Ok. I wouldn't try it with those true short fin fighters (can't remember the name... plakat?) .
why do people think that you can not keep male bettas together?
- Thread starter syddakyd
- Start date
I think you're missing my point. I just said its extremely rare to keep the males together without any fights.
Fights will happen but a hierarchy/territory will be established. I guess I should have been clearer. American cichlids will pound each other to death unless overstocked and targets/dithers added. breaking up lines of site and having a larger tank is what makes the difference but then again who goes through that trouble. I am 30 and my parents have had an aquarium in the house before I was even born. I have had cold fresh/temperate all the way to cold water marine.
yea a fight like a cichlid fight in normal more natural circumstance. not gladiator fight to the death. you put two male convicts in a 10g you will get the same results as two bettas in a bowl. without a proper setup you could do 2 breeding pairs of convicts in a 55 with targets and visual barriers.
Why are you comparing bettas to cichlids? Two completely different animals with different behaviors. Many posters stated it didn't work even if the tank is fully planted 55gal or 90gal, the bettas still trying to kill each other. And even if they didn't kill the other bettas, they're miserable with shredded fins and infections. Hence that's why its EXTREMELY rare to keep male bettas together successfully.
Oranges to apples. I've reading up on this subject for awhile and it's recommended to not keep the male bettas together because of their health. It's not healthy for them at all and it will reduce their lifespan and immune system from all stresses.
I'll read links to said articles. With that said I'd greatly prefer a "betta community" with a ratio of say 1:4 males to females in a large 125 planted than in a small bowl any day. I am sure all of the Bettas bred and sold in stores waiting in cups would then also have a reduction in life span based on the studies.
I think regardless of species, betta or cichlid.A fine line exists between can it be done or should it be done.
Just because one person has successfully housed two fighting fish males in the same tank without casualties does not mean it's a good idea.
I don't want to sound like a tree hugging hippy but at the end of the day you are playing with living creature's. They are not called fighting fish for nothing.
Whether betta or a cichlid if the chances are that a fish may be killed or injured then surely it's better not to take that chance.
Just because one person has successfully housed two fighting fish males in the same tank without casualties does not mean it's a good idea.
I don't want to sound like a tree hugging hippy but at the end of the day you are playing with living creature's. They are not called fighting fish for nothing.
Whether betta or a cichlid if the chances are that a fish may be killed or injured then surely it's better not to take that chance.
