into a tank with Serpae, and whilst they were
nippy as, with the Honey Gourami when I got him, they soon left him alone
and now he swims amongst them like one of the gang.

I think it's actually a threat/territory thing with Serpae, well it seems to
be with my little school, at any rate, and as you stated ymmv.

On reading this post though, it's occurred to me that I think the Bettas
should go into their own tank, seeing there is another Labyrinth fish, and
possibly three when I get my hands on a couple of female Honeys. I will
divide the old cube 10Gal and use that as a Betta tank. Is this the start of
MTS I wonder? ;)

I think upon reflection, it's pushing it with the Serpae as it is, never
mind three other Anabantidaes ;)

thanks for the heads-up.

Oz

--
My Aquatic web Blog is at http://members.optusnet.com.au/ivan.smith

[Larry Blanchard]

In article . com>,
says...
> I've been thinking about adding some new fish to my tank and I've heard
> many different things about putting other fish in with male bettas.


> I understand bettas are pretty peaceful when it comes to other species
> right? So what kind of mellow, freshwater fish could I add to the
> tank, if any? Thanks for your help!
>
Right now I have with one betta:
3 ottos
1 SAE
3 platys

with the other:
3 corys
1 platy
and will be adding 1 SAE

This has given me no trouble. One betta could care less, the other
flared at the platy for a half hour or so and has ignored it ever since.


--
Homo sapiens is a goal, not a description

[NetMax]

"Ozdude" > wrote in message
u...
>
> "NetMax" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>> Regarding Betta buddies, ymmv. Generally avoid other Anabantidaes
>> (gouramis, paradise fish), male Guppies (tails are too flashy),
>> anything which is too active and pesky (Zebra danios), anything which
>> is likely to nip fins (Serpaes?) and anything which will fit the Betta
>> in their mouth ;~).
>
> You shouldn't add anything the Betta can fit into it's mouth too. I've
> read around on the Betta sites that small Tetras, Rasboras etc., can
> become targets for the Betta.
>
> Noting your post above: I was tinkering with putting my Betta males
> (will get two males in a fortnight) into a tank with Serpae, and whilst
> they were nippy as, with the Honey Gourami when I got him, they soon
> left him alone and now he swims amongst them like one of the gang.
>
> I think it's actually a threat/territory thing with Serpae, well it
> seems to be with my little school, at any rate, and as you stated ymmv.
>
> On reading this post though, it's occurred to me that I think the
> Bettas should go into their own tank, seeing there is another Labyrinth
> fish, and possibly three when I get my hands on a couple of female
> Honeys. I will divide the old cube 10Gal and use that as a Betta tank.
> Is this the start of MTS I wonder? ;)
>
> I think upon reflection, it's pushing it with the Serpae as it is,
> never mind three other Anabantidaes ;)
>
> thanks for the heads-up.
>
> Oz

In terms of multiple tanks, 7 (imo) is a good number.

#1 The beautiful living room tank (which if you are married, should be
filled with all the fish & plants your spouse wants, on the colour
substrate she wants, - trust me on this).

#2 The downstairs community tank (which acts as a huge buffer for odds &
ends and fish that just will not die, a revolving door retirement home).
Typically running a large canister filter which you peek into whenever
you start feeling guilty.

#3 The experiment tank (here is where you are babying some fish to
maturity, for breeding or just jaw-dropping show fish). The experiment
tank often includes exotic plants, CO2 injection and where your DIY
filter theories are tested.

#4 The ISO tank (isolation), used for quarantining, medicating, isolating
and occasionally fry. Typically a bare-bottom tank running a sponge
filter.

#5 The grow-out tank. All hobbyists occasionally find themselves with fry
that they will want to keep.

#6 The mean tank. Well known by cichlid owners, where to put that alpha
male who is intent on causing death & destruction, when the ISO tank is
occupied or too small.

#7 The breeding tank (self-explanatory).

Remember, everytime your spouse balks at your buying a new tank, remind
them that they have their tank (#1) with all their favourite fish and it
is you who does all the maintenance on it, so they should really not have
too much to say if you think you can handle the work of just one more
tank ;~).
--
www.NetMax.tk

[Roy Huntley]

I have a betta in w/ 2 Blue paradise Gouramis and 2 dwarf gouramis, they
seem to get along great, although the first hour was a little intense(no one
was injured thankfully)
"Ozdude" > wrote in message
u...
>
> "NetMax" > wrote in message
> ...
>
> > Regarding Betta buddies, ymmv. Generally avoid other Anabantidaes
> > (gouramis, paradise fish), male Guppies (tails are too flashy), anything
> > which is too active and pesky (Zebra danios), anything which is likely
to
> > nip fins (Serpaes?) and anything which will fit the Betta in their mouth
> > ;~).
>
> You shouldn't add anything the Betta can fit into it's mouth too. I've
read
> around on the Betta sites that small Tetras, Rasboras etc., can become
> targets for the Betta.
>
> Noting your post above: I was tinkering with putting my Betta males (will
> get two males in a fortnight) into a tank with Serpae, and whilst they
were
> nippy as, with the Honey Gourami when I got him, they soon left him alone
> and now he swims amongst them like one of the gang.
>
> I think it's actually a threat/territory thing with Serpae, well it seems
to
> be with my little school, at any rate, and as you stated ymmv.
>
> On reading this post though, it's occurred to me that I think the Bettas
> should go into their own tank, seeing there is another Labyrinth fish, and
> possibly three when I get my hands on a couple of female Honeys. I will
> divide the old cube 10Gal and use that as a Betta tank. Is this the start
of
> MTS I wonder? ;)
>
> I think upon reflection, it's pushing it with the Serpae as it is, never
> mind three other Anabantidaes ;)
>
> thanks for the heads-up.
>
> Oz
>
> --
> My Aquatic web Blog is at http://members.optusnet.com.au/ivan.smith
>
>

[Angrie.Woman]

"NetMax" > wrote in message
.. .
> In terms of multiple tanks, 7 (imo) is a good number.
>
> #1 The beautiful living room tank (which if you are married, should be
> filled with all the fish & plants your spouse wants, on the colour
> substrate she wants, - trust me on this).



>
> #6 The mean tank. Well known by cichlid owners, where to put that alpha
> male who is intent on causing death & destruction, when the ISO tank is
> occupied or too small.
>

Funny! I would have called #1 "her tank" and #6 "his tank." (Or, in my
unfortunate case, "their" tank, as I am outnumbered quite a bit here.)

A

[sophie]

In message >,
Angrie.Woman > writes
>
>"NetMax" > wrote in message
.. .
>> In terms of multiple tanks, 7 (imo) is a good number.
>>
>> #1 The beautiful living room tank (which if you are married, should be
>> filled with all the fish & plants your spouse wants, on the colour
>> substrate she wants, - trust me on this).
>
>
>
>>
>> #6 The mean tank. Well known by cichlid owners, where to put that alpha
>> male who is intent on causing death & destruction, when the ISO tank is
>> occupied or too small.
>>
>
>Funny! I would have called #1 "her tank" and #6 "his tank." (Or, in my
>unfortunate case, "their" tank, as I am outnumbered quite a bit here.)

I have "Jacob's tank" and "Beth's tank". As their dad says, "yeah,
right".
--
sophie

[Ozdude]

"Roy Huntley" > wrote in message
...
>I have a betta in w/ 2 Blue paradise Gouramis and 2 dwarf gouramis, they
> seem to get along great, although the first hour was a little intense(no
> one
> was injured thankfully)

I guess my real worry is the cat-like Serpae Tetra. We'll see; I have put
off getting any Bettas for another fortnight. I am adding 2 more SAE's and 6
Neon Tetras tomorrow instead of a starting the Betta thing ;)

Oz

--
My Aquatic web Blog is at http://members.optusnet.com.au/ivan.smith

[John D. Goulden]

> I've been thinking about adding some new fish to my tank and I've heard
> many different things about putting other fish in with male bettas.
> Right now, I have two male bettas split up in a 10 gallon tank. I've
> heard that I cannot possibly add any other species at all to the tank
> due to some sort of toxin (?) the betta releases that can harm other
> fish. I've also heard that that is BS. I'm assuming that I should not
> add any species that possibly looks like another male betta, and I
> understand bettas are pretty peaceful when it comes to other species
> right? So what kind of mellow, freshwater fish could I add to the
> tank, if any? Thanks for your help!

I've had good luck with neon tetras and bettas. At first the betta will
flare and the neons will keep their distance, and after a few days they will
pretty much ignore each other. I've also had surprisingly good luck with
betta couples. Both of my 10-gallons have a male betta + female betta (and
one has three neons as well). In both cases the bettas stay close together
almost all of the time and get along just fine. Neither pair has shown any
desire to make baby bettas, however.

--
John Goulden