NEW Science Debunks That Keeping BETTA Together, Is A Problem. Male & Female Group Aquarium Tips

[@Anubis30224]

I kept a male with seven females, everyone was super happy and they bred for me like that. But when I showed people on a popular fishkeeping discord I was bullied into nearly giving the hobby up all together. Thank you for showing more people that this is possible

[@Fishtory]

Do whatever works for you and your fish. The forums and social media are full of egos and cruelty far too often. Sorry to hear that

[@Anubis30224]

@@Fishtory thank you, I appreciate you. I've gone from 1 tank with four fish left to two tanks with an order of Betta fish on the way. I'm coming back

[@TheShuryansh]

Sir may I know what your tank size is ? And it was planted or not

[@Anubis30224]

@@TheShuryansh ma'am. And it was a heavily planted Dutch style 20 gallon long with plenty of floaters. Wish it could've been a 40, but apartment didn't allow for larger than a 20.

[@rasta77-x7o]

People who bully based on information they were told or read to people who can prove them wrong are weak pieces of shit. I'd have given it back 10 fold but the best bet is to just ignore and leave that place.

[@sigui.habana]

People like you that take scientific stuff and make it understandable for everyone deserve more recognition Thanks again

[@Fishtory]

Haha no problem. Im just a nerd that wants to talk to someone

[@rutheames979]

And we love to listen! Thank you 😊

[@dawnt6791]

Nearly 30 years ago, I kept a male betta with three females in my 55g community tank without any issues whatsoever. The other fish left the betta alone, and he showed off to the girls but there was never aggressive. Perfect fins. I didn't replace my bettas when they eventually died, switching to angelfish in my community, so I didn't have them for a while. Fast forward about 20 years when I decided I wanted bettas again, and I was suddenly seeing that you couldn't keep males and females together, that males would kill the females unless they were actively breeding. I found myself wondering if bettas had been intentionally bred for greater aggression than how they'd been when I had my group of 4. I haven't been a betta fan since then, though I had one male for a while. This study suggests I had it right 30 years ago, and all the sites warning against keeping them together are just spreading fear-based myths. Far better to teach people how to do this stuff RIGHT than to just tell them NEVER DO THIS. GREAT INFO, ALEX!

[@Fishtory]

Thanks for your testimonial

[@corinnakl]

One male with females, heavily planted in such a large area can work fine because they won't be able to see each other all the time. But most people will do the same in a 5 or 15 gallon tank.😡

[@quonandkevv329]

I’ve also did the same thing even breeding

[@brunohanham3119]

Did they breed?

[@DashDrones]

​@@brunohanham3119✅

[@SuperBoppy]

A few years ago, a sales girl in the fish department at Petco told me that she kept 3 male bettas in a 20 gallon long tank with no problems whatsoever. You are confirming what she experienced. I've been fish keeping for over 15 years now, and I can't believe how much false information about fish keeping (like keeping bettas together) has been and still is out there. Not only internet, but books and local fish stores as well. LFS's are not always a reliable source of information, because they are in the process of transporting and selling fish, trying to keep them alive just long enough to do so. Sometimes you get lucky and talk to a sales person who has been caring for fish many years at home and knows what they are talking about, but that is rare indeed. Thanks for all your info, BTW.

[@Fishtory]

Sure thing! It doesnt always work out... and it requires i caring and detail oriented fish lover to upkeep, but in asia, theyve done it for almost 1500 years now! ( i have a video on the history of their domestication if you are ever curious lol)

[@owlbestitching8839]

I have 1 bumblebee beta separate and alone. I was hoping to introduce him to a new 5 gallon aquarium that I’m about to set up and establish. Once it’s established and ready to receive its occupants, I’d love to be able to get 1 female (if possible) and other fish to this new tank, but I’m afraid of losing fish to the male beta. Can you please tell me what you would do if were in my situation? Any advice would help greatly.

[@anitabegley8456]

I breed and raise betta's. Several types so far for about 5+ years and they are awesome fish. I had to add this however for folks that don't know or have not found what I have....... Since breeding these beautiful fish, I did not separate them once they grew. I grew them out in 50 gallon troughs (1 brood was 240 babies) that I lined with a pond liner. NOT ONE of them fought with each other. Occasionally I would see a bit of aggression but not like I had heard. I sold them in sorority groups and never had anyone complain that they got aggressive. Actually one guy bought 3 groups total from me. The last group was 43 for a 125 gallon he had recently set up. I only had some plants thrown in, no substrate, and a hang on filter. So.... just my opinion..... because I am a breeder of these beauties is.... don't separate them and they don't know they are supposed to fight. Just my experience and I have bred and have had over 500 babies at one time in the past.

[@lizxu322]

100% agree. The babies are peaceful with each other, even if adults are introduced to babies (not small enough to eat), the adults recognise the babies as babies and will ignore them. Literally the only bad pairing is two strange adult males, second worst is strange adult female and strange adult male. Everything else is workable and some folks on forums seem to have nothing else better to do than cry and lament ' noooooooo no more than 1 Betta in one 10 gallon tank 😡😡😡' Also congrats on your spawn, my Max is 150, 240 is outrageous and fantastic

[@M676_88]

​​@@lizxu322I got my betta from a supermarket a month ago. It was half Moon ivory coloured with dazzling changing colours like if you see it from other side, the colours change. I have given it a large tank that can hold up to 8 fishes. I tried to give him some friends like mollies and neon tetra but he's not comfortable with them, he even tries to fight moving yellow mystery snails minding their own business. I fed him regularly and seen him creating bubble nest and people say it is happy but I think it's lonely in a big tank with plants, gravels. Do you think I should add a female betta in it?

[@BirdSniff]

I know people will find this video controversial because uninformed people will use this as justification to provide poor housing for their fish. This is an advanced setup and you have to love your fish and spend a lot of time watching them to make this work; it's an enthusiast's project. I find all this research fascinating. I remember a study ("Social partner preferences of male and female fighting fish (Betta splendens)", Snekser et al. 2006) finding female bettas, when given the choice, spent more time with another female betta as opposed to being alone. Male bettas did not display this preference and spent similar amounts of time alone vs with a single female. Both males and females showed a much higher preference to "socialize" when there was a group of 3 females for them to engage with vs an empty chamber. Obviously they are territorial fish but they engage in pretty complex socialization (hierarchy building). Super interesting animals. The study in this video just adds intruige to the diversity of behavior. Speaking of tank mates in general, I cannot imagine housing a betta with no tankmates. My bettas have always spent time patrolling their tanks and keeping tabs on their tank mates. My male closely follows his panda garra (sometimes sitting on him too) because the panda leads him to snacks. I've seen him flare at a female endler who was too rambunctious and bumped into him at feeding time. It's impressive that the endlers know to flee when he flares. He also hunts fry and corners them in his betta log since he's too slow to catch them. I love watching these guys and could tell more stories, but that's enough. What wonderful animals.

[@Fishtory]

Whoa you nailed it all 👏

[@giftofthewild6665]

Haha I had to keep my female betta separate because I ended up with her precisely because she was killing her tankmates in my friend's tank. Some bettas are fine in community tanks, some aren't.

[@sergiopita5117]

Man you and father fish are the most educational fish channels ! Thank you

[@Fishtory]

Thank you kindly

[@TW_Chizm]

Best fish channels on KZbin!

[@Witchfoot.Incorporated]

I’m 46. I have always kept bettas together after seeing how close together they are in the wild. They keep very small territories.

[@marysvara4392]

Love the fact that you explain the science. Almost everyone else just says you need lots of experience, but no details. And thanks for the links to the research.

[@Fishtory]

100% thank YOU for commenting and being so positive

[@williamamely7038]

Thanks for sharing. I have kept Bettas for over 30 years and related Bettas, when raised together are less likely to beat each other to death. It's awesome that you are able to keep unrelated fish together, as you have. Yes, providing plenty of swimming space, plenty of plants and other peaceful species as tankmates will help reduce aggression. You should speak at an aquarium fish club. It would be appreciated.

[@Fishtory]

Id enjoy that, if you know any hehe. Ive spoken to seattle portland and 3 around tampa fl

[@williamamely7038]

@Fishtory I am with the Brooklyn Aquarium Society. I can talk with the board members, if you wish to speak to our members.

[@PULAG]

I've always wondered why you can't keep them together in a tank, yet they all grow up in the wild literally all together. If they just killed each other constantly, they'd be extinct, which is far from reality.

[@Fishtory]

Bingo!

[@SamanthaNickole02]

You just burst that “Betta bubble” for me.😂 Thank you!👍🏼

[@fulanodetal3000]

well the bettas you keep in a tank (splendens) are descended from generations of domesticated fish (which descended from wild fish) that were bred to be more aggressive than their wild counterparts, so there's that for one. also, an average betta tank is way less space than they would have in the wild. they live in big shallow bodies of water. sometimes they have to survive in puddles when there's a drought or anything that would lower water levels which is where the myth of betas living in puddles comes from. this isn't to say betta splendens can't live together (you can see it in this video lol) but that most of them aren't exactly the same as wild types and aren't kept in the same environment he covered it in the video too.

[@darrylm92]

IMO it is a scheme to keep hobbyists from breeding them.

[@marchean83]

There are no splendens in nature.

[@Vcaser]

This was really great to see! I observed some of these traits in my black orchid halfmoon boy, Martok. He was in a densely planted 10 gallon with no other fish, but lots of shrimp. He favored the left half of the tank, and everyone had plenty of hiding spots. Martok seemed to really enjoy watching the shrimp, and was never bored. He passed away at the age of 3 a couple months ago, but his kingdom of shrimp and snails is thriving ❤

[@Fishtory]

Thanks for sharing that with us! Have an awesome week!

[@twitteringothers5059]

I'm both happy and sad reading this. Martok seem like a happy boy and was much loved. So sorry for your lost but happy that you were there to give him a happy life.

[@severedvibrations1211]

You've produced my new favorite Betta documentary!

[@Fishtory]

Aww thanks

[@TNKrisinNM]

Thank you for all this info! Im in a few betta groups and have been poopooed because i keep my bettas in pairs in my tanks. I have a male and a female in each tank. One pair loses color when they get separated, even if it's just for treatment of an illness or something simple. If one of them needs to be moved, i move them both. I was beginning to think i was doing something really wrong or really right since I havent been having any issues or arguments between fish. I even had one person tell me i was going to end up with all of my bettas dead.

[@sunnygiantbettas]

👏👏 Bravo! It's so refreshing to get more content like this on this topic. My sororities have always been subjects of both envy and controversy in spite of successful experiences from myself & lots of betta enthusiasts. And a lot of misinformation that we are still uncovering. I don't care science or not, there is no way we already know everything on all these animals! I love that you presented keeping bettas together. Now, others can be more informed when they are ready to experiment. Thanks 🐟 Sometimes, replicating nature is the best way to go.

[@Fishtory]

Sure thing! I totally agree. Im not endorsing it for most folks, but rather just showing its very possible

[@ryanmassey586]

I set up a 4' x 4' display in a store. I kept adding bettas and they kept disappearing. I added six females and an hour later all 12 males came out 😮. They all did great together for years. Full of other fish and loaded with plants.

[@rainbow.kadoatie]

This is cool to see! I had two plakat types living together in a 25 gallon tank before and was so surprised they got along well. I had the one male betta in a small quarantine tank above my main tank, and he jumped out of the quarantine tank and into my main tank. i noticed that the two fish were swimming peacefully together and decided to just leave them together and watch closely. They were fine. Years later one of the plakats died and i tried adding a long finned betta. They didn't get along quite as well, but there were enough plants in the tank that they just kept out of each others' way and were perfectly fine.

[@Galaxyofbrian]

I love the channel name. In the wild they are together. I have had to re home my fighter into his own tank he has a snail for company because he will attack other fish. He likes all of my attention going to him alone and he gets that now. He's got the best personality remembers things and plays games.

[@Fishtory]

Yeah theyre a very smart fish. I wish people would reframe them as a small cichlid more than just a little gourami

[@awilson9722]

Great video! Thank you! I have a few, 3 male, 6 female in an indoor 300 gal pond (6'w x 6'l x 16"h) and they all do just fine.... They are all some form of pk (plakat, short finned) and they are with 1 rainbow shark, ghost cats, endlers, shrimp and ramshorn snails. I never have any fin issues with anything. Driftwood, lots of plants like hornwort, various types of java fern/moss, anubias and floating plants as well as almond leaves and alder cones etc. No substrate. It's good to see that not everyone is all weird about them being together. I get people chastising me a lot when I mention having multiples together, but there is so much room that I never have any aggression issues with anything. Not even the rainbow shark, I have wondered if they could be kept in multiples in a similar set up, without the bettas or ghost cats. I haven't tried it yet, But I have thought about it. I may try it with a larger set up with a top swimmer like mollies or something just to see as I cant find any information on keeping them together in a set up this large.

[@youraveragefishkeeper]

I’ve done about 100 ish plus in about 40 gal. Bare tank. It was one of my favorite tanks to feed. It was like feeding graceful piranhas

[@Fishtory]

Haha awesome thanks for sharing

[@briangilman1937]

thank you ! I've been waiting for this video . have a 20 long with 3 females and a lone male that has been set up for 3 months with no issues and just set up a 40 breeder and ordered 10 females 2 males and 20 dwarf gree Raspbora's for it

[@Fishtory]

Right on! Just keep it planted well or short lines of sight if it gets rowdy haha. But i think you'll have an awesome tank!

[@pl1763]

I just purchased my 1st betta (1st fish of my own actually)today and how great God brought me to you. You had my full attention(rare lol) with your experience and obvious passion about this subject that keeps you seeking knowledge. Thank you for sharing. New sub

[@tiffakang4525]

My son is going to be so excited when I show him after school. Thanks!

[@rickbooher8224]

I have always thought this as they live together in the wild. However a well planted tank I would think is best so it can separate their line of sight and allow independent territories to develop. I think the palakats varieties would be the best. And also proper feeding to ensure everyone gets some.

[@Fishtory]

True

[@DixieNormus710]

This was an excellent video Alex, thank you so much. I've kept bettas for about 6 years now and I currently have a spawn of about 60 babies. I plan on keeping a group of females ultimately for myself. There are still a few males left in the big tank, you've inspired me to keep them as well and see how it goes!

[@Fishtory]

Right on! Just keep an eye out for any wild ones that are trouble makers...often removing one can fix a tank of a dozen other fish

[@DixieNormus710]

@Fishtory most of the males are removed because they were getting too spicy lol. They are still young, a little over 4 months now so I imagine in a couple months I'll know for sure who can stay and who needs to go. Right now it's peaceful and my favorite tank to watch

[@gxblintxes3375]

I wouldn't let them interbreed with their siblings. I would find a young male to go with them instead of one from the same clutch

[@Only1Sosa.]

@@gxblintxes3375 Can you explain why?

[@Only1Sosa.]

@Jack Sheridan 🤔 we'd be strange incest lesbians 😩 but I hear you

[@karenhann8956]

Alex ~ thank you so much for this video! You are my Wizard! I am so excited about all this information! And it's great information! "Red betta aggressive behavior" ~ "eyes and noses changing due to domestication". This information is important. I've watched the video 2 times so far and will watch again! And I've shared it 3 times. It's a game changer! I'm excited! I can do this! Have a 20 gallon long and a few empty tanks. But, first I have to learn how to grow something other than duckweed 😩 Thank you Alex!

[@Fishtory]

Haha youll get there with the plants... good aquasoil Like fluval stratum plants or ada amazonia...and a good fluval 3.0 planted plus light will make it so you cant fail lol. Most tanks or pet stores sell cheap and nearly useless lights

[@karenhann8956]

@@Fishtory thank you very much for the planting tips!

[@praktika1082]

Mahachaiensis, due to their native habitat limitations, are genetically disposed to sharing small spaces with each other. During the dry season in their natural habitats, the puddles of water (literally puddles) they inhabit often contain multiple specimens, huddling together in very tight spaces. They have no option but to coexist with each other this way, and aggression would lead to mass deaths. Genetically, the Bettas we have in our pet stores are a mix of Splendens, Mahachaiensis and Imbellis. So that peaceable instinct from Mahachaiensis also exist to some extent in our modern pet shop mongrels.

[@carlam.9529]

Thank you for all the information. I have always suspected this was possible but was never willing to take the risk !! After all they do survive in the wild without killing each other off.

[@Fishtory]

I hear you. It can be a lot of work if you dont get laid back fish haha

[@ubermausse306]

Just an interesting observation i have to point out.. I bought 2 females that were in the same tank together, travelled home in the same bag together with no issues, but the second i introduced them to their 10g tank the red finned one instantly began to bully the iridescent blue-red one. I had no choice but to separate them.... I'm thinking you need at least 10 gallons per fish just based on this observation if you plan to keep multiple...

[@Fishtory]

So keeping 2 is also very tricky... they tend to fight. Where as 4 or 5 fish all sort of are in a stalemate waiting for the others to make a move...ironically making it more peaceful at the end of the day. All this being said: some fish are just mean for no real reason lol... betta females and males both are known for this aggression in pop culture

[@ggoannas]

I totally agree. Well planted tanks with low water flow that enables them to set up individual territories usually works fine.

[@6324210]

I literally took notes AND subscribed! You’re so educated, and you brought all the information together so succinctly!

[@ShyDog827]

This information helped me understand bettas so much, thanks . I’ve been wanting to setup a betta tank , but didn’t really want a lone betta . I wanted to know if I could place two in a tank with some other small fish , and you addressed all that for me. When I was a kid , my first aquarium had a red betta, swordfish , a couple of gouramis and they were fine together . The betta kept everybody moving and fun to watch . I was real fond of that little character . But most of the videos now mostly say to keep them alone, so I was a little confuse about it . I think now I can think about getting the right size tank for a happy little family.

[@Fishtory]

Yeah just remember all bettas...especially male bettas can be aggressive if nesting or spawning... if you see foam or bubble nests, and you have a female in with the male, you may see fighting near the nesting corner. Also just add several at once but then spend several hours watching for what is "normal" warning flared fins or pacing vs what is actual ripping of fins that can occur with just one violent individual. Clean fins with tears, is your best signal that the fish are all getting along well enough

[@shesellsfish]

Love this! I love when you show that you can and you are. The betta police are calling PETA and stroking out as we speak, 🤣 I also always appreciate all the scientific background research you do and share. The links and magazine articles we can look into ourselves if we want to dive as deeply as you do. I love Bettas, they truly have unique personalities. I bought a King Betta for population control on an endler tub, he wouldn't touch the fry, the tiniest would swim right across his line of vision or right up to him and he never even attempted to chase one down. FAIL as population control, but he was such a big sweetie, anytime I messed around in the tank he wanted to swim into my hand and cuddle there. Anytime I came near the tub night or day he would come flying to the top front and look at me, he knew he wasn't being fed, but he just wanted to socialize for a bit. He was so beautiful and sweet tempered, not at all what I bought him for, lol. Then I had the demon from hades betta, he looked nice and sweet, but nope, he attacked and killed ANYTHING he could hunt down, ANYTHING. I gave him his own 5g and one adult ramshorn, nope...he hated that poor snail and killed it off over a 2 day period of repeatedly hunting it in a overgrown tank of Java ferns, guppy grass and thick hornwort. Nastiest tempered betta I've ever had out of multiple bettas over the years. Lil mean azz lived 7 long solitary years too, out of sheer spite and meaness I think, lol. He'd go after the siphon hose and my hand when I needed to pull excess hornwort or guppy grass and when I was wiping down the OUTSIDE glass. He was a trip in aggression for sure. Beard's looking good, and you look a bit more rested. All good things, all good things. 👍❤️👍

[@Fishtory]

Oh yeah, the hate male already started lol

[@shesellsfish]

@@Fishtory well you already knew it was going to...people hate having their preconceived notions dispelled, and having to see live videos of something working that they were told and believe is impossible. The majority all laughed at Henry Ford when he was telling his engineers what he wanted in a gas combustion engine and they told him it couldn't be done, and he said it can and you will find a way to make this work. Now look at us and our attitudes towards vehicles, can't live without them. You are not afraid to do innovative things in your fish keeping journey and show us how it can indeed be done successfully. I love that about you and your channel.

[@AussieAquatic]

@@Fishtory and 8K plus views in 2 days, so totally worth it!!!

[@TCgirl]

@@Fishtory why would anyone send hate mail to you? This is my first time here and I was struck by your handsome, beautiful face. Jus sayin. And I really appreciate your sharing your knowledge! Thank you!

[@TCgirl]

@shesellsfish, I love your story!! It's so true these awesome little fish have their own unique personalities. Thanks for sharing!

[@haideludwig8998]

Excellent video Dan, very informative and well presented... thanks. I just bought my Betta yesterday and realize I have alot to learn about keeping my little guy happy and healthy!

[@theblindbunnykenzie]

Around 2011 I had 5-6 betta males together (littermates that was never separated and came straight from the breeder) in a well planted 200 liters aquarium without problems (also had my wild guppies and some other fish with them).

[@GenRN]

I can’t wait to try this. I’ve kept bettas continuously for 7 years always kept boys as singles with other species in 75 gallons and tried sororities.

[@coryfeldman-hz2yj]

We bought 2 juvenile betas that were living in the same tank with a couple others and either ember tetras or rasboras. This is the hardest community tank we have, so far. And its just goldfish dannios cory snails + the two betas..its probably the goldfish. But even danios and guppies together have been problematic. Everything else has been pretty docile in the other tanks. Live breeders tetras shrimp snails cory.. Easy stuff especially in a bigger semi planted tank. Always trying to learn. Thanks for the info

[@Fishtory]

Goldfish are notoriously difficult and mean/ pushy actually

[@singlehandedlysingleparenting]

Glad I came across this video today. I currently got 7 bettas. Have been experimenting on putting them together in a tank for about 2-3 weeks. And your video was on point with what I learned so far in regards to sometimes you’ll have a betta that’s just mean to everyone and I have 1 male who was just like that. When I separated him, he started putting bubbles at the top of his tank. But he was also fighting with all the females so that was a no go. The 1 male I left with the one females was fine but his fins were torn (and I haven’t seen it grow back since) and I decided to remove him due to the torn fins and inactivity. Give him his own space for recovery and hopefully he recovers like the female I removed for the same reason that I’ll be explaining next. The 1 female with torn fins from the second male I removed today for fin recovery, was also getting picked on by the other females in the tank (I took as a sign that they sensed she was weak and didn’t want her there) so I removed her to recover and she was much happier that way and her fins started healing only after removal. So hopefully same results for the male with torn fins here in the next week. I also did realize that they were out of sight, out of mind fish and I had no where near enough greenery to have more than my 3 females in there currently. I will be adding much more green first before I add more. And funny enough, the 2 dominant females out of the 3, one of them is mostly a red betta that I cal Big Red, and the other is a giant betta with orange, some black and a little red. Needless to say big red, who is smaller, runs the tank and balances it out lol but I love your video I’ve been watching betta videos for an hour tryna learn more and this was my favorite one. Thanks a bunch (mahalo nui loa) from Hawaii 🤙🏽

[@Fishtory]

Best of luck. Cheers. As long as you pay attention to any issues starting ( nest building or nipping).. you can easily move the trouble makers

[@pink_alchemist]

I love this. "All the mean genes!" -- I've had two females that were absolute menaces. One I have now even hates snails. She does not like anything in her tank at all. Glad you mentioned some just aren't cooperative.

[@Fishtory]

Yeah id say 10% or so are just gonna be savage little fish lol

[@NaturalAquariums]

Interesting tip on how the facial structure can be indicative of being closer/further from wild forms.

[@Fishtory]

Pretty neat new science huh?

[@TCgirl]

I came here for this information and it's really great! But just a side note, that has nothing to do with fishkeeping, you have a striking and amazing face. I think Hollywood might be looking for your face. It's both beautiful and masculine in case no one ever said it to you. I just had to say it. Thanks for the teaching about bettas. I have two males right now, in separate tanks, but would really like to have more if I can keep them together with my other guys. Not quite ready for that yet as I need to study it some more but this is a place to start at least! Thanks again guy with the amazing face!

[@Fishtory]

Whoa... you know how to make a guy's week haha. Thank you. Thats very kind of you to say. Im blushing. When i was younger, i was told that i reminded people of leonardo dicaprio back during titanic's reign as top movie lol. But thank you, and welcome to the community 🙏...

[@TCgirl]

@@Fishtory I think I can kinda see the Leo Dicaprio thing a bit. But you really have your very own look! I don't want to make you blush again lol, Anyway, I cam super sad to say my new betta died 2 days ago and I don't know why. He was in a 35g with some little schooling fish, all parameters testing perfect, tank has been cycled for almost a year. I am so bummed. I buried him in my flower pot. Should I get another or is it just a bad idea because clearly I am doing something wrong. 😕

[@Mr.ReanuKeeves]

This is amazing bro! I love your tank filled with plants and it's awesome how they're all getting along.

[@Fishtory]

Glad you like it

[@amazingaquaticsandexotics3030]

fascinating. tbf i think that more people should view bettas like american cichlids or some other territorial fish. give them a small bare tank and only 2 or 3 individuals then chaos will happen. keep them in a large spacious setup with structure and plants with suitable numbers and aggression is limited to the odd squabble or chase

[@Fishtory]

100% you nailed it

[@deneng0259]

Great video Alex. I have a 10 that i just finished growing Betta Imbellis babies with the dad. Put the female back in a cylinder so the male cant get to her, but she is not really eating and has jumped out once with him. No bubble nest yet and i dont believe she has eggs . Temp is 76 deg. Feeding bloodworms frozen. Should i just let the 2 be together? Have lots of tannins in tank. These are pure Imbellis.

[@Fishtory]

Yeah id give it a go next time you have about an hour to watch them and make sure its working out

[@deneng0259]

@@Fishtory Cool. Not too bad. He made a nest, and is just kind of watching her.I kicked the temo. to 78 from 76. She has her stripes so maybe it will get done without any damage. Thanks Big A.

[@pauljarvis7386]

Excellent video..opened my eyes to the betta which I tbh have stayed away from because of all the reasons that we are told....this gives me confidence to try my hand at keeping them...Great stuff as usual...keep this info coming Alex...thanks again. 👍

[@Fishtory]

Glad I could help betta' illustrate my style of keeping. Lol sorry. Haha

[@galejohnson8086]

Thanks. It is so easy to just believe what you’ve always heard. Beautiful fish. You are so knowledgeable.

[@MichaelLee-br6hp]

I use a ratio of 1.5 to 2.5 female to 1 male betta. If you add more fast moving fish like rainbows, tetras, etc it will distract the betta. I find using water hyacinths roots really provide great hiding spots bettas without blocking your tank with too many vegetation. 75g tank is required for this type of setup.

[@Fishtory]

Totally. Thank you. And great advice

[@vaioyoshi]

I kept 1 male with 17 females. Shrimp, kuhlis, guppies and snails too. The only issue I had was replacing the shrimp fast enough😂

[@Fishtory]

Haha yeah if you keep em busy hunting and socializing rudely...(but not fighting!) Hehe they can get along surprisingly well. Thanks for sharing

[@vaioyoshi]

@Fishtory Thanks! I also only kept wildtypes imported from a breeder in Thailand who caught wild bettas for conservation. Frank's Bettas. Expensive but amazing quality fish! And I kept them in blackwater biome. They were always shy but so beautiful!

[@FlyingFoxFruits]

I like how u didn't blare royalty free music over your video, the vibe is very nice for listening, thanks very much

[@Fishtory]

Glad you like that haha. I'll never have more than intro music like that...and even that's rare. It annoys me from just enjoying the fish haha

[@ElPescadoMan]

This is very interesting. I never saw yellow betta before until about month ago. I had to buy him. He's a yellow with some hint of blue Crown tail. He's such a Beautiful fish.

[@Fishtory]

Very cool

[@sydneeh571]

The problem is that these domestic forms of wild fish were selectively bred for different reasons. Some lines were bred to fight eachother, while some fancier lines were bred to show off their coloration and fins. Temperament of your line of Betta and what type they are makes a great difference. Their wild counterparts are not as aggressive as domestic ones. The reason they fight is because they are shoved in tiny bowls with no plants or space to roam. If you want to keep Betta fish together without issues, you have to have at least 30 gallons minimum for a pair. Preferably 3 females per male. The water quality plays a huge role, as biologically appropriate PH and hardness determines the health and longevity of the fish. The happier they are, the less stressed they'll be and the less they'll fight. The more plants and decorations you have for them to explore and break line of sight between eachother, the less they'll fight too, they'll be more concerned with exploring and playing. Don't be afraid to add as many plants as you can fit, Bettas come from naturally very densely planted ponds and overflows where the leaf litter is rich in PH lowering tannins and antibacterial properties. Tons of sticks and rocks, etc. Don't keep your fish in an empty bowl! Actually research what species you want and allow them to thrive, not just survive.

[@Fishtory]

100%

[@1pocinha]

How often do you do water changes in this specific tank? Thanks!

[@quki3]

Your mixed betta tank blows my mind.. that’s a perfect Berta habitat..

[@michaelvenuti6560]

Hey dude, great channel ! My male Plakat Betta and female super Fancy Betta lived peacefully for a month in my 20 gallon Fluval aquarium... Today I noticed my male attacking and actually hurting the female which has a peaceful nature, like I can hold her in my fingers and she is so gentle. Now, I have her separated . She has a torn dorsal fin and multiple lacerations. I immediately put her in a salt and methyl blue bath for a few hours and now she's resting in isolation. Why did he turn on her??? They got along famous. Both are just under a year old. And they did try n mate but we're aquauard...lol I don't understand why he turned on her. I have Corys, a spotted pleco and just those 2 in my aquarium . Crazy 😮😢😮

[@Fishtory]

So sounds like the male basically hit puberty and since in the wild they have other males or other small fish to fight off from their bubble nests...instead he put that testosterone boost and anger into her... sadly this happens, and usually is a pretty reliable prediction for future behavior. I would say you can try to make them again after some time seperated, but keep a close eye on them in a dim lit tank for the first hour they meet again

[@someguy3167]

I just started a community sorority of 10 female bettas, and guppies/platies in a heavily planted 40 breeder. And damn am I glad I waited awhile before starting, even still I have made a lot of mistakes. I was very unaware how badly hardscape can effect the fins of a betta. My 1 betta beforehand was so chill and relaxed that it wasn't an issue, but once I added more and they would chase/hide/be chased. I saw lots of clear rips and not bites. Had to take out a lot of hardscape because it was simply too sharp. Also I learned that swordtails can be fin biters. Mine decided my bettas tails were a snack, and I was confused for awhile as to why the 2 most dominate bettas had fin bites, but then saw the swords doing it. Thanks for all the info, do you have any suggestions on ways to have fin rips heal faster? They have been healing up good on the few that have them, but idk if there is something more I can do to help them?

[@Fishtory]

Im glad you noticed and were able to make adjustments for them. For fin nips and rips i do a salt dip early on, to stop any fungal or bacterial infections...then i add about 1 catappa leave per gallon and the acidity builds their slime coat and immune system with the tannins and the acidity kills most common bad bacteria, while probiotic properties also show up in a beneficial way.

[@johnmanrow2667]

Great video Alex! There is always something new to learn about fish keeping. Thanks for keeping everything interesting, informative, and entertaining!

[@Fishtory]

My pleasure!

[@calebwatson3023]

I spawn a lot of betta. I keep males and females together. I have a blue dragon spawn in a 55 gallon aquarium. I haven’t had any fin damage or deaths.

[@Fishtory]

Thanks for the testimony 🙏

[@dawnt6791]

I CONSTANTLY see comments from the betta police about how bettas can't thrive in a 55g tank because it's "too deep". But that's what my foursome (1male/3female) lived in 30 years ago. It was even stocked with a school of tiger barbs that left them alone (too busy picking on each other to mess with anyone else), and a school of zebra danios and a common pleco. Tank was kept at 78 degrees. Those 4 bettas lived to ripe old ages. Yeah, I look back on that, and I broke every rule in the current books. LOL The only issue I saw in that tank was the male betta seeming to enjoy picking at my pleco. He grab it's dorsal fin. It pretty much ignored him, since it was way bigger than he was. He never did any harm to it, just liked to pick-pick-pick at times. Good thing common plecos tend to be so laid back.

[@ryanh5568]

I think it depends on the betta fish, especially how they're raised. Most of your commercial breeders aren't leaving bettas in large community setups for long. I've seen examples out of South America where they often put them into small containers (for this particular instance they used small glass bottles) once they get close to maturity. I think this factor is what often leads to some bettas being overly aggressive as they've not had to socialize for long in their lives. To give context, I have two bettas a male and a female. My male is all on his own in a 10 gallon tank since he's quite aggressive. I've seen him regularly flare and make a fuss at tiny bladder snails in the tank despite the fact that they're tiny compared to him. Whereas my female betta is in a 20 gallon community tank with 11 glowlight tetras where she's the least aggressive of all the fish in the tank (she's never flared or attempts to attack anyone save for tasting one of the pest snail's slime which was like very mild in terms of her behavior, it was like "let me take a sip before I see if you're food.." which was weird). So, I'll say your mileage may vary and you should be sure to examine the betta you want to see how their temperament lines up with your community tank's.

[@bubblerings]

I forgot the name of Japanese KZbin channel.. The man kept his spawn siblings together in a rather crowded situation.. Many males in the lot.. He said, that raised together, they had no problems together.. What Amazing colors and fins his fish have!! 💕

[@Fishtory]

Yes, if they are all siblings, theyll pretty much never harm one another after fry age (sometimes the fast growing fry eat the weak ones)

[@Desmo1]

Great content. My LFS thought I was crazy when I told them I was going to put the betta I was purchasing in a community tank with a bunch of small fish lol. They said it would be a menace and there's a reason why they refer to them as fighting fish. In my UNS 90s, it's been doing great. I'm thinking of adding another given that it's heavily planted.

[@Fishtory]

Boom

[@junglenook]

Thankx Alix, tons of supper useful info. I'm actually currently getting ready to set up a 40-gallon breeder as a swamp tank for my Alian betta. Wasn't sure if I really could have 2 males and 3 females together. Do you think it should be 2 males and 5 females? It will be (Low Tech) heavily planted tank with a small sponge filter stocked with 15-20 dwarf rasboras and the same amount of charry shrimp. Do you think I'll need more filtration?? Substrate will be 3 inches of fluvial stratum and 1 inch of Basalt.

[@Fishtory]

Sounds like a plan. Id start with fewer fish, and work your way up. 40 gallons can easily hold several males ....just remeber those plants and or hiding places and blocking lines of sight. So far i hear alien bettas can be more nippy...but i dont know first hand. Just keep an open mind to needing to move a troublemaker in worst case scenario

[@ruizezhao2671]

I'm in need for answer. Would it be ok to have a male blue betta and a white female betta in a 10gal tank? How do I pick out the calm ones? There are good shades on each side of the tank.

[@Fishtory]

Yes its possible. It is tricky to know...shorter fins reduce the chance of injury and having some nano fish in the tank really helps distract any agression. But its probably 80% or 90% that get along Okay with lots of plants...and 10 or 20% that may just be too mean, so watching them for the first few weeks and even the first few hours is very helpful. Goodluck

[@augustvukosovich4683]

OK, that's just amazing. All the plants help. I love peer reviewed science. It shows you have facts!

[@Fishtory]

Glad you enjoy it! And i wish more creators would cite real science! Lol

[@Andriyuha]

what a seminal, mind-turning video for a newbee like myself! This myth uas definitely been in my head and I'm so glad your video popped up in my feed! Soo appreciate you breaking down some peer-reviewed literature, it's so rare these days for hobbyists yo actually refer to that! Thank you!

[@Fishtory]

For sure! Its not always a good idea lol...but IT IS possible and many betta breeders do it

[@johnathanarvelo9657]

Okay, if I knew you were giving the scoop like this I would’ve subscribed a long time ago! 😮👏🏾 I’m living for this content ✨

[@Fishtory]

Welcome. Theres a whole lot of videos here too! Enjoy 😉

[@nellygmclean9069]

How do you keep your tank so clean,how many times do you change water

[@Fishtory]

Only top offs...i have snails and little micro fauna like isopods, scuds and shrimp to clean for me :)

[@RafaelSwit]

Fantastic video, Alex! Thanks for pointing out Nat Geo article. I have subscription and missed it.

[@asifanwar7942]

Great video. A lot of the same advise that applies to keeping Cichlids.

[@Fishtory]

Oh for sure! People seem to think of betta as some exception to fish "rules" ... but it's pretty similar to any nesting or territorial fish. Thanks for tuning in and dropping by

[@Z4U3398]

Awesome info! Bro, if may I just ask... what type of liverwort is that in your tank? Süsswassertang? Or, Pellia (Monosolenium tenerum)?

[@Fishtory]

Susswassertang from german warm springs... so its a lot denser and darker than the Asian, African or Amazonian stuff

[@Z4U3398]

@@Fishtory Great! Thank you so much, bro!

[@jefftucker9225]

My wife keeps a Male and female together in a 20g long community tank, she also has a school of 16 neon tetras, and 5 cory cats in it, the tank is heavily planted and the male and female never fight, sometimes he will follow her around, but he never fin nips and they each have one side of the tank to claim

[@alena.m.zombie]

Thank you!! I’m so happy to see someone talking fish sense.

[@Fishtory]

Sure thing. Just always proceed with caution :)

[@jennikohl5189]

I've been debating in my head over whether or not to turn my 20g into a female betta tank instead of having 3 small tanks. I think you must helped me make up my mind. Bettas and black neon tetras. I was going to do guppies, but i love bettas. I just bought 4. One is huge and aggressive, but the other 3 might work. Thank you so much for this information. Now i can make the tank a happier, calmer place for them and me. If it doesn't work, i have personal tanks.

[@sophistiq8ted]

I just got a couple more female bettas for my tank and they're all doing great together!

[@Fishtory]

Always keep an eye on new ones early on...but awesome! Congrats 👏

[@AIKineticNRG]

Subbed and very interested in learning more about keeping betta together. I've heard it was possible and want to try a single group of one male and 3 female in a 20gal planted tank that has a school of tetras and some cory catfish as well as a snail. Keep up the great work!

[@harryfowkes4891]

How’s it gone ?? I’m in a similar situation 27 gallon tank heavily planted with corys and tetras, got one male Betta currently wanting to put x amount of females in so I’m curious how it’s worked for you

[@AIKineticNRG]

@@harryfowkes4891 currently I only have a 5 gallon with a male betta and 5 tetras, but I just got my 20gal filled up yesterday. I put some Valasneria, Java Fern, and Pogostemon Stellatus Octopus, but no fish for a few weeks. I did change my plan slightly with only 2 female bettas, just due to the tank size, might be switching out Cory's for otocinclus, and a recent explosion of ramshorn snails has me looking at a pair of yoyo loaches.

[@Heatherlovesorhatesit]

Thanks for all the genetic explanation & enforcing that a bigger tank that is well planted is important ❤

[@DoctorlyRob]

Really like the beard trimming ya did there! Also absolutely amazing content here thank you. THIS is why I sub to your channel initially, have enjoyed your other videos too but THIS is choice and not something I find in other channels. (if unware I'm referring to the overall scientific knowledge being backed and explained in this vid) 10/10

[@Fishtory]

Thank you so much Brandon. I truly appreciate that you notice my work. Have a wondeful week

[@arturproc7047]

Hi, interesting movie. By the way, I would like to ask you, where can I buy the black plastic frame on the top of your tank ?

[@Fishtory]

Are you in europe or asia? We only recently became able to get "Rimless tanks" here, for decades the vast majority of tanks just come prebuilt with the plastic frame reinforcements.

[@dianeburnettpookie1237]

I always thought that if the tank was big enough and had plants that bettas could be kept together. I’m glad to see my theory is true.

[@jessicascanlan4396]

Do you have the reference for the bas1 gene (related to domestication and morphology changes) you mention at around 12 mins? I've scoured the genetic architecture article but can't find it in there, and I'm super curious to learn more about it! :)

[@Fishtory]

I think these 2 got me going. scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C48&q=betta+splendens+gene+domestication&oq=betta+splendens+gene+domest#d=gs_qabs&t=1691712087332&u=%23p%3Dghit0OKi9a8J scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C48&q=betta+splendens+gene+domestication&oq=betta+splendens+gene+domest#d=gs_qabs&t=1691712105277&u=%23p%3Dq6e485DDFzUJ

[@cherylmockotr]

Totally eye opening, thank you! I've been meaning to support you and now I will for sure. I am setting up a new 20g in my clinic for kids to help me with, and have gone around and around on what type of fish I want to stock it with. Nothing has been grabbing me until now! I've always kept a Betta with nano fish at home, and now I realize I want to stick with that Do you ever sell your baby fry? I haven't checked... is there a link in the description for an online store?

[@Fishtory]

Thank you so very kindly Cheryl! If you know how to keep bettas in a community tank, you'll have a big head start on understanding what they need in a group tank. I tend to mostly locally sell my fish, and will ship orders of $60 or more for plants and or malawa or neocaridina shrimp since they survive better. I just feel so bad when fish die in shipping, even if it's only a few out of a 100.

[@chosenfewpetsnaturetech1927]

Oooh right right I like that been doing that for years, been using the 3 limit or more males and broken lines of sites and hiding spaces in aquatic plants.

[@Fishtory]

Right on! Thanks for the confirmation it worked for you too!

[@jeffkane4391]

Thanks! Love the informative videos that you do sir! Looking forward to the next one 😁

[@PULAG]

♥

[@Fishtory]

Glad you like them! Thank you

[@joerollo4792]

Great video, Alex. My first experience at this level was when I purchased a lot of 50 'female' young copper halfmoons and put them all in a 29g tank. After a couple months, I thought to myself, wow, some of these females really have long finnage! lol Turns out about 15-18 or so were male. Before I really assessed this, I would find a male picked off, dead, maybe once a week or other week. I noticed, as previously thought/mentioned, if I remove a male for more than a few hours and then return him to the tank, that would also throw off the 'balance'. I ended up losing a few males, pulling out a few males, and then the 'balanced' tank was left with about 5 males and 25 females or so. It was difficult to tell the sexes when they were juveniles until a local breeder pointed out that before they develop any of their most distinguishable features, a males mouth will always point up, like a top feeder, hence for the bubble nest, and the females mouth always points forward, like a mid level feeder. Can't believe I hadn't noticed that before! I love exploring the capabilities of nature, to research why someone says something can't be done, and to show you that it can be done! Also love your energy and intellect as applied to this wonderful world of aquatics. Let me know when you're back in the area so we can hit some clubs, farms, and do some collecting ;) I have a few spots right now for some nice, monster rusty head sailfin mollies and i'm itching to go get them and set up a new 50g 'local/wild/dirted/natural' tub. :)

[@MicahLetwin]

I have 1 male betta who has a defect in his eye which basically makes him a bottom feeder and he tolerates all his tank mates no problem, I had to move and put my 1 female koi betta from a separate tank in with him but she's in a mesh breeding box, they've been up against the mesh together with no sign of aggression at all so I think I'll try adding her and see how it goes

[@Fishtory]

Just observe them at first... the female may be agressive too. But im guessing itll go fine if theres lots of hiding spots or broken lines or Sight

[@misfitz_ggsitzgeno3330]

What all plants do you have in this tank ? Would love to get a tank set up like this also when planting how close can you put the plants together?

[@Fishtory]

There are over 30 species, watch one of my videos with types of plants listed for more details....but you can plant stem plants right next to one another. Very very dense

[@rustyfan89]

Great video first time I’ve seen your vids , was reading an article the other day about what size tank you’d need to have to keep more than one male betta

[@Fishtory]

Welcome! If you like this video i think you'll enjoy most the stuff ive made the last 2 years ((non livestreaming)). Thank you for stopping by!

[@Kietharr]

The idea that the long fins inhibit their natural communication is interesting, I've read similar stuff about short faced dogs like bulldogs and pitbull breeds having issues getting along with other dogs for similar reasons, their faces can't show the 'normal' dog expressions. I've always noticed that long fin variants of the same species do not do well in a community and assumed it was just because they were poorer swimmers. I wonder if in other fish it could also be related to misinterpreted display, like my endlers beat up on the long fin because they assume he's trying to stunt on them all of the time.

[@Fishtory]

Yes with guppies there are research papers on that exact same thing actually. With red also being most agressive and dominant as a general rule also

[@dawnt6791]

@@Fishtory You're making me glad that I always seem to gravitate more toward wild-type fish like guppies, swordtails, and such. My current guppies are "mutts" who are very wild type in appearance, though they do have some flashes of color on them that reveal the truth of their bloodlines. Also, I only have 1 male with long fins. The rest are shorter finned. The long finned boy definitely isn't as fast or agile as the other boys.

[@Chaos.9-9]

At the moment I have 2 bettas in a community tank and their pretty chill (1 male 1 female) he does flare at the girl but she just turns away and he goes back to eating or chillin in the corner but I have seen them eat and swim close to each other with no flaring at all so I think him and her are besties- Hes been thru a lot at the pet store, I could tell because his cup was cracked like someone had dropped him and he has a swimming problem. I seen the 4 guppies I have swim against his sides almost like their helping him when hes wobbly.

[@Fishtory]

Just keep an eye on them...it sounds good so far

[@Chaos.9-9]

@@Fishtory update: I forgot to mention- I have a mollie that's gone completely nuts! He almost killed my WHOLE TANK! All my betta's have a bunch of nips and chucks of fin missing. I sat Infront of the tank for 3 hours and I saw that mollie having the time of his life terrorizing the other fish- what do I do with him? I don't have another tank or can afford one at the moment ;-;

[@jessicaherrera7900]

What plant is floating on the top of your tank? Thanks for this awesome video.

[@AlpacaMade]

I loved the video as you might expect. What I don't love is some of the resulting issues being bred into the domestic populations. Dangerously large or out of balance fins for example.

[@Fishtory]

100% i agree. Thanks for highlighting those issues

[@dawnt6791]

I agree. The bettas I had 30 years ago were extreme enough, so I've been appalled at how people are exaggerating the finage even more. Poor fish can't even seem to swim without great effort. I've been drawn more and more to Plakat bettas, though I haven't seen any for sale locally. After this video, I'll definitely be looking more seriously into them. I love my planted tanks, and I have no problem with a jungle style tank, so I think this would work great.

[@zeusthecat8488]

Love this so educational. New owner to a blue betta fish and me and the husband was at the pet store and knew we already had a male and was wondering if we could get him some company?

[@mightyparry]

NERRRRRD! Love them! Instant subscribe!

[@Fishtory]

Yay! Thank you! And welcome

[@Tkw12345]

That is an awesome planted tank! I have a well planted tank and so far my bettas are doing okay with my swordtail and corycatfish. I also have tons of shrimp in there!

[@englishtime5327]

Really informative video. I have a 55 heavily planted tank and this is really interesting. Thank you

[@Fishtory]

Glad it was helpful! Thank you

[@callusklaus2413]

It occurs to me, people like Frank from Frank's Bettas (People in Thailand, Borneo, and elsewhere) breed their animals in something approaching the size of stock tanks. The fish always appear pretty healthy, this clears a lot up!

[@TheRealEvilSink]

I am wanting to create a tank for female bettas, how many do you think would be ok in a 20 gallon? I was thinking 3 - 5 individuals, depending on their personalities etc. I plan to also have corys and some other fish, as my male bettas have all loved having them as tank mates. Male bettas can be surprisingly good with other fish. Out of 3 males i have right now, only my fully red one has showed any aggression towards other fish. My other two enjoy the company and display a wide and complex array of behaviours and moods. One of them has even figured out that its a lot of fun to yoink the corys tablets and hide them, and watch them look for it.

[@Fishtory]

Haha 3 to 5 depending on fish personality is exactly what is recomend...maybe up to 6 or 7 in a heavily planted 20g long....due to more surface area than normal 20s

[@TheRealEvilSink]

@@Fishtory Thats great. I cannot wait to get started!

[@TheRealEvilSink]

@@FishtoryThank you for taking your time to answer, its highly appreciated :)

[@tigerbokken6922]

I always kept them in couple or more in densely planted tank, letting the fry growing with the parents. They don't hunt their youngs, that's a myth too, only the weaker ones get eaten. I had an interesting case of a fighter plakat with many of his babies, the young males were making low profile, keeping discrete in size and color and reducing they growth speed. Then one day, I found the father death, don't know why, but he jumped out the tank, some days after, the bigger of his son grew at extreme speed to took his place. Meanwhile his brothers kept being discrete and smaller

[@AquariusAquaCare]

What an incredible video! Thanks so much! I’m new to the hobby and am really falling in love with this type of fish. Does it work to do this but with fake silk plants or is it necessary to use real plants or does it not matter?

[@thebeigesheep6132]

This is gonna piss a lot of people off even though you are 100% right

[@Fishtory]

Lol i know...i kept my receipts lol

[@jordanirons4711]

This is awesome. I wanna do this some day, but had planned a sorority first, which of course comes after the blue jelly shrimp tank, which i plan on finishing as soon as I fix the yellow shrimp tank. Too many tank goals

[@Fishtory]

Lots of goals is how to live!