Moving Loaner Female Betta Into Community Tank? Good Idea?

Hello All-

Just interested to see what everyone's input is on this topic is.

Has anyone ever moved a betta that lived in a tank alone for over a year to a tank with other fish (community tank)?

I have a female betta that has been in a 3.5 gallon tank by herself for over a year. In the last 4 months of keeping her... she's kind of had a big personality change. She used to be a lot more spunky and friendly... now she is pretty mellow and antisocial.... and has suddenly become a SUPER picky eater when she had previously gobbled up everything. She has been getting better this week though. I had tried different things (medicines, relocating her tank) and I do not believe anything is "wrong" with her. I never miss a weekly water change.. I feed a variety of foods. Water testing is all good.

I have contemplated getting a 5 gallon rectangular tank for her... her tank is actually a cylinder.. which makes be wonder if its comfortable for her to swim in. But the thought also crossed by mind of maybe getting an 10-12 gallon tank and having a small "community tank" which some snails and neon tetras and adding her to it. I wonder if she just needs some more activity in her life. lol.

Has anyone ever done this with a betta? Move them in with other fish after a long time of living alone? Is she too "set in her ways" to now have to adjust to living with others? lol. If I do something like this, I reallyyyy hope it works out because I am doing it for her... I have no interest in keeping the community tank otherwise.

 

When it comes to bettas and tankmates, it's going to be a hit-or-miss. Some bettas don't care whether they have tank mates or not and some are just way too aggressive. You can definitely try to house your betta with other tankmates, however, you need to monitor your fish closely and be prepare to move any fish when things don't go according to plan.

 

Thank you for your response. What I wonder is if there is a lower success rates with bettas that are not used to living with others as opposed to new bettas?

People say fish have such a short memory, but I think its a little longer than people give them credit for. =P

 

I will be honest with you. As a 1 year experienced fish keeper, I haven't had too many deaths on my watch. But we've had 2 female bettas die in our community tank due to swim bladder disorders b/c they kept eating the other fish foods. It wasn't a temperament or behavioral issue for us. It was nearly impossible to feed them as the other fish would gobble up any betta pellets that would float or trying to force feed them via tweezer was not successful.

 

I have a 3+ year old betta (male) who lived in a 2.5 gallon alone for his whole life. I set up a 15gal like 8 months ago and once I was sure he wasn't sick ( I think he was just bored) I moved him to the 15gal. It has 4 platies in it and hes a whole new fish. He rests a lot less and seems much happier. He chases them around very rarely, mostly just when they try stealing his food, but has never hurt them. Really I don't think it matters how long they have lived alone, it all depends on the fish and their personality!

 

Thank you both for your replies.
I do worry a bit about feeding them... although I already feed both my bettas with tweezers lol. so I think I can handle it. And my female now only eats specific things... so if I feed the other fish dry food.. she probably won't want it.

That's so interesting about the 3+ year old male betta. I also have a male betta who is 2+ years old and he's gotten very sluggish... although he has what looks to be an internal tumor of some sort.

I can see my female betta getting along well with other fish... since she was very friendly. My male betta seems aggressive.He's always flared at bright nail polish and random things. Although in recent months even my female flares! Which I didn't realize they do.

I guess its going to have to be a trial and error type thing.

 

One of my female bettas was super stressed when I moved her in with platies and mollies. Stress stripes, flaring, stressed swimming, lurking in a corner... I took her out after an hour.
My other female wasn't phased at all and joined the others at feeding and loved it in there. I'm still sad that I had to down grade her to a divided 10 gallon because she was overeating. Constantly had a big belly. I have fry and was feeding the tank extra to make sure everyone ate as I have some food hogs. She definitely took advantage of that.
It took about two weeks for her to slI'm down, my poor "overweight" betta.

I think it depends on the other fish you have though. Many years ago, I had a female betta with danios and had no problems. Danios don't need a whole lot of food.