Advice/methods to house a Betta in a community aquarium?

If you have successfully kept a Betta with a community is there any advice you have? I'm thinking it just kind of ultimately depends on the Betta itself, but I wouldn't want to keep returning Bettas if they're incompatible..any methods? Anything?

20 Gallon long tank


Back-story (optional):
My King Betta passed away recently. He was very docile and kept to himself, and actually quite shy. He was homed with 8 mollies. After he passed away I got another King Betta but this one more is more...short tempered. He usually stays on the top but when he gets lower he chases a fish for like a second then goes back to the top. I am going to return him because I feel like he is stressing out the other fish too much. I don't know if it's Betta Imbellis in general, but Petco doesn't have "pretty" King Bettas. They're usually a dark green/brown-ish and the rare blue one, which I have. In the past I've kept a Betta Splenden in a community fish tank, sort of. I eventually ended up separating him. I've read around that people have had success in housing a Splenden with a community. I'm thinking of getting a Splenden this time since they're very pretty and majestic.

 

King bettas are not imbellis..... They are giant splendens bred from plakats, and all of the same principles for keeping a standard pet store betta apply to the giant betta as well.

However, giant bettas, due to their breeding, tend to be slightly less aggressive than the average betta.

As far as keeping any splendens complex betta in a community tank, if we're talking pet store bettas, there are a few tips and tricks. None of them are 100% and if you're going to try this, have another tank ready for the betta should things go wrong.

It often works better with a female, but not always. Smaller body type bettas are often less aggressive than the larger body types, but not always.

What I do if I'm planning a betta for a community tank is test it out at the store. I'll find one that I like and start placing him near the other bettas, and see who flares and how he acts.

I still always have a backup tank ready.

Also it helps a little to add the betta last, and to, if necessary, keep them in a breeding box for the first few days to view any aggression in a safe(r) environment than adding them directly to the tank.

Edit: I just re-read. Don't put a betta in a tank with mollies. Just not a good idea, mollies are just as aggressive as bettas when provoked.

 

Well only 1 of the mollies is a male, baby (1.3"). Another male is a swordtail, and the other male is young platy. They're with 6 females (2 ballons, 2 blacks, 2 dalmatians). None of them are ever aggressive to the betta. They would only chase each other occasionally, never aggressive though. Would you still not recommend it?

 

Nope, wouldn't do it, especially not without a backup tank ready for the betta. They just get too big and mean. I've seen young adult mollies attack fully grown DGs before, and they can be nippy. If you're having trouble with the betta in this tank, it's probably because they're nipping him, or he's stressed and showing aggression towards them which triggers their aggressive behavior.

 

My last King Betta was so much nicer
But yeah I'll just return this Betta.
Lol I only want a Betta because no other fish has those amazing colors and patterns!

And I have a spare 10 gallon tank. Idk man I really want to try it but I only have one chance :/

 

izzy, you are right that finally its down to every fish's personality. also what might work today in a community may not tomorrow as the fish grow so you have to be ready for that.

if you have a backup ready and you are taking a well educated risk, go for it. Keep a close watch.

 

I understand. Perhaps I should wait until the others are fully grown?

 

You seem quite passionate about the betta and I know that feeling.

if you have a backup ready and you are taking a well educated risk, go for it. Keep a close watch.

 

Okay adive, thank you for your input
I'm going to think it over for a few days and make preparations if I decide to proceed with it. ^_^

 

Have you thought about trying a female betta? I'm very happy with my female in my community, and she seems very happy too. They can be just as colorful as males even though their fins aren't as long.

 

When people ask about keeping bettas in community tanks, I always advise against it. Bettas, for the most part, just don't seem to want that. If someone had a dog that didn't get along well with other dogs, they wouldn't question it. They'd just keep the one dog, so that everybody would be happy and safe. For some reason, many people still feel the need to push it with bettas. I think we should accept their needs, as we would a dog's.

If you DO choose to try it, you MUST have a back-up plan, no doubt about it. I think your lfs would get really tired of you returning bettas, time after time. Also, what works for a few months, could all of a sudden backfire. You wouldn't be able to return the bettas, if that happens (depending on store return policy).

Is it really worth it?

 

About a year ago I had a male betta in a community tank and all went well, I had one betta and. Different types of tetras and an algae eater and all was well.what I was told was to get a group of fast moving fish so they can easily escape if the betrayed gets to aggressive but it also depends on the bettas personality

 

Update!
Instead of returning the King Betta I moved him to his own tank.
I got a female veiltail Betta and added her to the main tank. So far it appears as if she won't be a problem, but I'm watching her.
I'm thinking of getting a 3-way breeder container so the King Betta can also be in the main tank whilst still being separated from the rest.
Anyways, thank y'all!

 

I'm thinking of getting a 3-way breeder container so the King Betta can also be in the main tank whilst still being separated from the rest.

I just don't think this is a good idea. Why stress this betta out unnecessarily? He'll just be able to watch the other fish, have them pecking at the breeder container, and not be able to get back at them. It just wouldn't be the right thing to do.

That's not even taking into consideration what would happen if he got out of that container into the main tank.

 

Well, like I said, I'm thinking about it. I don't even have a 3-way breeder container, so chill.

 

I have deleted a bunch of off topic posts from this thread. Let's keep it civil