Tanks and Tank Mates
In captivity, male B. splendens are best housed alone since, as their name "fighting fish" implies, they will aggressively attack and kill (or be killed by) another male in their territory. Putting female and male specimens together is not recommended either (except for breeding, in which the female should be removed immediately after the process) as they will often attack each other. Female bettas can sometimes be kept together in groups of three to seven in larger tanks with hiding places for the less-aggressive females. Male bettas have been successfully housed in large community tanks with other fish that have similar tropical temperature and water quality requirements. Platies, corycats, and African dwarf frogs work best with this fish as well as neon/cardinal tetras and white cloud mountain minnows. Other fish species may be kept in the same tank as a betta, provided the fish does not have long fins that would cause the betta to mistake it for a threatening male betta, and provided the fish isn't significantly smaller than the betta. Zebra Danios also can sometimes make an acceptable tankmate. Endlers (Poecillia wingei) should be fine as long as their fins are small. Bettas might harass and nip at other species that are colorful or have long, flowing fins, and may be nipped at by aggressive tank mates. Careful research should be carried out before selecting tank mates. Although many retail pet shops market very small "bowls" for B. splendens and the fish can, in fact, survive in a small container for periods of time, for optimum health and vigor larger tanks should be used. Recommended tank volume is 20 to 40 liters (5-10 gallons).
Read more about this topic: Siamese Fighting Fish
Famous quotes containing the word tanks:
“Today, almost forty years later, I grow dizzy when I recall that the number of manufactured tanks seems to have been more important to me than the vanished victims of racism.”
—Albert Speer (1905–1981)