Siamese fighting fish, commonly known as betta fish, is indigenous to the floodplains and rice fields of Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. They are distinguished by their vividly hued scales and their long, slender fins, which might be red, blue, green, or any mixture of these hues. Betta fish are well-liked pets because they are simple to look after and, with the right care, can live for two to three years.
Contrarily, guppies are tiny, vivid fish that are indigenous to the Caribbean and South America. They make excellent pets because they are resilient and simple to take care of. Guppies have long, flowing tails and come in a variety of hues, such as orange, red, yellow, and blue.
It is crucial to take into account the upkeep needs of both species when deciding whether to house betta fish and guppies together. Betta fish are territorial and can become hostile to other fish, especially ones with fins that resemble their own. Guppies, on the other hand, are calm and non-aggressive, but because they are a species that form schools, they do need a bigger tank than bettas. Additionally, guppies can withstand a wider range of water conditions, while bettas demand a more steady and stable habitat.
The compatibility of betta fish with guppies will be covered in this article, along with some advice on effectively maintaining both species in the same tank. We will go through how to care for each species, as well as the advantages and drawbacks of housing them together.
Can Bettas And Guppies Coexist?
Yes, technically. The success of this type of setup depends largely on the fish’s sex, though. The aggressive behavior of male Betta fish, particularly toward other male Bettas, is well-known. Male Bettas frequently mistake Guppies for other male Bettas due to the fact that both species possess colorful, flowing tails, which causes conflict. However, male Guppies have a reputation for bullying other male Guppies in order to get breeding privileges, so this violence can work both ways. It is not at all advised to keep Bettas and Guppies together.
Keeping male Betta fish with other fish might be dangerous, especially if the other fish have similar physical traits, such as bright, flowing tails. Male Betta fish are notorious for their hostility against other men of the same species and occasionally confuse other fish for male Bettas, which can result in hostility and fighting.
If you want to keep more than one fish in the same tank, it is normally recommended to keep male Betta fish alone or with non-aggressive species. To reduce the possibility of violence, carefully examine the particular species and their compatibility with Bettas before attempting to keep male Betta fish with other fish.
Both female and male Guppies can be kept in tanks with female Bettas, which is likely to be successful. To give the female Bettas a respite from the extremely active Guppie habits, you will need to make sure there is enough room for everyone. Enough vegetation cover will also guarantee that a portion of your guppy fry will thrive and that none of them will be consumed by either your adult or adult betta guppies.
Conditions For Betta And Guppies To Coexist
Before determining whether to add guppies to your tank, take into account the following.
The Temperature of the Water and pH Levels
You must ensure that different fish species can live within the same circumstances if you intend to add them to a tank.
While bettas are located in South East Asian rice paddies and streams, guppies are native to South America and are frequently located in rivers and lakes. On paper, it would appear that they could not endure the same circumstances. Fortunately, they do.
- Guppies require a temperature range of 74–82°F and a pH range of 6.8–7.8 to grow.
- For bettas to grow, the environment must have a pH of 7 and a temperature of 78–80°F.
Filtration In Tanks
Both guppies and bettas require clean water, typically with ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels of zero parts per million (ppm), and a nitrogen level of no more than 20 ppm, preferably less. To keep track of the pH levels in your tank, you will need to purchase a testing kit. Pick a filter that has a low flow rate setting since betta fish cannot withstand strong currents in their tank.
By introducing species like Amano shrimp as well as Corydoras catfish, both of which get along well with bettas and guppies, you may aid in maintaining the cleanliness and orderliness of your tank habitat.
To maintain your tank water free of nitrates and ammonia, remember to perform partial water replacements of about 25% once a week.
Bring In A Lot Of Live Plants
You must introduce numerous living plants in order to give the guppy fish a suitable area to unwind and create a more natural atmosphere. The betta fish will lose interest in a particular guppy fish simply by obstructing their line of sight in an aquarium with live plants.
Time-to-time Bettas will also skulk around living plants. They naturally act in this way. In this way, including live plants benefits both your betta fish and your guppies.
You can add a variety of plants to your aquarium with betta fish and guppy fish, including:
- Watersprite
- Amazon Swords
- Coffee Ferns
- Hornworts
- Hornworts
- Guppy weed
These plant varieties will give the betta fish and guppies lots of places to hide.
Tank Volume
Having a tank that is big enough is essential for maintaining good relations with your fish. There will be issues if too many people are crammed into a tiny area, not only from a fighting standpoint but also from a health perspective.
The larger the aquarium, the better when maintaining betta with other fish. You may easily add 4-5 guppies and a betta fish to a 10-gallon (40-liter) tank. You can add extra guppies to your tank if it is bigger. However, as I previously stated, you should only add one betta fish.
One gallon of water per fish is typical for the majority of small species of fish.
Aquarium Setting
Fish have quite a natural hierarchy system, so those who are less dominant need to find lots of places to hide to protect themselves from predators.
Think of it this way: you would quickly start to feel exhausted and depressed if someone spent the entire day running after and yanking out your hair. Your fish is the same way. Once in this condition, fish frequently pass away. The weak are swiftly overtaken by illness, which then spreads to the other fish in the tank.
Your fish will be able to escape any oppressors by hiding spaces in ornaments that contain living plants to offer further cover.
Having betta fish in your tank will make all of the other fish happier because they also enjoy hiding in plants and beneath decorations.
Java Ferns, Java Moss, Watersprite, Guppy Grass, and Amazon Swords are a few examples of appropriate plants.
Feeding Your Betta And Guppies
Guppies, like bettas, are omnivores and eat both plant and animal debris, including algae. Both species like eating freeze-dried delicacies like bloodworms, mosquito larvae, and other species-specific fares.
Select a fish food with high protein content and few fillers. Look at the ingredient list on the container to confirm that. Proteins, such as meat products, should be included first in high-quality guppy food. Except for one, you could also feed your fish once, maybe twice a day. It is crucial to have a fasting day so that your fish can properly digest any food that remains in their digestive system.
This aids in avoiding concerns like bloating, swim bladder problems, and constipation.
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Tips For Feeding Your Mixed Tank
- You can purchase betta food pellets. While offering them a variety of various frozen foods, as demonstrated above, can be good for their health, it is also convenient. Variety is the flavor of life, after all.
- Your guppies will love the vegetable fish pellets you use. They are carnivores, so the betta will not find them appealing.
- Guppies eat their food swiftly, gobbling it up in a flash. Your betta consumes food at a much slower rate, which may prevent it from getting the nutrition it needs to stay healthy.
- On one side of the aquarium, start by feeding the guppies. Probably feed the betta, especially the males on the opposite side once they have finished their meal.
- Squeeze out a small bit of food in front of your betta with a pipet. This can be quite beneficial and guarantees that he is eating enough food.
- You do not want to cause your other fish to go into a feeding frenzy, so keep the amount you provide in the pipet small. This can make your betta flee.
- Resist the urge to feed your fish too much. This will result in a buildup of impurities in the tank, which will bring up its own issues. Health problems will arise fast from using dirty water.
Selecting The Right Guppies
The best course of action is to set up a guppy tank utilizing the above-mentioned principles for bettas. You can start adding your bettas once you have made a comfy space for them. With their desire to mate, male guppies can cause difficulties by stressing out the females. For guppies, two females should be present for every male, according to popular opinion. When it comes down to it, you absolutely want more females than men.
Additionally, compared to their female counterparts, male guppies tend to be more colorful. While these hues can seem attractive in the aquarium, betta fish may become aggressive when exposed to them. Male betta fish, in particular, exhibit this.
Selecting The Right Bettas
In actuality, contrary to popular belief, betta fish do not generally exhibit high levels of aggression. However, some bettas are more aggressive than others. A better description would be semi-aggressive.
By studying aggression from the perspective of betta varieties and genders, this topic can be further developed. This is a crucial factor to take into account for a coexistence tank with guppies. Less aggressive breeds include Halfmoon betta fish and delta betta fish. Begin there.
Additionally, there should, of course, be a cap on the number of bettas housed in the same tank as the guppies. Even the less aggressive betta fish varieties can still encounter problems in this situation, both with other species you may keep in the tank as well as with each other.
Even with just one betta fish, the guppies may still have issues, especially if it results in bullying or fin-biting. Nevertheless, this is seen to be the ideal quantity for a combo tank. Since male bettas tend to be more aggressive than females, the ideal ratio will be 1 female betta to every male and female guppy.
Betta And Guppy Differences And Similarities
It is simple to consider fish to be merely fish. They actually differ greatly, even though there are some obvious similarities.
Similarities
Both have lengthy, patterned fins that frequently flow. The male betta fish, in particular, are the most ornamental. If you maintain male betta alongside guppies, this likeness could be problematic because a vibrant, long-finned male guppy could be mistaken for a betta. The male betta might attack it as a result of this.
Although guppies are typically thought of as being gentle, the males can develop a territorial attitude and become possessive of their ladies. This is one of the arguments against keeping many male guppies together. Contrary to popular belief, the betta does not always attack the guppy first. A guppie may occasionally find those swaying fins to be simply too alluring to refuse and grab a brief nibble. It is unfortunate that this will not turn out well because your betta will probably strike back.
They both live in tropical freshwater. Thus, their needs are comparable. You will need a tank heater since betta fish like water temperatures between 78°F and 80°F, whereas guppies prefer temperatures between 74°F and 82°F. For guppies, the recommended water pH range is 6.8 to 7.5; for bettas, it is 6.8 to 7.6. To find out, use a pH testing kit at home.
Since they both eat from the top, food that falls to the tank’s floor is frequently ignored.
Differences
Guppies are notorious for hopping out of their aquariums and have a tendency to be highly energetic. The majority of betta fish are less active and do not move about as much. The betta can occasionally mistake the guppies’ swift swimming style for aggression, which can lead to an assault.
Bettas demand a diet rich in meat and protein. They avoid consuming veggies. Being omnivores, guppies need both meat and vegetables to keep healthy. If you are curious, yes, guppies can consume better food. Yes, but not solely, is the reply.
Guppies typically have a voracious appetite and quickly consume any food put in the aquarium. When food is available, bettas will continuously graze despite their much slower eating habits. This could be an issue because the guppies would quickly consume all the food, leaving the betta with nothing to eat. Later, more on this.
How Can I Add Guppies And Betta to the Tank the Best Way?
It is very similar to introducing any other fish to an aquarium of guppies when adding betta.
The first thing to do is to be certain that you have a backup tank ready in case the betta needs to be removed. Second, ensure that the temperature is gradually increased since sudden changes in temperature might cause shock and kill your fish.
Make sure you maintain a close eye on the tank’s inhabitants after the betta is added, at a minimum, during the first few weeks straight. Keep an eye out for any indications of stress in the betta fishes and the small guppies. If you notice any signs of stress, remove the betta and quarantine it for a few days to ensure that it remains healthy and stress-free before attempting to reintroduce it.
If the guppies venture a little overly close to the betta occasionally, it may cause a flare-up. However, as long as this does not happen frequently and no harm is done (such as nipped fins, etc.), there is no need to be concerned.
In this situation, keeping an eye on the aquarium is crucial in order to ensure that all of its occupants aren’t just stress-free but also healthy and eating properly. Keep in mind that you should be willing to extract the betta upon the first indication of stress.
What Could Go Wrong If You Introduce Guppies To Betta?
Both fish should get along if the preceding introduction technique has been properly executed. Your Betta could swim near the Guppies when you initially put them in the tank so she can learn more about them. This is usual behavior and should not raise any red flags.
However, you need to use the tank divider right away to separate them if your Betta starts fighting your Guppie. As an alternative, you might take your Guppies out and put them back in their own tank using a fish net.
The optimal time to try reintroducing both fish is after a couple of days. Your Betta might not be able to get along with Guppies if the second try also fails.
Your Betta could also become frightened when new Guppies are put in their aquarium. When that occurs, your Betta might hide in a corner the moment they notice the other fish. Tank owners who observe their Betta not attacking other fish could feel comforted.
The Bettas may be under a lot of stress, though, if they are acting in their own ways out of fear. Fish with ongoing stress live shorter lives and are more susceptible to illness. For this reason, before housing them together, make sure the fish are at ease with each other.
Are Guppies Able To Eat Betta Food?
Guppies can consume betta food. However, they require a diet higher in plant matter than bettas do. Feeding guppies with veggie flakes and pellets initially, then introducing betta food, is advised by knowledgeable fish keepers.
This prevents the guppies from stealing the betta’s food, which can lead to battles, and ensures that both fish species’ nutritional requirements are met. Guppies can consume betta food, but bettas should not consume guppy food. Fortunately, they usually disregard food made primarily of vegetables.
In the end, betta fish and guppies have diets that are similar. However, betta fish are mostly carnivorous and require more protein, whereas guppies are genuine omnivores that require both plants as well as protein matter.
How To Respond If Guppies Are Consuming Your Betta’s Food?
The distinction is that while guppies can consume meat, bettas do not necessarily need to. Therefore, you will need to take action if you discover that the guppies are consuming all of the live food.
You can test out any of the two techniques.
- Try feeding your betta around one end of a tank first, followed by feeding the guppies at the other. Food should be drip-fed into both ends a tiny small amount at a time. You can add everything else when your betta has eaten enough.
- The second point you can try to do is to use a net to separate your guppies from your betta while he is eating.
Are Betta Fish Guppies Eaters?
Though fully grown guppies are typically too big for betta fish to eat, it is crucial to remember that if given the chance, bettas may attack guppy fry (baby guppies). In order to avoid the fry from being eaten, it is crucial to keep the adult fish separate from the fry while keeping guppies and bettas in the same tank.
Additionally, male bettas can be violent toward other fish, particularly guppies, if they feel like their area is being intruded upon. To lessen the likelihood of aggressiveness, it is crucial to give all of the fish in the tank a lot of hiding places and territories.
Whenever introducing tank mates or introducing your betta to a new aquarium, be sure to get to know his disposition. Also, always introduce new fish gradually.
Additionally, you can select a betta fish that is female or a breed that is semi-aggressive, such as the delta or Halfmoon betta.
Where Do Guppies Live In The Tank?
The center and top of the tank are frequent swimming areas for guppies. When your guppies begin to swim into your bettas’ zone, this can occasionally lead to issues. However, after your betta has determined whichever area is his, guppies are less likely to swim there (even when there is food).
Can Guppies Bite Fins?
You should be concerned about more than just your betta attacking guppies when you add them to your tank. You should consider whether they might attack your betta as well. Fish that have had their fins clipped are more likely to develop fin rot, a condition that eats away at the fish’s fins and can be fatal if left untreated. Stress and open wounds are the causes of this.
It is helpful to know that fin rot in bettas can be treated if you are concerned that it has already affected your fish.
This is just another argument in favor of keeping your aquarium all female guppies. Female guppies rarely display aggression or a strong sense of territorial instinct, making it unlikely that they will nip or engage in physical conflict.
What Illnesses Affect Bettas And Guppies?
Although some diseases can affect both, bettas and guppies are often in quite good health. Long, wavy tails are a feature of both species. Guppies and bettas have attractive plumage, which is one of their most endearing characteristics, but it can also put them at risk for fungus diseases.
Ich
Both bettas and guppies can get the illness Ich, which typically appears during stressful times.
Because of this, the disease is quite prevalent in recently purchased fish and fish that are added to an existing population. The immune system of the fish is weakened by stress, making it more susceptible to the Ich parasite’s attack.
Due to the distinctive microscopic white dots that cover the fins, tails, and bodies of affected fish, ich is more widely known as “white spot sickness.” Affected fish may also flick or rub their spines on the bottom of the unit, plants, or ornaments to ease the itch brought on by the condition.
Ichthyophthiriasis multifiliis is a protozoan parasite that causes sickness. Fortunately, treating ich is simple and only requires adding a proper soluble medication to your tank. All reputable pet and aquarium shops sell ich treatments. Ich typically goes away within one week or so with the right care.
Fin Rot
Fin rot is a disease that frequently affects bettas and guppies. You may have noticed that it looks like the tail of your fish has been torn. But unless you have seen your fish biting one another, it is most likely that they have fin rot.
Some gram-negative bacteria, including Aeromonas, Vibrio, and pseudomonas fluorescent, are the culprits behind fin rot. All of these critters damage the fish’s fin membranes, causing the membranes to tear and rip. Animals that have been affected are, therefore, vulnerable to subsequent fungal infections.
The conditions in which fish live are the main cause of fin rot. Bacterial overgrowth is more prevalent in environments with very poor water quality. Water quality issues might be exacerbated by overfeeding your fish.
Additionally, crowded conditions can lead to stress, which raises the risk of illness. Stress is brought on by tank battles and aggressive tankmates. This may weaken the fish’s defenses, leaving them more vulnerable to illnesses like fin rot.
Fin rot can be treated with medicine, but the best way to protect it from damaging your pet is to minimize an unhealthy aquarium, ensure that the water is of a high standard, and make sure that each fish has plenty of room to swim around.
FAQ
What Kind Of Fish Cannot Survive With Bettas?
Make sure to avoid keeping fish with long, flowing tails in your tank in addition to those with flashy colors. Guppies are a perfect illustration of this. Bettas are quite likely to attack guppies due to both their brilliant colors and their tails. (Discover the appropriate times to keep guppies and bettas together.)
What Causes My Male Betta To Bubble The Water’s Surface Constantly?
Only male betas use their saliva to form what is known as a bubble nest. The bubble nest’s function is to provide shelter and a place for the incubation of their eggs. Whether or not a female is present, males frequently build bubble nests. Additionally, this behavior indicates steadiness and excellent health.
What If My Guppies Start Being Chased By The Betta?
Chasing is an indication of hostility. Typically, this takes place when the guppies go a bit too close to the betta, invading its territory. Most of the time, this is just Betta’s reaction and is not cause for concern. That being said, it is recommended to remove your betta if it is actively chasing and acting aggressively.
Are Bettas Lonely Sometimes?
Do They Become Alone? Because they are territorial by nature, betta fish should not be kept together because they will fight, hurt each other, and frequently die as a result. They will not feel lonely in their tank, but if it is a little tank, they can get bored.
Conclusion
It is safe and possible to keep Bettas and Guppies in the same tank, but careful preparation and observation are needed. Betta fish are notoriously violent, and while females are often less aggressive than males, they can still act out and cause problems in communal tanks.
Bettas are considered to be territorial fish, and even while females are far less hostile than males, they still have a tendency to act out and cause problems in communal tanks. If you keep Bettas and Guppies together, you are committing to making sure that everyone in the tank is secure and comfortable. Take all necessary measures to keep your fish healthy and happy because a high-stress environment might result in illness and damage.