Fighting fish in Community tank or Alone?

missnikki

Medium Fish
Feb 13, 2011
55
0
0
#1
I have a 60 gallon with 16 fish in it at the moment (freshwater) and I really want a fighting fish, but I just wanted to have it in a bowl on it's own - however I am wondering if it will live a happier life in the community tank with fish buddies? What is the "fish world" view on keeping fighting fish alone?

I know when I was young and lived at home we always had one fighting fish in the community tank and it was all good, but I haven't had fish in years now til recently...

Aesthetically I just really enjoy watching a fighting fish in a glass bowl - they are gorgeous.

But I don't want any fish of mine to be lonely ... *twirlysmi

Thoughts?
 

nanu156

Large Fish
Mar 8, 2010
745
0
0
Detroit, Mi
#2
Personally I think they do just fine alone.

Begin crucifixion of marcy... The overall feeling on this forum is that bowls are too small, water quality is bad, space is cramped yada yada yada...

So the opinion of the forum is a 5 gallon full tank, or put him in your community tank
 

fishwish34

Medium Fish
Jun 27, 2010
84
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0
#3
When you say "fighting fish," I assume you're talking talking about bettas. A lot of people seem to recommend keeping them in their own tank, but definitely NOT a glass bowl. 2.5 gallons would be a minimum, with five gallons being even better. The tank would need to be heated and filtered of course. I don't think bettas really get lonely...they aren't schooling fish, of course, and would be worse off in a tank with others that could nip at their fins.
Some people do have them in their community tanks, though...maybe one of them could chime in? What other fish are in the 60 gallon already?

Oh, and your rattie is ADORABLE *BOUNCINGS
 

Feb 10, 2011
81
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Annapolis, MD
#4
um.. I think a glaring gaping hole here needs to be identified and it needs to be said that only FEMALE bettas can be put in a community. The Males are HYPER aggressive and very territorial. Even the female I have in my 29 gallon gets a little chip on her shoulder every now and then, but for the most part happy and active.
 

Thyra

Superstar Fish
Jun 2, 2010
1,891
0
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Yelm, WA
#5
All males are not hyper aggressive. They are also not very fast. From my point of view it would be the other fish nipping the betta you would have to worry about. They all have different personalities. I had one I tried in a community tank and he was obviously scared - I removed him. I've another in a 16g tank with mostly platies and a molly and he swims with them. I have never seen him flare and he doesn't hide either.
 

Feb 10, 2011
81
0
0
Annapolis, MD
#6
well perhaps I'm speaking out of turn a bit on the males, but several friends have had some pretty horrible situations, what turned out to look like fish massacres after putting male bettas in community tanks with other relatively peaceful fish... Needless to say they weren't terribly experienced aquarists, but nonetheless.. Females however I've seen pretty good things from. Mine is LIGHTNING quick but doesn't seem to bother the other tank mates and they don't even really seem to notice her so who knows. Just earlier today I learned that it can be possible to keep a shoal of peaceful tiger barbs so it seems that you're always rolling the dice a bit regardless of what you do...
 

lauraf

Superstar Fish
Jan 1, 2010
2,181
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Vancouver, British Columbia
#7
All bettas are different - some will be okay in a community tank setting, others won't. I'd be concerned about moving the betta into a 60g because A) the tankmates might be problematic (don't know what you've got in there . . .) plus B) a 60g is probably pretty tall, and some bettas struggle with deep water - they prefer shallower bodies of water.
Bettas are fine alone anyway. You can give them some decor to be exploring, and some people recommend occasionally 'exercising' your betta by putting a mirror to the glass to get him flaring. Mine actually flares at my hand sometimes - I'm starting to think it's my rings he's reacting to . . . .
I prefer to think of bettas in filtered, heated tanks, but I've heard many, many stories of reportedly happy bettas in bowls. Does yours seem 'happy'? If not, it may not be that he's lonely per se - it's more likely that he's bored or cold . . . .
 

aakaakaak

Superstar Fish
Sep 9, 2010
1,324
0
0
Chesapeake, Virginia
#8
All bettas are different. I came here to say this. Yeah, exactly Laura.

Females are more likely to be okay in a community from what I've heard. Again, this is on a case by case basis. I've also seen a few bettas happier in a 1 gallon VASE, who wouldn't accept living alone in a 5 gallon tank. All bettas are different.
 

Oct 29, 2010
384
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#11
Definitely not crucifying, haha, although I'm going to point out the reason people grab the pitchforks and torches over the word "vase" is because of the thing people do by putting a betta in a vase with a peace lily and not feeding/changing water. (I do know that isn't what you meant, aakaakaak ^-^)

A betta can be kept in a vase, but it should be heated and needs a ton of upkeep to prevent ammonia buildup. Tanks are easier for the owner, and generally nicer for the fish :)
 

Thyra

Superstar Fish
Jun 2, 2010
1,891
0
0
Yelm, WA
#12
I will agree with Aak - I indeed did have a betta that was never happy again after I took him out of his vase and put him in a 2.5g tank. He built bubble nests every day in the vase and got all excited when I came by the counter to cook. The tank was in the exact same space on the kitchen counter and had the same plant etc. but there were no more bubble nests or happy greetings.