Male Betta

hayer · 09-27-2009, 07:02 PM

I have a 55 gallon tank with 8 zebra/pearl danios, 2 platies, 1 female guppy,3 boesmani rainbows, a florida flag fish, 2 cory cats, and 1 female swordtail.
I also have a vase with a betta I got today! His name is Gillagin and he is a doubletail betta.
Could I put him in the 55 gallon?
Just curious! Thanks!

Frogki · 09-27-2009, 07:35 PM

Well firstly, I'de say that I wouldn't suggest it as the fancy tailed guppies are similar to the bettas and might very well be killed... And, another thing, make sure the tankaren't next to the vase as the bettas will get so energized and keep fighting, stressing themselves out so that they will die...

MissFishy · 09-27-2009, 08:26 PM

Bettas don't tend to do well in large community settings (although there have been exceptions), the largest I recommend for a betta is a 20 gallon, otherwise the tanks are too deep and too large for the betta to be able to breath and get food.

no.1chuy · 09-28-2009, 01:45 AM

i agree with missfishy all ive ever heard is that bettas wont feel safe and secure in larger tanks and will just hide toward the bottom but thats just what i read cuz i have never had a betta

hippiefish22 · 10-03-2009, 01:05 PM

I agree with what yall are saying, because I had a betta in a 44 gal. All he did was stay inside my cave at the bottom. Also a betta will readily kill a guppy.

vampirefish · 10-03-2009, 04:32 PM

bettas are sometimes ok with female guppies though, as long as they're not bright or fancy-tailed. some people do get unlucky with them though-it's mostly down to chance if you decide to mix them

beckyd · 10-05-2009, 11:10 AM

I say no. I have repeatedly tried female bettas in my community tank. They always died and they are much stronger swimmers because of their short fins. I would never try my fancy male in there, besides he would make short work of my guppies and cardinal tetras. My male is in a 10g with an undergravel filter. That's a bit bigger than he needs. I would recommend you get a nice little 5g, put in an underground filter as they are gentle and keep the tank on the low current side. This keeps him happy and you from getting lazy because you are tired of changing the water in that vase every day.

sheamurai · 10-06-2009, 09:34 PM

I also read just a minute ago in another thread that Rainbows get pretty aggressive and killed a betta in a community tank, then went on to bully other fish as well. So with them in there I wouldn't recommend it either.
I personally DO have a betta in my 77gal community, and, far from hiding, he actually plays in the bubbles from the bubble decoration I have. There are no other fish in there that would give him any problems tho. Whether or not bettas are happy in a community tank certainly depends on the individual fish and what other species are in it.
Have a Plan B if you decide to add him to the community tank - keep that vase handy (or even better, the nice little 6gal that was previously mentioned) in case it doesn't work out!

Mixicano · 10-06-2009, 10:27 PM

i agree with sheamuri, go for it, but do it on a day that you don't have anythng else to do so you can closly monitor him, each fish has his own personalty... but his long fins WILL make it hard to swim in fast moving water, making him vulnerable. good luck.

09-27-2009, 07:02 PM	#1
hayer Little Fish Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 161	Male Betta I have a 55 gallon tank with 8 zebra/pearl danios, 2 platies, 1 female guppy,3 boesmani rainbows, a florida flag fish, 2 cory cats, and 1 female swordtail. I also have a vase with a betta I got today! His name is Gillagin and he is a doubletail betta. Could I put him in the 55 gallon? Just curious! Thanks!

09-27-2009, 07:35 PM	#2
Frogki Little Fish Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: NONE OF YOUR DARN BUSINESS!!! XD Posts: 131	Well firstly, I'de say that I wouldn't suggest it as the fancy tailed guppies are similar to the bettas and might very well be killed... And, another thing, make sure the tankaren't next to the vase as the bettas will get so energized and keep fighting, stressing themselves out so that they will die... __________________ Tank:30 gallon Status: Tank had algea infesttation, nothing would clear it up, fixed problem, trying to set up as salt water with clean up crew just precaution Tank: 70 gallon Status: 1 sailfin mollie, other died of stress, 6 tiger barbs, still one cori plan on buying more cories as soon as possiblel... Please help me out, I haven't done so well, but I fixed a lot of stuff and my fish are doing well, just need to get a backround on soon...

09-27-2009, 08:26 PM	#3
MissFishy Super Fish Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,237	Bettas don't tend to do well in large community settings (although there have been exceptions), the largest I recommend for a betta is a 20 gallon, otherwise the tanks are too deep and too large for the betta to be able to breath and get food. __________________ http://missfishy.tripod.com/ The Basic Guide to Cycling a Tank, Sick Fish and more! Updated 10/13/09 with a new layout!

09-28-2009, 01:45 AM	#4
no.1chuy Little Fish Join Date: May 2009 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 254	i agree with missfishy all ive ever heard is that bettas wont feel safe and secure in larger tanks and will just hide toward the bottom but thats just what i read cuz i have never had a betta __________________ 35 Gallon community tank 20 Gallon community tank 50 gallon chiclid tank 115 Gallon emty need stand, heater, light, and fish

10-03-2009, 01:05 PM	#5
hippiefish22 Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: San Angelo, TX Posts: 57	I agree with what yall are saying, because I had a betta in a 44 gal. All he did was stay inside my cave at the bottom. Also a betta will readily kill a guppy. __________________ 44 Gallon 3 Australian Rainbow Fish 1 Bala Shark 2 Tiger Barbs 2 Albino Tiger Barbs 2 Green Tiger Barbs 1 Julii Cory 1 Panda Cory 1 Kuhli Loach 1 Raphael Catfish 1 Chocolate Albino Pleco 10 Gallon Electric Blue Ahli Cichlid Ivory Mystery Snail 2.5 Gallon Empty [/COLOR]

10-03-2009, 04:32 PM	#6
vampirefish Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: York, UK Posts: 61	bettas are sometimes ok with female guppies though, as long as they're not bright or fancy-tailed. some people do get unlucky with them though-it's mostly down to chance if you decide to mix them __________________ 5g tank-5 platy fry 15g community-4 black neon tetras (Joshua, (RIP Faris), Tomethy, Spider Webb & Coffin Joe) 1 pygmy corydora (Pygmy) 1 female guppy 4 rummy nose tetras (Archer, Desperado, Mojito & Smirnoff) 1 betta

10-05-2009, 11:10 AM	#7
beckyd Medium Fish Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 357	I say no. I have repeatedly tried female bettas in my community tank. They always died and they are much stronger swimmers because of their short fins. I would never try my fancy male in there, besides he would make short work of my guppies and cardinal tetras. My male is in a 10g with an undergravel filter. That's a bit bigger than he needs. I would recommend you get a nice little 5g, put in an underground filter as they are gentle and keep the tank on the low current side. This keeps him happy and you from getting lazy because you are tired of changing the water in that vase every day. __________________ Save money. Earn money. Buy more fish! www.365days-in-the-black.com 75g Community tank: lyretail balloon belly mollies, black moscow guppies, red hifin lyretail swords, 10 cardinal tetras, cory cats 29g :2 fantail goldfish 55g :angels, 55g :turtle tank,ghost shrimp, 1 pleco, 2 tadpoles (until they grow legs)10g :female bettas, 1 ADF 5g: king betta, 2g: VT betta

10-06-2009, 09:34 PM	#8
sheamurai Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 39	I also read just a minute ago in another thread that Rainbows get pretty aggressive and killed a betta in a community tank, then went on to bully other fish as well. So with them in there I wouldn't recommend it either. I personally DO have a betta in my 77gal community, and, far from hiding, he actually plays in the bubbles from the bubble decoration I have. There are no other fish in there that would give him any problems tho. Whether or not bettas are happy in a community tank certainly depends on the individual fish and what other species are in it. Have a Plan B if you decide to add him to the community tank - keep that vase handy (or even better, the nice little 6gal that was previously mentioned) in case it doesn't work out! __________________

10-06-2009, 10:27 PM	#9
Mixicano Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Milwaukee Posts: 23	i agree with sheamuri, go for it, but do it on a day that you don't have anythng else to do so you can closly monitor him, each fish has his own personalty... but his long fins WILL make it hard to swim in fast moving water, making him vulnerable. good luck. __________________ 55 lng- 1 blk bristlenose pleco, 1 African Butterfly 2 clown loach, 3 turquoise rainbows, 3 madagascar rainbows. 3 Australian rainbows 3 Neon Rainbows 3 Boesemani Rainbows and George, my wife's FB newt (heavily planted)