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what happens when two male betta fish are together

by Marques Mraz Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago

What Happens If You Put 2 Betta Fish

Betta

Betta, is a large genus of small, often colorful, freshwater ray-finned fishes, known as "bettas", in the gourami family. The best known Betta species is B. splendens, commonly known as the Siamese fighting fish.

Together? If the two betta fish are males, they will likely fight, potentially to the death. The two male fish will be unable to see the other as anything besides a threat, and if not removed from the same tank they will fight.

If they live together, male betta fish will become aggressive and fight. This is how they earned their nickname, "fighting fish." The males will fight to the death if given the chance, so they should never be placed together in a tank.

Full Answer

Can two male Betta fish live together?

Can Two Male Betta Fish Live Together? Since male Bettas are generally more ornate and visually beautiful, aquarium owners naturally want to keep males together in the same tank. But can two male Betta fish live together?

How to introduce new betta fish to each other?

This is normally best done by keeping your new betta in the bag for a while before letting them out. However, ideally, they should be able to see each other without getting too each other for a couple of days. The best way this can happen is by using a tank divider or breeding box for a couple of days.

Will a male Betta attack a female Betta?

The male will see the female as a threat to the eggs and begin relentlessly attacking her. Also, you’ll need to remember that if the two bettas do end up producing fry, then some of them are likely to become males.

Why are my betta fish fighting?

This could create bullying and harassment between the fish as well as injury and death. Obviously, the most common sign of aggression is flaring, which can often be an indicator that your bettas are going to fight. Whether you’re going to add a male to a harem, or with one female, you have to be careful about how you introduce them.

History

Betta fish are native to Asia, where in their natural habitat, they inhabit small ponds and streams and became adapted to the constant flooding and droughts of the region. This helped make them labyrinth fish, which means they have the ability to breathe oxygen from the air and their gills.

Can Betta fish males and females live together?

Betta fish are well-known for their tendency to fight, and this is in large part why they are so often kept in small bowls alone. However, if a male and female are kept together from early in their lives, there is less chance of them fighting.

Can two female Betta fish live together?

In most cases, females can live peacefully in a tank together. One important point to note is to be careful when introducing a female into groups of two to three other females.

Can two male Betta fish live together?

No, you should never put two male Betta fish inside the same tank, as they will swiftly become aggressive and fight to the death. They may stay peaceful for a while, but sooner or later they will fight until only one is left.

Can Bettas live with other fish species?

In general, Bettas can live peacefully with many other fish species, although they should be the same size or bigger to prevent the Bettas from attacking. A good practice is to add Bettas into an already established tank rather than the other way around, so they are the new kids on the block and will be less likely to fight.

Final Thoughts

As beautiful as two male Bettas would look in a tank together, they should never be housed in the same tank. In some cases, the presence of females may help, as well as plenty of space, plants, and rocks and even some other species of fish, but you never really know with Betta fish.

How much space do you need for a betta fish?

To be really safe you should have around 15 or even 20 gallons of space for each betta fish you have. So, you can see that having more than two betta fish in the same tank will require a seriously big aquarium. Next betta fish love to swim in, over, and around things, plus they also like their privacy.

Can a new betta fish be added to another betta fish?

The betta fish need to both be added at the same time so they can go about individually establishing territory at the same time.

Do betta fish like to swim?

Next betta fish love to swim in, over, and around things, plus they also like their privacy. This means having a whole lot of their own territory, plants, toys, rocks, driftwood, and ornaments. These things really like having their own territory where they can frolic in, hide in, take it easy, and most important of all, rule over the domain.

Do betta fish need more space?

Males are far more aggressive and territorial than females, so if you are going to try this, you will definitely want to do it with females. Second, a regular betta fish does not require all that much space. Something like a 5 or 10 gallon tank will do for a single betta fish, but multiple betta fish will need more space, much more. ...

Can a male betta be housed with a female?

Yes, males can be very aggressive and territorial, often bullying and killing other fish. So, males cannot be housed together. However, males, generally speaking, will not get into fights with females, and if they do, it is usually nothing serious. How to Keep a Male and Female Betta Together in the SAME Tank!

Can you put two betta fish in one tank?

Yes, so you can put two betta fish into one tank, but there are a good number of things that you need to know before you do it so they can actually live with each other without issues. The bottom line is that having two betta fish in one small tank that does not have many plants, ornaments, and toys, you are asking for trouble.

Can you keep more than one betta fish in a tank?

Many people have this idea that it is only possible to keep one single bet ta fish in a tank and no more, more or less because they will kill each other, and yes, they may very well do that . However, there are people who put more than one betta (Siamese fighting) fish in one tank.

Why Are Male Betta Fish So Aggressive?

If you look back over a betta fish’s history, you will find a unique and rather strange story compared to other aquarium fish.

How To Keep Male Betta Fish Together

Technically, you are not supposed to so, to keep two males in the same tank, it is best to keep them separate.

Its All About Experimentation

If you don’t have the time or commitment to constantly monitor your male betta fish in the same tank, Then we highly recommend you keep just one male betta fish in the tank, separate them with a barrier, or just keep a small 5-gallon tank for each male betta.

Conclusion

If you don’t have the time to set up the right tank and monitor the relationship between the two males, then it is not worth it.

How to mix betta fish?

Let’s start off by considering all the possible combinations of betta fish in your tank: 1 Males + Females 2 Male + Male 3 Female + Female

Why are betta fish friendly?

It is probably because they do not see each other as a direct competitor if they don’t look the same.

How many gallons of water does a betta fish need?

1 betta fish: 10 gallons. 2 betta fish: 15 gallons. 3 betta fish: 20 gallons. 4 betta fish: 25 gallons. 5 betta fish: 30 gallons. etc. By following this rule you should be able to establish a peaceful atmosphere for your betta. And remember to always use the adjacent tank when introducing new fish.

Why introduce several new fish at the same time?

This is because the females that are already in the aquarium can become very territorial and they will want to protect their domain. So by introducing several new fish at the same time, you will stir up the group dynamics that are established and they will go together much more friendly.

Why do fish look at each other when it's dark?

The trick is to do it while the place is dark because the other fish will be more focused on the surroundings than the new kid in town. When the room is dark the fish will look more at the things outside the aquarium instead of focusing on each other.

Can a betta female kill a male?

The betta female will typically not kill the male. They will normally go peacefully together but they are an aggressive species and the male might also surprise you by attacking the female. The best way here is to introduce a fish with an adjacent tank. This is a separate tank inside or outside the aquarium where they can see each other ...

Can you breed betta fish?

It’s normally advised not to mix males and females for longer periods of time. So if you want to breed the fish you should do so for a short time and then move them apart again afterward. But you should have some experience with fish breeding before you do this. This is because betta fish are a special breed and they do require more attention ...

What Happens If You Put 2 Betta Fish Together?

The betta fish will usually fight with each other until one of them dies or one of them gives up and concedes dominance to the other.

Can Female and Male Betta Fish Live Together?

I have found online where people are successful in keeping male and female betta fish together, although it is not recommended, especially for beginners.

Can I Put 2 Male Betta Fish Together?

There are proven cases where two males have been kept together in a tank but the majority of results are not good.

How Many Betta Fish Can You Keep Together?

The safest way to keep betta fish together would be a female sorority of at least five females.

Summary

So, please ignore all of the conflicting advice online, and please, if you want to put two or more betta fish together, just start a 5 female sorority.

How many tank mates can a betta have?

And if you’re interested to know more about tank mates that can live with bettas then you have to check out the Ultimate Betta Tank Mate Guide. You’ll learn about 68 different tank mates that can live with your betta, as well as fish to avoid.

How to keep bettas together?

Use A Tank Divider. If you have a tank that’s big enough (minimum 15 gallons) then you can always use a tank divider to keep a male and female betta together. This can be beneficial as they’ll never be able to directly interact with each other, but you’ll still be able to view each of them in your tank.

How many gallons of water do you need for a betta harem?

When Keeping A Betta Harem Remember: Your tank will need to be at least 75 gallons, however, bigger is better. And when choosing a tank you should have a tank that is long not high. You should add a male to a sorority.

What are the problems with betta harems?

One of the biggest problems that can occur in betta harems is aggression amongst females. In the wild, the male betta is only going to breed with the dominant female. In sororities, a pecking order is normally established, but without the introduction of a male, aggression generally stops.

Can you keep a male betta with a female sorority?

As well as keeping one male and one female together some people opt to keep a male betta in with a sorority of females. Once again, while this can be done, it’s strongly not recommended for beginners and you should ensure you have a backup plan ready if it doesn’t work.

Can betta fish breed?

Breeding. If you keep a male and female betta fish together then, of course, there’s always going to be the possibility of them breeding, whether you want them too or not. Without picking the right breeding pair, breeding can often be dangerous for bettas as through any of the stages, they may end up damaging or killing one another.

Should you add a male betta to a sorority?

You should always add a male betta to a sorority, instead of introducing all the fish at the same time. If you add all the fish at the same time the chances of aggression are going to skyrocket, and you’re more likely to add an overly aggressive betta without realizing.

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