Due to their gorgeous fins and colors, betta fish are the most popular aquarium pets. The betta fish is very appealing and simple to care for, but they can also be hostile to other fish. Due to their vibrant colors, glistening fins, and specific behaviors, it is easy to understand why they are so popular.
After having your betta for a while, you might consider getting another fish to keep with him. But you might be curious if betta fish can coexist. In contrast, the simplest response to this is true.
Depending on the betta’s gender, a certain number of them can be kept in the same aquarium. But keeping both sexes in a tiny tank might result in disaster, injury, or even the death of your fish due to the aggressive and territorial character of Betta fish.
Other additional criteria exist when determining if bettas may coexist in the same space. If you’re seeking a companion for your betta, keep reading to find out if two betta fish can coexist.
Can Two Betta Fish Live Together?
Japanese fighting fish are betta fish, and their scientific name, betta splendens, refers to their magnificent array of colors.
It’s crucial to remember that while this moniker may give the impression that the art of betta fish keeping has developed around inciting these fish to fight, this is usually a crowd reaction.
In order to establish his dominance over other fish, the male Siamese fighting fish would frequently fight them off. Being a violent fish by habit, this behavior evolved in the small rice fields and water bodies where they were first discovered.
One betta fish would have to repel other bettas to protect their small area and put on fierce territorial displays. The terrible reality that having two bettas in a single tank will probably result in a fight to the death to establish supremacy is something male bettas should keep in mind.
Consider keeping two male bettas in a different tank if you must. This hostility shouldn’t be shocking, given that these fish don’t often school.
Although a male and a female betta fish can coexist with a group of exclusively female betta fish, we do not advise keeping two male betta fish in the same tank.
Even just one betta fish might present a hardship. Before gathering more of these fish with long fins in one location, ensure you are knowledgeable about the appropriate care and upkeep.
How Big Of A Tank Do You Need For 2 Betta Fish?
The species, which lives in canals and rice paddies, is indigenous to Southeast Asia’s Mekong region. In the wild, more than one man would live in a rice field. But rice paddies can cover miles of land, so they are pretty big.
As a result, any male can have his own area. Retaining more than one male is not recommended because there is just insufficient space to create territories in tiny tanks.
Smaller tanks than 20 gallons are typically problematic. Sizes greater than 20 gallons offer sufficient territorial room for numerous males. Few people, though, actually keep bettas in these bigger aquariums.
The phrase one male per tank is sometimes used to describe how bettas are typically housed, while a more precise description would be one male per 20-gallon area. Farmed bettas are also more aggressive due to their purposeful breeding.
Competing was the purpose of their gathering in Thailand. While wild-breed bettas will spar momentarily before running away, bred bettas are more prone to continue fighting.
It is even more important to give each fish a sizable region of its own because of this increased propensity for aggression.
Related articles:
- Do betta fish sleep?
- What fish can live with bettas?
- How big do betta fish get? (growth potential)
- How to clean a betta fish tank like a pro?
How To Introduce Females And Males Together?
A male Betta would build a bubble nest to entice a female after viewing the opposite sex. The female Betta can be moved to the breeding tank, where she’ll examine the bubble nest. It is common for uninterested female Bettas to destroy bubble nests or ignore them.
Once the fish has been removed, try again. They cannot reproduce if she breaks the bubble nest once again. Betta females who consent to mate will hang around the nest without damaging it.
The male Betta will then chase her around the tank. Bettas’ stripes and fins flare as they mate. Please do not feed or irritate them throughout this process, which could take three hours.
Be there throughout the process if either dog turns out to be too aggressive to avoid harm. Upon turning over the female, the male Betta will mate with her. The male Betta places the eggs in the bubble nest when they hatch.
This could require minutes or even hours. When breeding Betta fish, removing the female after mating is best, as the male will likely want to retake dominance in the breeding tank.
Can Two Female Betta Fish Live Together?
The ideal betta population is two females. In fact, because they form what is commonly known as a female sorority and band together, having many female bettas in a single tank isn’t much of a problem either.
We advise keeping no more than 4-6 female Bettas in a tank with exclusively female fish because any more can make the fish feel cramped.
Stress bands along the side of the fish, unusual behaviors like lethargy and swimming toward the surface, and hostility are all significant indicators of discomfort in female betta fish.
These are all significant warning signs that something is wrong, and action should be taken to provide for the individual fish, such as placing them in their own separate betta tank.
Do Female Bettas Fight?
Although female betta fish are far less violent than male betta fish, females have been bred for several hundred years to be just as hostile. Because of this, a female betta is predisposed to fight considerably less frequently.
If there is adequate room and food for everyone, two female bettas won’t likely act aggressively. As long as they appear equal to one another, female betta fish coexist in a state of relative harmony.
She will become the dominant female and might start to intimidate the other fish for space if she is especially huge or aggressive.
Other females should avoid this area because it is unsafe. You might want to separate the more aggressive betta into their own tank or use a tank divider to create some limits.
How To Determine If Your Betta Fish Are Male Or Female?
When first purchasing a betta fish from a pet store, its sex is rarely visible. All baby bettas have identical appearance and behavior until they are 2 or 3 months old. They start to exhibit sex-specific characteristics as they age.
A female betta fish’s fins are significantly shorter and less bright than a male’s would be one of the biggest indicators that you are the holder of a female betta fish.
The ovipositor, which is present in female betta fish and is situated close to the head and ventral fin, is called. Only females possess the ovipositor since it is charged with releasing eggs once it is time to reproduce. It appears to be a tiny white dot.
Additionally, male betta fish are often longer and slimmer when fully grown than females.
Do I Need A Female For My Male Betta?
First, remember that sharing a living space with them is a possibility but that it might be quite risky. Your tank will need to be very big if you plan to keep just even 1 male and 1 female. The fish may be susceptible to stress readily.
Males and females first engage in violent fighting. Unless the female is bearing eggs and about to give birth, a male betta is not particularly interested in mating with her.
Then, he will act somewhat passionately to persuade the female to enter the bubble nest and embrace him to encourage her to place the eggs he’ll fertilize as she makes them. He performs this to hasten the egg-laying process for her.
More related guides:
- How often do you feed a betta fish? (diet chart)
- Do betta fish need a filter? (thorough guide)
- Do betta fish need a heater? (ideal temperatures)
Final Verdict:
Both sexes in a tiny tank can lead to disaster, injury, or even the death of your fish due to the aggressive and territorial character of Betta fish.
Make sure the tank is large enough and has enough decorations so the fish can potentially hide if you’re on a tight budget and can only fit in one tank.
The answer is that although male and female bettas can coexist, having more than one male in the same tank will probably result in a fatal battle for both of them.
All-female groups can also be effective. However, it should be emphasized that aggressive and domineering behaviors are frequently seen.
Therefore, if you intend to breed Betta, be sure to complete the necessary preparations and avoid just putting the male and female fish in the same tank. You can effectively breed Betta fish if you follow the steps and suggestions given.
Frequently Asked Questions
#1 – Can 1 Male And 2 Female Betta Fish Live Together?
Many people can live close to one another if there is sufficient space. If the tank empties too quickly, the female fish could start behaving territorially. Never mix males and females in the same tank unless you are doing so briefly for breeding.
#2 – Why Is My Male Betta Attacking The Female During Breeding?
When breeding, betta fish become especially aggressive. The male wraps around the female, almost crushing her, and leaves her virtually lifeless at the bottom of the tank once the bubble nest has been filled with eggs. This act alone can result in a dead female betta fish.
#3 – How Many Female Bettas Can You Put In A 5 Gallon?
We strongly suggest you not house male and female Betta fish in the same tank due to the limited amount of room in a 5-gallon aquarium.
Keep in mind that you need to make room for many plants, caves, and other features similar to this so that the females have places they can go to get away from each other if they so want.
#4 – Do Male Betta Fish Kill Females?
Betta fish males and females cannot coexist because they will battle to the death. Male Betta fish are angry and possessive of their territory. Any fish approaching their domain will be attacked, especially female Betta fish.
