Betta Smaragdina Pair

Earlier this week I placed an order for some beautiful Betta Smaragdina. I've been reading up on the different wild types (this being my first) and I'm seeing a lot on Imbellis and Smaragdina being able to be housed in pairs. Even a pretty neat video on YouTube of someone housing a male and female Smaragdina together (

)! The person selling them breeds them in large quantities and the purchase included a pair, one male and one female. I bought a pair for myself and a pair for my brother. My original plan was to put 1 male in a 30 gallon community with harlequin rasboras and amano shrimp and the other male will be getting a new tank I plan to set up this weekend, either another 5 or 10 gallon. Which size I pick will depend on the possibility of housing my male and female in the same tank.. I know this is usually a big no no but I haven't found anything concrete on housing pairs of this species. If there might be a chance I can have them together it will be in a heavily planted 10 gallon catering to their natural environment. I mean I have 2 weeks to set up the tank before the fish may arrive so I'll be going absolutely nuts with the setup making sure it's perfect. If this is something that has been done before I'd really like to know the results and how well it worked, what the tank was like, plants, etc. If not, I plan to get a 5 gallon for my male and likely will get some smaller cubes or separate tanks for the females as I still feel housing even 2 females in the same tank may be problematic. What does the FishLore community think?! I'm open to any suggestions, again I'm still waiting for the fish to arrive which may take about 2 weeks so I have plenty of time to plan and set up.

 

Females can be housed in the same tank just fine. Males should not be housed with other Bettas male or female. In that video you posted the male did attack the female, not good. If you’re planning on breeding, house the males separately from the females.

 

Females can be housed in the same tank just fine. Males should not be housed with other Bettas male or female. In that video you posted the male did attack the female, not good. If you’re planning on breeding, house the males separately from the females.

I still have some research I'd like to do before I entertain breeding but it is definitely something I am considering once everyone has settled in. In the video I noticed that too but wasn't sure if it was a regular thing or maybe just something the camera happened to catch as a fluke scenario. It seemed odd to me that bettas could be housed in pairs but I'm not incredibly familiar with wild types yet. I have strongly felt that separate tanks would ultimately be the better option but the idea of housing a pair just seemed too cool. Sounds like my male will be getting spoiled in his own tank. As for the females, would 2 be ok with each other or would they be territorial? My LFS sells the betta falls with 2 cubes which I think is nice but I would feel bad with my males being spoiled and just throwing the females in a tiny cube.

 

I think a pair of B. smaragdina would do great in a 10g. If necessary, a 10 gallon would provide enough room for them to get away from each other and some extra space for fry as well, if you're planning on leaving them with the parents. B. imbellis is closely related to B. smaragdina and is very easy to successfully keep and breed in tanks smaller than 10 gallons, partly going off of that, I think a 10 gallon would be would provide sufficient space for a pair, given that there's a lot of plant cover and shelter. And given the right conditions, they're prolific breeders, so you'll likely end up with fry if you do it right.

I would also make sure to add a good lid/cover, as they are good jumpers.

 

I think a pair of B. smaragdina would do great in a 10g. If necessary, a 10 gallon would provide enough room for them to get away from each other and some extra space for fry as well, if you're planning on leaving them with the parents. B. imbellis is closely related to B. smaragdina and is very easy to successfully keep and breed in tanks smaller than 10 gallons, partly going off of that, I think a 10 gallon would be would provide sufficient space for a pair, given that there's a lot of plant cover and shelter. And given the right conditions, they're prolific breeders, so you'll likely end up with fry if you do it right.

I would also make sure to add a good lid/cover, as they are good jumpers.

Every tank I have has a lid, I don't play with escapees and my cat loves to watch the tank so I'm not chancing that either. I would love to have a pair in one tank but with the process to get the fish themselves I don't want take any chances if it might be iffy. I plan to get some java ferns and water wisteria to start some plant cover, what else would you recommend to provide some good hiding spaces? The original plan was to get some eco-complete substrate with indian almond leaves to layer around the bottom with plenty of driftwood and plants. Keeping in mind that if I plan to house them together, breeding tanks are best without gravel so as not to lose the eggs. Obviously this conflicts with the need for plants and cover, so if I intend to keep them together would it be best to have an extra tank in the event they end up breeding or are they typically ok given the right substrate? I'm still very much considering the betta falls due to my brothers female not having a tank plan right now. Have you had or heard of any success housing a pair before?

 

Every tank I have has a lid, I don't play with escapees and my cat loves to watch the tank so I'm not chancing that either. I would love to have a pair in one tank but with the process to get the fish themselves I don't want take any chances if it might be iffy. I plan to get some java ferns and water wisteria to start some plant cover, what else would you recommend to provide some good hiding spaces? The original plan was to get some eco-complete substrate with indian almond leaves to layer around the bottom with plenty of driftwood and plants. Keeping in mind that if I plan to house them together, breeding tanks are best without gravel so as not to lose the eggs. Obviously this conflicts with the need for plants and cover, so if I intend to keep them together would it be best to have an extra tank in the event they end up breeding or are they typically ok given the right substrate? I'm still very much considering the betta falls due to my brothers female not having a tank plan right now. Have you had or heard of any success housing a pair before?

I have heard of a pair being kept in a 10g, but I've never kept the species myself. Should be fine with the setup you're planning on, I don't quite understand your other question though - if you go with floating or rhizome plants, a substrate wouldn't necessarily be needed. AFAIK, the offspring are generally left alone and not eaten, once they are free-swimming, as it is with B. imbellis, so separation isn't necessary.
I don't think a betta falls would be a good idea, the individual compartments are tiny (IMO, insufficient for housing bettas) and unless you added custom lids, I would think that they would be able to easily move in between the compartments as well.

 

If you want to keep a pair, the bigger the tank the better. A 10 gallon tank might work, but I feel like you'll have better luck going even bigger. I can't find the video right now, there is a video of keeping a pair of betta imbellis together in what looks like at least a 40 gallon tank.

Also, don't do the betta falls. Each chamber is inhumanely too small for even one betta. The flow is too high. And I've heard several stories of the fish in the middle compartment dying.

 

If you want to keep a pair, the bigger the tank the better. A 10 gallon tank might work, but I feel like you'll have better luck going even bigger. I can't find the video right now, there us a video of keeping a pair of betta imbellis together in what looks like at least a 40 gallon tank.

Also, don't do the betta falls. Each chamber is inhumanely too small for even one betta. The flow is too high. And I've heard several stories of the fish in the middle compartment dying.

Good to know, I'll probably end up getting something bigger like some glass cubes. I don't mind the extra work keeping it clean if there isn't space for a filter. Unfortunately the 30 gallon in my brothers room is the biggest tank I have and have space for at the moment. My room is a little more crowded with the 2 tanks I already have so I'm going to need to make room for the new 5 or 10 I plan to set up for my male. I might be able to get up to a 20 depending on the size..

 

I have heard of a pair being kept in a 10g, but I've never kept the species myself. Should be fine with the setup you're planning on, I don't quite understand your other question though - if you go with floating or rhizome plants, a substrate wouldn't necessarily be needed. AFAIK, the offspring are generally left alone and not eaten, once they are free-swimming, as it is with B. imbellis, so separation isn't necessary.
I don't think a betta falls would be a good idea, the individual compartments are tiny (IMO, insufficient for housing bettas) and unless you added custom lids, I would think that they would be able to easily move in between the compartments as well.

The only reason I'd be pressed for substrate would be to widen my options for plants. I know java ferns can be tied to driftwood and don't need substrate and the water wisteria can float or be planted but I don't know what else I could use. I know anacharis can float too but I haven't had much luck with it in the past. What might you recommend in a tank without substrate if need be?

 

Glass cubes? How big are these cubes?

 

Glass cubes? How big are these cubes?

I'd have to see what there is available. My smallest tank is a 1.5 for my moms betta with a filter.