X3FiiSHLUVA

Thanks for you help. Tell me how your new betta gets along!

i think i will just have my friend get a new tank for her newly arriving fish.

aar4545

There has actualy ben a studdy on betta behavior. like once a scientist got 2 male bettas and put them in al large lake an the bettas proceeded to the center of the lake an began to fight.
so i guess the moral of thiis is that in the betta world it may not be about territory like wolfs,dogs and lions but just a matter of dominance were one fish is dominant over all the rest

ps. actualy its a matter of dominance
with lions, wolfs and dogs....
oh and check out bettatalk that sight has
tons of betta info

I hope that helps!

X3FiiSHLUVA

Thanks. I'll keep that in mind!

Tommy Gun

You should never keep two betta fish (males) in a tank together, ever, ever, ever. This would be like the illegal cockfights or bulldog fights that you can see on those ASPCA shows on animal planet. Just not a decent sport to get yourself involved in.

Betta fish can also suffer from 'culture shock' if they are kept in overstocked tanks AND tanks that are really big (ok, relatively big anyways) and are kept alone. They are kept in those really small containers at stores because they typically can be found in small "puddles" and have adapted themselves to have the ability to live in oxygen deprived water.

As far as being community fish, IMO the only community they one could be sure that a betta fish will do well in is if it is kept with a few (three to four) females. It is hard to find females for sale because they lack the big fins and colorations, but a good LFS can get you some. You have to be very carefull when keeping them with fish that are prone to 'nipping' or otherwise are aggressive since a betta can and will fight back.

Loman, as a side note, your CAE may bring out the worst in a betta fish and from what I know about them, could become too big and aggressive for your 20 gallon tank. Just wondering if you were/are aware of that.

Loman

Tommy,
I have read some things recently about the CAE that surprise me. I have had them on several occasions in the past with no issue. I need to do a bit more research on them.

Switching back to Beta's I would recommend continued research at a place like beta talk. I was never interested in breeding so I did not pursue the females but I was under the impression that at times (especially after mating) the male and female would also fight. I am sure that there is a large enough body of water somewhere that two Beta can coexist without encountering each other (I think it logically has to occur in the wild) That said I do not think any aquarium would be sufficiently large to hold two of them. I suspect there is some controversy about this but if you hold up a mirror to the tank the Beta will inflate etc. to show off and scare away the intruder (which also inflates in the mirror). I was told that was good for them to do every so often but I am not sure. Again I would suggest looking at some detailed information about them. I am going to do a bit more research myself but from what I was looking at the real problem for a Beta in a community tank is to protect the Beta from fish that nip the fins.

__________________
Loman

24 Gallon Salt Aquapod
20 Gallon Freshwater
Various QT tanks
2 x 75 Gallon Reefs in planning stage

Tommy Gun

Loman,

I fell into the same trap once when I was looking for a better algea eater than a pleco. That is why I brought it up. It is a good example of the question in this thread...sometimes people will tell you one thing, and it will hold true for a little while, but not forever. Like keeping a betta in a community tank.

fernival brainard

I think that a Betta is a nice addition to any FW tank...they do just fine as long as no other Bettas are involved.

Loman

I have done a fair amount of reading to supplement and update my experience with both Beta's and the Chinese Algae Eaters. There appears to be opinions across the spectrum on both but I think one can also see a general opinion in many of the writings that is roughly the same.

The Chinese algae eater is supposed to grow quickly and become increasingly territorial as it ages. It is prone to fight with fish of the same species and also slow flat fish (not sure what a good example of this is). Most people think they are okay as juveniles but become unruly and a problem at maturity. I have had several of them often a couple at a time in a community tank and never noticed the growth or territorial issues described. I am not sure what to make of all of this.

With regard to Beta's in community tanks most of the write ups are that the Beta is an extremely peaceful slow fish. The major problem is other fish picking on the Beta and damaging the long flowing fins. You can never keep two males together. It was very mixed about multiple females and/or mixed with the male. Caution certainly seemed to be the operative word in these situations. This is in line with my personal experience

__________________
Loman

24 Gallon Salt Aquapod
20 Gallon Freshwater
Various QT tanks
2 x 75 Gallon Reefs in planning stage

Loman

X3FiiSHLUVA, (and others)
I picked up a crown tail beta the other evening. My daughter picked it out. It has been in my community tank with very peaceful fish for a couple of days now and everyone seems to be doing fine. I will be updating the signature soon but the Beta seems well behaved and passive toward all of the other fish. If you hold up a morrow to the tank he will enlarge the gills etc. and flare up. I want to read some more about that practice. I was told along time ago it was good for them to do every so often but I would like to be a bit more re-assured of that before I do it much.

__________________
Loman

24 Gallon Salt Aquapod
20 Gallon Freshwater
Various QT tanks
2 x 75 Gallon Reefs in planning stage

fernival brainard

I don't know how fast or how slow they are but my local fish store has fresh water flounders...they don't get much flatter than a flounder...unless its pancakes