I used to have a betta in an old 35 gallon tank with a small koi at about 5" and my ryukin which was 3" at the time nd now 6 1/2", plus a few other small goldfish without any problems, the betta was always active, but never flared at the other fish, just me. Was it just a friendly betta, or do bettas not mess with bigger fish?
keping bettas with other fish
- Thread starter fishRmylife
- Start date
I kinda blame myself for not adhering the rocks together, poor little guy didn't live. Bettas should not be housed with Koi or goldfish. Goldfish are cold water fish and bettas are tropical fish, needing their water in the high 70's. Gold fish are also messy fish and can tolerate higher levels of amonia, not to mention they can pass many diseases to hte betta. I am very sorry about your betta, but please, next time don't put it with coldwater fish.
Sure betas like temperatures of 75*+, but they are the one fish that I am willing to slide on. They can live fine in unheated water, and I would rather get one and put it in cool water (like it is already in at the LFS) and give it a lot of space to swim around in. If we dont do it, someone else will and 9/10 times house the beta in half a gallon or less with no heat. FishRmylife lives in Cali, and right now I am having trouble cooling my water down! Besides that, preciousgems you are totally right about the high amonia levels in a gold fish tank so that might stress out a beta.
FishRmylife, sorry about your beta. You have scared me about your cave, my cat fish lives in one of those caves that I made for him, I would be so sad if he got hurt, but it seems sturdy to me. What fish would you want to put a beta with?
FishRmylife, sorry about your beta. You have scared me about your cave, my cat fish lives in one of those caves that I made for him, I would be so sad if he got hurt, but it seems sturdy to me. What fish would you want to put a beta with?
Yeah my tank was unheated and well filtered so i wasnt worried about the amonia levels, i did though have a thermometer in there and the temp was usually at about 74 degrees. Yeah when i first started cycling my 29 gallon, i didnt have a heater and the temp was at 77 degrees, but i have a heater now and keep it 80 degrees for my tetras, and the same with my 20 gallon for my ryukin.
Well, I am glad your tank was at the right temperature for a betta. But still, did you know the average goldfish should get up to 8 inches? This means that each goldfish should have their own 10 gallon tank. I know that you don't HAVE to follow this rule, as many people have 3 or 4 goldfish in a 10 gallon while they are smaller. The size really isn't a big issue, as you could have moved them out as they got bigger. However, the filter is not successfully going to keep the ammonia down far enough for a betta and goldfish tend to be fin nippers. While your betta didn't have problems, getting another (I don't think you mentioned getting another, but just in case) would put it at risk. All reputable betta breeders and knowledgeable betta enthusiasts would never mix bettas and goldfish. Please don't take this the wrong way, I am trying to be informative for others who are reading this as well and might try to house goldfish and bettas together.
Alexa
Alexa
Of course the fins will heal! It would take time, but the platies and betta would get along with time. It would depend on you betta's personality. The one you saw in the lfs must have had a gentle nature so it was able to be put with Platies. Not all betta's are the same! Its just like you and me! Were all different!