Livestock => Anabantoids (Bettas, Gourami etc) => Topic started by: pellale on March 13, 2013, 06:44:17 pm
Title: Siamese Fighting Fish Tank Mates
Post by: pellale on March 13, 2013, 06:44:17 pm
Hey guys *2116*
I am setting up my 55l Aquanano 40 shortly and am definitely putting a male Siamese Fighter in there. I was wondering on what you guys could suggest could go in there with him? I was thinking along the lines of a dozen or so cardinals and a couple of chain loaches in there with him. I'm only asking because i know of their aggression towards the same sex of their species and other anabatoids.
Anyway thanks for reading *uk* Alex.
Title: Re: Siamese Fighting Fish Tank Mates
Post by: Gill on March 13, 2013, 06:50:47 pm
I wouldn't go for cardinals as they need swimming space & that tank is taller than it is long, maybe neons or even ember tetras would be better as they're smaller
Title: Re: Siamese Fighting Fish Tank Mates
Post by: pellale on March 13, 2013, 06:56:04 pm
It's an exact cube haha :) Yeah neons sound good, they wouldn't get nipped by the Fighter though would they?
Title: Re: Siamese Fighting Fish Tank Mates
Post by: Gill on March 13, 2013, 06:59:54 pm
I doubt the fighter could catch them, the neons are more likely to nip each other. Add the neons or whatever you're going to have fist, that way the fighter won't have claimed the tank as his
Title: Re: Siamese Fighting Fish Tank Mates
Post by: Lesley123 on March 13, 2013, 07:00:47 pm
Definitely something docile as you don't want anything nipping the fighters fins. People forget they can get bullied too.
I had one in that tank and he really struggled against the flow when going up for air. Might want to try to figure out a way to deflect it. I never got the chance with mine though :'(
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
Title: Re: Siamese Fighting Fish Tank Mates
Post by: pellale on March 13, 2013, 07:13:36 pm
It sounds like neons it will be haha :) Lesley - I will definitely endeavour to deflect the flow in a convenient direction for the little guy *fish2*
Alex.
Title: Re: Siamese Fighting Fish Tank Mates
Post by: oxo77 on March 13, 2013, 08:01:43 pm
I would not put anything in with a Betta personally they do a lot better by themselves. However if you are set on adding something make sure it is a bland and colourless fish as a Betta will mistake a colourful fish as another male.
Title: Re: Siamese Fighting Fish Tank Mates
Post by: Gill on March 13, 2013, 08:04:47 pm
It depends on the Bettas personality Oxo, some seem to enjoy the company.
Title: Re: Siamese Fighting Fish Tank Mates
Post by: Euphoria on March 13, 2013, 08:33:22 pm
Siamese Fighters seem to enjoy the company of other fish, They aren't bitter creatures that enjoy been on their own, They are normally the victim of bullying more than the other way around. You may get a grumpy betta but its down to each of their personalities :P
Title: Re: Siamese Fighting Fish Tank Mates
Post by: pellale on March 13, 2013, 08:42:59 pm
Oh lord i was looking for as much colour as possible lol *wave*
But i mean what mid-top dwelling fish do you guys reckon i could put in there other than neons, just so that i know my options :D
Thanks for all the advice so far :grinning:
Title: Re: Siamese Fighting Fish Tank Mates
Post by: Gill on March 13, 2013, 09:01:09 pm
What about one of the micro rasboras such as chilli rasboras or neon green rasboras, or even male endlers
Title: Re: Siamese Fighting Fish Tank Mates
Post by: tonka on March 13, 2013, 09:04:11 pm
furcata rainbows are stunning little fish and i enjoy watching him swim around with his wings up.
Title: Re: Siamese Fighting Fish Tank Mates
Post by: oxo77 on March 13, 2013, 09:43:05 pm
This is so tempting for me, I've always believed Betta's should be on their own full stop and have been worried that my 54ltr tank would be too big now I'm reading stuff all over the place about tankmates what are you all doing to me *grin*
Title: Re: Siamese Fighting Fish Tank Mates
Post by: pellale on March 13, 2013, 09:47:34 pm
Haha i always thought that a single Fighter would look lonely lol *grin*
With regards to tank mates though, i quite like the look of White Fin Bentosi Tetra's. Would they be suitable?
Alex. :P
Title: Re: Siamese Fighting Fish Tank Mates
Post by: Gill on March 13, 2013, 10:02:22 pm
A Betta might see those as a rival or vice versa, anything too colourful or with flowing fins would be risky
Title: Re: Siamese Fighting Fish Tank Mates
Post by: pellale on March 13, 2013, 10:08:36 pm
Ah ok i see. Finally, what about Rummy Nose tetra's. I've kept them for years but never with a Fighter.
Sorry about the amount of questions lol. That was the last one!
Alex.
Title: Re: Siamese Fighting Fish Tank Mates
Post by: Gill on March 13, 2013, 10:18:02 pm
They'd be ok with a Betta, but again tbh they need swimming space & would prefer a longer tank to see the best of them
Title: Re: Siamese Fighting Fish Tank Mates
Post by: pellale on March 13, 2013, 10:28:08 pm
Yeah i have a nice school of them in my 125 litre community and i love them *aqua*. So i'll consider them with the Fighter. But i'm hoping to create a nice planted tank with lots of oxygen so hopefully all inhabitants will be satisfied haha :)
Anyway thank you to all who posted! It's what makes forums great.
Alex.
Title: Re: Siamese Fighting Fish Tank Mates
Post by: oxo77 on March 13, 2013, 10:47:14 pm
Ok been doing loads of reading tonight and this statement seems to agree with everything I've read Most male bettas will fight with anything that even remotely resembles another male in finnage or coloration. Some will attack any fish indiscriminately, regardless of its appearance. It is inherently risky to house bettas with other fish. Some bettas are too aggressive to be kept with any species, and many community species will damage the finnage of a betta. This species does best when kept solitarily due to its special environmental and social needs. However, community keeping is possible with careful monitoring and appropriate tankmates if the betta's personality permits. Communal housing should always be approached on a case by case, individual basis!
This site also lists potential tank mates, possible but not really advised tank mates and definite no no's http://bettacare101.com/tankmates/ (http://bettacare101.com/tankmates/)
Title: Re: Siamese Fighting Fish Tank Mates
Post by: DEE on March 14, 2013, 07:52:12 am
Triouble is all can be fine for months and then suddenly it all changes. Bettas do not get lonely, they are fine and indeed much better kept on their own.
Title: Re: Siamese Fighting Fish Tank Mates
Post by: Graeme123 on March 14, 2013, 08:39:32 am
When you do get your tank set up and have the betta in with other fish I would suggest keeping a close eye on them... Mine seemed to wait for the day light to go off at night, then he would start to attack the other fish
I ended up putting him in a tank on his own
Title: Re: Siamese Fighting Fish Tank Mates
Post by: plankton on March 14, 2013, 10:16:01 am
Bettas are their own problem. You may get one that is really placid and gets on with everything else for a few months. Then, suddenly, all hell breaks loose. Why? Because either the betta is looking for a mate, or someone else looks tasty to him and they fight back. I would never suggest keeping other fish with a male betta, it's too unpredictable. They live on their own in wild anyway, so they aren't lonely.
Title: Re: Siamese Fighting Fish Tank Mates
Post by: chris_essex on March 14, 2013, 11:42:43 am
This is so tempting for me, I've always believed Betta's should be on their own full stop and have been worried that my 54ltr tank would be too big now I'm reading stuff all over the place about tankmates what are you all doing to me *grin*
If 54s too big, an old one of mine must've hated being in a 170 ;) he always seemed happy anyway
Title: Re: Siamese Fighting Fish Tank Mates
Post by: pellale on March 15, 2013, 08:18:38 am
This is so tempting for me, I've always believed Betta's should be on their own full stop and have been worried that my 54ltr tank would be too big now I'm reading stuff all over the place about tankmates what are you all doing to me *grin*
If 54s too big, an old one of mine must've hated being in a 170 ;) he always seemed happy anyway
Haha i don't think think that any tank is too big for any fish *grin*
Maybe a few.... *blink*
Title: Re: Siamese Fighting Fish Tank Mates
Post by: Chippy77 on March 18, 2013, 10:21:37 pm
My fighter ( old red ) lives with a red tailed shark they get on fine and he has been there for 3 years now
Title: Re: Siamese Fighting Fish Tank Mates
Post by: plankton on March 19, 2013, 09:18:01 am
My fighter ( old red ) lives with a red tailed shark they get on fine and he has been there for 3 years now
3 years is extreme old age for a betta. Is he going white yet?
Title: Re: Siamese Fighting Fish Tank Mates
Post by: Chippy77 on March 19, 2013, 11:05:56 am
Yeah he is starting to go white now but the old boy is still going strong I will post a pic when I get home
Title: Re: Siamese Fighting Fish Tank Mates
Post by: lexy99071 on March 23, 2013, 04:03:33 pm
my betta is very efectionate and seems to really enjoy his tank mates, he does alo apere to get in a grum if he thinks youve been ignoring him (he can stare at you for hours)
betta's are strange things.
Title: Re: Siamese Fighting Fish Tank Mates
Post by: davie on March 23, 2013, 04:16:42 pm
I was reading your post re-bettas. And a thought has occured to me that your fish stock in the 98l tank seems a lot from what i've been told is there a way to manage that I dont know about, I am new to the whole scene
Title: Re: Siamese Fighting Fish Tank Mates
Post by: Chadatious on March 23, 2013, 09:15:15 pm
my figther is with mollies, endlers, a zebra loach, and shrimps and ive had no issues at all
Title: Re: Siamese Fighting Fish Tank Mates
Post by: falcorob on March 24, 2013, 08:42:28 pm
My Dragon Scale (Sid as in El...I know, I know. Blame the Grandkids) has 6 Ember Tetra's and 2 Yamato Shrimp as tank-mates. Never been an issue.
The other one (Arnie - because that's his name Grandad!!) lives on his own and tends to hide most of the day and is skittish if anyone goes up to the tank unless to feed him. I'm considering putting some shrimp in with him to see if they give him something to look at other than his own reflection all day.
Title: Re: Siamese Fighting Fish Tank Mates
Post by: Nelson1979 on March 24, 2013, 08:59:58 pm
Really does depend on the individual Betta, as you can see from my signature I have my Veil tail Betta (Tyson) who is three years old in with my Guppys, I've never had any problems whatsoever and he doesn't even eat the guppy fry, yet when I originally bought him and had him in my community tank my mollies thought his long flowing tail was a new cuisine they hadn't sampled yet, I moved him into my Guppy tank as a short term measure until I could sort another tank for him, he's still there problem free 2 and half years later, I then bought another Betta (Zeus) although he was only 4 months old at the time I put him in my community tank and due to him being young and not having the fully grown flowing tail my Mollies never bothered him. I also previously had a Betta which lived for 3 years and 8 months in my community tank and never had any bother with him either, I was also told that he wouldn't bother with cucumber but whenever I dropped a few slices in my tank he was always first there, true he never eat much of it but he used to love tearing them to pieces and the only time he ever 'flaired' was when other fish approached him before he'd had a chance to rip said cucumber to pieces.