How to Peacefully Keep Betta Fish & Cherry Shrimp Together in the Same Tank. DEEP DIVE!

[@andrewb3760]

I like how this channel talks about the history and science of aquarium fish its very interesting and unique

[@Fishtory]

Thanks! I try and keep that theme going in all my non-live video uploads. Glad you enjoy it...and WELCOME!

[@marthanewsome6375]

I have 8 female betta with cherry shrimp. I have 4 red fish and they are not aggressive at all. They live with 1 male sparkling gourami and YES it is a very layered, highly planted tank, with lots of hiding places. They also live with pygmy cory, otocinclus, borneo suckers, ember tetra and platnum rice fish. It's probably overstocked, but it works. Have a huge canister on it. Much bigger than I need. The tank is also a riparium with lots of terrestrial plants popping out the top.

[@Fishtory]

Awesome! Thank you for sharing...and yet again, proving it can be done with some special care :)

[@ShreadsEBS]

Wow. I learned so much about bettas in this one video than I have anywhere else. Not to trash other KZbinrs but they often repeat the same vague tips over and over. I like all the science included with you video. Thanks for sharing! I’m currently introducing a female koi plakat to a cherry shrimp Danio tank. She’s in a breeder box as a precaution. Not sure if it’ll work as she’s already being territorial as they swim by her. Definitely gonna call the breeder next time

[@Fishtory]

Thank you! Check out my deep dive hour long intro to the history of betta domestication if you thought this had a lot of useful info hehe. Havs a great week and Cheers!

[@donkeylzc]

Was about type yesterday about how i miss my old betta who was peaceful with shrimp. He died. I tried 1 more betta and he ate everything xD... Then yesterday at the shop i saw a young betta about to die.... I bought him and gambled whether or not he'd be ok for longer and whether hed kill shrimp... So far so good! From pale betta to red now...hooefully when he grows larger he doesnt kill the shrimp... Thats if he lives longer..

[@Fishtory]

Right on! Sounds good so far

[@vblackwell3347]

My heart breaks for the heavily finned Bettas. To me, it's cruel & inhumane. I won't get any heavier finned than a Veil Tale. Just my choice.

[@normandcass1113]

I have a very territorial male plakat and have noticed he seems less agitated when I keep the temp around 76 rather than 78. Very interesting to learn about the higher temps triggering breeding instinct. Thank you for the informative video!

[@Fishtory]

That makes sense. Thank you for sharing

[@dcphifer4307]

Alex, I really appreciate you sharing. I am new to all this. I was one of those who got talked into a 1.7G Starter Betta Kit Tank... that was 10/27/2022... my present to myself for my 70th Birthday. I just got a used 55G Tempered Glass Aquarium. I am blessed with selecting this dark blue DoubleTail Betta, or he choose me. Either way, he is getting along with my experimental additions. First, by December I bought another kit tank 6.6G. This allowed me to get a few more fish. He seems to enjoy watching the 2 Chocolate Kuhli Loaches do their Happy Dance. He allows them to bump i to them. I also picked up a Bronze Cory Cats, 3 Otto Cats, 4 Nerite Snails, and eventually... a few weeks ago, I picked up a Dwarf PeaPuffer to help control the Ramshorn and Bladder Snails that came with the Hornwort and Watersprite. They are all getting along very nicely. Since October, I picked up 5 used 5G tanks to start to quarantine some more Fish to create small shoals of what I already have to transfer into this 55G. I appreciate this video because I read that in spite of the Dwarf Cherry Shrimp are red, that they do well with the Betta, and his Clean-up Crew... except perhaps the PeaPuffer. My Question is will the Cherry Shrimp grow large enough and be safe with this Dwarf Pea Puffer providing that I add lots of Plants?

[@Fishtory]

If you have lots of plants, and start with 10 or more, id say a few babies will survive each spawn... usually 2 to 6 or so in my tanks

[@Flufferz626]

Betta splendens also have really different personalities. It is fascinating watching over my life. My mom had one in a 20 gal communal tank with tetras. He never killed any of them, though took amusement from making the neon tetras school. Never nipped, more like a border collie . The first betta I kept in a tank was Tully. He was electric pink/red and blue and flared so much. He'd swim up to my finger and take food then leap for a bite. Killed his tank mates by head butting. Wouldn't bite or eat just...bang his head in any companion that moved. Or plant that decided to turn red under more light. Both of those betta lived 5+ years so they were happy in their own way. Now years later I have Aubie. He is a juvenile still, but very docile and curious. I sit down and look at the tank and he eventually comes forward and looks at me. Takes food from my hand and swims between my fingers. He is curious by my snails and shrimp but chases them then just stares

[@whisper8742]

One of the best videos I've seen on betta behavior and environmental concerns. Thank you for your direct and insightful dialogue. This was really so helpful. Cheers~

[@Fishtory]

Thank you. Im very glad you found it of use. Cheers

[@morganwardwell2388]

This is the best betta video I've encountered. Thank you so much for your time and detail.

[@redbeard6739]

woo hoo! im in the elite 32% lol! jokes aside greatly informative video and ironically was talking to the wife early this morning (before vid came out) about putting a shrimp or 2 in with our beta so perfect timing there! thanks for all the wonderful content alex, you are truly an asset to our community

[@Fishtory]

Thank YOU for tuning in and stopping by!

[@skirtedfancy]

This is such a great, informative video. I learned an incredible amount of information and I’m excited to get started on building up the plants in my tank so I can get some shrimp 😍. Thank you so much for making it!

[@Fishtory]

You are so very welcome. Please dont hesitate to ask any time if you have questions. Cheers and good luck

[@Matthew_Does_To_Many_Things]

I have just added I got some red rilli shrimp and thankfully they are large enough for my betta tank so he doesn’t eat them. I added lots of plants and Java moss and wood. My betta always looks at himself at the glass and goes up and down. I have previously put black construction paper and it helped but I like being able to see my whole tank. I’m gonna try to lower my temperature for 78 to 76 degrees Fahrenheit. My betta looks at shrimp but doesn’t eat them and nips at them. Thanks for all the information!

[@WaterSong144]

I enjoy all the interesting tidbits as well as the meatier history and scientific stuff on your menu! Thanks for the effort you clearly put into these videos!

[@Fishtory]

Glad you enjoy them. Thanks from dropping in.

[@LORD2FireBut2]

Thankyou, this has been very informative. I'm setting up a semi aquaponic system for my pepper plants with the roots hanging in to the top of a planted tank with blue diamond shrimp daphnia, a blue betta as well as a bristle nose. The plan was for some of the shrimp and daphnia to be eaten whilst the rest would hopefully be able to hide in the aquatic undergrowth and reproduce.

[@Fishtory]

Sounds really cool! Best of luck

[@smallislandgardener]

The young one and i put a neocaradina in her 2.5 gallon beta tank months ago and we thought it was eaten because we didn't see it after the first days. About a month and a half later, we saw it swimming around after a water change. We were so happily surprised! Its a simple tank with one clump of hornwort, a tiny castle, and a rock, so how it hid from us for so long is a mystery. It made me wonder if neocaradina can bury themselves in the substrate like some shrimp in the wild.

[@Fishtory]

They sure can!

[@smallislandgardener]

@@Fishtory hah, well there we have it then!.. it made its appearance for a few hours then went back into it's hideout where we havent seen it since.

[@SchpoonFed]

New to the channel. Really enjoying it man!

[@sunsetjen2398]

Love it 🤩 Answers 4 many observational questions 2 🤔 Best Betta Info 👍Thanks Alex 😘 Rockin the new do 💇‍♂️💋✨🐟

[@Fishtory]

Thank you kindly :)

[@karenhann8956]

I was surfing around ~ looking around for information on Amano Shrimp. Some how missed this video 🤔. The other day you asked what we wanted from your videos? Videos like this! Packed with amazing information! 🤗 I am certainly interested in Betta behavior! Hormones! It's always about the hormones! 🤣 Thanks buddy! ♥️

[@Fishtory]

Perfect! Lol thanks

[@lilianubia3648]

I like your videos for being informative and thorough. All the information you share is very valuable , Thank you!

[@Fishtory]

Thank you so kindly! And welcome. Have a great week@

[@Sirillius]

The detail in your video is really just amazing, thank you.

[@RedrumTV5150]

My 10gal planted tank has 1 male betta, 5 neon tetras, snails and 2 emerald Cory's, and they ALL get along fine!!!!

[@Fishtory]

Most excellent 👌

[@brushitoff503]

Good stuff mate, I've never been into Betta's but can apreciate a cool fish & great info as always man cheers!

[@marypaigeflynn4512]

This is one of my favorite combinations ever as long as I have plenty of hiding room for the shrimp it doesn't cut down too much on the colony of of shrimp.., a betta may find a few little ones every once in awhile but it just keeps the tank in balance🐟🦐 A heavily planted tank with Driftwood and hardscape in it is the key for me.. I also noticed that when the betta are happy and fed the right kind of food, including some live food and supplemented with some pelleted type betta food or high protein type food it really cuts down on the loss of shrimp.. They can live together peacefully ♥️🦐🐟 My betta I've always gotten along with other nano fish like you suggest.. they really are extremely peaceful in my opinion.. but that's just my experience!! One of my best combinations was always a male better with a bristlenose pleco.. they were so entertaining to watch and they got along beautifully except for when the pleco would try to waive the betta away with his tail when it came to food 🤣🤣 Another Super informative video like we always get from you chock full of all kind of good information ♥️♥️ of all the fish I keep I enjoy my betta splendens and Mahachaiensis, I think they're incredible fish I wish they had a longer lifespan but they are so worth it for the years they give us ♥️♥️♥️ thank you as always for sharing Alex and I hope you have a blessed and beautiful day 🙏🌿🐟🌿🦐♥️

[@Fishtory]

Aww thank you, and thank you for sharing too! I hope you're feeling better! Hugs

[@TheMichaelsvieira]

That was a great video! You answered all the questions I thought about and a bunch I didn't even consider. Thank you

[@Fishtory]

Glad it was helpful! Cheers

[@MicroWorld7]

It's 2 years I am keeping cherry shrimps with a male betta, he chase them, probably he eat some rarely but tye colony is completely fine and growing bigger and bigger 😄

[@Fishtory]

Thank you for sharing your experience with this set up as well!

[@CarolynnMc01]

Hi Alex! I enjoyed this (and all) your videos. I have a juvenile Betta in a densely planted 29 gallon tank. She lives with 2 rescued furcata rainbows and a few Schwartzi cory cats along with a small colony of shrimp. I've seen the Betta with an adult shrimp in her mouth before, but it was obviously too big for her to eat. This was the day I named her Savage. Of course, I know it's her nature to hunt and she does that frequently. The shrimp have a large mound of moss they live in and under, and they are also breeding in the tank. I'm sure little Savage will eat any baby shrimp she can get. I'm not bothered by it. I'd like to get a small group of fish for the tank as well. I had 6 praecox rainbows in the tank as well, but they are so frantic, I was concerned the betta would go stir crazy so I rehomed them with a friend of mine. If you have time, do you have any suggestions? thank you for all you do for our fishy community! ~~carolynn

[@Fishtory]

Yes I sure do... harlequin rasboras, lambchop, glow light or Kubota rasboras are all a great choice. Honestly cpds and erythromicron also work well too, because they stay near the bottom. Best of luck to you!

[@CarolynnMc01]

Alex, great ideas! I was thinking rasboras. I don't know that i could get sub-adult CPDs.of a size that little Savage would leave them alone? But, this gives me an excuse to shop for a few new fish! I might take a little jaunt to San Francisco to see what I can find. Maybe Ocean Aquarium has something. That place amazes me... :)

[@WaterSong144]

This is my second comment. This vid is so helpful-planning stages of a betta and planted pygmy Cory tank! Wow, thanks.

[@Fishtory]

Glad it was helpful!. Thanks for tuning in 🙏

[@oakharts]

You do have remarkable knowledge on these things, thanks for sharing!

[@Fishtory]

Sure thing! Thanks for tuning in and leaving some feedback :)

[@pkendlers]

I have had luck putting a betta (blue male) in with a bunch of guppy fry. He didn't predate on the babies and the babies didn't seem to bother him. The only problem with bettas in community tanks is that they have to be in the right community. No fin nippers, no hyper annoying zippy fish, no brightly colored long fins on the other fish. Bettas, especially those over a year old, are kind of like axolotls. They are mostly chill and don't like a bunch of crazy crazy all up in their face. So if you can create the right sort of community for them they'll do well. Some bettas are downright friendly and get along with others just fine. Just be prepared to relocate them if they're not the kind that can play with others nicely.

[@Fishtory]

Thanks for sharing all that info! I totally agree with you, from all that I've witnessed as well

[@sassduffin4274]

Great comment, thank you for sharing, really useful information 👍❤️

[@TheCruiseDog]

Always informative. Thanks for sharing all your knowledge. I really appreciate it.

[@Fishtory]

I appreciate that!

[@2009misscat]

This is the BEST betta video I’ve watched. I wish I had known all this b4 picking my betta. I wanted betta and guppies, but I picked a solid red crown tail and he wants to kill EVERYONE! I wanted orange and yellow guppies, well my betta Pilus, killed the orange ones, left the plain clear colored females alone for the most part. Ugh!! Poor guppies. After 3 days in a row of finding a dead guppy when I got home, I scooped the rest out and gave them back to the store. Now I have a lone fish and an assassin snail. Pilus is convinced to there are still fish in his tank. Constantly on the hunt. I’ll plan my next betta better for fish friends. 😢For now at least one fish is happy haha!

[@tvpillay]

Have a big enough tank Bettas usually stick one side of the tank and have guppy grass for the shrimp to escape into if they get chased

[@Fishtory]

That's the way to do it!

[@coryfeldman-hz2yj]

We have 2 female betas. They tend to stay at the top of the tank for the most part. Its a 29 gallon. (Not long ) pretty sure the goldfish picked on what was the dominant betta. I forgot how fast goldfish grow. We built some caves and planted the tank.. But that is still a work in progress.. We found it nearly dead hiding in the cave. I put it in a mesh breeder box, its recovering. but I'm still not sure if its the danios or the gold fish. I removed many.of the male danios... Which is f+++ing hard btw.. Fast little buggers.. We are using the quarantine tank. But I suspect this goldfish needs a new home to make this tank work. Eventually we are looking to put some glowfish with the betas all our other community tanks were easyish. This one is more challenging for sure.

[@Fishtory]

Yeah goldfish probably did the damage but zebra danios are really prone to never stop swimming and always be picking at or false charging at the other fish.

[@quki3]

3:38 I love that gray betta. Is that a wild type?

[@Fishtory]

Actually it's a copper alien betta

[@HappyDuck1992]

really in depth information thanks! 25:12

[@Fishtory]

Glad it was helpful!

[@InsideTheStadium]

You are a rock start brother, thank you for this vudeo and information. 👑

[@Fishtory]

No problem. Thanks for coming by

[@ericnoak3320]

Amazing as always!

[@Fishtory]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@alantooth48]

Excellent video I'm actually getting ready to go out and get a better and I may test my Betta with some cull shrimp. The new hairstyle it looks great on you what a great look

[@Fishtory]

Thank you very much, my friend! And that's a great idea to test a betta out

[@martinw8635]

I thought my betta was living peacefully with my shrimp... until I saw him with a shrimp's head sticking out of his mouth! I found a big cherry-red poo the next day. It may explain why the betta sometimes had a mysteriously big belly. Once I stopped keeping him with shrimp, I've been seeing a lot more shrimp out and about in the tank.

[@Fishtory]

Yes that is very common. I don't recommend this combination usually, but people seemed to be determined to do it...even when the betta is a hunter. Some betta don't really pay attention to the shrimp on the other end.

[@irenedool1069]

I’ve kept bettas for 24 years I did not know a lot of this info. Bettas are my favourite fish besides goldfish and Corydoras

[@Fishtory]

Glad to bring out a few obscure facts and trivia :D

[@isabelestevez7612]

I had a female plakat betta that ate snails and it was so interesting to see her haunt them, imagine her with shrimp...

[@DebzAquaPetz]

Thanks Alex great information as always have a fab weekend 💖🤗

[@Fishtory]

Thank you, and right back at you

[@pkendlers]

I tried keeping a betta (blue female) with some ghost shrimp many years ago. Unfortunately that betta saw the shrimp as snacks. I also have guppies that see shrimp as snacks. Life is hard when you're a tasty critter.

[@Fishtory]

True. I think ghost shrimp are pretty bold/(dumb) lol. But perhaps I'm wrong

[@pkendlers]

@@Fishtory perhaps they think are invisible, so they have no worries? 😂

[@coryfeldman-hz2yj]

Shrimp are delicious.. They aren't wrong..

[@alistercaddy1208]

Ha! I asked this exact question earlier this week! Awesome video, my man😊

[@Fishtory]

Glad to hear it :)

[@alexandrajohnson7664]

Hi Alex! Love your channel, it’s been saving me. I am new to the hobby and very inexperienced… unfortunately I got a bit over excited and bit off way more than I can chew. I have two small tanks (2.5G and one 7G). My cherry shrimp and snail populations are exploding in the 2.5G tank. I was told by my local fish hobbiest that I wouldn’t have to worry about the shrimp multiplying, but here I am with over 50 shrimp and two more pregnant shrimp about to burst 😩I’ve been trying to catch them to give them back to my local fish shop but they’re multiplying so fast I can’t keep up. I realized I’d been over feeding so I’ve halted feeding-but even with no supplemental food they’re thriving (I think bc I have so much algae in there). I can’t remove the algae though bc I have two otocinclus in there (another unfortunate result of my ignorance and over-excitement-the otos WERE in the 7G tank until I realized they were starving bc it’s a newer tank with no dust algae nor biofilm, they weren’t touching the algae wafers, zucchini, spinach nor the cucumber so I panicked and put them into my more mature, but shrimp laden, 2.5G tank where they are now eating). Anyways, here I am with way too many shrimp and two otos that I’m now thinking I should return to my fish keeper bc 2.5G is way too small of a home for them… Meanwhile, I’m about to have the same problem in my 7G tank bc I see that three of my shrimp are pregnant. Do you have any tips for how to control my shrimp population? might adding a betta to my 7G tank help to control the population slightly? What about the 2.5G tank? Any tips for controlling that shrimp population? Both tanks are heavily planted + both have driftwood so the water column has even less room for swimming. Thanks in advance for the help! Lesson learned on purchasing livestock before doing my research 😭

[@alexandrajohnson7664]

Wanted to add: the 2.5G tank is technically a 4G tank but I have a very thick layer of substrate so I think the water column is ~2.5g. Is that way too small of a space for a betta to cohabitate with shrimp? (If I rehome the otos?)

[@lydialaub5475]

Thanks for helping us make betta choices! Lol

[@Fishtory]

Clever Clever!

[@aryah1513]

What’s funny is if you put this in a shrimp group on Facebook the members will lose their minds.

[@marthanewsome6375]

Yes they do. Because the shrimp groups are usually people who want optimum conditions to breed shrimp and not fish. I use to be that way when I was breeding them and the only fish I would promote at all were otocinclus and even then other breeders would attack me. It was pretty funny since I was way more successful than they were. They would be shocked when I would take a photo of my tank and it was exploding with shrimp and they had the nerve to tell me off for have a few otocinclus in there.

[@Fishtory]

Hahaha I hope someone does

[@Vcaser]

The betta fish keepers in my betta group would come at you, too! LOL they would be so mad if they heard you say anything less than 80 degrees. And pelleted food? Perish the thought 😂

[@scarlettwiddowson4245]

Would this sort of apply the same to keeping angels with neons? I want to put them in a planted 6 foot tank

[@Fishtory]

Somewhat. The main principals apply, except angels will get along with one another if put together while young...then grow up and pair off (i like buying 6 quarter sized fish and letting them pair off and grow for 6 months to a year until theyll spawn). But placing random angels together can get rowdy also... so usually a dominant pair will rise and they each establish a pecking order. So i recommend either keeping only a pair of angels.. or a group that grows up together ... or a bunch of the same sex, unless you have a tank thats 75g or larger. ...otherwise fighting is common

[@ryanboscoe9670]

This gives me the confidence to put a bunch of cherries in with a guppy colony 😂

[@wallylasd]

Hey, are there any fish that could thrive on cultivated Isopods mainly?

[@Fishtory]

Most predatory or omnivores in the nano category can be in a self contained community of them as food, as long as there's room for them to reproduce and create plenty of food. I've done it several times...always by growing a large scud colony or daphnia colony first then adding the fish

[@morwenna]

I have a planted/scaped 14 gallon cube for my betta boy Ziggy Stardust, a red twin tail half moon. He is so chill, he won't even flare at a mirror. I have a 5 gallon Neo breeder tank but the Neos in Ziggy's tank are breeding way more! Ziggy will chill in his java moss bonsai and shrimp will come right up and hang out with him. I also have some Endlers in with him and they also do great with the shrimp! Now....what do you think about a betta sorority with a Malawa colony?

[@Fishtory]

Dooo it!

[@amazingaquaticsandexotics3030]

i have a veiltail with 3 amano shrimp. as long as the shrimp stay away from the top [where the betta considers his territory ] they are left alone but i target feed them to keep them well fed

[@Fishtory]

Very good idea

[@daynajabin63]

So informative. 😊

[@Fishtory]

Glad it was helpful!

[@heaven7360]

I thought all my shrimp had been eaten by my red big fin betta. I thought he was more chill than some of my other bettas so I thought I'd try shrimp. Well he did go a'looking around the bottom of the tank and around kind of hunting and my shrimp disappeared. Well, after a month or so I noticed the shrimp were coming out and now they're really coming out and more often and it seems they aren't afraid of the betta at all. You're right about all the little places where they can go just might help. I have a good amount of plants and caves. It's been interesting and I'm so glad they didn't all get eaten as my betta is a food freak and gets really "hangry". I have some wild bettas too. Is it easier to keep shrimp with them than the more irritable domestic bettas?

[@Fishtory]

Wild betta are more relaxed usually, but it all depends if they eat live food or if they learn to hunt shrimp

[@kbozzie5951]

Yep, have a tank with RCS and a Beta. Shrimps are breeding and I'm sure Mr. Beta has picked off some little shrimps.

[@Fishtory]

Nice work

[@daynajabin63]

I have a betta sorority. When I introduced cherry shrimp, the bettas ate them.

[@Fishtory]

Yes, some bettas eat even adult shrimp.... others will not even eat the baby shrimp...it's a strange thing

[@boniboni4912]

Do pvc pipe works as tiny hidden subways for the shrimp? I’m thinking of putting cherry shrimp with my sparkling gouramis, is already a heavily planted tank 20g long with 3 sparkling gouramis and snails.

[@Fishtory]

Pvc is probably too large...maybe some beverage straws in a bundle could work though?

[@boniboni4912]

@@Fishtory thanks or maybe rigid airline

[@theerancheliyan6254]

Fantastic video! Does slightly increased flow help reduce the breeding behaviour, as it's harder for the batter to produce bubble nests?

[@Fishtory]

Yes, absolutely

[@sparkyjoes]

Would you be able to share the source for the info that the red color was associated with aggression? Thanks!

[@Fishtory]

Sure! Ethan D. Clotfelter, Daniel R. Ardia, Kevin J. McGraw, Red fish, blue fish: trade-offs between pigmentation and immunity in Betta splendens, Behavioral Ecology, Volume 18, Issue 6, November 2007, Pages 1139-1145, doi.org/10.1093/beheco/arm090 So there's a trail of evidence showing that caratenoids are linked to sexual color displays, and boldness/agression in red orange or yellow fish (high carotenoids in their pigmentation) and yet immune responses were not equal. Only red fish get immune Boosts/stamina Boosts AND increased sexual coloration/displays and agression. Where as blue fish only received immune benefits. This is then followed up in 3 more papers. Let me see if I can find a link you'll be able to read....

[@Fishtory]

Also this ties in. Aggressive behaviour of male siamese fighting fish Betta splendens Regan in different colour environment Bambang Irawan, Norma Afiati Aquacultura Indonesiana 7 (2), 107-114, 2006

[@sparkyjoes]

Excellent!! Thanks so much!

[@vaibhavanand4772]

Hey I am going to make a betta female sorority...will they do good with CHS?

[@Fishtory]

They will eat any babies...and some may Even hunt adults. The deeper the tank the better and the more plants/ rock piles and sticks for the shrimp, the better they will do

[@vaibhavanand4772]

@@Fishtory ohk..thnks

[@irishegner1789]

Do you think domestic Bettas or wild Bettas from the splendens complex (Betta smaragdina guitar) would work better with neocaridina shrimps? I've heard different things and can't decided with one to add to my 9.1 shrimp tank.

[@DurfSUN]

Nice! Curious, when you are in Florida is there a betta breeder/supplier/importer that you meet-up with? Father Fish/Lou(?) is looking for a number of someone in Tampa and I know you had a schedule there.

[@Fishtory]

I only know the wholesalers and some hobby breeders... the best betta are all imports i hate to say... but the second best are imported blood lines being bred in the USA

[@DurfSUN]

@@Fishtory thnx!

[@KitchensbySavina]

Great video. Thank you.

[@Fishtory]

Glad you liked it! You are very welcome

[@WaterSong144]

Alexander-Where do you recommend getting wild bettas from? I’m looking for sources.

[@Fishtory]

The wet spot, aquatic arts, imperial tropicals is where ive gotten most of mine

[@adov]

awesome information! thank you

[@Fishtory]

Glad to abridge!

[@peanutdecided6256]

it was my understanding that the horizontal lines mean the betta is stressed, is that not right? or you mean some always have the lines and maybe they just become more pronounced when the betta is stressed?

[@Fishtory]

Yes, but some wild or lower grade bettas always have lines like that if they are young or female.

[@plantisbae]

Hi ! Can I keep a betta with 2 ghost shrimp in a 3.5 gal tank pls ??

[@Fishtory]

Probably...the betta may eat the shrimp if theyre small...but ammano shrimp work well too and are bigger if you want less chance of them ending up food

[@SonnyBurnett2012]

Ghost shrimp attacks betta. My personal experienced witness.

[@Fishtory]

Oh whoa I've never seen that...but ammano and ghost shrimp aren't really shrimp I recommend and they're kind of less common (to people who ask this type of question)

[@SonnyBurnett2012]

@@Fishtory yeah i claim this! Because: I have a sorority thank, and I CLAIM i NEVER Saw a fight between bettas, but thing started tô Go weird when i Saw ripped fins. I hád two shrimps sold as ghost shrimps but It was an aggressive species. I removed them and i left the real ghost one. I Saw the real ghost attacking new bought bettas and fighting for food. Now here, shrimp only for my personal delight in the kitchen lol

[@Vcaser]

People have accidentally ended up with whisker shrimp or prawns, when they thought they were getting ghost shrimp! Mayhem ensued….😮

[@JoseTorres-fn1vk]

Thank for the info

[@Fishtory]

Thanks for tuning in!

[@mach389]

Great advice 👍👍

[@Fishtory]

Thanks

[@EuroGupper]

@Alex what is the fastest way to grow Guppy grass (without CO2)?

[@Fishtory]

Lots of light, medium flow and nitrates around 40ppm or more

[@Sproutt]

Lols my betta does not aggree with your opening monologue.. i got a female hoppng he would be pre-occupied by her… not the case …. He wasnt having itamaybe bigger tank? But i dont think that would help…

[@ubermausse306]

I have a new goal now over the next 20+ years, and that's to breed a non-aggressive betta species. I have two plans, the first is to breed two blue halfmoons as normal in a 10g tank, and keeping the young in a full sorority only removing the aggressive ones, and then breeding the submissive ones with different styles of female bettas, repeating the process through each generation until a fully submissive betta breed is created (if it could be done to make them fight, no reason the reverse can't happen right?) Plan two involves my 29g heavily overgrown "jungle tank" with over 100 various guppies, tetras, shrimp, corydora and even a dwarf frog... It's so overgrown and overcrowded with guppies and fry to the point i don't even need to feed the frog anymore, so the male betta i end up introducing to it should have no huge effect aside from some population control. The goal with this plan is to create the closest thing to a wild betta as possible, with the female already being in the tank first instead of the other way around. My thought is it would be like a lion in the jungle finding new territory for the first time, chasing the female and asserting dominance over his new pride, and while he will kill a few of the others, the jungle's just too thick for him to wipe out the entire circle of life. If that male does end up breeding, the fry will remain in that tank and no interference will be made on my part since the tank's overgrown and the water is full of microscopic life boosted with spirulina plankton tabs regularly. I'll end up removing the father and mother after they breed and leave the fry to grow wild, breeding them with some of the ones from the first plan as well as the minor inbreeding that would naturally occur until a more submissive "community tank" breed is made I haven't started any of these plans aside from having the blue halfmoon pair separated and bulking up, and having a female in the jungle tank, so i'm open to any and all suggestions for what to do going forward!

[@birdsofafeather7606]

is that a sparkling gourami with the betta?

[@marthanewsome6375]

No it was not. I do keep a male sparkling gourami with my betta sorority and at first he was trying to challenge them all and they just ignored him. It was funny to watch. I use to not think you could keep them together, but if your tank is big enough 2 foot plus and it is highly planted with lots of rocks and hiding areas it can work. Now Mr Sparkles just hangs out with the girls. Everything is calm and lovely.

[@Fishtory]

Yes (whom normally I don't recommend with shrimp)

[@anga9495]

Personally, I've kept several Betta's with many shrimp... As long as the aquarium is big enough and the shrimp have lots of hiding places it's more than fine. I've never had a single problem with it in years.

[@anga9495]

Love to do complex and elaborate community aquariums! Many times they don't seem finished until I have a rescue Betta. Let's face it, most Betta's are rescue fish, the way they're kept.

[@sandidsaman7723]

heyy, i am planning to add some cherry shrimps to my single male betta 10 gallon tank may i know more about how u did that?

[@anga9495]

@@sandidsaman7723 As long as you feed your fish, don't have a monster Betta fish and you keep really good hiding plants, wood, rock, but mostly plants you'll be just fine. Look into the kind of plants or "things" you want to keep in your aquarium and if you're unsure feel free to ask about them. I'll happily reply. The other thing that's helped me is I spend time picking out what seems to be a friendly Betta. Most of them aren't really jerks who want to torture other animals. If they do it's out of boredom or hunger. Pay attention. If by some miracle you end up with a fish who seeks out shrimp or snails to pester them it's because they're bored, aren't eating enough and might need other fish. So maybe think of having a back up fish to add in mind just in case. In a ten gallon you can easily keep cherry shrimp with a Betta, plants, snails and if you need to... a small school of fish(like 6 tetras) to keep the Betta from total boredom. I hope this makes sense(?). 😊 If not, please feel free to clarify. And, have fun with your tenk! It's so exciting to put a new one together and then watch your shrimp successfully having babies!! I'm here almost every day and will happily respond if you need.

[@anga9495]

​@@sandidsaman7723I just realized you have your Betta already! Sorry, no coffee yet! In this case, when you add the shrimp move things around so he doesn't feel like he's the boss of the territory. Do this as you add the shrimp or right before. :) And have your back up plan if he ends up being a little instigator. I have heard of Bettas torturing a snail into dying. That Betta was obviously really bored and needed more company. :)

[@sandidsaman7723]

@@anga9495 thanks, its always cool to get suggestions from experienced keepers, also i was wondering ..do cabomba plants thrive being completely floating without any soil? also my betta is somewhat in middle in the sense of aggressiveness and even worst part is he is sometimes too curious! but still imma try out with 2 shrimps first and keep a backup tank in case things get bad, only hope the shrimps make it out alive

[@fishandfloral]

I have a betta with other fish and shrimp too. 😀

[@Fishtory]

Thanks for sharing and showing its possible

[@pecosR0B]

What I've learned: 1. if you want cherry shrimp with a betta, make enough hiding places 2. don't even try with a king betta, they will eat the hell out of them (same with puffers of course). 3. harlenquin rasboras and rummynose tetras do not seem to try and eat shrimp. the rasboras gave up within seconds.

[@Fishtory]

Bingo!

[@aguyandhisstuff8929]

I literally just threw my bowl together on a whim. And the betta doesn't pay attention to the shrimp AT ALL. He has other creek bugs to keep him occupied. Just posted a little video

[@Fishtory]

Nice!

[@daynajabin63]

For some reason, every female koi betta I've had bullies every other betta. Any thoughts? I just put 3 together in a 20 gallon planted tank. Wish me luck!

[@Fishtory]

Watch em closely... perhaps the koi gene is synonymous with the red gene sets too?

[@betances_thebetta]

I just introduced 2 shrimp into my 3 gallon betta tank. Everything was going fine but when I went to record them to show they were getting along, the betta attacked one of the shrimp😔. Not sure of this is going to continue. I uploaded the behavior if you could take a look and give me your opinion, that would be great!

[@robertmiy]

In my experience When I'm dealing with a Aggressive Betta if I add the Betta to the tank lasts They seem to Calm down

[@Fishtory]

Yes that's a really good point. Adding shrimp to an existing Betta tank is asking for trouble... they think "oh what is this new play thing in my environ- food!"

[@Leeuwtje1979]

My 2 betta splendens attack them. I have 2 Betta males in 2 separate tanks. The orange shrimp are being attacked. The vivid colors? I don't know. The wild colors ( brown) and dark red are not being attacked. They rip the adult shrimp , they don't eat them but kill them. The organs are outside the exoskeleton :( It can go terribly wrong. I don't reccomend this combination.

[@Fishtory]

Good point about bright shrimp...thank you. It can go bad pretty much no matter what..."If it fits in their mouths- it's food. "

[@irenedool1069]

I prefer getting female bettas to be honest they’re more peaceful I’m going to heavily plant my 3.5 gallon tank I have three little juvenile zebra danios in it now I’m going to add a female betta and ghost shrimp

[@marthanewsome6375]

3.5 is a bit small. I would go at least 5 gallons. The zebra danios will probably kill more shrimp than 1 female betta. I had shrimp in a 5 gallon vase with 1 male betta and it worked fine. If I were you I would rehome the zebra danios to give the shrimp a better chance. Good luck.

[@dax8753]

i have a load of chopped up leaves for my baby shrimp to live in

[@Fishtory]

Good call!