What fish go well with betas?

[JulieVamp]

Hi, I recieved a beta fish about a month ago, I've gotten it a larger tank and now I'm interested in getting it a friend or two. Does anyone know what fish enteract well with betas? And how many fish would you put in a 2.5 gallon tank? Will it be big enough for 2 fish to live comfortably? Thanks!

[emroul]

Hi there,

Betta fish MUST be housed alone, as they are well-known "cannibals". If you put in another betta (or any other type of fish), it will most likely get eaten. I would strongly recommend against getting your betta a friend, he doesn't want one. You could always get another fish tank and house other fish in that one. Most of the time, many other species of fish are fine together (goldfish, maybe tetras, minnows, cichlids, etc)..

Jennifer

My step daughter got a gold fish and put it in a seperate bowl, next to her Betta so it could have a friend.. the Betta just wanted to fight it through the glass LOL. I agree with emroul, they kill other fish.. thats why the pets stores always have them by themselves in those small containers... I always feel so sorry for them...they're so beautiful.

Good to see you emroul .

[crazy4chis]

I remember when I was about 10 or 12 years old (20 now) my parents let us get some fish, we picked out a beta and goldfish and the people at the pet store put them in the same bag together, as you can see, the people at the pet store didn't know the history of betas. The beta was taking chunks out of the goldfish. It was really sad. I felt so sorry for the goldfish. We went back to the guy who gave us the fish and decided to put the goldfish back and just get the beta because he was pretty, although ruthless. Makes you wonder how betas even mate though, if they are cannibals?

When bettas are breeding, the female has to have a defensible area. Something with only a small opening on one side so she can defend it against unwanted visits from the male. You can actually put one male betta in a community tank with other fish as long as there are enough others to "keep him in line." It needs to be a pretty big tank, though. Not less than a 10 gallon. I worked in a pet shop for over 5 years and we used to keep the bettas in community tanks that way. Btw, the rule of thumb for number of fish per tank is one inch of fish per gallon.

Originally Posted by JulieVamp

Hi, I recieved a beta fish about a month ago, I've gotten it a larger tank and now I'm interested in getting it a friend or two. Does anyone know what fish enteract well with betas? And how many fish would you put in a 2.5 gallon tank? Will it be big enough for 2 fish to live comfortably? Thanks!

Well i have bettas too but i'm a breader and the only bettas that i mix together is a female and a male but i have seen i the pet stores that they have bettas in the same tanks as a the salt water fish.
Good Luck

riverliz

I have other reptiles at home but I always wanted an Iguana.
I just have one problem! I dont know how to take care of them.
Can anyone help me out?

I really need help on how to take care of an Iguana!

Hey!!.. I have an Iguana!

Iguana's need to have warm environments, they need reptile lights(no hot rocks!) on them for at least 12 hours a day. They also need direct sunlight daily(outside).. thats where they get a major source of their calcium... I have a few pics posted on here somewhere of mine. He's about 4 years old and was rescued a few years ago....someone found him running loose in a parking lot and turned him into the wildlife refuge center. He's permanently crippled..... his lower spine is crooked... probably due to not having the proper diet/calcium and care prior... and he can't move around and climb like normal Iguana's. You have to be very careful of their tails when they get older... they will swat you with it for defense and it hurts!. Some will also bite.
Iguana's are vegetarians.. and they can have fruit and other healthy foods as treats. They do need calcium and vitamin supplements, I put it in his food. They should be misted with water at least once a day.. more when they are shedding their skin. I put mine in the bathtub or put a large bowl of water out when he's in his outside cage, at least once a day... plus I mist him with water once in awhile. They need to be able to climb and hide... Iguana's like high places, branches are good. Because mine cant climb, I have little animal hammocks and stuff to make it easier for him to get around. They can carry salmanella (sp?) so its very important to keep them and their environment very clean... also you MUST wash your hands after handling them. They also get mites and parasites. My daughters Iguana prolapsed twice and the surgeries were very expensive... hers also fell out of a tree and broke its leg.. the poor little guy has really gone through alot, its also about 4 yrs old.. no relation to mine. Like any pet, Iguana's need to go to the vet for check ups and when they're sick.
They are the greatest!!... very loving, sweet and smart guys. I take mine to petsmart and out for car rides.. he loves it and just hangs around on my shirt LOL. They can get up to 6 feet long so be prepared if you get one... MANY people get them and when it gets too big, they get rid of it. You'll need to have a large enough cage/room to accomodate them when they get older.

We went and bought the book "Iguana's for dummy's" when we got our first one... its a wonderful book and will tell you everything you need to know... plus I have a few other books on them also and have learned alot from my vet.... Learn all about their diet.. what they can and CANT eat.. its very important. It sounds like alot.. and basically is.. but once you get the knowledge and routine down, its a piece of cake.

Good luck if you decide to get one... they are awesome critters and make wonderful pets!.

Originally Posted by JulieVamp

Hi, I recieved a beta fish about a month ago, I've gotten it a larger tank and now I'm interested in getting it a friend or two. Does anyone know what fish enteract well with betas? And how many fish would you put in a 2.5 gallon tank? Will it be big enough for 2 fish to live comfortably? Thanks!

Hello.....
I agree with emroul... betas aren't very social fish they are known as fighting fish....... but if you do want another fish the get a divider for your tank and put them on seperate sides and I think they have ones that you cant see through so that way the beta doesn't keep trying to maul the another fish.... and I sugges dont get one with a reflection because my friend got one like that and the beta kept trying fo fight it self!!! LOL

I have a betta in my 10 gal thank with my red tail shark and marble angel fish with no problems. He likes to stay inbetween the fake plants usually only coming out when i feed them. Iv had them for at least 6 or 7 months now he used to get into fights with the redtail shark but all they really did was chase each other theve all gotten used to liveing with each other now. Iv also added in 2 baby red eared turtles and a basking ledge now the beta likes to stay under there. I know the turtles are supposed to eat fish but they havent bothered with the fish and iv had them in there for about a month already. Just just like to piss off the snail everyone and a while put they leave him alone there just curius little guys.

[jubjubair]

Betta
Can two or more female betta live together?

Yes. Again, a heavily-planted tank helps. Also, females from the same spawn that haven't been separated tend to get along better. When put in a tank together, females will establish a pecking order, similar to a pack of wolves or dogs. After initial skirmishes to determine that hierarchy, things should settle down
A betta should be kept in no less than a 1 gallon container. Many breeders use Beanie Babie containers or quart mason jars, but these fish also get water changes multiple times a week. The larger the container, the less water changes you have to do, and the happier your betta is.
When you get up into the larger tank sizes, like 10 gallons and up, water changes are greatly reduced. Ten gallons also allow for the addition of more fish, if you desire. A community tank (multiple fish) should be no smaller than a 10 gallon. Most freshwater fish (besides guppies and teeny mosquito fish) require a minimum size of 10 gallons. In 10 gallons, the tank can cycle (bacteria grows that will turn ammonia to nitrite, nitrite to nitrate, and nitrite is plant food!) and you can have several fish (depending on the species you prefer), or even several bettas if you desire.
Bettas are tropical fish, and therefore do best in a water temperature between 78 and 82 degrees. Bettas are very sturdy and can handle water several degrees above or below these temperatures, but it is best to have them at a stable temperature. Using a heater in your tank will help keep the temperature stable. Aeration is not required. Since bettas are anabantoids, or air breathers, they rise to the surface to gulp air. However, if you wish to keep other fish in with the betta, aeration is needed. Aeration does not actually provide oxygen, it agitates the surface of the water to increase the waters oxygen level. If you have a well planted tank and a low fish load, aeration is not needed due to the plants providing oxygen. But for begginners, and for those who don't want to risk fish suffocation, aeration can still be used.
Water Requirements

Bettas need clean, safe water to live in. There is a myth perpetuated by irresponsible pet stores that bettas live their entire lives in squalid mud holes. In reality, bettas live in thousands of gallons of waters in the rice feilds and swampy areas of Asia. During the dry season, sometimes bettas are forced to live in small amounts of water, but that is for short periods of times. Bettas, like any fish, do well in large amounts of clean, fresh water.
Make sure that your water is free of chlorine, chloramines, and heavy metals. Sometimes well water can be used without any treatment, but most water, and all city water, needs a water conditioner to make it safe for fish. If you are unsure about if your water from the tap is safe or not, either call your city water company and ask about what chemicals are in the water, or have your water tested at your local pet store. If your water needs conditioning, there are several good products out there to use. Novaqua and Amquel are popular, and can be found in most pet stores. Aquasafe is a cheaper conditioner, but I love it. It removes chloraine, chloramine, and heavy metals, and is cheaper than other conditioners. Depending on the toxicity (to fish!) of your water, you may need to use a more expensive conditioner. Again, consult your local pet store as to which conditioner would be best for your fish.

[jubjubair]

Water changes are very important to water quality. Your bettas water should never be anything but clear and free of debris. While your betta can live a suprisingly long time is yellow, filthy water, its cruel to force it to do so. The way to have clean, clear water for your betta is to do water changes when needed. A one gallon container needs either a 100% water change one time a week, or else 50% water changes two times a week. The larger the container, the less water changes you need. Therefore, a two gallon can have a 50% water change one time a week, and a five gallon can have a 50% water change every other week.
In five gallon tanks and up, you can have the tank cycle, which will eventually cut down on the amount of water changes you need to do. Cycling, in short, is where bacteria grows that changes toxic chemicals into less toxic chemicals, which are then sometimes used as food by live plants. These chemicals are also drawn out by at least monthly gravel vacuums and water changes. To learn more about cycling, click HERE . Eventually, a cycled 10 gallon tank will need only a monthly gravel vacuum and to have evaporated water added weekly.
Plants:

Plants are a welcome addition to any tank. Plants provide hiding spaces for shy or harrassed fish, resting spots (bettas love to relax on broad plant leaves), help oxygenate the water, help remove dangerous toxins, and give the tank a more natural look. There are numerous plants which are easy to maintain and easy to find at your local pet store. All of the following plants require minimal lighting (25-50 watts pet 25 gallons) and are useful in both community tanks and spawning tanks.

Apogneton ulvaceus This is the most common type of apognetons I have been able to find. Apognetons are one of my favorite plants - they are easy to grow, very hardy, and grow quite large. I've been able to find packages of bulbs at Wal-Mart to start my plants from, and they have grown to be over 18 inches tall. The bettas love these. Apognetons have large, broad dark green leaves, and multiple stems from each bulb. These are perfect for 10 gallons and up. Apognetons don't need to be rooted, which also makes them perfect for the bare bottomed spawning tank. Several of these floating in a 10 gallon provides shade, protection from other fish, and a great relaxing spot.

Pygmaea Helvola or Dwarf Water Lillies: These are much like the apognetons, and have the same care and benefits of the apognetons. Dwarf lillies do not grow as tall as apognetons.

Echinodorus, also known as Amazon swords and raddican swords: These broad leafed, rosette plants are very sturdy and can grow quite large. These do best when rooted, althogh they can be successful as free-floating plants. Swords are most often found as already sprouted plants. They can grow up to 1.5-2 feet, and their broad leaves are another favorite sleeping spot of bettas.

Ceratopterus thalictroides, also known as water sprite or water fern. A very pretty feathered, bright green plants with a dense rosette growth from the roots. This grows up to 20 inches, and is very prolific. Great for babies and harrassed adults to hide in.

Lemnaceae family, also known as duckweed. There are several different types of duckweed, each of which are different sizes. Duckweed is a floating plant that produces readily by budding. Duckweed is great to provide a shade for the bettas, and males love to incorporate duckweed into their bubble nests.

[jubjubair]

Water changes are very important to water quality. Your bettas water should never be anything but clear and free of debris. While your betta can live a suprisingly long time is yellow, filthy water, its cruel to force it to do so. The way to have clean, clear water for your betta is to do water changes when needed. A one gallon container needs either a 100% water change one time a week, or else 50% water changes two times a week. The larger the container, the less water changes you need. Therefore, a two gallon can have a 50% water change one time a week, and a five gallon can have a 50% water change every other week.
In five gallon tanks and up, you can have the tank cycle, which will eventually cut down on the amount of water changes you need to do. Cycling, in short, is where bacteria grows that changes toxic chemicals into less toxic chemicals, which are then sometimes used as food by live plants. These chemicals are also drawn out by at least monthly gravel vacuums and water changes. To learn more about cycling, click HERE . Eventually, a cycled 10 gallon tank will need only a monthly gravel vacuum and to have evaporated water added weekly.

He may not eat for a day or so. Don't worry, he will eat eventually!

[jubjubair]

Feeding


Live food: Live foods can be offered, and most bettas love them. Large grindal worms, fruit flies, blackworms, mosquitos and mosquito larve are some of the more popular live foods. These can be used when alternating with Hikari Betta Bites, or if you have a large enough selection of live foods, these can be the only foods fed to the betta. The most important thing about live foods is making sure they are free of disease and parasites that might attack your betta. We feed and highly recommend live California Blackworms, which can be found at http:///www.aquaticfoods.com . LCB's provide complete nutrition for the betta, and the fish love them. We feed solely LCBs, and they thrive!
For best health, your bettas should be fed a variety of foods. Hikari Bio-Gold Betta Bites should be at least 50% of their diet. Hikari Bio-Gold provides complete nutrition, and is the best pellet food out there. The rest of the bettas diet should be a mixture of foods. In our bettas, we feed them freeze dried (FD) bloodworms, FD brine shrimp, FD daphnia, frozen brine shrimp, and two other types of betta pellet. Other pellets are still nutritious, but none surpass Hikari (no, I don't work for Hikari, I just know they make good stuff!).
When feeding your betta, you want to remember the bettas stomach is about the size of its stomach. Bettas can get by wonderfully with one feeding a day. If you want to keep your bettas in breeding condition, feedings should be increased to twice a day. Breeding condition mean simply that at any time the bettas can be put in the spawning tank. If you don't ever plan to breed your bettas, you should not keep them in breeding conditions. Breeders sometimes walk a fine line between having conditioned bettas and overweight bettas, the latter being dangerous to the betta.
When feeding your betta once a day, alternate at least one other food (bloodworms are the favorite) every other or every three days. Replace the meal of Hikari Betta Bites with another food. This should keep your betta happy and looking forward to mealtime, since it will never know what kind of food is coming that night!
If you plan to breed your betta, then alternate the second meal of the day with food besides Hikari Betta Bites. We do this with ours and have great success with it.