Siamese fighting fish, or betta fish, are highly territorial and do best when kept alone in a tank. Challenge yourself and keep multiple bettas in a large tank with hiding places and visual barriers, but this setup is not recommended for most hobbyists. How Many Bettas Should You Keep Together?
For the best results, it is best to keep bettas in separate tanks or with other peaceful fish species. Maintaining a single betta in a suitable tank can provide for a happy, healthy, and active pet. Betta fish are lively and enjoy swimming. Advocate using a tank with a minimum size of 5 to 10 gallons. Your Betta can swim freely in a tank this size.
Learn on the next pages how many betta fish to house in an aquarium and the requirements and other species necessary to create a peaceful environment.
Can Betta Fish Live Together?
Together, can betta fish coexist? Simple: No is the response. Note that while keeping multiple bettas in one tank is possible, it may be difficult and is better left to highly skilled fishkeepers. If you want to keep male betta fish together in the same tank, there are a few things you need to know, and you shouldn’t count on it working most of the time.
There are several alternatives to keeping multiple betta fish together in one tank. The most popular approach is to buy a customized betta tank with many divided sections and frosted glass sides, which keeps the bettas apart from one another.
What Happens If You Put A Male And Female Betta Together?
Since female bettas are less aggressive and possessive than males, breeding male and female bettas are more likely to succeed. When they are very young or when they are reproducing is the ideal time to group male and female bettas.
Young betta fish are more likely to get along without getting into arguments, and if handled properly, they may survive this way for a very long time. You should consider this when introducing betta fish to one another since at roughly six months of age. They start to exhibit their adult coloring and aggressive temperament.
Betta fish that are breeding are less prone to fight since their only goal is to procreate. Select a male-female betta couple and house them together in a tank filled with plants to provide their hiding places during reproduction.
Expect various events to unfold when combining a male and female betta fish.
- The two fish could find love and live harmoniously together in the same aquarium.
- The male betta can turn hostile and assault the female.
- The female fish can turn hostile and kill the male.
- The fish may just choose to ignore one another.
- Recognize that your betta fish is upset by observing them flare their gills and fins, a protective posture that makes them appear larger and more intimidating.
- If you’re unclear about how well your bettas will get along, it’s better to keep them separate.
You must keep your bettas isolated and out of sight from one another because many betta owners use mirrors as a tool for exercising because even simply looking in the mirror might induce a reaction.
How To Put A Male And Female Betta Together?
There are a few steps you may take to improve your chance of success if you choose to pair a male and female betta:
Don’t just throw all the fish into the same tank; introduce them gradually. Place the female first, then the male, on opposite sides of the tank. To allow them to see one another and have some time to become acquainted with one another, you may use a see-through tank divider.
If the fish seem to be getting along, begin carefully pushing them toward one another until they are swimming side by side. Separate the fish and try again later if either starts acting aggressively (flaring fins, chasing, etc.).
Keep in mind that getting the male and female betta fish to coexist happily may need several tries, so be persistent and keep experimenting until you discover a strategy that works for your tank.
Another approach is to bring the tanks together while yet keeping both bettas in separate tanks. They will see each other, and you will be able to gauge how they feel about one another. Therefore, this will have the same result.
A male betta fish may start to construct a bubble nest when he can see a female. This indicates that he’s ready to mate and will make him less likely to assault the female betta after you bring her to the tank.
How Long To Leave Female Betta With Male?
You’ll need to determine how long to leave the female betta with the male if you’re pairing a male and female betta together for breeding.
Relocate the female to another tank when she loses interest in mating, as betta fish can mate multiple times, and the mating process can take some time.
Indicate that the female is no longer interested in mating by observing the following signs:
- When the male approaches, the female stops reacting.
- Males and females swim away from one another.
- The male begins ferociously protecting the bubble nest.
- It’s time to get rid of the female betta first from the aquarium if you see any of these symptoms.
- Remove the female betta as soon as possible after mating to prevent her from eating the eggs or newly hatched fry and to minimize male aggression. The male may become aggressive towards the female if she approaches the nest, thus it is important to protect it.
Ensure a backup plan to prevent the need to remove the female betta from the tank if the mating process does not go as planned. Keep the female in another tank or container with water and food until ready for reintroduction.
Can Female Betta Fish Live Together?
Female betta fish may coexist, but a well-designed aquarium is necessary for it to work. Keep a betta sorority or harem by grouping female betta fish. There are a few things to think about, even though keeping many bettas in a female sorority might be entertaining.
You must have a tank that is big enough. Betta fish are territorial and require a lot of room to swim and hide.
The fish should have plenty of places to hide in the tank, which should be lushly planted.
If done properly, a betta sorority may be a lucrative and enjoyable method to retain female bettas. The fish can stress and starts fighting if not done properly. It’s crucial to progressively expose the fish to one another over many days.
Always start small, with only one female betta, then gradually introduce more fish. This will assist in preventing any potential issues.
As an alternative, you may try pairing up female betta fish when they are still very young before they become hostile. Young betta fish learn to unwind and feel less scared as they mature together.
If you want to help your female bettas to live happily, give them lots of room and keep male betta fish out of the fish tank. Aggression mostly happens over territory and when there is a male to fight over.
Betta sororities may be difficult to maintain and require regular supervision. Seasoned fishkeepers who are equipped to handle challenging situations should house many female betta fish together in a habitat.
Can Betta Fish Live With Other Fish?
Betta fish can coexist in a tank with other fish. There are a few things to think about before you start stocking your aquarium with fish.
Although theoretically possible, keeping bettas with other fish is frequently not a good idea. Bettas are extremely territorial, so if they see another fish as a danger, they may fight or even kill it. Additionally, when maintained in tiny tanks, they can become considerably more aggressive. So, you’ll need an aquarium with an adequate area for all of the fish.
It is frequently sufficient to establish borders and provide all fish with a place to hide when an encounter is likely by adding decorations that may serve as caves and lots of living plants.
| Image | Plants for aquarium | Link |
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Java Moss |  |
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Amazon Sword | |
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Hornwort | |
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Java Fern | |
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Anubias Petite | |
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Ludwigia Repens | |
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Anacharis | |
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Brazilian Pennywort | |
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Christmas Moss | |
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Cryptocoryne Wendtii | |
Choose your tankmates wisely if you intend to maintain bettas alongside other fish. Avoid species with vivid colors or long fins since bettas are more inclined to attack these varieties of fish. Instead, select fish with short fins and muted colors. These fish are more likely to coexist happily and pose less of a hazard to your betta.
Additionally, you should refrain from putting any other aggressive fish in the tank because doing so would just enhance the likelihood of a fight starting.
What Fish Can Live With Bettas?
When selecting appropriate tank mates for a betta fish in a community fish tank, you will need to do some study. Ensure successful outcomes by selecting suitable tank mates, as improper choices may result in disaster.
What other fish may coexist with male bettas? The list includes fish that get along with bettas is provided below. A small sample of the many species suitable for a betta aquarium is provided.
- Catfish Cory
- Almost all Pleco species
- bigger groupings of Harlequin Rasboras
- Japanese Loaches
- Small gouramis
- Larger Tetras groupings
- groups of Endler’s Livebearers
- Many Platies
- Shrimp include ghost shrimp (Small shrimp may be eaten)
All of these fish are calm by nature and can contend with a betta’s hostility. They all tend to stay at various levels of the tank, so the betta won’t have to fight with them for the best swimming space. It’s crucial to always do your homework before putting any new fish in your tank, of course.
Many more peaceful species are compatible with betta fish in terms of water temperature and pH levels. Therefore when selecting tank mates for your betta fish, be sure to do the same.
What Fish Shouldn’t Live With Bettas?
Due to their similar temperaments and desire to be the dominant fish in the tank. Some fish will not make ideal tank mates for betta fish. Some fish are adept at encroaching on the territory of other species, which will only invite conflict.
Which fish should thus not be kept with bettas? Here is a list of the most problematic ones.
- African Cichlids, other male bettas, and most shark species
- Giant gouramis, large angelfish, and pacu
- These fish will almost certainly develop aggressive and territorial behavior when kept alongside bettas. These are in conflicts and stressed-out fish.
- Furthermore, if you only want a small community tank, many of these fish may not be compatible with huge tanks.
Picking suitable tankmates can prevent your betta from living a stressful existence. Stress in betta fish can result in stress stripes appearing and stress is a primary cause of sickness in betta fish.
There are a lot more fish that are incompatible than the ones I’ve included. Additionally, you’ll discover that certain variations of the same species are more tranquil than others. While many Cichlids are loud and aggressive, some Cichlids are calm.
Before buying any fish, you may do some research online or ask a pet store about the compatibility of the fish.
How To Add Several Bettas To A Single Fish Tank?
You must introduce bettas one at a time if you decide to raise many of them at once. This is true since every person has a distinct personality. For example, one betta could get along with you while the other does not. Therefore, rather than adding them all at once, you must do them one at a time.
There isn’t a predetermined method for this, though. Try it out and see how each fish interacts with the other fish in the tank to choose the best action. As quickly as possible, get rid of any signs of bad conduct till things calm down.
It can also be a good idea to buy bettas from the store that have been raised together. There is less possibility that they will fight if they are already at ease with one another.
If you have an additional tank, get a few bettas and split the tank so that each fish has its own area. After a week or two, take the divider out and watch the fish’s behavior. If they proceed in this manner, they are more likely to get along.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Male Betta Fish Kill Females?
During the mating season, male betta fish may become hostile and may even kill the female if she is not taken away after spawning. Male betta fish may attack or kill any fish that repeatedly approaches the nest because they are ferociously protective of the eggs and freshly hatched fry.
Can Bettas Live With Goldfish?
Even though goldfish are much larger than betta fish, they are fairly calm animals and will not actively seek out conflict. Betta fish may coexist alongside goldfish, although it is not recommended because they require distinct pH and water temperature ranges. Betta fish will grow out of goldfish fairly soon as well.
Can Male And Female Baby Betta Fish Live Together?
Male and female baby bettas can coexist in the same home until they are around 6 months old when they reach sexual maturity. A betta’s territorial nature will start to emerge around 6 months, and battles may break out.
A Betta Sorority Tank: What Is It?
To prevent fighting amongst the female bettas. The tank must be at least 20 gallons in size, thickly planted, and home to about six of them.
Conclusion
One male Betta fish per tank is the standard rule. When there are many male betta fish, turmoil is inevitable. Can it be done? Yes, it is, but there is little chance of success, and it will take a lot of effort on your part.
If you are willing to make an effort, success might be yours, and building a tranquil betta tank can be quite satisfying.
If you are successful in maintaining many bettas in a tank or keep your betta in a communal tank, you need to take extra care to clean the tank often to prevent ammonia spikes and jarring changes in the pH level of the water. Stress brought on by significant chemical changes might bring out the aggressive side of your betta. Your priority should always be betta water quality.
If you want additional bettas in the same tank, starting a female sorority is an excellent idea. Although there may occasionally be a need for a dominating female, female bettas are often far less aggressive. When considering tank size and space requirements for betta harems. The same principles must be followed because they are not always effective.
With a suitable breeding couple, breeding betta fish is an exception and is usually safe. You will need to remove them once mating has taken place. The nest is fiercely guarded by the males, who prevent any fish—including the mother—from accessing the eggs.
I hope this post has clarified any issues you had. I wish you success if you decide to keep more than one betta fish in the same tank!